INDULGE eyes spy Art Deco splendor, exotic cuisine and views for days while strolling through SoBe’s most laid-back ‘hood

South Beach’s South of Fifth area, a walkable oasis at the bottom of Miami Beach, exists in its current form due to a little manmade help. In 1905, when Government Cut was dredged — which cut loose Fisher Island from the rest of Miami Beach — SoFi became land’s end. In time, the enclave emerged as one of the area’s most affluent, as the leafy triangle with water on three sides and the 17-acre park lured professionals seeking a quiet lifestyle away from mass tourism. This is not to say that SoFi is sleepy: It contains several blocks of bustling, chic restaurants. And South Pointe Park has been graced with renovation after renovation, and is blessed with a rock-lined promenade, bike trails, rows of light columns and sleek fountains to keep residents active and dreamily content.

The guide

Yury Bettoni is such a fixture in Miami Beach that he even turned up on Ballers — as himself. The former professional tennis player, real estate investor and business partner ofthe exclusive kitchen brand Italkraft was walking around — where else? South of Fifth when he ran into his friend Joseph Krutel, a huge tennis fan and a producer of the HBO show. The episode’s premise? “The Rock’s character was scouting tennis players,” Bettoni recalls, “soI ended up playing tennis in front of 300 extras.” Beyond the occasional TV cameo, he feels connected to his neighborhood in so many ways. With his family, Bettoni has invested in SoFi properties for years, the prestigious GLASS condo building is outfitted with Italkraft kitchens, and just about every restaurant holds memories of balmy evenings shared with family and friends.

Hot hotel

“We own multiple units in the Mercury, a historic art deco hotel built in the Twenties. It’s a condo- hotel that you can rent daily, monthly or weekly. The two towers have 44 units with a swimming pool in the middle. The lounge was renovated about 18 months ago. The Mercury means a lot to me because it was our first family purchase — we were drawn to the beautiful corner location.” 100 Collins Avenue; 305-794-3794; the-mercury-hotel.com.

The establishment

“Joe’s Stone Crab is an institution with a great history behind it. What I love is that they don’t kill the crabs — they cultivate them and after they cut one of the claws, the crab regenerates it. I’m also a big fan of the lobster roll — like a little piece of Boston.” 11 Washington Avenue; 305-602-9998; joesstonecrab.com

Family values

“Georgios Vogiatzis, the owner of Santorini by Georgios, is a good friend of mine and he makes me feel like I’m part of the family. What he’s done is amazing. There was another restaurant in that space, and he came in and took over the pool, the restaurant and beach club, and within a year he turned it around. He’s a true entrepreneur who is hands-on, from the cooking to the relationships with the diners to managing the staff. Everyone is happy and he loves to take care of every client. It’s a 360-degree experience — there are belly dancers to go with your spanakopita.” 101 Ocean Drive; 305-672-6624; santorinibygeorgios.com.

Coastal convergence

“A few months ago at I had the porcetta — slow- cooked pork. The meat was so tender. And we had pasta with sea urchin. Even though Forte dei Marmi is a famous resort town in Tuscany, they cooked us an amazing Sardinian dinner. Two Michelin Star winner Antonio Mellino is the chef.”

Direct from Napoli

“There are two famous pizza places in Naples, and Sorbillo is one. It’s historic. They opened in New York and Miami, and there’s no difference in quality or flavor between the pizza here or at the original in Naples. It is very difficult to reproduce exactly the same taste but they manage to do it. It’s the way they manipulate the dough and the sauces. Not only is the pasta perfectly al dente, but the San Marzano tomatoes are authentic and fresh.” 100 Collins Avenue, 305-381-0588; sorbillonyc.com.

By the sea

“Smith & Wollensky is set right along a beautiful path in South Pointe Park. The steak is aged for six months, and it’s really second to none. You can eat outside next to the water and it gives you a little bit of a European feel. It’s a great place for a sunset cocktail.” 1 Washington Avenue; 305-673-2800; smithandwollensky.com.

Team player

“Big Pink is one of the only true touristic places in South of Fifth. It’s known for its breakfasts and big portions. The color is great branding — Myles [Alan Chefetz], the owner, is brilliant at marketing — and it has a prime location on Collins, one block from the beach. A lot of the Miami Heat players come because Myles has a great relationship with the team.” 157 Collins Avenue; 305-531-0888; mylesrestaurantgroup.com/big-pink.

Somewhere that’s green

“Five years ago, South Pointe Park had a massive renovation, and now it’s a work of art. I’m a big fan of different levels, and the grading of the park with the changing vistas makes it magical. Between the cruise ships and the sunsets, the view is second to none. There are lots of people working out, bringing their dogs, being a community, so it’s a great place to meet people.” 1 Washington Avenue.

This story was originally published March 4, 2020 at 4:27 PM.