What makes Miami Beach's South of Fifth Street neighborhood such an amazing place to live?

I love living in Miami Beach's South of Fifth (SoFi) district because of the incredible variety of restaurants, retail stores (all within walking distance), and the spectacular luxury waterfront condominium buildings in the immediate South Beach area.  Also, the proximity to the Ocean or the Bay due to Miami Beach's unique geography making this a five minute walk from East to West (Ocean to Bay).  This is why the South of Fifth Neighborhood has the most sought-after and popular luxury waterfront condominium buildings, including the following:

 Continuum South Beach 
 Continuum North Tower Miami Beach
 Apogee Miami Beach
 Murano at Portofino
 The Murano Grande
 Portofino Tower
 Icon South Beach
 Bentley Hilton
 Yacht Club at Portofino

A few of my personal favorite restaurants are: Joe's Stone Crab, DeVito's (owned by actor Danny DeVito) with incredible Italian cuisine, Fogo de Chao Churrascaria, Texas de Brazil across from the Murano at Portofino, Prime 112 on Washington Avenue, and Smith & Wollensky steakhouse inside of South Pointe Park.  The SoFi neighborhood also has a variety of other attractions which make this a self-contained community that is also surprisingly family-friendly:

• The South Pointe Elementary School - an "A-rated" K-6 public school.  This school and local parents collaborate on field trips, art shows, book fairs, festivals and lots of practice for the FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test).  Many ofmy clients who have recently moved to the area are surprised by the diversity and quality of this local elementary school located just across the street from the Murano Grande and Icon South Beach buildings.
• The recently refurbished South Pointe Park, with an incredible light display, walking paths, and cascading water fountains facing towards Fisher Island and cruise ship alley which leads to the Atlantic Ocean. To walk the length of this park (especially as the sun sets) is an experience that I highly recommend to all who visit Miami Beach.
• The Miami Beach Marina - located at 300 Alton Road, just South of Icon South Beach and the Murano Grande has a deep sea diving center, a gourmet gourmet food market, and local favorite Monty's restaurant. The marina also offers Pinky's Parasail rentals and American Watersports Jet Ski rentals, the Tarpon Lagoon Dive Center (classes and dive trips), power boat rentals, yacht charters, sailfish tournaments, poker runs to the Florida Keys and, once a year, the Columbus Day Regatta sailboat race.

The other local favorites in South Beach's South of Fifth Neighborhood include:

• Nikki Beach Complex at 1st and Ocean Drive, with two restaurants, two nightclubs, and a beachfront setting with huts. A little known fact is that the Nikki Beach complex also contains a beautiful beach access (open to the general public).
• Red -The Steak House, with a beautiful oceanview rooftop scenery.
• Joe's Stone Crabs (available in-season only), usually packed and a traditional hot spot for locals and tourists alike!
• Clark's Irish Tavern, which is a locals favorite for traditional Irish Pub homecooked fare.
• The BEST burgers in all of Miami Beach- Big Pink on Washington Avenue
• The Taverna Opa restaurant across the Street from Nicki Beach Club for Greek food and table dancing
• China Grill located on the corner of Fifth and Washington Avenue,
• Locals favorite Clarke's Irish Bar and Grill- a neighborhood pub with excellent casual lunchs and dinners!
• The Piaggia Beach Club, adjoining the Murano at Portofino with a saltwater pool and great mojitos,
• The "Sofi" Salon and Spa where many of our locals go to pamper themselves before a nigh on the town!   
• A very nice local public library branch located at 131 Alton Road (South Shore Branch)
• The Portofino Wine Bank, located right underneath the Portofino Tower, which has a large selection of domestic and imported wines, beers, and liquors.
• Spa 101 located right next to The Bentley Hilton Resort, and at the same address a private club called the Bentle Beach Club, as well as the restaurant Gaia
• The Alton & 5th Street Shopping Center, located right on the corner of 5th Street & Alton Road.  This contemporary discount shopping center has a Publix & Greenwise (all-natural products) Supermarket, Best Buy, Petsmart, TJ Maxx, Subway, Brooklyn Water Bagels Store, and a Vitamin Shoppe, with several more to come.