Apogee South Beach vs. The Perigon: Boutique Oceanfront Luxury Compared
Quick Summary
- Boutique oceanfront towers on Miami Beach
- South of Fifth vs Mid Beach lifestyles
- Design, floorplans and services compared
- Guidance for discreet ultra luxury buyers
Boutique oceanfront luxury on Miami Beach
For a very small circle of buyers, Miami Beach is less a destination than a backdrop for daily life. Within that rarefied world, two addresses embody the idea of boutique oceanfront luxury condos: Apogee South Beach and The Perigon. One is an established South of Fifth icon at the very tip of the island; the other is a new architectural statement emerging on Mid Beach's storied Collins Avenue shoreline.
Completed in 2008, Apogee South Beach helped define what ultra luxury meant in Miami Beach at the time: very large residences, low density, and the kind of privacy more commonly associated with a standalone estate. By contrast, The Perigon, scheduled for delivery in the mid 2020s, layers a more resort like program of amenities and hospitality services over similarly generous homes, setting a new benchmark for contemporary design and service.
Both are intimate communities with fewer than 75 residences. Both offer sweeping water views and exceptional architecture. Yet the experience of living in each building is subtly and meaningfully different. Below, we look beyond the brochure to compare setting, design, residences and lifestyle so that a discerning buyer can decide which vision of Miami Beach best aligns with their own.
South of Fifth vs Mid Beach: two ultra prime coastlines
Apogee South Beach occupies an almost irreplaceable position at 800 South Pointe Drive, in the heart of the South of Fifth neighborhood. The site sits directly above Government Cut, where cruise ships glide past at sunset, with the Miami skyline, Fisher Island, Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean all within the panoramic sweep. Walk out the lobby and within a few minutes you are in South Pointe Park, on the Miami Beach Marina docks, or at long time culinary institutions such as Joe's Stone Crab and Prime 112. For owners who want the energy and convenience of South Beach without sacrificing discretion, this pocket of SoFi is the sweet spot.
Equally important is how the immediate surroundings feel. With water on multiple sides and only a handful of neighboring buildings, Apogee's block is quiet, almost residential in character, despite being moments from some of the city's busiest restaurants. The MacArthur Causeway is close enough for a fast drive into Brickell or the Design District, yet Apogee's arrival sequence remains surprisingly serene. Residents who keep a yacht at the Miami Beach Marina or who dine out several times a week often find this location particularly compelling.
The Perigon sits on a very different, but no less prestigious, stretch of sand at 5333 Collins Avenue in Mid Beach. Here, the tone shifts from urban village to resort retreat. The building occupies roughly two acres that run from the Atlantic Ocean to Indian Creek, so owners enjoy both direct beach access and sweeping sunset views over the waterway. Collins Avenue in this portion of Miami Beach, sometimes called Millionaires' Row, is lined with luxury hotels and high end residential towers, but daily life feels quieter and more residential than South Beach.
From The Perigon, it is a short drive south to the Faena District and the bustle of Lincoln Road, or north to Bal Harbour Shops. Yet day to day, many residents may choose to stay anchored on property or on the sand directly in front of the building. The feel is of a private beachfront enclave within Miami Beach: less about being in the middle of the action, more about having immediate access to it when desired. Buyers deciding between the two locations tend to ask themselves whether they prefer the walkable, restaurant driven lifestyle of South of Fifth or the more relaxed, resort style rhythm of Mid Beach.
Design, floorplans and in residence experience
Architecturally, Apogee South Beach reads as a crisp, timeless modern tower. Designed by Sieger Suarez with interiors by Yabu Pushelberg, the 22 story building presents a predominantly glass facade, its broad terraces appearing as horizontal ribbons that frame each floor. Density is intentionally low, with roughly four residences per typical level and only 67 homes in total. Every primary floorplan is flow through, running from east to west, so even lower floor apartments enjoy both sunrise and sunset exposures.
The result inside the residences is a sense of volume and openness that still feels impressive almost two decades after completion. Typical three bedroom homes start around 3,100 square feet, with four bedroom lines extending beyond 4,100 square feet, and many owners have increased that scale further by combining lines. Ten foot ceiling heights, expansive panes of optically clear glass, and some of the deepest terraces in Miami Beach, approximately eleven feet, effectively outdoor living rooms, keep even the largest units bright and connected to the views. Outdoor summer kitchens, gas grills and, in some homes, outdoor fireplaces make those terraces true extensions of the interior.
Inside, Apogee's original finishes were decidedly high end for their time: gas cooktops in many kitchens, integrated smart home systems controlling lighting and climate, and thoughtful touches such as midnight bars tucked into primary suite closets. Each residence is reached via a private elevator foyer, and at parking level every homeowner has their own enclosed, air conditioned two car garage, a rare amenity in Miami Beach condominiums. Over the years, many apartments have been redesigned by new owners, but the underlying bones, generous dimensions, smart stacking and those vast terraces, remain the primary draw.
The Perigon approaches design from a different generation of thinking. Conceived by OMA, the Office for Metropolitan Architecture founded by Rem Koolhaas, the tower is composed as a series of subtly rotated, diamond shaped volumes. These angles do more than create a distinctive silhouette; they orient residences towards the Atlantic and Biscayne Bay while minimizing direct views into neighboring buildings. The structure is lifted slightly above grade on slender columns, allowing the landscape by Gustafson Porter plus Bowman to flow beneath it in the form of dunes, gardens and shaded paths that connect Collins Avenue to the ocean.
Inside, Tara Bernerd and Partners have taken a warm, layered approach to the interiors, softening the rigor of the architecture with textured woods, tailored upholstery and a palette drawn from sand, sea and sky. The Perigon's approximately 73 residences are primarily two to four bedroom homes ranging from roughly 2,100 to over 6,000 square feet, with ceiling heights around ten feet and expansive floor to ceiling glass. Most plans offer either true flow through layouts or substantial corner exposure, and private elevator access is standard. Terraces in the ten to twelve foot deep range echo Apogee's emphasis on outdoor living, often wrapping the main living spaces to capture both sunrise and sunset.
Being a new build, The Perigon also benefits from the latest thinking in building systems and sustainability, including high efficiency glazing and an anticipated high level green certification. Kitchens are expected to feature custom Italian cabinetry with honed stone countertops and Sub Zero and Wolf caliber appliance suites, while primary baths are designed with large format stone, generous showers and freestanding soaking tubs. Walk in wardrobes in each bedroom and integrated smart home infrastructure round out an in residence experience calibrated to contemporary expectations. If Apogee represents the apex of its era, The Perigon is very much the 2020s expression of the same idea.
For buyers comparing the two, the design question often comes down to personal taste. Apogee's aesthetic is quietly confident and proven; its floorplans feel more like private homes than apartments, and the building's reputation is already cemented in the Miami Beach market. The Perigon, by contrast, will appeal to those drawn to cutting edge design, a softer, more hospitality driven interior language, and the appeal of being the first to live in a brand new residence.
Amenities, privacy and lifestyle
Both buildings qualify as boutique by Miami standards, and both offer a high degree of privacy simply by virtue of their low unit counts. Yet their amenity philosophies diverge in ways that matter day to day.
At Apogee South Beach, the amenity program is intentionally concise. A bayfront infinity edge pool and spa deck, overlooking the downtown skyline and cruise ship channel, provides a tranquil setting for laps or quiet sun time. A fitness center and spa with treatment rooms serve residents' wellness needs without the feel of a hotel gym. Landscaped grounds and an open air pavilion create additional outdoor living and entertaining spaces, but the overall mood is calm and uncrowded. There is no in house restaurant, no screening room, no children's club. Instead, the assumption is that residents will dine out in the neighborhood, entertain in their own expansive residences and terraces, and use the building as a serene, serviced home base.
What Apogee does provide in abundance is discretion. With private elevators, controlled access and those individual enclosed garages, residents can arrive and depart with minimal visibility. Hallways see little traffic; even busy weekends in South Beach tend to feel remote from Apogee's elevated pool deck. For high profile owners, or simply those who prefer understatement, this luxury behind the gate character is a defining part of the appeal.
The Perigon leans more fully into a hospitality inspired model. Its amenity suite is conceived almost as a private resort reserved for owners and their guests. At the oceanfront, a large pool deck with cabanas steps down to a residents only beach club where loungers, umbrellas and beach attendants are on call. Inside, a signature restaurant and intimately scaled speakeasy bar, helmed by Michelin starred chef Shaun Hergatt, bring destination level dining and mixology into the building itself. A light filled conservatory space with a daily breakfast bar, residents' lounges and ocean view terraces create additional settings for casual meetings or social events.
Wellness and entertainment amenities at The Perigon are equally ambitious: a spa with treatment rooms and sauna, a fitness center oriented to ocean views, a screening room for private film nights, a wine room for tastings or owner storage, and a children's playroom for younger residents. Several thoughtfully designed guest suites mean friends and family can stay on site with their own privacy while still enjoying the services of the building.
Those services are structured very much like a five star hotel, but limited to a small ownership base. A dedicated lifestyle concierge, residential butlers, 24 hour valet and security, and in residence dining from the on site restaurant are all expected. Beach and pool service, home management offerings and a house car complete the picture. For many buyers, the attraction of The Perigon is precisely this ability to arrive, hand over the keys and have everything, from a stocked refrigerator to a poolside cabana, arranged seamlessly.
Privacy at The Perigon is therefore expressed differently than at Apogee. While there is more programmed space and more staff on property, all of it is controlled and resident only. The rotated building volumes reduce direct sightlines between neighbors, private elevator access limits corridor encounters, and the Mid Beach context brings a naturally quieter backdrop. For someone who wants to live in a cocooned, service rich environment directly on the sand, The Perigon's lifestyle proposition is hard to replicate.
From a practical perspective, the choice between these two oceanfront luxury condos often comes down to how you see yourself using Miami Beach. If you picture mornings jogging through South Pointe Park, lunches at favorite neighborhood restaurants and spontaneous evenings out in South Beach, Apogee South Beach places you in the center of that world while still feeling resolutely residential. If your ideal day is more self contained, yoga by the ocean, a leisurely breakfast in the conservatory, spa time, then dinner at a private in house restaurant, The Perigon's resort like program will likely resonate more strongly.
FAQs
What types of buyers gravitate to Apogee South Beach versus The Perigon?
Apogee South Beach often appeals to owners who prize discretion, oversized interiors and a walkable South of Fifth address, and who are comfortable sourcing dining and entertainment outside the building. The Perigon tends to attract buyers who want a new construction Mid Beach home with a comprehensive suite of on site services and amenities, including dining, spa and guest accommodations.
Which building generally offers larger residences?
Both buildings are generous by Miami Beach standards, but Apogee's typical three and four bedroom floorplans start around 3,100 to over 4,100 square feet, and many combined residences exceed that. At The Perigon, most standard two to four bedroom layouts range from roughly 2,100 to more than 4,000 square feet, with select larger residences and penthouses reaching well beyond that range.
How do the amenity fees and carrying costs compare?
Exact monthly association fees will vary by line and over time, and any serious buyer should review the most current budgets and condo documents with their advisor. Broadly, Apogee's more focused amenity package may translate into a slightly leaner operating profile, while The Perigon's hotel caliber services and facilities are likely to be priced in line with its resort style offering.
Which location is better for boating and marina access?
For owners who keep a yacht in Miami Beach, Apogee's position a short walk from the Miami Beach Marina is a distinct advantage, allowing you to go from residence to slip without getting in a car. The Perigon fronts Indian Creek as well as the Atlantic, so it offers scenic water views and easy driving access to multiple marinas, but not the same walk out your door proximity.
Is one building clearly stronger as a long term investment?
Both addresses sit on extremely scarce waterfront land in Miami Beach, and both cater to a very limited, high net worth buyer pool. South of Fifth has a longer track record of resale performance and international name recognition, which favors Apogee South Beach from a historical standpoint. The Perigon's appeal lies in its new build status, architecture by OMA and service rich lifestyle, which should position it competitively among the next generation of trophy oceanfront properties. As always, individual line, view, condition and timing will drive performance, so a tailored analysis is essential. For that type of bespoke guidance, a conversation with MILLION Luxury is the natural next step.
Million Luxury
Million Luxury
Welcome to MILLION, an exclusive luxury real estate boutique nestled in the heart of South Florida’s most desirable locations. Specializing in high-end properties, we provide a sanctuary for discerning clients including top Fortune 500 executives, affluent families, celebrities, and professional athletes from across the globe. At MILLION, we understand the unique demands of our elite clientele and offer a seamless blend of confidentiality and personalized attention. Our commitment to privacy is unwavering; we ensure that every transaction and interaction is handled with the utmost discretion and according to stringent confidentiality protocols. Our concierge service embodies the pinnacle of white-glove care, offering tailored assistance that transcends traditional real estate support.
