Fort Lauderdale vs. Miami Beach: The Ultimate Waterfront Living Showdown

Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach offer two distinct expressions of South Florida waterfront living. Fort Lauderdale’s canal-woven landscape favors yacht ownership, privacy, and a gentler residential rhythm, while Miami Beach delivers high-energy oceanfront glamour, a global cultural calendar, and brand-led towers. Both markets now feature expansive, service-rich residences that blend resort convenience with private-club discretion. This editorial compares ambiance, water access, and the marquee developments reshaping each skyline to help you decide which shoreline fits your lifestyle.

Top 10 Luxury Developments with Private Beach Clubs in South Florida

South Florida’s newest wave of ultra-luxury development is defined by private beach clubs reserved solely for owners. From Aman Miami Beach and The Shore Club Private Collection to Rosewood Hillsboro Beach, Ritz-Carlton and Waldorf Astoria in Pompano, Bentley and St. Regis in Sunny Isles, Una in Brickell and Five Park in South Beach, these projects combine architectural pedigree with resort-level services. This curated top-10 ranking highlights how each development delivers its own version of turnkey, toes-in-the-sand living for a highly discerning global buyer.

Top 5 Ultra-Luxury Penthouses Currently on the Market in Miami Beach

Miami Beach’s trophy-penthouse moment has arrived. From a $150 million crown at the reborn Raleigh to invitation-only sky estates on Fisher Island, five exceptional residences now define the city’s new pinnacle. These homes combine vast indoor-outdoor square footage, landmark design pedigrees, and full-service privacy that rivals elite global markets. Below, we detail the five standouts across South Beach, Mid-Beach, South of Fifth, and Fisher Island, and outline the nuanced considerations that matter when acquiring a true sky estate in Miami Beach’s most rarefied tier.