Top Six South Florida Waterfront Estates Featuring Independent Guest Houses And ADUs

From Old Florida compounds to crisp new builds, the most desirable South Florida waterfront estates increasingly include a second, independent residence. Whether it’s a guest house set behind a gate, a detached studio over a garage, or an accessory dwelling unit designed for staff, multigenerational living, and privacy-first entertaining, these spaces have become a defining luxury feature. What follows is a buyer-oriented ranking of six waterfront estate archetypes where independent guest houses and ADUs feel not like an afterthought, but a core part of the property’s choreography: arrivals, service circulation, security, and hosting. Because listings and inventory change quickly, consider this a field guide to the categories and neighborhoods where these estate plans are most often executed at a high level.