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Richard Trapunski | Last Updated: January 03,2010 5:13:12 pm
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As far as South Beach nightclubs go, Cameo has had a surprisingly long shelf life. Given the transitory nature of Miami Beach nightlife, the club's closure back in August wasn't exactly surprising, per se, but it was unexpected. With a prime location on Washington Avenue, however, it was obvious that the space wouldn't stay shuttered for long. In fact, it didn't take long for the venue to be snatched up by none other than The Opium Group, the Miami entertainment powerhouse that also operates Mansion, SET, and Louis. However, rather than rebrand it with some sort of punchy one word name like Juice or Energy, it maintained the club's established name and presence.
Opting for continuity was probably a good move for The Opium Group, not only because Cameo already has a well-established reputation as one of the flashier, more celeb-studded clubs in South Beach, but also because, well, they didn't actually do much. Despite the three month closure and "extensive renovations", the only major difference between Cameo before and after is the Opium Group tag.
Located in an old Art Deco movie theatre, the club still opts for an old-style Hollywood vibe, but with that overriding spirit of large-scale mega-club commercialism. The place still encourages elitism, with a glass upper-level VIP room providing adequate ivory tower gaping and tight security that weeds out the "undesirables". The lucky few who get to pay the often $25 entrance fee are then allowed the opportunity to sip $15 cocktails while grinding on a sweaty, crowded dance floor filled with beautiful and often famous faces.
Cameo's sneak peak pseudo-relaunch Halloween party featured pornstar Tera Patrick as MC/DJ, and it provides a pretty good indicator of where the club will go from there: sexed up, glamorous, and hard to ignore. New events like One Night Stand, a night specifically for women, have been added to the club's roster, but it's the regular mix of hip hop, house, Top 40, retro, and 80's that continue to be Cameo's bread and butter. Still, achieving this mix of notoriety and longevity is rare for a club on this stretch, and while we still doubt it'll be around in five years, we can thank the Opium Group for ensuring that the infamous haunt has more than just a cameo on Washington Avenue.
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AT A GLANCE
Cameo
1445 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL.
(786) 235-5800
Miami Beach
Venue:
Dance Club
Hours:
Fri. to Sat.: 11:00pm - 5:00am
Price Range:
$$$$ (expensive)
Payment:
American Express, Visa, Mastercard, Cash
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THE BUZZ
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IN THE AREA
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7 Reader Reviews | I have been to Cameo quite a few times and I can tell you it is not worth the hype. The dance floor is tiny, they pack so many people in it's ridiculous and to top it off the bouncers are power hungry and rude. I had a bouncer literally THROW my friend (who was a FEMALE) on the floor and tell her to leave for no reason.
1. Jenn Patek's Review :: October 17, 2008 Jenn Patek's Rating: 1 Stars |
The people who work there would rather stare into space than help you. The attitude was unbelievable!
2. Rick Dennison's Review :: June 20, 2008 Rick Dennison's Rating: 1 Stars |
I tried this spot becuase of martiniboys.com. It's more of a club than restaurant, but it's oozing with all of the essentials. If dining though, just make sure you're in and out by 10:00!
3. Raymond's Review :: June 07, 2008 Raymond's Rating: 3 Stars |
Great music, serious house. Garage and old old house... good times. The crowd knew there music, cheered on some old early house tunes. Very friendly, good looking men and women. The dining room in the back is small but really nice. Not enough place to dance if you want, but it is really more of a lounge. Nice washrooms. $$$$ cover.
4. Anonymous's Review :: May 24, 2008 |
Great music, serious house. Garage and old old house... good times. The crowd knew there music, cheered on some old early house tunes. Very friendly, good looking men and women. The dining room in the back is small but really nice. Not enough place to dance if you want, but it is really more of a lounge. Nice washrooms. $$$$ cover.
5. Rachel Bennett's Review :: May 24, 2008 Rachel Bennett's Rating: 4 Stars |
Cool looking place, over-the-top decor but nice. Went on a Friday. Only problem, not enough seating. Get there early if you want a booth cause if your not there to eat you will end up standing about. Nice bar staff, very friendly guys who take your coat from you and take it to the coat room. Dont be alarmed. Great music, serious house.
6. Anonymous's Review :: May 22, 2008 |
Cool looking place, over-the-top decor but nice. Went on a Friday. Only problem, not enough seating. Get there early if you want a booth cause if your not there to eat you will end up standing about. Nice bar staff, very friendly guys who take your coat from you and take it to the coat room. Dont be alarmed. Great music, serious house.
7. Rachel Langer's Review :: May 22, 2008 Rachel Langer's Rating: 3 Stars |
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1445 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL.
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