Moving to Miami? This lively city is known for its nightlife, but only locals know where to find the true gems. Whether you want a beer after work or a romantic rooftop cocktail, the best bars in Miami are spread across every major neighborhood and full of world-class drink options. Check out the sixteen sweetest to start planning your weekends now.
At Miami's best wine bar, wine angels descend from the heavens and it isn't even the best part. When you order a bottle at Cibo Wine Bar, a server known as a "wine angel" will retrieve it from a two-story glass case while suspended from the ceiling. The spectacle is fun to watch, but the wine itself is the real treasure: this South Beach spot has more than 3,500 different wines and a very knowledgeable waitstaff. Check out the original Cibo if you live closer to Coral Gables.
Cibo Wine Bar
200 S Pointe Drive
(305) 987-6060
Yelp: 4 stars, 177 reviews
Miami's best beer bar is actually a brewery's tap room, but don't mistake its simplicity for basic flavors. A rotating roster of beers are brewed on site, including seasonal varietals and strong pale ales, and a diverse mix of locals enjoy extras like brewery tours, board games, and laid-back bartenders. It's no wonder there are so many regulars who live in the Wynwood Arts District; draft beer is 25% off if your zip code is 33137 or 33127.
Wynwood Brewing Company
565 NW 24th Street
(305) 982-8732
Yelp: 4 stars, 156 reviews
The no-frills name says it all. The Burger & Beer Joint is a local institution that sticks to the basics instead of jumping on trends, and that includes plenty of sports-themed memorabilia and a generous helping of big-screen TVs for sports fans. Gourmet burgers are the main attraction for many tourists, but locals come here to cheer on their favorite teams over beers and margaritas.
Burger & Beer Joint
1766 Bay Road
(305) 672-3287
Yelp: 4 stars, 688 reviews
Miami's best whiskey bar is tucked into a glamorous five-star hotel, right across from the Brickell Key bridge. The MO Bar + Lounge, which sits in a glass box atop the Mandarin Oriental Miami, is the best bar in the city for top-shelf whiskey and other world-class cocktail ingredients. Just ask the Miami natives who slip past tourists all week long for happy hour in this scenic spot! When your bartender whips up a whiskey sour with egg whites and red wine, and you will see why locals make an exception for this hotel bar.
MO Bar + Lounge
500 Brickell Key Drive
(305) 913-8358
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 15 reviews
This unassuming Coconut Grove wine bar is a favorite after-work drink spot for Miami commuters. A mixture of a store and a bar, Happy Wine is a quirky and down-to-earth space with special happy hour deals from 4 to 7 PM. Shared seating puts everyone in a social mood and makes it easy to forget about your cubicle time before heading home.
Happy Wine
2833 Bird Avenue
(305) 460-9939
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 111 reviews
The term "dive bar" was created for places like Mac's Club Deuce. Miami's oldest and most infamous bar, Mac's is open until 5 am and has 9 hours of happy hour specials every day. Celebrities have been known to appear in this legendary combination of club and bar, which is just rough enough to keep tiki-seeking tourists away.
Mac's Club Deuce
222 14th Street
(305) 531-6200
Yelp: 4 stars, 192 reviews
Collins Avenue is lined with lounges that mix creative cocktails, but The Broken Shaker is the clear winner. Tucked inside the Freehand Miami on a bayfront side street, this craft cocktail bar is perfect for serious liquor connoisseurs. Every handcrafted cocktail is influenced by a collaboration with Bar Lab, and bartenders are true mixologists who can personalize a drink just for you.
The Broken Shaker
2727 Indian Creek Drive
(305) 531-2727
Yelp: 4 stars, 415 reviews
Sips and sounds make a perfect pairing at Lagniappe, the best live music bar in Miami. Named after a Creole term for small gifts, Lagniappe is technically a bar, but it has liquor store prices, living room furnishings, and a backyard that hosts live music acts straight out of New Orleans. Relax to jazz and blues masterpieces at Lagniappe.
Lagniappe
3425 NE 2nd Avenue
(305) 576-0108
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 336 reviews
Dozens of rooftop, poolside, and waterfront bars take advantage of Miami's gorgeous climate, but the most beautiful outdoor space is definitely the Sunset Lounge at the Mondrian. The bay does all the work, providing panoramic sunset views while you sip handcrafted drinks.
Sunset Lounge
1100 W Avenue
(305) 514-1941
Yelp: 4 stars, 33 reviews
The Regent is a throwback to 1920's-style bars within the Gale Hotel. If you want to treat yourself to a bar that's expensive and worth it, look no further than this luxurious lounge.
The Regent Cocktail Club
1690 Collins Avenue
(789) 975-2555
Yelp: 4 stars, 99 reviews
The Foxhole is the definitive local joint for Miami natives. Open past sunrise, the Foxhole has darts and pool, super cheap happy hour specials, and a vibrant crowd of friendly locals who have been coming here for years.
Foxhole
1218 14th Court
(305) 534-3511
Yelp: 3.5 stars, 124 reviews
Every day is spring break at the Clevelander, Miami's best day drinking spot. The C-Level is the Clevelander's rooftop bar and restaurant, and clubgoers line up on weekends to drink amid panoramic views of the water. Poolside parties are even more popular, with drink specials all week long.
The Clevelander
1020 Ocean Drive
(877) 532-4006
Yelp: 3.5 stars, 750 reviews
Miami's best first date bar is a playful, high-energy venue that has become a bona fide South Beach treasure. It's hard to go wrong with a bar that combines dinner, drinks, dancing, and live entertainment all in one colorful, convenient place.
Mango's Tropical Cafe
900 Ocean Drive
(305) 673-4422
Yelp: 3.5 stars, 800 reviews
Fresh fruit is a Floridian must, and Under the Mango Tree juices some of the freshest in the city. This organic juice bar is a great place to drink non-alcoholic delicacies.
Under the Mango Tree
714 6th Street
(786) 558-5103
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 200 reviews
The best LGBT bar in Miami is also the oldest. The Palace is home to some of the most talented drag queens in South Beach, where high-budget drag shows have captivated locals for more than 25 years. The Palace is near TWIST, another favorite among the local LGBT crowd.
The Palace
1200 Ocean Drive
Yelp: 4 stars, 202 reviews
100 different kinds of rum are available at Miami's best new bar, which hasn't exploded quite yet but will probably do so soon. The promising Rum Line is a hotel lounge tucked into the heart of the city, and it's already turning heads for its impressive drink selection. During the bar's first year, Time Out Miami ranked it among the 20 best bars in Miami and Miami New Times gave it their annual best cocktails award.
The Rum Line
1601 Collins Avenue
(305) 695-0110
Yelp: 4 stars, 23 reviews
