The best bars in Miami
Sweet Liberty is one of the best bars in Miami
Miami has grown up over the last decade to offer a bar scene with everything from sophisticated cocktail haunts to local dive bars. Soak up an early evening on the tropical patio of the Broken Shaker in South Beach and sip on some of the city's most creative cocktails or bar hop through mural-splashed Wynwood to find hipster haunts where craft beer and a lively scene go hand in hand.
Find a bar by area:
- South Beach
- Downtown
- Wynwood
- Little Havana
South Beach
The Broken Shaker
Just north of the South Beach fray, The Broken Shaker is a laid-back, outdoor lounge in a palm tree-lined courtyard with string lighting overhead and eclectic patio furniture. The creative cocktail menu changes constantly and features fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs and homemade syrups, infusions and bitters. The bar typically draws a big crowd on weekend nights, and it’s also enjoyable for a relaxing midweek cocktail around sunset when it’s easy to snag a table and relax.
Prices: ££
The Broken Shaker is a laid-back, outdoor lounge in a palm tree-lined courtyard with string lighting overhead and eclectic patio furniture
Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Company
Sweet Liberty has a strong following amongst South Beach locals, owing to its cocktail program by homegrown mixology vanguard, the late great John Lermayer. The airy, high-ceilinged space has a subtropical-industrial vibe softened by palm tree-patterned wallpaper and a warm, wooden bar with big booths lining the opposite wall. It’s a laid-back neighbourhood spot that manages to kick the energy up as the night goes on with an eclectic lineup of DJs and live music that gets revelers on the dance floor. There’s also a tasty food menu, with highlights including cauliflower nachos doused in a pungent cheese sauce, fire-roasted cauliflowers and pomegranate seeds.
Prices: ££
Mac's Club Deuce
This classic South Beach dive is the antithesis of what one expects from a night on the town in Miami. It's dark and shadowy with a jukebox and pool tables, and is open virtually around the clock for a hard drinking set (drinks are two for one from 8am to 5pm). Founded by the late Mac Klein, a Second World War vet from New York City, it’s considered to be Miami’s oldest bar – it opened in 1964. The late bad boy travel writer and chef Anthony Bourdain loved the bar's grittiness. The 1980s TV show Miami Vice also shot scenes here.
Prices: £
The 1980s television show Miami Vice shot scenes at Mac's Club Deuce
Brother’s Keeper
Beyond a set of ice block windows on Alton Road, Brother’s Keeper is a South Beach dive bar by local hospitality group Lost Boy & Co. The façade is your first indication that it trades heavily on Miami Vice-era nostalgia. Once inside, tropical fish tanks are set behind the purple neon-lit bar and wicker jai alai baskets serve as decor, all reflected back on the opposite mirror-panelled wall. With both a pool table and dart board, there are plenty of diversions. The menu places equal emphasis on martinis as it does beer. The rest of the cocktails are boozy and creative with frozen mai tais and piña coladas on tap. It’s an equally appropriate spot for one last drink – or your first stop on a big night out in South Beach.
Prices: ££
Downtown
The Corner
Located on a cosy corner in downtown Miami, The Corner serves potent, expertly mixed cocktails. It’s easy to lose track of time here, especially since the place stays open until 7am on weekends. There’s a warm, wooden bar, high ceilings, exposed wood beams and seating indoors and outside on the sidewalk. A vast, interesting choice of beers and classic cocktails feature on the menu and the selection of artisanal sandwiches comes in handy to soak up some of the booze. The vibe is more New Orleans than Miami – there's often live jazz.
Prices: ££
It’s easy to lose track of time at The Corner, especially with an 8am closing time at weekends
Wynwood
Lagniappe House
Lagniappe is a laid-back outdoor bar slightly off the beaten path in midtown Miami. When you walk in, it feels more like a wine shop than wine bar. Purchase your bottle from the shelves, along with cheese and charcuterie. They’ll uncork the bottle for you and provide you with cups while, ideally, someone else in your party is scouting out a table in the large backyard patio. There’s also a grill where you can order barbecue. Best of all, there’s live music every night. One of the regular acts, The French Horn, plays jazz standards and gypsy classics with a Parisian flair.
Prices: ££
Lagniappe House is a laid-back outdoor bar with a barbecue and live music every night
Gramps
There’s a little bit of everything rolled into Gramps. There’s a spacious outdoor patio for mixing and mingling with a bar and a window to order pizza. Inside the main bar, there’s a retro, diner-style vibe with big booths, a well-edited cocktail menu and plenty of craft beer choices. Another door leads to a room for live music, usually experimental rock bands and occasional comics. In short, there’s something for everyone and it’s immensely popular amongst a local crowd. A night out at Gramps can be as laid back or as weird as you want it to be.
Prices: £
Little Havana
Ball & Chain
Breathing fresh life into historic Little Havana, the 1930s Ball & Chain concert hall opened anew after a loving restoration. The result is a luscious dark wood-panelled bar with deep green accents and a whiff of Old Havana, all designed for Miami’s modern revellers. There’s also an unexpected outdoor garden. Once a venue where Chet Baker, Billie Holiday and Count Basie performed, today’s Ball & Chain honours its history with an entertainment line-up that covers jazz ensembles and salsa dancing. Inventive and classic cocktails are on offer as well as a tapas menu.
Prices: ££
Ball & Chain honours its history with an entertainment line-up that covers jazz ensembles and salsa dancing
How we choose
Every bar, venue or experience in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from casual pubs to exquisite cocktail bars – to best suit every type of traveller – and consider the service, drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations.
About our expert
Shayne Benowitz has called South Beach home since 2010. She loves the city’s blend of subtropical beauty and international cosmopolitan flair.
Destination expert Shayne Benowitz
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