Miami is known as a bit of a party city, which means that if you’re coming to Miami for any reason, whether you’re in Miami for a day or planning a full Miami vacation, going out to a bar can be a bit intimidating. How do you find the best Miami bars? How do you know which bars offer the best local food? Which are good for a date night?
To help you find the best Miami bars, from Miami Beach to downtown Miami, Wynwood Miami, and everything in between. We pulled together a list of our favorite bars in Miami, tested and tried by travelers and locals alike.
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Miami Outdoor Bars
What’s better than sipping on a cocktail, glass of wine, or brew while the ocean breeze blows in your hair as you watch the sunset over Miami’s skyline? Not much. Here are the best Miami outdoor bars.
1. Casa Florida
If you are looking for a unique outdoor bar, head to Casa Florida, a hip spot with vintage furniture (including a vintage bus!) located in Little Havana.
If you did want to sit indoors, you can sit inside the vintage bus, which is super-cool, but in the post-pandemic age of travel, most people are just more comfortable sitting outside. Don’t miss trying the Old Fashiorange, which is a mix of a creamsicle and an Old Fashioned.
2. Broken Shaker
One of the best bars in Miami Beach, Broken Shaker sits within the Freehand Miami, a hip hostel. Just head right inside the hotel entrance and you’ll easily find this outdoor oasis, which, by hostel standards, boasts some amazing service. If it’s attentive care you prefer, you’ll get it here.
But on to the drinks (and the food, of course). Grab craft cocktails on the patio. Favorites include the Classic Randy (gin, grapefruit, citrus, and soda) and the Thought Adjuster (rye, mango, citrus, and red wine). The Broken Shaker also offers a commendable dining menu, with small bites like street tacos and sandwiches.
3. Lagniappe
A TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice bar for 2020, Lagniappe is technically a wine bar, with drinks and small bites served in a garden-style, mature setting lit with fairy lights.
You’ll catch some live music if you’re lucky and, overall, this bar is a great spot if you don’t want anything wild or crazy — just a chill, low-key spot to enjoy some drinks and music in the great outdoors.
Best Miami Rooftop Bars
See the best views of all of Miami, from these top Miami rooftop bars.
4. Serena Rooftop
Tucked above the Moxy Miami South Beach hotel, the Serena is a practically brand-new rooftop bar, only opening in 2020. Be one of the first of your traveling friends to try this huge outdoor space, which feels more like a private backyard than a bar.
Grab one of the specialty drinks, like the Miami Parrot (union mezcal, mint, pineapple, agave, lime) and sit back and relax.
5. Area 31
Positioned atop Kimpton Epic Hotel in downtown, Area 31 offers both indoor and outdoor dining, with an outdoor lounge 16 stories above downtown Miami. It’s a great pick for a Miami happy hour, serving a Mediterranean menu and great views of Biscayne Bay alongside all your favorite classic cocktails.
6. Sugar
Also in Brickell, Sugar is a fun spot situated on the 40th floor of the EAST Miami hotel. Both the cocktails and the tapas menu are Asian-inspired, for a new taste with classic views.
For an extra-special date night in Miami, hit up both Area 31 and Sugar, and book a room in either of the hotels for a convenient overnight stay.
Best South Beach and Miami Beach Dive Bars
Some of the best bars in Miami Beach and South Beach are dive bars. That’s right — not the luxury hotel bars or the clubs, but the dive bars.
But, as anyone who’s been in any dive bar knows, finding a great dive bar is a little like finding a needle in a haystack. Everything has to be just right for an excellent dive bar experience. Luckily, the best South Beach Miami bars deliver.
7. Mac’s Club Deuce
Claiming its spot as one of the oldest bars in Miami, established in 1926, Mac’s Club Deuce is a classic and a must-visit. Celebs know it. Playboy knows it. Dare we say it’s one of the best dive bars in all of America?
Visit and make up your own mind; you’ll find great, affordable drinks in a fun, dive atmosphere. Just be prepared to bring a little cash, as cards aren’t accepted.
8. Lost Weekend
This huge pub with soaring ceilings is part sports bar, part dive bar, and part pool hall. Drinks are affordable. The food is good — especially after a night of drinking. And, you won’t feel like you fell into a tourist trap when you set foot in the door.
Hang out next to in-the-know tourists and locals alike, and enjoy the lack of high-brow snobbery. If you come by on a Thursday, you might be lucky enough to catch one of the regular poker events.
9. On the Rocks
Rounding out our trio of best bars in Miami Beach, On the Rocks is as dive-y as it gets. The lights are low. The walls are covered. The beer is cheap. The crowd is loud and a little raucous.
This is the place to go after a day at the beach when you don’t necessarily want to spend hours getting ready, washing the sunscreen from your skin, and knocking the sand from your shoes.
Local Favorite Miami Bars
If you don’t want to rub elbows with other travelers, head to one of these three favorite Miami bars that are sure to please.
10. The Anderson
In Little Haiti, The Anderson is an icon and an absolute favorite. More of a neighborhood restaurant than simply a bar, go here for nights when you want to imbibe heavily but also sample a local gem. Enjoy outdoor-indoor dining, a huge drink menu, live music, and even a burlesque show or two. Try the tacos and tequila.
11. Sweet Liberty Drink & Supply Co.
Another one of the best bars in Miami Beach and one of the top South Beach Miami bars, Sweet Liberty is more a favorite with the locals than with the many tourists that you’ll find in the South Beach-Miami Beach area.
Right next to the Bass Art Museum, the bar has an industrial, modern feel and a creative menu. The ambiance is just a little on the higher-end side, but without being over the top. Stop by during happy hour for affordable beer and wine, as well as 95-cent oysters.
12. The Abbey Brewing Company
This brewery is the place to go in Miami Beach for beers handcrafted right on-site, as well as a whiskey or two. Award-winning and low-key, the bar and brewery also serve light bites and great music, in a very casual setting. Make sure to grab a few pics of the stained glass and other appropriately themed decors.
Looking for where to drink craft beer in the Magic City? Here’s an inside look at our favorite Miami breweries.
Best Miami Bars with Drag Shows
These best bars in Miami Beach and top South Beach Miami bars offer stellar drag shows.
13. Palace Bar
Located within South Beach’s Art Deco Historic District, Palace Bar & Restaurant has been around for more than 30 years, and it’s been named the top drag bar and restaurant in Miami Beach, as well as the top LGBTQ+ destination in Miami Beach.
Catch the drag shows on the weekend but stop by anytime for all-day breakfast and bar food, perfect for soaking up any extra alcohol in your stomach from a previous night of partying.
14. Kill Your Idol
Relatively new — at least compared to Palace Bar — Kill Your Idol opened about 10 years ago and has been thrilling travelers with its nonstop entertainment and affordable happy hour deals since.
One of the best bars in Miami Beach for music, DJ sets, and, of course, drag shows, this is the place to party when you’re looking for something new and different on the Miami party scene. Drag night is every Monday!
Best Sports Bars in Miami
If you’re serious about your sports and, when the big game is on, you only want to go somewhere that will allow you to watch the game in the utmost comfort and the best atmosphere filled with other fans, try one of these best sports bars in Miami.
15. American Social
American Social claims it’s the best sports bar in all of Miami and if it’s not, it’s definitely a top contender. The gastropub with waterfront views offers updated comfort food, like mac and cheese with black truffles, cave-aged gruyere, and Vermont cheddar.
This is a good sports bar pick if one person in your party desperately wants to watch the game, while another person just wants to have a great time at an awesome restaurant, as the experiences are pretty well balanced.
16. Black Market
First up, try one of the best downtown Miami bars period, Black Market. A more upscale sports bar, this is also a good pick if you have a date night in Miami with a fellow sports lover, as it’s not a dive, but the walls are still covered with HD TVs playing the top games and matches. Grab a gourmet burger and a craft beer and you’re set.
17. Grails Sports Bar
Think you have to head indoors just to enjoy the game? That’s not the case with Grails Restaurant & Bar. This unique sports bar lets you enjoy outdoor dining, but outdoor televisions mean you never have to miss a second of the game, just because you want to take advantage of the warm Miami temperatures and the ocean breeze.
One of the coolest parts, though? The cocktail menu has a sneaker theme, and you can order cocktails served in sneakers (we promise it’s not as gross as you might think).
18. Flanigan’s Seafood Bar & Grill
This is a sports bar that you may have spotted before. The Flanigan’s brand can be found throughout South Florida. But whatever location you try, if you stop into the Miami bar, you’ll find a lively atmosphere, pub-style eats, plenty of televisions, and friendly local service.
Latin Bars in Miami
When you’re really craving authentic Latin food in Miami, alongside some amazing tequila and mezcal, grab a seat at one of these best bars in the city.
19. Don Diablo Speakeasy at El Santo
El Santo is the restaurant and taqueria, and Don Diablo is the speakeasy-style tequila bar. Neighborhood locals love it, travelers go there for the great nightlife. Whatever your reason, make tracks stat for this Little Havana Miami hot spot. The vibe is upscale, the atmosphere is totally social media-worthy, and the food is delicious, too.
20. Cubaocho Museum & Performing Arts Center
Cubaocho is so much more than a bar. This Little Havana locale is also a live music venue, research library, performing arts space, and miniature art museum home to 19th-century and 20th-century Cuban art — and it all centers around a great selection of rum. Find all your favorite rum-based cocktails, plus some Cuban-style eats.
Who’s Ready to Party?
Whether you’re seeking a downtown Miami bar where you can watch the big game, a South Beach Miami bar where you can party the night away, or a quieter bar where you can enjoy a date night in Miami, you can find it all among our top picks for the best Miami watering holes.