Dolores But You Can Call Me Lolita, 1000 S. Miami Ave., Miami; 305-403-3103; doloreslolita.com. Some happy hours are out in the open. Others are hidden from the judgmental eyes of the public. But nary the two shall meet, except here. With more dining and imbibing areas than words in its name, this place offers outdoor, indoor, upstairs, and terrace spaces, plus a backroom for private happy-hour get-togethers. The international fusion menu and cocktails are tasty enough, but Lolita (the name of the downstairs area where happy-hour patrons congregate) makes our list because of the setting: a 1920s historic building that used to house a fire station. That explains the two interior metal poles that are often confused for stripper equipment. Even so, impromptu performances are not prohibited. Happy hour: Sunday through Wednesday 4 to 10 p.m., Thursday 4 to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 4 to 7 p.m. Daily special is half off liquor and beer only. Thursday is $3 Presidente bottles and $6 mojitos.
Mai Tardi, 163 NE 39th St., Miami; 305-572-1400; maitardimiami.com. Got some time to kill before that gallery opens? Stroll to Mai Tardi. You'll never be late. In fact, that's management's whole philosophy: "A place where time is not of the essence." An Italian mosaic mural and 150-year-old white oak tree oversee the goings-on at the 4,000-square-foot terrace, which features a variety of seating options including wicker couches and chairs, pillowed benches, and stiff table chairs. There's a special happy-hour cocktail list that's heavy on the Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine), as you might expect. Bottle beer and wines are also discounted. And with all happy-hour selections, you'll enjoy complimentary tapas or a chef's featured risotto dish. Live music or DJs on most nights. Happy hour: Monday through Friday 5 to 7:30 p.m. Four-dollar bottled beers, $5 glasses of wine, and $6 select cocktails. Free tapas.
C. Stiles
Democratic Republic of Beer
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Sawa Restaurant and Lounge, 360 San Lorenzo Ave., Coral Gables; 305-447-6555; sawarestaurant.com. This place provides a fresh take on happy hour, from setting to cocktails and food. The Mediterranean fusion menu features sushi, kebabs, tapas, à la carte offerings, and a prix fixe special. Van Gogh flavored vodka even hooked up with Sawa to create 22 distinct martinis (try the Cuban colada, cherry on lychees, or Orangina). The lounge is adorned with three-dimensional installations from the artist Chady (3-D glasses come as part of the menu), including a colored-glass piece reminiscent of Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night that serves as the backdrop for the bar. Want more variety? How about partaking of the “hookah on steroids.” That’s where they fill the hookah with your favorite cocktail before you puff. Put that in your pipe and smoke it! Happy hour: Monday through Friday 4 to 7 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday 11 p.m. to closing. Flavored vodka drinks go for $5.50, with other cocktails, wine, and beer under $5.
Phone Happy
Technology has improved nearly every aspect of our lives, and now it's been applied to mankind's greatest venture: the search for cheap drinks. Village Voice Media — this paper's parent company — and GoTime.com have partnered to bring you Happy Hours, a smart-phone application for finding drink specials wherever you are and whenever you're looking.
Your phone tells the app your location, you specify special happy-hour needs, and — voila — you get a detailed list of every happy hour around, including what's cheap and when it ends. The list is sorted by distance from your location, and you can turn your phone sideways for a Google map of the nearest picks. Can't decide which one to try? Give the phone a good shake, and the app will randomly select a happy hour for you.
Almost 20,000 happy hours in dozens of cities are covered. The data comes from GoTime's extensive database as well as business owners and users. And in the 14 cities with Village Voice Media alt-weeklies, it's like a native guide: Recommendations from our editorial staff — the people who live and breathe the city's nightlife — are integrated into the app.
Native apps are available for the iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry, but you can still get in on the fun even if you don't have a smart phone. Just point your phone's web browser to GoTime.com, and you can get the same info. And no matter what platform you use, it's all free — so you can save your money for that last half-price mojito or two-for-one beer special of the night. Cory Casciato
