-
846 Lincoln Road Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-534-3600
http://www.thevandykecafe.com Sibling to the News Café sisters, this open-air eatery is the quintessential sidewalk café. Order up some people-watching along with your thick, fluffy quiches, your platter of pté and Brie, your whole-wheat pizza. No matter what you choose from the comprehensive menu, you'll no doubt be amused by the constant Lincoln Road parade. Or take in the live jazz upstairs. Outdoor seating. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. More >>
-
6550 Bird Road Miami, FL 33155
786-264-5704
-
145 N. Miami Ave. Miami, FL 33128
786-375-5156
http://www.thevaultmiami.com Soho-style trendy Miami gay bar with spice. That should make sense. If it doesn't, oh well. There is an actual vault in this venue, thus the name. If you are gay, straight, or whatever, check it out. More >>
-
221 NE 17th St. Miami, FL 33132
305-416-5280
http://www.villa221.com/Villa/Villa221.html Villa 221 is a multifaceted event space, and weekend party hangout. Between hosting weddings, after parties, and bar friendly food truck events, there are beer pong competitions, and one-off club nights. The decor is impeccable, chic, and luxury based. The location is very central in the city of Miami, and adjacent to the 14th street club corridor, and the downtown entertainment district. More >>
-
8102 SW 81st Drive South Miami, FL 33143
305-273-6123
http://www.villagetavern.net With its comfy dark wood and brown brick décor, this neighborhood dwelling gives off a serious Cheers-esque vibe owing to lively weekly events such as poker nights on Wednesdays and karaoke on Thursdays. Swing by every other Monday to catch live-feed football courtesy of 790 The Ticket, or check out Saturday night's live acoustic set, where mellow Miami-based bands cover radio-friendly tunes that range from Dave Matthews to Steely Dan. Along with the variety of entertainment, the bar offers traditional American bar food such as wings, mozzarella sticks, nachos, and hamburgers, all of which nicely accompany a frosty pint of suds. Also on the menu, and staying true to the tavern's multicultural locale, are ceviche, fritas, churrasco, and mini pan con lechon sandwiches. But if you have a sophisticated palate and your service standards are high, you might want to look elsewhere. Waitresses, although friendly and attractive, usually suggest chicken fingers when asked for recommendations and tend to have difficulty discerning the difference between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir. More >>
-
139 NE 39th St. Miami, FL 33137
305-573-0707
http://www.vinoeolio.com Andrea Menichetti has a solid culinary background, but at his new 220-seat Tuscan restaurant in the Design District, he is sabotaged by inconsistent preparation. Take the butternut squash soup with wild mushrooms and house-made ricotta cheese. It would have been a lot better had the texture not been that of a thick purée - and if it was served piping hot rather than lukewarm. Or take an intriguing combo of eggplant parmesan and sweetbreads, slices of each layered with tomato sauce and parmesan cheese and topped with melted burrata cheese. It turned out to be a poorly prepared pileup of old, dry flavors. Succulent wedges of roast pork, however, rolled with fennel and slowly cooked for 12 hours, were so moist and packed with authentic, delectable country Italian flavor that one wonders why more of the food isn't this good. Kudos to Menichetti for presenting distinctive regional Tuscan fare - even desserts are uniquely Italian - but at a cost of $16 to $19 for appetizers; $18 to $22 for pastas; $28 to $34 for entrées; and $8 to $12 for desserts, Vino & Olio is not even close to where it should be. More >>
-
3301 NE 1st Ave. Miami, FL 33137
305-514-0307
http://www.vintageliquor.com This little spot is part wine bar and part liquor store. Guests can take a seat at the chic mini-bar or relax outside on the patio. The lounge features a large silver couch, glass tabletops, and fresh orchids. Vintage also boasts more than 800 selections of wine and a local sommelier on hand to guide guests through the dizzying options. In the winetasting room, there's a unique dispenser activated by a card that can be filled in increments of $20 to buy wine by the glass. The venue plans to host a variety of tasting and pairing events and is developing a newsletter. The original Vintage Liquor and Wine Bar is located in Pinecrest. More >>
-
3215 NE Second Ave. Miami, FL 33137
305-381-5015
http://www.vladabar.com Squeezed between downtown and the Design District, VMidtown is the only gay anything in midtown Miami. It's also the most relaxed gay club in the county. Inside the inconspicuous space on NE 2nd, there's a generous bar and a small dance floor where on "Rewind Saturdays" lots of '80s music is played. Most gather in the big seating area outside, where on any given weekend there are so many guests, the sound of martini glasses threatens to drown out the clinking of crack pipes coming from around the neighborhood. While Twist is a bridge away and Discotekka has a steep cover, VMidtown is unpretentious and cover-free. More >>
-
111 SW Second Ave. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
954-522-0733
http://www.voodooloungeflorida.com For those who prefer to run with the beautiful people but don't want to make that long drive south, the Lounge is probably their best hope. It's all here, from the skimpily clad ladies to the slicked-hair, gold-chain-wearing men to the hipsters with attitude to the VIP bottle service. More >>
-
66 SW Sixth St. Miami, FL 33130
786-351-5220
http://www.fabiangentertainment.com It's pronounced voy-yaj -- and if that wasn't intrusive enough, it takes over everyone's favorite place, Bricks. Yeah, right. But seriously though, Voyage is brought to you by Eric Major and Omar Rosario. If those names mean nothing to you, know this: they were involved with the creation of such gems as Park West, Pawn Shop, Level, Warehouse, Crobar, and Dolce. Look out the "VIP card" system, which is meant to get the local crowd coming back -- and should mean excellent service for you. More >>
-
18474 NW 67th Ave. Hialeah, FL 33015
305-826-4988
-
860 Ocean Drive Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-531-7684
http://www.room-matehotels.com/eng/roommatehotel/home_general.php
-
2201 Collins Ave. Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-938-3131
http://www.wallmiami.com The entrance to Wall Lounge is located right outside the garden at the W Hotel on South Beach. Design elements include light shows on the walls, frosted glass doors in the bathrooms, and high ceilings. There's not much of a dance floor, but it's called a lounge for a reason. It is so small it does not merit a VIP: It is the VIP. This factor made it the New Times winner of the 2010 "Best Place to See Celebrities." Jessica Alba, Gabrielle Union, the All American Rejects, Erykah Badu, Swizz Beatz, Jamie Foxx, Jason Binn, and Selita Ebanks are just a few of the celebrities who have walked through WALL's infamous doors. Other guest sightings have been rumored, but unless the press snaps a picture, they're almost impossible to confirm. More >>
-
565 NW 27th St. Miami, FL 33127
-
4060 NW 132nd St. Opa Locka, FL 33054
305-687-6379
-
3969 NE 163rd St. North Miami Beach, FL 33160-4125
305-944-8411
http://www.thewaterclubmiami.com The Water Club occupies a 27,500-square-foot renovated space in North Miami Beach formerly home to Shooters. It offers lovely views of the Intracoastal and dock space for 50 boats. The menu - created by former Top Chef contestant Andrea Curto-Randazzo and husband Frank Randazzo, who co-owned Talula - relies on applying twists to American classics, from raw-bar items and burgers to five cuts of steak. There's a wine lounge, an indoor dining room, a lounge, and an indoor bar with several flat-screen TV sets. The best seats in the house, however, are on the outdoor deck, which features a second bar and a swimming pool complete with cabanas. Appetizers run from $9 to $14 and include a starter of steamed top neck clams and Prince Edward Island mussels nicely flavored by a broth of beer and citrus. There are also sandwiches, including a house-smoked pastrami with chicken liver pté and Gruyère, and the "hang-over" burger, which is topped with a fried egg. Entrées ($14 to $22) consist of three fish, two chicken, one pork, and two pasta dishes, as well as the meat. The eatery offers many options, but it works best as a place to sit outside with a burger and a cold brew while watching boats sail into the sunset. More >>
-
1248 Washington Ave. Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-534-7824
http://www.waxys.com We love Waxy O' Connor's red leather booths, friendly bartenders, and the dozen large HDTV sets that are always tuned to ESPN. But what the hell makes it an "Irish Pub"? And why is Playwright "Irish Pub" right across the street? Mind you, these are the only two "Irish Pubs" on South Beach. You know what? Who gives a rat's ass. Gimme another Guinness! More >>
-
690 SW 1st Court Miami, FL 33130
786-871-7660
http://www.waxysmiami.com Boy, if those folks who have been hanging out at Fort Lauderdale's Waxy O'Connors for years got a glimpse of Miami's mint riverfront version, they would definitely make the schlep on a regular basis. (Most of them would probably do so by boat, too, which would be totally cool because this riverfront spot has free boat slips. Alas, Lauderdale's does not.) The sexier, sassier young sister not only boasts a gorgeous view of the Miami River, but also somehow pulls off authenticity despite its pristine sheen. Cutout dark-wood trim and stained-glass partitions, substantially spongy booths, a pool table with a red-felt surface, gobs of flat-screens, and glass-enclosed cases displaying artifacts assist the effort, while the sticky tabletops remind you that even new places can display signs of frequent lovin'. Chances are, most folks here probably come after work to down a few pints of Guinness, some Irish whiskey, or single-malt Scotch outside at the tables with barrel-shaped pedestals and to listen to live music three nights a week. (And no, not all performances are U2 tributes.) Sop up the sounds with a few forkfuls of shepherd's pie ($11.95), corned beef and cabbage ($12.95), or bangers and mash ($12.95) if you're full-on hungry. Or try a rustic flatbread (the $11.95 Irish bacon and three mushroom is killer) or a bowl of potato-leek soup for a pittance ($4.50). Die-hard Miamians can also go the less adventurous route, with items such as ceviche, mahi-mahi tropical salad, skirt steak, and key lime gelato. The only downfall to this hot spot is that it is relatively tough to find, because the only visible sign from the street is a glowing red moniker. You'll have to meander to the back of the Neo Vertika building to find this pot of gold, but you can bet your leprechaun ass it's well worth the hunting. More >>
-
444 W. 41st St. Miami Beach, FL 33140
305-532-1312
http://www.thewellmb.com What happens when Shareef Malnik from The Forge teams up with Buzzy Sklar from Burger&Beer Joint to create an upscale neighborhood bar? The Well, a 4,000 square foot venue with three rooms, a massive stone fireplace, stained glass ceiling, and dark mahogany bars. The Well hosts public and private events, has an extensive drink menu, and serves small plates. More >>
-
1728 SW 8th St. Miami, FL 33135
305-244-3069
http://www.wetbarmiami.com
-
760 Ocean Drive Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-532-5650
http://www.wetwillies.com The bar at Wet Willie's offers a wide selection of blended alcoholic beverages that are prepared behind the counter in slushy style. Patrons can plop down on the first floor, but the seating on the second-floor deck provides a view of the street and beach. The atmosphere is laid-back and fun, with quirky spray-painted walls, some featuring penguins. Wet Willie's strength lies in its frozen drinks, most notably the Call-a-Cab ($10 for large), made with diesel 153 grain alcohol, rum, and cherry flavoring. Also popular is the Superman ($10 for large), a mix of Call-a-Cab and Shock Treatment (same as Call-a-Cab but with lemonade flavoring). The best dishes here are appetizers such as chicken strips and fries ($9.95), consisting of fried boneless tenders served with Willie's own sweet-and-spicy barbecue sauce and chive-honey mustard sauce. Other typical items include fish fingers and fries ($9.95), made from white fish and served with Cajun tartar sauce. Service is friendly. Willie's is ideal for capping off a relaxing day at the beach or complementing a night out at South Beach clubs. More >>
-
5700 Seminole Way Hollywood, FL 33314
954-981-5653
-
2016 Northeast 155th St. North Miami, FL 33162
305-956-9282
http://www.wherehouse2016.com This non traditional party and event space is fully muralized within. Every inch of floor, wall, and even ceiling space is covered in paint. Although it is not a traditional club, the Wherehouse regularly throws events of all kinds. The facility is available for rental and hosts everything for Bar Mitzvahs to Superbowl parties. It is a visually exciting place for good times. More >>
-
401 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
954-414-8300
http://www.gerberbars.com
-
1903 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, FL 33020
954-925-2555
http://www.whiskeytangofl.com
