Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Company photo
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Out of the hundreds of bars in the country, one Miami staple just proved what locals have known all along. Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Company is in a league of its own.
In its list of the best bars in America, Food & Wine ranked Sweet Liberty among the top ten in the U.S. The list was shaped by more than 400 industry experts, from chefs to travel writers. Landing at No. 9 on the list feels both major and completely expected. It’s won not one, not two, but seven “Miami New Times Best Of“ awards alone. Some of these include Best Bar Food in 2024 and Best Bar (Miami Beach) in 2022.
Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Company photo
A National Nod That Feels Personal
Miami has no shortage of bars, but ask anyone who truly appreciates craft cocktails, and the conversation quickly narrows. Sweet Liberty is always mentioned — and for good reason.
Founded in 2015, the South Beach bar has never tried to be anything other than what it is. It’s fun, welcoming, and a little chaotic in the best way. While some bars lean into exclusivity, the current wave of America’s best bars is shifting toward something more genuine. Sweet Liberty fits that mold perfectly, pairing serious drinks with an unpretentious, come-as-you-are energy that keeps people coming back.
New Times readers already know the deal. The bar is one of Miami’s Top 50 Bars Right Now. The accolades have never really stopped; they’ve just gotten bigger.
Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Company photo
Built on Legacy and “Pursue Happiness”
Since opening in 2015, Sweet Liberty has carried a deeper meaning than most late-night spots. Founded by the late John Lermayer alongside restaurateur David Martinez and bar veteran Dan Binkiewicz, the bar quickly became a cornerstone of Miami’s modern cocktail scene.
Even after Lermayer’s passing in 2018, his presence remains everywhere. From the neon “Pursue Happiness” sign to its wonderful bartenders, the spot has stayed true to itself.
That philosophy has helped Sweet Liberty do something many bars never manage: stay relevant without losing its soul. More than a decade in, it’s still packed for happy hour, still buzzing at last call, and still feels like the place you end up, whether you planned to or not.
Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Company photo
More Than Just Drinks
Part of the magic is that Sweet Liberty never treated food like an afterthought. From day one, Michelle Bernstein helped shape a menu that could stand on its own. That includes the now-famous “Michy’s Fried Chicken Sandwich,” which landed on a global list of the world’s most iconic sandwiches in 2025.
It is the kind of detail that explains why this bar keeps showing up on lists that go far beyond Miami. You can come for a perfectly balanced cocktail, stay for one of the best sandwiches in the city, and somehow end up dancing before the night is over.
Photo by Anthony Nader/52 Chefs
Miami Keeps Raising the Bar
But Sweet Liberty isn’t alone on the national stage this month. Just two weeks ago, Bar Kaiju, the neon-lit cocktail den tucked inside the Citadel in Little River, landed at No. 70 on North America’s 50 Best Bars list. This placed it among the top 100 bars on the continent. The ranking, voted on by hundreds of industry experts, spans cities across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Together, these accolades paint a clear picture. From legacy institutions like Sweet Liberty to boundary-pushing newcomers like Bar Kaiju, Miami’s craft cocktail bar scene is thriving.
To read more about Sweet Liberty or to discover other cocktail spots, visit the Top 50 Bars in Miami.
Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Company. 237 20th St., Ste. B, Miami Beach; 305-763-8217; mysweetliberty.com.
