From beer halls to sports bars to romantic lounges and classic dives, we present Miami's Top 100 institutions of higher imbibing.
Miami’s old-fashioned cocktail bars, dives, and wine bars blend harmoniously with the Magic City’s snazzy new craft-cocktail bars, vinyl-listening bars, and glitzy rooftop bars because each species serves the same purpose: to bring together a community.
Even in a city that seems to grow by the minute, and one in which word of new arrivals spreads on Instagram or TikTok, these establishments offer more than libations. They’re communal spaces where locals and visitors alike converge to unwind, celebrate, and sometimes even partake in meaningful conversations.
This sense of belonging and camaraderie at Miami’s best bars, whether they opened in 2023 or 1963, transcends time and trends. These bars ground the community’s vibrant spirit in tradition while embracing its contemporary pulse.
From Wynwood to Coral Gables to Miami Beach to Coconut Grove and beyond, we proudly present “Bar Exam 2024: The Top 100 Bars in Miami.”
¡Salud!
— Nicole Lopez-Alvar, Food Editor
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
Sandbar Sports Grill
Photo courtesy of Sandbar Sports Grill
This beach-themed establishment might look like an ordinary bar from the outside, but step inside and you're hit with the sort of mayhem you'd find at a frat house on game day — right down to the college kids and cheap beer. Sandbar's food offerings are solid, from the fish tacos to the five-pound burrito, and the drinks are in a category of their own. Try the hurricane, made with Captain Morgan spiced rum, Myers's dark rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, and grenadine — and you'll see why this Coconut Grove staple can weather any storm.
3064 Grand Ave., Miami, 33133
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
The Abbey Brewing Company
Photo courtesy of Abbey Brewing Company
Miami Beach's first official craft beer bar, the Abbey Brewing Company, opened in 1995 — you know, before it was cool. It's now a landmark for those seeking handcrafted brews — not to mention a curated selection of small-batch whiskeys, rare wines, and small bites — in an intimate setting removed from the hustle and bustle of Ocean Drive. Although the menu offers a full liquor bar, the half-dozen housemade brews are the focus here, thanks to founder and longtime brewmaster Raymond Rigazio, whose offerings include a series of Trappist-themed beers like Brother Aaron's Quadrupel, Brother Dan's Dubbel, and the Immaculate IPA.
1115 16th St., Miami Beach, 33139
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
Alabama Jack's
Is it the first stop on your way to the Keys or your last stop on the way home? That's for you to decide. Either way, Alabama Jack's is an institution. It's on a lonely stretch of Card Sound Road — the alternative to U.S. 1 that tourists en route to the Keys hardly ever use. When you reach the sign that says, "This Place Sucks! I Wouldn't Come Back!" you know you've arrived. This dive bar is a favorite with bikers, boaters, and anyone who enjoys a few cold ones and a plate of hot conch fritters. It's not pretty (though the views are). It's not fancy, but it is a piece of old Florida Keys life that's being replaced by strip malls and chain hotels.
58000 Card Sound Rd., Key Largo, 33037
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
The Anderson
Photo courtesy of the Anderson
The Anderson: 709 NE 79th St., 786-401-6330, theandersonmiami.com. The building that houses the Anderson has been a bar for far longer than most of us have been alive. Restaurateur Ken Lyon has given the space new life by revitalizing the beloved Magnum Lounge with jazz nights and a menu of classic dishes like a "square" burger and steak frites. Outside, a lush garden setting is home to El Toro Taco, a taco joint and bar. Taken together, this beloved gem is part dive bar, part elegant lounge, part garden taco stand: a trio of wonderful things that can only be combined in Miami.
709 NE 79th St., Miami, 33138
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
The Auld Dubliner Irish Pub & Kitchen
Photo by Laine Doss
Nearly every major city in the world has at least a handful of Irish pubs where you can grab a pint of Guinness, some curry fries, and watch football (the real kind). The Auld Dubliner's looks are deceiving: Nestled as it is in a nondescript row of storefronts, a passerby might mistake it for a cellphone repair shop. But enter and you're transported to the Emerald Isle — from the witty sayings on the wall to the footy on the telly to the telltale aroma of shepherd's pie wafting from the kitchen. With a fine selection of Irish whiskies on the shelves, bartenders who know how to pour a proper Guinness, and live music on the weekends, the Auld Dubliner is a great place to channel the friendliness (and the booze) of Ireland without leaving the Magic City.
91 NW First St., Miami, 33128
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
Baby Jane
Photo courtesy of Baby Jane
Late-night noodles, cocktails, and lively vibes are in store at Baby Jane. At this Asian-inspired Brickell hotspot, you're welcome to sip cocktails and hang until the wee hours. Adorned by a bright neon light that says, "I'll have what she's having," the intimate space is outfitted with booths that line the sides of the bar, a few high tops, and seating that allows j-u-s-t enough space to dance if the moment calls for it.
500 Brickell Ave., Suite 105E, Miami, 33131
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
The Bar at the Yard
Photo by Rod Deal
Though it's just one part of a larger complex, the Bar at the Doral Yard has its own personality. The large wooden bar serves as both the focal point of the Doral Yard and a gathering place for locals to chill on plush, oversized barstools. The cocktails are well thought out and tap into local flavors like guava, coconut, and even cafecito. The Bar at the Yard offers daily specials (including an industry night), making this one friendly place to grab a few drinks.
Though it's just one part of a larger complex, the Bar at the Doral Yard has its own personality. The large wooden bar serves as both the focal point of the Doral Yard and a gathering place for locals to chill on plush, oversize barstools. The cocktails are well thought out and tap into local flavors of guava, coconut, and even cafecito. The Bar at the Yard offers daily specials including an industry night, making this one friendly place to grab a few drinks.
8455 NW 53rd St., Ste. 106, Doral, 33166
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
Bar Kaiju
Photo by Anthony Nader/52 Chefs
Make your way to the mezzanine of the Citadel food hall, and you'll find a dim, red-backlit bar — and one of the most inspired cocktail menus in Miami. Translated from Japanese, kaiju means strange beast, and fittingly, the drink list is laid out like a graphic novel populated by mythical monsters from around the world and creatively crafted drinks to match their attributes. The "Sinsinito" ("Savage"), for instance, is made with Patrón silver tequila, tepache (a fermented pineapple beverage), amaro, and a spiced corn foam on top that floats like a cloud of creamy deliciousness. Bar Kaiju founder Derek Stilmann says his enterprise is, most importantly, a place for people to hang out and have a good time — that, and a tribute to the creativity of humans. And boy, are the humans behind this bar creative.
8300 NE Second Ave., 2nd floor, Miami, 33138
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
Bar Nancy
Courtesy of Nancy
Bar Nancy in Little Havana sports rustic, nautical-inspired decor and a healthy selection of craft cocktails. The bar — named for the brigantine Nancy, which transported war supplies during the American Revolution — offers cocktails named after ships or patriotic themes, or both. The "Abigail Adams" is made with Fords gin, peach liqueur, lemon, strawberry, cucumber, and soda; the "Stem to Stern" consists of apricot-infused Bulleit rye, lemon, apricot jam, and ginger ale. There's live music and a daily happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. offers half-price drinks.
2007 SW Eighth St., Miami, 33135
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
The Bar
The Bar photo
This Giralda Plaza drinking den has been a Coral Gables staple since it opened in 1946 as a beer hall. Notwithstanding its cadre of diehard regulars, the crowd here skews younger — Millennials and Gen Xers who mass here late at night and on the weekends (especially on Fridays when ladies drink free until 7:30 p.m.). If you want to avoid finding yourself packed shoulder to shoulder as the evening wears on, visit at an off hour for a whistle-wetter and a bite. At a glance, the menu may seem basic — wings, burgers, loaded tater tots — but every dish here is leveled up a skosh. That's what we call maturity!
172 Giralda Ave., Coral Gables, 33134
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
Barracuda Taphouse & Grill
Barracuda is more than your average neighborhood bar and grill. This pink-hued bar, located on a side street in Coconut Grove, has been around since 1995. The interior is decorated in what could be described as "frat house on the sea" — plenty of UM signs compete with shark jaws and the ubiquitous international currency stapled to every free spot around the bar. What really separates Barracuda from the pack, though, is its extensive beer list — about 60 rotating beers and ciders guarantee that you and your mates will never want for variety. Pair a few brews with some wings or fish dip, feed a few bucks into the jukebox, and you've got the makings of a perfect weekend afternoon slipping into evening.
3035 Fuller St., Miami, 33133
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
Batch Gastropub Miami
Batch photo
There's always a full house at this bustling American gastropub. Equal parts sports bar, lounge, and restaurant, Batch is the place to gather for soccer games, NBA tilts, boxing matches, and gridiron showdowns. The restaurant is also lively after work, when Brickell businesspeople and residents alike pour in for locally sourced pub grub, from bison burgers to brick-oven pizza, that pairs perfectly with a lengthy drink list featuring a wide range of beers, wines, and creative cocktails. Happy hour — Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. — is a can't-miss.
30 SW 12th St., Miami, 33130
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
The Bay Club
Bay Club photo
Right next to popular South Beach pizza joint Lucali, you'll find the cozy and quaint Bay Club. The menu is the same as next door, with bonuses like the option to order smaller pies and happy-hour deals on wings, meatballs, caesar salads, and other such bites. The cocktails are as fun and creative or as classic and uncomplicated as you care to regard them. The Bay Club is great for catching up with a friend or going on a second date; you can opt to sit outside on the sidewalk patio, at the bar, or in one of the cozy corner tables, depending on the mood you're in. Plus, there are comedy shows, karaoke, and live music regularly, meaning there's always something entertaining going on (in addition to the people-watching).
1930 Bay Rd., Miami Beach, 33139
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
Beaker & Gray
billwisserphoto.com
Sure, Beaker & Gray is a restaurant that serves innovative dishes courtesy of co-owner Brian Nasajon. But you'd be remiss if you dismissed its cocktail program, led by Nasajon's partner, Ben Potts, as a side affair. Beaker & Gray's list of libations is as strong as its food menu; for some patrons, it's a destination in itself. Potts and his team have created an extensive drink menu, including classics such as an elegant take on a Moscow mule and the "Ginstagram," made with Tanqueray London Dry, Cocchi Americano, falernum, passionfruit, orgeat, and Peychaud's bitters. Beaker & Gray offers a selection of nonalcoholic cocktails as well, for when you're parched yet "dry."
2637 N. Miami Ave., Miami, 33127
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
Better Days
Photo courtesy of Better Days
Brickell's best-known dive bar, Better Days, is one of those "anything goes" spots that's great for happy hour or that very last drink of the night. While there's no formal cocktail menu, the bartenders are ready and willing to make whatever is requested — though tequila shots are a fan favorite. The dark, cozy space is outfitted with a pool table, string lights, and flamingo decor, with a bar in the center and seating in the form of couches and a church pew around the room. Start the week with a Monday karaoke session or dance the night away with the weekend DJ. Either way, it's always a better day at Better Days.
75 SE Sixth St., Ste. 103, Miami, 33131
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
Black Market Miami
Courtesy of Black Market
Most Miami sports bars have one thing in common: disappointed sports fans. It makes sense, then, that you'd want a sports bar that can make even the worst game seem bearable. That's where Black Market comes in. In 2017, founders Erick Passo and Mike Mora opened an upscale, well-appointed bar that was a welcome change to the area's chain options. It remains one of the city's best spots to hang out come game day. Looking to expand, the duo would reminisce about the memories made at the Bayside Hooters — now the site of a second location. The newer space is equipped with more than 40 TV monitors (many of them outside) and an open-air bar overlooking the marina. And Black Market offers more than mere game-viewing pleasure; it also serves seriously crafty cocktails, including a smoked old-fashioned and a sparkling wine-topped mezcal margarita, alongside a variety of draft craft beers. The food menu, too, is generous, a mix of casual and upscale options that range from burgers, sandwiches, and salads to wings tossed in a variety of sauces.
168 SE First St., Miami, 33130
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
Blackbird Ordinary
Courtesy of Blackbird Ordinary
This institution in Brickell City Centre has done more than merely survive the ever-changing neighborhood; it has thrived. Evolving as needed, Blackbird Ordinary has reinvented itself for the third time in its 11-year lifespan. The newest version is inspired by owner Dan Binkiewicz's childhood in Miami Beach. It’s dark and moody, with a major bohemian feel and disco balls twinkling all night. Inside the main room, you'll find cozy booths and plenty of room to dance — and you'll be dancing on the iconic LED-colored floor that once called Purdy Lounge home. Step "outside" to discover a newly revamped tropical oasis with tall, stadiumlike ceilings, even more room to dance, and several bars, ensuring that your next drink — say, the classic "Blackbird," made with sweet-tea vodka, blackberries, and lemonade — is never too far away.
729 SW First Ave., Miami, 33130
The 100 Best Miami Bars of 2024
Bleau Bar
Photo courtesy of Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Located in the lobby of the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel, Bleau Bar was a popular hangout for the Rat Pack back in the 1950s. These days, it's a hotspot for grabbing a cocktail before heading to dinner at one of the hotel's several restaurants or downstairs to dance the night away at LIV. After a 2021 renovation, Bleau Bar debuted a series of 16-foot-tall screens that allow a little separation between the hotel's entrance and the bar area. Guests can take a seat at the massive teardrop-shaped bar or an exclusive table for bottle service. On the menu: classic cocktails, a broad selection of spirits, and beaucoup people-watching.
4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 33139
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