Here's the deal: You want to hang with your friends, but you've got only a Hamilton to spare. Well, that ten-dollar Founding Father could get you a beer at most places, but take it to Barter during happy hour for a world of opportunities. From 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, beers are $3, bites are $4, and cocktails are $5, so let's get busy with some simple math: Ten bucks gets you two beers and a snack, a cocktail and a snack, three beers, two snacks, or two cocktails... You get it. The combinations seem endless. But here's where it gets better: What if you don't have any money at all? Scour your apartment for hidden treasures — the vintage camera from your uncle, your abuela's childhood doll that stares at you a little too creepily, the tiki mug you got in Hawaii. Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m., Barter will actually take your coolest vintage items as a trade if the bartenders think they're unique, but call ahead to confirm. That creepy doll just became your Saturday-night happy-hour bar tab. Barter is open daily from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. except Wednesday, when it closes at 1 a.m.

Readers' choice: Bodega Taqueria y Tequila

You're on your way to Miami International Airport and you're a bit tense. Already a nervous flier, you're filled with anxiety that's fueled by the huge hole in your sock and everyone is going to judge you when you take your shoes off at the TSA checkpoint. Don't freak out — take a breath and head to Beat Culture Brewery for a relaxing pint on your way to the airport. The brewery, just a few minutes from MIA, opens daily at 8 a.m., which means you have plenty of time to stop in for a hazy, juicy Social Club IPA ($5 to $7). Not hopping that jet to Barcelona after all? Why not try a flight of beer? Beat Culture's flights allow you to sample four short beers of the brewery's choosing ($11). After you're properly fueled up, you can face anything — from a transatlantic flight to gridlock on the Dolphin Expressway — with a smile. (But, of course, always drink responsibly.) Hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 8 a.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday.

Readers' choice: Wynwood Brewing Company

Are you intimidated by wine? Would you like to expand your horizons beyond the boozy BOGO grape juice of the week? Well, how about being gently schooled by a level-three sommelier at a wine bar that's comfortable and welcoming? Now, what if that wine bar isn't in Paris (or even Brickell) but in Kendall? Vacillate opened last fall with the mission to help Miamians fall in love with good wine. The good stuff, by the way, doesn't mean you need to take out a second mortgage to drink some highfalutin hooch. Most of these wines are priced around $30 per bottle. If you want to explore, a flight of six wines costs just $11. Vacillate also offers tapas, beer, and live entertainment almost daily. Before you know it, you'll be saying words like "terroir" and "mouthfeel." See how easy (and cheap) it can be to get fancy? Hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Tuesday through Sunday.

There are days when you want to sip nitrogen cocktails with durian espuma under pulsating beats and colored lights, and then there are days when you simply want a good drink in a low-key, welcoming bar. Lost Boy returns sanity to drinking with its cool, no-nonsense vibe, brick walls, and tasteful decor. The drinks are solid classics with a bit of a twist. A penicillin ($13) is freshened up with ginger and orange blossom honey, a caipirinha ($13) gets spicy with a hit of sriracha, and an espresso martini is made mellow with a touch of CBD oil ($15). Can't decide? Order the My Idea! ($13) and your bartender will make you a bespoke cocktail. And don't miss half off drinks during happy hour from 4 to 8 p.m. The bar is open from noon to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday; it opens earlier for soccer matches.

Readers' choice: Gramps

If you like your cocktails with a view, Watr's 18th-floor rooftop bar allows you to see nothing but the Atlantic Ocean for miles. It's also the home of a 30,000-square-foot infinity pool, so you are surrounded by crystal-blue magnificence. Of course, man cannot live on water alone, so indulge in one (or more) cocktails made with organic juices, such as the Pink Toucan, with hibiscus-infused rum, or a pineapple and mint caipirinha ($16 each). Purists can simply go for fresh coconut water, offered in the shell ($12, spiked for an additional $12). Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. or later daily (depending upon the weather). Only hotel guests are allowed before 6 p.m. After 6, everyone aged 21 or older is allowed (kids accompanied by an adult can hang out from 6 to 9 p.m.).

Readers' choice: Broken Shaker

Aventura isn't exactly known for a bustling bar scene, but Soff's at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa proves otherwise. Step inside the lobby bar, named for Aventura's visionary founder, Don Soffer, and lounge on low-slung chairs while sipping a craft cocktail ($16 and up). In addition to serving local beers and dark spirits, Soff's also offers an eclectic menu of drinks created by Cocktail Cartel, a team of Miami-based beverage consultants. Try the tequila-based Lady Marmalade, garnished with a spicy rim, and watermelon mules, which are available on tap. Visit the bar for a nightcap after dinner next door at Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak. Soff's is open from 11 a.m. to midnight daily.

It's a curious thing that Hector Acevedo is just one person. The bartender and Cocktail Cartel co-owner is seemingly in multiple places at once: mixing drinks at special events such as Amparo and the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, creating cocktail programs at some of Miami's best bars, and visiting Puerto Rico's top bars to promote the island's craft cocktail scene. You've probably sipped some of Acevedo's cocktails if you've been to La Placita in the MiMo District or Soff's at the JW Marriott Turnberry Resort. Now Acevedo is working on his own bars: Spanglish Cocktail Bar + Kitchen and Grails Sports Bar, both located in Wynwood. Spanglish will specialize in cocktails that nod to Miami's Latin culture, while Grails will pay tribute to the almighty sneaker. With all of those projects, Acevedo is a Miami talent to watch.

Here's a fun fact: While Miami thinks it's all about the porn-star lifestyle, London has been lapping up Porn Stars for years. In fact, go into any bar and you'll likely encounter several people enjoying a Porn Star. Ask for a Porn Star, and your bartender will gladly bring one for you to admire and enjoy. Want your very own Porn Star? Doesn't everyone? Well, you could probably pick up a Porn Star at any bar in Miami, but you really want to seek out an expert. Mama Tried has the city's best Porn Star — available for only $13. This delightful creation is made with Absolut Vanilla, passionfruit, and Licor 43. It also comes with a sugar-dipped strawberry and some champagne to tickle your lips. Yes, this Porn Star is a flirty, fizzy martini. It's sweet, sexy, and one Porn Star you can proudly introduce to your mother. Hours are 3 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily.

Readers' choice:Beaker & Gray

Is there a better Miami experience than gazing at the ocean while lounging in a plush chair with your toes in the sand and a minty frozen mojito in your hand? Dune Burgers on the Beach is best known for its beefy namesake, but it's the Dune frozen mojito ($18) that keeps guests coming back for more. The drink looks like one of those green concoctions that health nuts pretend to love, but you won't need to fake it with this mojito, which tastes similar to frozen lemonade but with loads of fresh mint. Add a burger and a Sunday lounge party with a local DJ spinning, and you're in for a postcard-worthy experience in Key Biscayne. Hours are sunrise to sunset Friday through Sunday.

Readers' choice: Ball & Chain

It's early Sunday afternoon in Miami. The weather is gorgeous, and the entire city is spread out before you. There's something about a rooftop that's romantic, and Astra's is a stunner. Look beyond the lush greenery to see Miami's skyline in the near distance. The only problem is that your head is pounding. After two nights of Magic City decadence, you need something to perk you up — something with a kick. Astra's bloody mary ($16) is made with Absolut Elyx and Vida Mezcal — a smooth and smoky duo that gives your hangover a one-two punch. It's mixed with a house-made bloody mary mix (because you're too extra for bottled mixes) and a touch of guajillo chili for a subtle heat that tingles your lips. Finally, there's bacon, because bacon makes everything better. Take a sip of this salty, smoky, sultry beverage and feel your cheeks flush as the pounding in your head dissipates. You've made it to Sunday. Cheers, bitch. Hours are 5 p.m. to midnight Monday through Wednesday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 2 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday.