15 Bygone Miami Bars We Miss The Most

Before Miami was home to fancy cocktail bars with $20 drinks and wine bars that sell charcuterie for the price of a filet mignon, it was a city where you could walk into a bar, order a vodka soda, and end up singing along to Journey with a room full of strangers. As someone born and raised in the 305, I have fond, yet blurry (sorry, mom), memories of going out in Coconut Grove, Wynwood, downtown Miami, and Brickell between 2008 and 2015. Spots like Mr. Moe's in Coconut Grove, with its log-cabin décor and potent "Moose Juice" cocktails, and the sweaty, dance-fueled nights at Electric Pickle in Wynwood, offered a kind of raw, unfiltered fun that feels rare now. We didn't go out to take pictures — although many of us lugged around our digital cameras to publish photos in a Facebook album the following day — we went out to truly have a wild night with our friends.

Sure, Miami still has some incredible bars today. Taurus and Barracuda still keep the Grove spirit alive, and Café La Trova and Ball & Chain in Little Havana give you a rhythm-and-rum kind of night you'll never forget. Brickell's got its staples, too, like Baby Jane and Better Days, while Bougainvillea's Old Florida Tavern, often called "Bougie's," always delivers a good time. However, there was something special about places like Tobacco Road, Miami’s oldest bar, where lawyers, musicians, and bikers all somehow coexisted over burgers and blues. It wasn't about exclusivity. It was about connection, and a damn good time.

Even those early 2000s and 2010s bars, like Grand Central with its indie shows and the Vagabond’s sweaty dance floors, were the heartbeat of a Miami in transition. They helped define scenes before neighborhoods like Wynwood had murals on every wall. And while we can toast to the new fleet of beautiful bars around the Magic City, it's the memory of places like these that shaped Miami's drinking culture. Below, in alphabetical order, take a swig down memory lane as we recollect 15 bygone Miami bars we miss the most. 

Bardot (Wynwood, 2009 - 2017)

If there's one bar that truly summed up my teenage angst and need to go out on the town (without it being a nightclub like Mokai or Wall...R.I.P.), it was Bardot. It was Wynwood's intimate and smoke-filled lounge where you could see live indie acts and DJs up close without the pretense, and flirt with a guy you knew through a high school friend over a half-played round of pool. It also became a creative hub for Miami's music scene, hosting surprise sets from the likes of James Blake and Questlove. I even saw the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs perform there once. By the way, these musicians performed on no stage, and there were no signs outside, which made the spot feel like our best-kept secret. If your hair didn't end up smelling like pure smoke, ash, and regret by the end of the night, you weren't inside long enough.

Club 609 (Coconut Grove, 1990 - Early 2000s)

Club 609 was a bar and club by Luis Puig and George Nuñez located on the east side of CocoWalk on the second floor above the former Pauluigis on Virginia Street. Known for its college Thursday nights and all-age foam parties, it was the spot to go to after hitting up the former Wet Willie's and having the famous "Donna specials." It's hard to imagine a time when Coconut Grove was almost known for its club scene. Those who loved Club 609 also went to its sister spot in Miami Beach on Washington Avenue, Bar 609, and usually used to hit up the original Sandbar and Oxygen in the Grove. Sandbar is still around and is a favorite of mine, but it got a huge makeover to make it more modern after appearing on Bar Rescue. (Unfortunately, it did lose some of its character.)

Electric Pickle (Wynwood, 2009 - 2019)

Known as Wynwood's longest-running bar and nightclub, this sweat-drenched, strobe-lit warehouse bar helped put Wynwood on the map for house and techno lovers. Known for its intimate vibe and thumping underground sets, "the Pickle" or even "Pickle" was a haven for real music heads and DJs alike. It was never fancy, and that was the point. For those who went out to Grand Central and Bardot in the 2010s, Electric Pickle was your third go-to spot.

Grand Central (Downtown Miami, 2010 - 2015)

Oh, Grand Central, how I miss you. A converted warehouse-turned-music venue, Grand Central was a genre-defying space that hosted indie bands, queer parties, hip-hop nights, and everything in between. It was one of the first spots that made downtown cool again before the condo boom, the rise of the 24/7 nightclub E11even, and before Club Space had its renaissance. From Questlove to Cut Copy, it was the kind of place you could dance and drink the night away — even if you were 18! In a town full of clubs, although there was a bouncer, Grand Central allowed those of 18 and older to enter (but not drink).

Irish Times (South Miami, 2008 - 2018)

A cozy neighborhood pub tucked away in South Miami, Irish Times was the go-to for Guinness on tap, darts, and casual karaoke nights. With its warm atmosphere and regular crowd, it felt more like a second living room than a bar. It was everything an Irish pub should be: rowdy, friendly, and always a little louder than expected.

Las Rosas (Allapattah, 2016 - 2022)

Las Rosas started as a single-room, Mexican-themed dive and evolved into a larger venue with a patio, stage, and sound system. It hosted seven to ten acts weekly and offered a divey, graffiti-splashed home for Miami's alternative and DIY music scenes, tucked away just west of Wynwood. You could catch punk bands, play pool, and chain-smoke in the back patio till sunrise. It was a bit of everything, and that's exactly why people loved it.

Mr. Moe's (Coconut Grove, 2001 - 2016)

Let's just say...there were definitely college freshmen riding the infamous "bull" with a plastic cup of "Moose Juice" in their hand at Mr. Moe's. Enough said. Mr. Moe’s was a wild western saloon in the middle of the Grove, complete with antlers, wooden walls, and a mechanical bull. Known for its infamous "Moose Juice" and massive beer towers, it was the kind of place where college students (especially University of Miami sorority and fraternity members) and locals collided in the best, sloppiest way. It closed by 2016, but the hangovers and memories live on.

Purdy Lounge (Miami Beach, 2000 - 2019)

If there's one bar on this entire list that people of all ages miss the most, it's Purdy Lounge. Founded in 2000 and tucked just west of the beach, Purdy Lounge was a laid-back reggae-infused oasis in a city obsessed with velvet ropes. Known for its dim lights, cheap drinks, and loyal local crowd, it offered the perfect antidote to South Beach flash. You didn’t need a dress code, just a love of good music and chill vibes. Even by the time 2016 came around, it was still such a hub for those of all ages, who affectionately referred to it as "Purdy." That's a major feat for a bar that opened in the new millennium.

Scotty's Landing (Coconut Grove, 1990s - 2013)

Located right on the water, Scotty's was as low-key and loved as bars get, with plastic chairs, cold beer, and breezy views of Biscayne Bay. A true old-school Grove hangout, it was the kind of place where you could show up in flip-flops and stay until sunset. Locals are still mourning its closure and transformation into the now Regatta Grove...but true locals will never forget Scotty's.

Tavern (Coconut Grove, 1987 - 2020)

Tavern in the Grove was sticky, smoky, and unapologetically divey, and that's why people loved it. Founded in 1987 along Main Highway, it was known for strong drinks, jukebox sing-alongs, and epic University of Miami college nights. It was a rite of passage for UMiami students and Grove regulars. But this wasn't the first bar to call the location home. According to Iris Guzman Kolaya of 305Historian.com, "There had been a bar at this legendary location for nearly a century. The site originally opened as a cigar shop and billiard room in 1923, but once Prohibition was repealed in the early 1930s, it became Bill's Place, a popular spot for a cold beer. Over the decades, the bar has changed names and owners (longtime Grovites may remember the Village Spot or Beer Hamlet), but it maintained its legendary dive bar status." Very cool. Now, it's a sunglass shop. Dear Lord.

Tigertail Lounge (Coconut Grove, 1980s - 1990s)

This one is honestly before my time, but if you know, you know. An old-school Grove watering hole known for cheap drinks and legendary pool games, Tigertail was as Miami as it gets. One patron famously recalled playing doubles with Jimmy Buffett and Michael Douglas. It was part of a Grove bar scene that existed before the polished chains moved in.

Tobacco Road (Brickell, 1912 - 2014)

Miami’s oldest bar (established in 1912) was a Brickell staple for blues, burgers, and strong drinks until it closed in 2014. Back in the day, it was a beloved dive where lawyers, musicians, and misfits all gathered under one roof. With live blues, burgers, and a rooftop bar, it felt like home to generations of Miamians. Though the original was demolished, its legacy lives on through Kush by Tobacco Road by Mat Kuscher. 

The Vagabond (Downtown Miami, 2008 - 2014)

When I was a senior in high school (2011), I seriously thought I was the coolest chick in town by going to the Vagabond. "Oh, you've never been? Huh..." I'd say to a friend. The Vagabond was the indie and electro dance party oasis in a sea of South Beach exclusivity, although every weekend there was always a line out front with 20-year-olds (and teens) waiting to get in. Located at 30 NE 14th St., it drew artists, hipsters (when the word was cool), and creatives looking for an offbeat night out. You didn't need a bottle, just good shoes and better taste in music.

The Wharf Miami (Miami River, 2017 - 2023)

The Wharf Miami (not to be confused with its sister up north in Fort Lauderdale) truly helped popularize open-air, riverside drinking in Miami. Before closing in 2023 to make way for the upcoming Riverside Wharf, owned by the same group, the Wharf was a daytime-to-nighttime playground with food trucks, cocktails, and waterfront views. Plus, it was dog and kid friendly during the day, with an area for little outdoor games. For better or worse, it became the blueprint for Miami’s new era of outdoor party bars, and it was the "it" spot if you wanted to run into your high school acquaintances, college friends, or an ex-boyfriend (I wouldn't know...).

Wood Tavern (Wynwood, 2011 - 2024)

Wood Tavern was the heartbeat of Wynwood in its prime, with its tacos, cheap beer, and anything-goes backyard vibe. It brought together locals, artists, and tourists without ever feeling forced. I personally loved sitting on the bleachers outside, which was the perfect spot for people-watching. When it closed in 2022, Wynwood lost a huge part of its soul. It tried to reopen in 2024 but eventually closed again.