Just like the weather, Miami’s nightlife is hot. But if clubbing until dawn isn’t your thing or you just need a break from the dance floor, we have you covered.
From cozy dive bars to lux rooftop lounges, Miami offers a variety of ways to have a low-key but legendary night out.
Miami bars & lounges
Locals have their favorite go-to spots in nearly every neighborhood in Miami, but some of the most popular places are clustered in Brickell, Design District, Downtown, Little Havana, Miami Beach, and Wynwood. Here are some of the spots we recommend in each.
Brickell
Just south of downtown, Brickell is a modern metropolis with high rises, chic bars, and posh restaurants. Baby Jane, a cozy noodle bar and cocktail house, is a casual yet sophisticated spot for sips and supper.
Rooftop bar Sugar, perched on the 40th floor of EAST Miami, is the perfect spot to sip Asian-inspired sundowners while watching the sunset.
Design District
A creative community north of downtown and just 10 minutes from South Beach, the Design District has a few non-clubby nighttime spots with great vibes like Bar Bevy. Located upstairs from Swan, a chic restaurant from David Grutman and Pharrell Williams, Bar Bevy offers a respite from the hustle and heat with its own menu of craft cocktails and light bites.
Downtown
If you know where to look, downtown Miami is filled with hidden spots tucked in the shadows of office towers and skyscrapers. We love Mama Tried, the result of a group of locals coming together to create a neighborhood bar that offers peaceful happy hours and lively evenings.
Or find yourself at Lost Boy, an unpretentious maritime-themed hangout with draught beer, classic cocktails, and hearty sandwiches located at the bottom of the Alfred I. Dupont Building.
Little Havana
The epicenter of Cuban culture is thriving in Little Havana. There are so many great watering holes, but one of our favorites is the 1930s-era former haunt of Billie Holiday, Count Basie, and Chet Baker, Ball and Chain. It has since been reimagined for the 21st century complete with Cuban cocktails and small plates and live music on a pineapple-shaped stage. Reopening soon.
A collaboration between Cantinero and founder Julio Cabrera and long-time friend James Beard Award-winning Chef Michelle Bernstein, Cafe La Trova offers contemporary Cuban-inspired dishes, artisanal cocktails, and live music nightly.
Or sip one of the best daiquiris ever at Old’s Havana – the self-proclaimed “La Casa de la Daiquiri.”
Prefer beer to frozen cocktails? There’s a spot for you too. Head to Union Beer Store, a taproom, growler bar, and beer market on Calle Ocho.
Miami Beach
Tucked in the backyard of the Freehand hostel is Broken Shaker, one of Miami’s best bars creating cocktails made with elixirs, syrups, and infusions prepared from globetrotting garden herbs and spices.
Don’t miss a stop at Sweet Liberty for creative American fare that pairs perfectly with the equally impressive cocktails.
No trip to Miami is complete without a stop at Miami’s oldest bar, Mac’s Club Deuce. The retro dive bar is legendary for its two-for-one happy hour daily from 8 am (yep, it’s Miami) until 7 pm.
Film buffs can grab a blanket and head to the manicured lawns of SoundScape Park to watch movies on a 7,000-square-foot projection wall under the stars. Movies are free and shown Wednesday evenings at 8 pm from November through May.
Wynwood
This popular arts district north of downtown Miami is home to many hot hangouts like Astra, a European style “sky garden” rooftop lounge with comfy couches, Mediterranean fare, and craft cocktails set to live music that ranges from bands to DJs.
FREEHOLD, a trio of bars, palatial courtyard and stage, a cafe, and a New York City-inspired pizza joint are spread over 10,000 square feet. Grab a bite, relax in a private cabana, and listen to music spun by local DJs. Think of it as all the bells and whistles of a hotel without the overnight stay.
Stop for a pint or two of creative brews like El Jefe, a coconut infused Hefeweizen, at J. Wakefield Brewing’s taproom that features wall-length pop culture-inspired murals and themed beer garden.
Want to be the star of the night? Head to 1-800 LUCKY, a 10,000-square-foot, Asian-inspired food hall with seven restaurants and private karaoke rooms in Wynwood.
Miami late-night eats
After a night out on the town, grab a midnight feast at one of these hip eateries serving food until the wee hours of the morning:
La Sandwicherie serves hearty, French-style sandwiches on crisp baguettes or soft croissants until 5 a.m. at its Brickell, Miami Beach, and Wynwood locations
Versailles serves exceptional Cuban fare in Little Havana until 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday
Mary’s Cafe & Coin Laundry serves sandwiches, smoothies, pastelitos, and cafécito 24/7 in Coconut Grove. As the name suggests, it also doubles as a laundry mat.
When in Miami, stay with us at KAYAK Miami Beach. Located at the heart of the city’s vibrant cultural and cultural scene just minutes from the beach, our first-ever hotel brings together everything we love about travel and gives it a tech-forward twist.
