20 co*cktail Bars in Miami for Proper Mixology and Impeccable Vibes (2024)

This nostalgia-soaked Cuban spot in Little Havanacontinually ranks near the top ofthe World's 50 Best Bars lists. Decorated cantinero Julio Cabrera mans the bar, slinging stiff, rum-based drinks and handcrafted mojitos that no one can resist. One of those rare places that attract locals and tourists alike, La Trova provides an electric atmosphere, live music and drink prices that won’t send you home broke. Bonus: It’s two bars in one! On Fridays and Saturdays, the restaurant’s backroom turns into a neon-tinged, ’80s-themed party starting at midnight.

Swizzle drinks—the delicious ancestor of the frozen co*cktail—are the specialty here, but this moody SoBe co*cktail baralso boasts a roster of classic drinks and fresh twists on well-known favorites. Expect mojitos and rum runners to be served alongsidefresh concoctions such as the Madame Hong, lead bartender/partner Danilo “Dacha” Bozovic’s highly praisedrecipe from his tenure at New York City’s Macao Trading Co.

Locatedinside the residential building X Miami. Jaguar Sun is run by bartender Will Thompson and ex-Momof*cku and Per Se chef Carey Hynes, so the drinks and food are both on the same level (that level being: yum). The drinks are straight-up fun—both to say (hello,GreenGhoul) and drink (we recommend venturing into the “exotics” section for a good time).

This South Beach spot is anomnipresent contender at the top of best bar lists both local and national. There’s a reason: the co*cktails here are near-perfect and range from the classic (like their flawless daiquiri) to the wild (like the sweet potato pain killer, which features sweet potato juice). Happy hour runs daily from 4pm to 8pm and features 95 cent oysters and $9 drinks.

The ol’ faithful of Miami’s co*cktail scene. Stop by the Broken Shaker day or night, and you can be sure you’ll be handed something delicious by an impossibly cool-looking bartender. Plus, the space is the sort of tropical paradise you’d expect from a proper Miami Beach co*cktail bar—think mismatched lounge set-ups sprinkled about a courtyard with a pool. Rolling deep? The large-format drinks areperfect for small thirsty groups.

A low-key watering hole in Downtown Miami, this spot is headed by bartender Mike Reich and owner Brian Griffiths—a Broken Shaker alum and former owner of South Miami’s Shelley’s. The focus is on Florida-centric food and drink with frozen piña coladas and palomas to keep things interesting. Pro tip: get the floater.

You’ll want to get dressed up for this one. Nestled inside the meticulously restored Surf Club, this bar hearkens back to Miami’s early-twentieth-century glamour with bartenders outfitted in white jackets, a lushly landscaped patio overlooking the ocean and a team of modern mixologists eager to shake up co*cktails that excite the palate. Order anything head bartender Valentino Longo is mixing or opt for a chilled glass of champagne, proffered elegantly from a silver trolley.

Lost Boy’s co*cktails are simple but really good. The vintage Americana atmosphere is relaxed and casual at first glance. But closer inspection revealsa deeper intention, from the gold mermaids on the long wooden barto the old piano that’s dutifully taken on a new life as a communal table in the center of the room. In an areaslowing finding its drinking identity, Lost Boy has jumped at the opportunity to carve out its own understated attitude. And we think it’s working just wonderfully.

Dark, smokey and best after 2am—The Corner is a night owl’s dream thanks to its placement in Miami’s 24-hour district. Don't think the late hours mean slouchy service. The drinks here are serious business, and bartenders take their time with them. The kitchen stays open late too, so order up a Chicago dog when the munchies hit.

This Florida-inspired bar is the second collaboration between Beaker and Gray partners Ben Potts and Brian Nasajon, and brings that same urbane charm and dedication to eclectic co*cktails that the team is known for. co*cktails play with the Florida theme like the “Floradora,” a riff on a Moscow mule made with Ketel One Botanicals Grapefruit-Rose vodka, raspberry syrup, fresh citrus, ginger beer, and a fortified rosé aperitivo; and the “Pink Panther,” a tropical gin sour made with gin, guava-lavender syrup, bitters, bianco vermouth, fresh citrus, and egg white.