124 June 27- July 3, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times b e s T o f m i a m i ® 2 0 2 4 like $5 Jager shots on Mondays, ladies drink free on Wednesdays, and house party Fridays. Plus, this bar knows how to throw epic block parties — some of the best take place on St. Pat- rick’s Day and Drinksgiving, AKA the day be- fore Thanksgiving. BEST DIVE BAR Big Dog Station 3148 NE 12th Avenue Oakland Park, 33334 954-561-4304 facebook.com/BigDogStationFL Amid a growing abundance of South Florida snobbery, Big Dog Station is such an approach- able reprieve. Tucked at the southern end of Oakland Park’s main drag, this is a no-frills gem with a scratch-off Lotto machine, outdoor pool table, and a bar cat that may greet you out- side the front door. The staff here — Aaron and Scotty are bartender standouts — are like fam- ily, and the owner, Debbie, is usually onsite cheering on her Boston teams. Adding to the familial vibe, the spot hosts everything from adult Easter egg hunts to potluck dinners. Speaking of dinners, the food here is unreal for a bar, including the crispest tater tots on earth and an absolutely mammoth Cajun turkey club sandwich for under $12. We need more Big Dogs in the world. BEST OUTDOOR BAR Gramps Getaway 3301 Rickenbacker Causeway Key Biscayne, 33149 instagram.com/grampsgetaway A large cutout of the late Jimbo Luznar stands like an old, salty Jesus Christ in the vaulted palm roof of Gramps Getaway’s chikee hut. Luznar owned the former waterfront dive Jim- bo’s that nourished a weird Florida scene nearby. His establishment was an inspiration to Gramps’ owner, Adam Gersten. Friendship and a strange swampy style are also at the soul of this new bar, housed in the old Whiskey Joe’s on Virginia Key. But Gramps Getaway has much less grit and a whole helluva lot more class than Jimbo’s. It sits above a ritzy harbor with a view of wealthy Captain Rons motoring in and out from nautical adventures. The bar- tenders are patient and cocktails affordable. You can fuel up on ceviche and lobster rolls at the Lazy Oyster pop-up or try the new meatier menu from Chef James “Juicy James” McNeal, formerly of the popular downtown spot Over Under. Everything is a deal at Gramps Getaway because the sunset views are priceless, as is the genuine feeling of camaraderie. BEST HOTEL BAR Bleau Bar at Fontainebleau 4441 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, 33140 305-674-4760 fontainebleaumiamibeach.com A popular Rat Pack hangout back in the 1950s, the iconic Bleu Bar at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach has had its fair share of glitz and glam over the decades. With a white, sleek, tear- drop-shaped bar and majestic gold columns, it has an exclusive but accessible energy fitting for a hotel bar. In 2021, it was heavily renovated with massive art deco glass installations, pro- viding it with some separation from the Cha- teau lobby. The cocktail menu is rife with classics, fancy flights, and plenty of wine and Champagne options. The crowd is a mix of va- cationers, often with skin so red it hurts, and hard-chested, glitter-faced clubbers readying for a long night at LIV. And if there’s a celebrity that owns an alcohol brand in town, chances are they’ll find their way behind the bar to pour drinks for anyone lucky enough to be there at precisely the right moment. BEST WINE BAR Happy Wine in the Grove 2833 Bird Avenue Coconut Grove, 33133 305-460-9939 happywinegrove.com Looking to actually have fun on your mom’s night out or for a place to laugh with your new boo? Well, Happy Wine in the Grove has fun on the menu — right after all the wines, and not lit- erally. Any day of the week, you’re guaranteed to make memories with a glass in hand and tapas in mouth. And there’s plenty of atmo- sphere! The tables are made from casks, crates, and a door-size plank of wood propped up by barrels at each end. And the events! They have traditional tastings but also have hosted a guided tasting with flamenco and a four-course meal. Whatever the occasion, Happy Wine is a good time with a fine wine. BEST WATERFRONT BAR The Rooftop by Klaw 1737 N. Bayshore Drive Miami, 33132 305-239-2523 Imagine this: a world where you can go to Klaw — that really fancy spot with the Alaskan crab legs and aged ribeye — and not spend $700 per person while enjoying stunning bay views. That place exists! You just have to take the elevator one floor up from Klaw proper and head to Edgewater’s only rooftop bar. The views at the Rooftop by Klaw are breathtaking, especially if you sit outside under the retractable roof (to ac- count for Miami’s intermittent rain). Another bonus? It has more affordable menus than the downstairs restaurant, so you can get brunch and happy hour — which runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., even on Saturdays — without spending your mortgage on a meal. Plus, you’re scoring an unmatched night out and the perfect way to impress that one cousin who swears their hometown is “so much better.” BEST SPORTS BAR Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill 25 area locations, including: 2721 Bird Avenue Coconut Grove, 33133 305-446-1114 flanigans.net When Googling “Flanigans,” the first question that appears is: “Is Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill a Florida thing?” You’re goddamn right. Since 1959, Miamians have canonized the nauti- cal-themed Flanigan’s. The menu has no-holds- barred American fare, and everything is supersized, whether you like it or not. Between the succulent, fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs and tender fish sandwiches, finger-licking-good wings, Joe’s Rockin’ Rib Rolls™, and nachos the size of Mount Everest, every dish is a hit when you’re enjoying the sports games on the myriad TVs. The restaurant’s venerated large green cups with the caricature of the founder (Joe “Big Daddy” Flanigan) adorn everyone’s home — whether stolen or purchased. So raise those big plastic cups for a toast: to a winning Dol- phins season, good company, and another 60 years of a tried-and-true Miami institution. BEST BEER SELECTION Tripping Animals Brewery 2685 NW 105th Avenue Miami, 33172 305-646-1339 trippinganimals.com Brewing beer is an art form that, thankfully, Miami is rich in. The Doral-based Tripping Animals Brewing is the love child of four friends who have a deep appreciation for the hoppy amber liquid. Founded in 2018, the es- tablished brewery has a generous selection of housemade brews in its taproom, which is open to the public daily. They’ve got lagers, dark lagers, pilsners, stouts, IPAs, and sours, all on tap and all fresh. There are 19 draft beer op- tions available, including fan favorites like No Mames, Ever Haze, and Hound of Hades. Trip- ping isn’t just about their taproom. Their an- nual Irie Jungle is one other way the brewery brings together hopheads and other local and national breweries for a daylong fest celebrat- ing all things beer. The most delicious part about Tripping? The brewery recently opened its Trippy Kitchen, so you can line the tank and fill it, all under one roof. BEST HAPPY HOUR Mo Bar + Lounge at Mandarin Oriental 500 Brickell Key Drive Miami, 33131 305-913-8358 mandarinoriental.com/en/miami /brickell-key/dine/mo-bar-lounge Happy hour is not just a time for cheapskates to suck down their weight in booze, it’s actually a ceremonial time to convene with current and future friends and to go deep on the hot goss with co-workers. So, if you’re not comfortable with the idea of a regular happy hour, Mo Bar + Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental is the place for you. It’s even branded its drink specials as “social hour.” It takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. daily with cocktails and wines for just $9 and a selection of local beers for $5. We suggest you try the Miami-inspired punch made with bour- bon, guava puree, lime juice, sugar syrup, and bitters and pair it with a couple of sushi rolls and a sunset over the bay. BEST COCKTAILS Bar Kaiju 8300 NE Second Avenue, 2nd floor Miami, 33138 305-793-7204 instagram.com/bar_kaiju Tucked discreetly into the mezzanine at the Citadel, you’ll find kitschy Bar Kaiju, which roughly translates to “strange beast.” With a speakeasy-style, Kaiju takes its theme super se- riously. Its cocktail menu is fully inspired by fic- tional monsters. The current iteration features a collection of pocket monsters and is pre- sented in a Trapper Keeper like the ones that used to hold your Pokémon cards or, if you’re older, homework. The menu includes informa- tion about the monster itself, its characteristics, and how that beastly creature translates into an elegantly balanced cocktail. Creative and fun with unexpected flavor pairings — the “Chukwa” is a clarified milk punch made with Aberfeldy, mango lassi, curry, coconut, and a bit
