78 June 18–24, 2026 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES June 18–24, 2026 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES BEST ºf MIAMI ® 2026 BEST BAR (BROWARD) Bora Bora Bar at Mai-Kai 3599 N. Federal Hwy. Fort Lauderdale, 33308 954-563-3272 maikai.com There are bars, and then there are places where sipping a cocktail comes with water- falls, torches, palm fronds and the faint sus- picion that a rum-soaked portal just opened off Federal Highway. After a $20 million- plus restoration to the property, Mai-Kai’s outdoor bar experience, Bora Bora, has re- turned with all the theatrical pull of the Fort Lauderdale landmark itself. The Bora Bora Bar gives guests a lush, open-air hideaway within the 2.7-acre Polynesian palace that first opened in 1956 and now sits on the Na- tional Register of Historic Places. The cock- tail list is appropriately mighty, with more than 50 tiki drinks, custom collectible ves- sels and a bar program anchored by Mai-Kai Rum No. 1. Happy hour runs daily from 4 to 7 p.m. with half-off drinks at Bora Bora Bar (and inside at Molokai). Come for one drink and leave after three and a photo beside something on fire. BEST BAR (MIAMI) The Dead Flamingo 1728 SW Eighth St. Miami, 33135 305-200-5039 thedeadflamingo.com In a city full of clubstaurants, door lists and cocktail menus that take themselves way too seriously, The Dead Flamingo is a reminder that bars are supposed to be fun. The Little Havana spot mixes tiki-bar decor with Mi- ami camp and dive-bar energy. Bamboo walls, colorful lights, strong drinks and great music draw a very local crowd. Rotating events offer comedy shows, karaoke, trivia, “Love Island” watch parties or DJ-led dance sessions. The menu is robust with cocktails, zero proof drinks, frozen sips, martinis, shots, draft taps or canned and bottled beers, wine and bubbly, plus bar bites and caviar bumps. Happy hour comes from 5 to 8 p.m. every day with 50 percent off cocktails and wine, or $4 beers. No wonder people wanna hang out here. BEST BAR (MIAMI BEACH) The ScapeGoat 100 Collins Ave., #Cu-4 Miami Beach, 33139 786-275-6488 scapegoatsobe.com The ScapeGoat has watched Miami evolve while remaining firmly rooted in the rhythm of its neighborhood. In a city where new openings arrive as quickly as the tide, this dimly lit South Beach hideaway keeps a steady pulse. Locals drift in for celebratory rounds after good news, quiet pours after rough breakups or early-date conversations best kept in half-shadow. Away from the sea- sonal rush of visitors, The ScapeGoat leans into its role as a neighborhood refuge for ser- vice industry regulars. Cocktails go for $18 a pour with a menu that includes penicillins, white negronis, espresso martinis and more. Happy hour comes Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. with $12 gimlets, daiquiris and other standards. BEST BAR FOOD Barracuda Taphouse & Grill 3035 Fuller St. Coconut Grove, 33133 305-918-9013 instagram.com/barracudagrove Most bars are judged by their beer se- lection. Barracuda Taphouse & Grill earns its reputation just as much from what’s coming out of the kitchen. This Coconut Grove favorite pairs more than 50 beers on draft with a menu that goes well beyond stan- dard pub fare, serving up standout seafood sand- wiches, loaded Bird Road fries and comfort food that keeps locals coming back long after happy hour ends. The snapper sandwich, boldly named the “Best Snapper Sand- wich You’ll Ever Have,” has developed a devoted following, while the black- ened mahi-mahi sandwich proves bar food can still be fresh, flavorful and expertly pre- pared. Whether you’re stopping in to watch a game, shoot pool or grab a casual lunch, the food consistently ex- ceeds expectations. BEST BEER SELECTION Casa La Rubia 55 NW 25th St. Miami, 33127 786-362-6300 larubia.beer Miami has no shortage of places to grab a beer, but few celebrate the craft with as much enthusiasm and personality as Casa La Rubia. Located in the heart of Wynwood, the brew- ery offers an impressive lineup of expertly brewed beers ranging from crisp crowd- pleasers to creative seasonal releases, making every visit an opportunity to discover some- thing new. Beer lovers can sample multiple styles through flights, settle in with the brew- ery’s balanced flagship La Rubia, or pair their pours with bar snacks that have earned a fol- lowing of their own. What truly sets the spot apart is the atmosphere, where salsa nights, trivia contests, fútbol watch parties and neighborhood gatherings transform a brew- ery visit into a community event. The staff’s deep knowledge and genuine passion for craft beer only enhance the experience, whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or just beginning your journey beyond domestic lagers. BEST BREWERY (BROWARD) Cove Brewery 1500 SE Third Ct., #100 Deerfield Beach, 33441 954-531-1245 covebrewery.com Deerfield Beach’s first brewery is having a moment that stretches well beyond its tap- room. Cove Brewery has the easygoing coastal thing down — surfboard spirit, beach- town crowd, beers built for salt air — but re- cent moves show serious ambition behind the taps. The family-owned operation brought in Jonathan Wakefield as head brewer and operating partner. That means beloved J. Wakefield Brewing legacy beers Hops 4 Teacher, El Jefe and Amber Waves are set to mingle with Cove’s already stellar lineup. Core beers including Pineapple Blonde, Paddle Out Pils, Left Break IPA, Re- fraction Swell IPA and The Tan Man Amber Lager are now distributed across South Flor- ida. The brewery also expanded into spirits with vodka, rum and bourbon for package sales and taproom cocktails. Even its anniver- sary bash, Covechella, has outgrown the property after drawing more than 3,000 peo- ple. Stay coastal, indeed. BEST BREWERY (DORAL) The Tank Brewing Co. 5100 NW 72nd Ave., A-1 Doral, 33166 786-801-1554 thetankbrewing.com For 12 years, family-owned The Tank Brew- ing Co. has used its love of Miami as inspira- tion for bestselling brews. With 18 beers on tap, the 25,000-square-foot warehouse is fit with a taproom, a cigar lounge and a kitchen. Famous batches include the “La Playita” Pil- sner, the American Amber Ale “Freedom Tower,” and the “Shark Valley” IPA, the latter of which donates $1-per-case sold to The Al- liance for Florida National Parks to preserve and maintain the Everglades. The Tank also serves Latin-inspired delights including tuna tostones and guava manchego burgers. For those who wish to take The Tank home, you can find these home-grown brews by the case at Publix, Crown Liquors, Total Wine and Whole Foods. BEST BREWERY (MIAMI) Lincoln’s Beard Brewing & Cocktails 7360 SW 41st St. Miami, 33155 305-912-7390 lincolnsbeardbrewing.com Off the beaten path in the Bird Road Art District, you’ll find a spot many locals have turned into a home away from home. Lincoln’s Beard Brewing & Cocktails hosts live music acts, themed parties, line dancing, vin- tage markets and karaoke nights, bringing a little something for everyone as well as killer brews. The drink menu rotates to keep things fresh, but you can never go wrong with a Hazy Swayze. Lincoln’s recently added a cocktail bar and accom- panying menu, so you don’t need to love beer to have a good time. In the back of the bar’s outdoor patio section, Louie’s Grubs offers smash burgers and Latin-influenced eats from pan con bistec to queso frito bites. BEST BREWERY FOOD No Seasons / Off Site Kitchen 8250 NE Second Ave. Miami, 33138 305-878-7108 instagram.com/no_seasons_ Brewpub food often feels like an afterthought. At Off Site Kitchen x No Seasons Beer, it’s every bit as important as what’s being poured behind the bar. Since local brewer Theo Castillo transformed the beloved Little River hangout, the spot has become one of Miami’s best destinations for pairing exceptional craft beer with Eªt & Drink
