10 March 9-15, 2023 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Month XX–Month XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Beaker & Gray 2637 N. MIAMI AVE., MIAMI 305-699-2637 BEAKERANDGRAY.COM Sure, Beaker & Gray is a restaurant that serves innovative dishes courtesy of co- owner Brian Nasajon. But you’d be remiss if you dismissed its cocktail program, led by Na- sajon’s partner, Ben Potts, as a side affair. Bea- ker & Gray’s list of libations is as strong as its food menu; for some patrons, it’s a destina- tion in itself. Potts has created an extensive drink menu, including classics such as an ele- gant take on a Moscow mule and the “Ginsta- gram,” made with Hendrick’s gin, Cocchi Americano, falernum, passionfruit, orgeat, and Peychaud’s bitters. Beaker & Gray offers a selection of nonalcoholic cocktails as well, for when you’re parched yet “dry.” Better Days 75 SE SIXTH ST. STE. 103, MIAMI 786-220-7690 BETTERDAYSMIAMI.COM Brickell’s best-known dive bar, Better Days, is one of those “anything goes” spots that’s great for happy hour or that very last drink of the night. While there’s no formal cocktail menu, the bartenders are ready and willing to make whatever is requested — though tequila shots are a fan favorite. The dark, cozy space is outfitted with a pool table, string lights, and flamingo décor, with a bar in the center and seating in the form of couches and a church pew around the room. Start the week with a Monday karaoke session or dance the night away with the weekend DJ. Either way, it’s al- ways a better day at Better Days. Black Market Miami 168 SE FIRST ST., MIAMI 305-400-8023 BLACKMARKETMIA.COM Most Miami sports bars have one thing in common: disappointed sports fans. It makes sense, then, that you’d want a sports bar that can make even the worst game seem bear- able. That’s where Black Market comes in. In 2017 founders Erick Passo and Mike Mora opened an upscale, well-appointed bar that was a welcome change to the area’s chain op- tions. It remains one of the city’s best spots to hang out come game day. Looking to expand, the duo would reminisce about the memories made at the Bayside Hooters — now the site of a second location. The new space is equipped with more than 40 TV monitors (many of them outside) and an open-air bar overlooking the marina. And Black Market offers more than mere game-viewing plea- sure; It also serves seriously crafty cocktails, including a smoked old-fashioned and a spar- kling wine-topped mezcal margarita, along- side a variety of draft craft beers. The food menu, too, is generous, a mix of casual and upscale options that range from burgers, sandwiches, and salads to wings tossed in a variety of sauces. Blackbird Ordinary 729 SW FIRST AVE., MIAMI 305-671-3307 BLACKBIRDORDINARY.COM Is it a dive bar or a club? Upon arriving at Blackbird Ordinary in search of serious libations, you might think you’ve come to the wrong place. But the keen-eyed cocktail connoisseur will spot the live herbs on the tables and the bartenders immersed in their craft. Here the drinks are named after birds of all sorts (winged and snow) with names like the “Blackbird,” the “New Yorker,” and “Fuck Winter.” Whatever you choose, your drink will be assiduously prepared with fresh fruits and herbs and house-made syrups whose combined flavors cause it to take flight on your discriminating palate. Bleau Bar 4441 COLLINS AVE., MIAMI BEACH 305-674-4760 FONTAINEBLEAU.COM/NIGHTLIFE/ BARS/MIAMI-BEACH-HOTEL-BARS Located in the lobby of the iconic Fontaineb- leau Miami Beach Hotel, Bleau Bar was a pop- ular hangout for the Rat Pack back in the 1950s. These days it’s a hotspot for grabbing a cocktail before heading to dinner at one of the hotel’s several restaurants or downstairs to dance the night away at LIV. After a recent renovation, Bleau Bar debuted a series of 16-foot-tall screens that allow a little separation between the hotel’s entrance and the bar area. Guests can take a seat at the massive teardrop-shaped bar or at an exclusive table for bottle service. On the menu: classic cocktails, a broad selec- tion of spirits — and plenty of people-watching. Bob’s Your Uncle 928 71ST ST., MIAMI BEACH 786-542-5366 BOBSYOURUNCLEMIAMI.COM The original location of this dive bar is located on New York’s Upper West Side; the Miami Beach outpost was re-created after owner Danielle Savin flew south and decided this was a great place to open a little watering hole. Bob’s Your Uncle is Normandy Isle’s go-to spot to be treated like family (even when you don’t want to be around your own). Whether it’s a classic cocktail, beer on tap, or even a Jell-O shot — everything is served with a smile. The bar’s personality extends to the restroom hallway, adorned with photos of famous Bobs throughout history — from De Niro to Saget. Pro tip: Bob’s is the perfect place to grab a cold one while waiting for a table at the adjacent sushi restaurant. Bougainvillea’s Old Florida Tavern 7221 SW 58TH AVE., SOUTH MIAMI 305-669-8577 BOUGIESBAR.COM The best neighborhood bar is the one closest to home, but Bougainvillea’s, a snug self-de- scribed “old Florida tavern” near the Shops at Sunset Place, is worth the trek. Built inside a ‘40s-era cottage, it’s a fine place to sip wine and contemplate humanity or to down beers with friends. The lights are generally set to dim, there’s a fireplace, and some tables are set up outside. And the affectionately nick- named Bougie’s is one of the few neighbor- hood bars to offer live jazz or blues three or four nights a week. Broken Shaker 2727 INDIAN CREEK DR., MIAMI BEACH 305-531-2727 FREEHANDHOTELS.COM/MIAMI/ BROKEN-SHAKER What began in 2012 as a pop-up bar has flour- ished and matured into one of the most popu- lar spots in Miami Beach. This courtyard oasis, equipped with twinkling lights, table tennis, and mismatched patio furniture, of- fers a roster of cocktails that change accord- ing to the season and available fresh ingredients. Curb your hunger with bites like street tacos and shawarma fries. The creation of Bar Lab’s Gabriel Orta and Elad Zvi, Bro- ken Shaker has racked up several coveted honors, including Best American Hotel Bar at Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards. Cafe La Trova 971 SW EIGHTH ST., MIAMI 786-615-4379 CAFELATROVA.COM Between Cuban cantinero Julio Cabrera’s daiquiris and chef Michelle Bernstein’s fare, there’s something uniquely Miami about Cafe La Trova. Bernstein’s comfort food is all- around tempting. She works to meet the foodie fantasies of her guests, whether they’re in search of elaborate dishes or a tra- ditional tres leches dessert. Cabrera’s can- tineros take pride in the art of drink making. Here they “throw” daiquiris, tossing the pre- cious liquid from shaker to shaker to create an arch in the air, before spontaneously burst- ing into a choreographed dance number. But as with all things Magic City, this joint isn’t fueled solely by good food and drink: At any given time of the day, expect guayabera-clad musicians or jazz trumpet players to fill the air with their vibrant tunes, all set against a stage backdropped with the weathered fa- çade of an Old Havana edifice. The Florida Michelin Guide recognized Cafe La Trova for its superior food and drink. Cebada Rooftop 124 GIRALDA AVE., CORAL GABLES 786-409-2287 CEBADAROOFTOP.COM Cebada, the Spanish word for barley, is an ode to the now-shuttered Barley, which was lo- cated in Dadeland. Cebada Rooftop finds the same owners, Jorge Ramos, Sr., and his son Jorgie Ramos, operating atop a one-story building in Coral Gables. Prior to opening in August 2021, the bar was in the works for more than three years. The drink names on the cocktail list poke fun at Miami-isms (and Jorgie’s childhood) — like the “Every Belen Guy’s Christmas Vacation,” made with cu- cumber, ginger, honey, lemon, and gin. No Ra- mos establishment would be complete without an elevated menu filled with dishes you won’t find in any other bar. (Think squid- ink linguini and roasted marrow bone.) Cervecería La Tropical 42 NE 25TH ST., MIAMI 305-741-6991 CERVECERIALATROPICAL.COM Cuba’s oldest brewery made its way to Miami after nearly 25 years of research by Manny Portuondo, great-great-grandson of Federico Kohly, who founded Cerveceria La Tropical in 1888. Using the original beer recipe, Portu- ondo revived his family’s legacy with a state- of-the-art brewery in Wynwood, bringing La Tropical to the masses for the first time since Castro seized power. The grounds are ver- dant thanks to an on-site annex of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and offer a full bar and live nightly entertainment. The beer se- lection rotates, but you can count on La Origi- nal (an amber lager) and Nativo (a suave IPA) to be available on tap. An on-site restaurant run by chef Cindy Hutson serves Caribbean food with a Miami twist, from beer-can bread with whipped guava butter to curry jerk chicken wings to a “Latin Lovers” flatbread topped with pulled pork, chorizo, and churrasco Champagne Bar at the Surf Club 9011 COLLINS AVE., SURFSIDE 786-482-2280 FOURSEASONS.COM/ SURFSIDE/DINING/LOUNGES/ THE-CHAMPAGNE-BAR Miami’s ultimate treat-yourself bar is the Champagne Bar at the Four Seasons Surf Broken Shaker Freehand Miami photo
