11 March 9-15, 2023 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | Contents | Letters | news | night+Day | CuLture | Cafe | MusiC | Month XX–Month XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | Club. Home to the largest collection of Cham- pagne in town, this chic oasis transports its guests to the Amalfi Coast. The emerald- green bar just outside the Lido at Surf Club Restaurant is surrounded by a large lounge area and and outdoor patio and is considered the property’s lobby bar. Cocktails here are stunning riffs on classics with twists often in- spired by the bartenders’ world travels. They’re on the pricier side, even for Miami — gird your credit limit for $25 a pop — but they’re among the best to be found in Miami. Chela’s Coctelería 15301 NW 67TH AVE., MIAMI LAKES 786-558-9393 CHELASMIAMI.COM Situated at the site of a defunct Mexican chain restaurant, Chela’s Coctelería is owned by Mauricio Lacayo and Landy Lamas (the duo known for the Bend Liquor Lounge), who teamed with notable names like Dan Binkiewicz of Sweet Liberty and Daniel Gon- zalez of Hot Lime Kitchen to bring a fun wa- tering hole to Miami Lakes. There are beers on tap aplenty, as well as a full bar with an agave-focused cocktail menu. Tacos are served in a fast-casual style, though guests are encouraged to hang out to enjoy large- scale games like Jenga and cornhole — and a DJ on weekends. Clevelander South Beach 1020 OCEAN DR., MIAMI BEACH 305-532-4006 CLEVELANDER.COM If you want your burgers and beer served with a side of revelry, the Clevelander is your spot. We can think of no other place where you can splash in a pool, hang out with body- painted women, and watch a football game on a 20-foot LED screen (or more than 40 other monitors throughout the property). The Clevelander offers multiple spots to drink on the premises, including the poolside Beach Club, the rooftop terrace overlooking Ocean Drive, and Kush at Clevelander, where increasingly ubiquitous local restaurateur Matt Kuscher offers some of the city’s finest pub grub. Copper 29 206 MIRACLE MILE, CORAL GABLES 786-830-9640 COPPER29BAR.COM This speakeasy-inspired bar in Coral Gables looks to classic New Orleans watering holes for inspiration. When you walk through the nondescript door, you’ll find a lounge area with red leather couches. The space opens to the main room, resplendent with a mahogany bar lined with leather-upholstered stools. Chandeliers and vintage lamps light the space, but the most eye-catching features are the two large walls cascading with devil’s ivy that sandwich bookcases holding a curated array of select small-batch spirits not found anywhere else. The Corner 1035 N. MIAMI AVE., MIAMI 305-961-7887 THECORNERMIAMI.COM If you “know what it means to miss New Or- leans,” the Corner is the Miami bar for you. Nestled in the downtown nightclub district, this little speakeasy boasts a bar constructed from 150-year-old repurposed wood and a vibe that’s more reminiscent of the Big Easy than the neon lights of the Magic City. Maybe that’s why the Corner’s cocktail collection contains so many New Orleans classics. Drinks such as the Vieux Carré and the Saz- erac are properly prepared, and the Corner’s hurricane puts Pat O’Brien’s French Quarter version to shame. The fact that you can order a cocktail at the Corner till 5 a.m. is a major plus for those looking for “one more round” before heading home. Don’s 5 Star Dive Bar 7700 BISCAYNE BLVD., MIAMI 305-985-4764 KUSHHOSPITALITY.COM Restaurateur Matt Kuscher (Kush Hospital- ity) is fast becoming Miami’s mad genius of dining and drinking. At Don’s 5 Star Dive Bar, Kuscher pays tribute to famous “Dons” of Mi- ami — like Don Shula, Don Johnson, and ev- eryone’s favorite bare-assed carpet seller, Don Bailey. Enter what looks like a janitor’s storage room to find this den of nostalgia and you’ll be rewarded with a creative cocktail se- lection (including picklebacks and a punch that can knock you out). Hungry? You have three options: chips and French onion dip, a PB&J, and key lime pie — just enough to sate a hunger pang so you can order another “King of Carpets.” Duffy’s Sports Grill 3969 NE 163RD ST., NORTH MIAMI BEACH 305-760-2124 DUFFYSMVP.COM Duffy’s is a chain, but the North Miami Beach location stands alone for its uniqueness, ser- vice, and sheer square footage. The oversize bar is equipped with a TV screen over every single seat, so you can watch football while your friend can tune into badminton. If you’re on a budget, Duffy’s offers BOGO for most beers and mixed drinks, all day, every day. Translation: Literally every hour of the day is your own personal happy hour. Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit: Duffy’s has its own pool (and more bars) on an outdoor deck di- rectly on the Intracoastal. A bar with cheap drinks, water views, and a place to cool off: That’s an only-in-Miami nirvana if ever there was one. Elbo Room 241 S. FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH BLVD., FORT LAUDERDALE 954-463-4615 ELBOROOM.COM Not many bars can boast the style heft of the Elbo Room, which has been slinging drinks since 1938. The dual-level bar blessed with direct views of Fort Lauderdale Beach be- came the ultimate spring break destination for your grandparents when a little film called Where the Boys Are was released in 1961. And, although it looks like that might have been the last time the joint was painted, the Elbo Room endures. It literally weathers the storm by staying open during tropical storms, serving cheap drinks, and hosting live music. So entrenched is the Elbo Room that it has its own beach cam. Esotico Miami 1600 NE FIRST AVE., MIAMI 305-800-8454 ESOTICOMIAMI.COM Given Miami’s subtropical climate, you might think there would be more tiki- themed bars serving boat drinks festooned with fresh fruit and tiny umbrellas. Esotico is one of the few, but it’s a grand place in- deed. The 3,400-square-foot space is done up in hand-cut wallpaper, lush greenery, and Polynesian decor to create just the right tiki atmosphere. Guests can enjoy drinks created by Daniele Dalla Pola, a partner in parent company Graspa Group and a longtime tiki fan. Tiki cocktails are known the world over for their potent combination of spirits, spices, and fruits. The ones at Esotico are prepared with fresh-squeezed juices and house-made mixes and served in custom- designed tiki mugs. Collectors can take home a limited-edition mug such as the King Ta Moko — an Elvis-themed chalice that holds a blend of gin, passionfruit, fresh citrus, and ginger orgeat syrup. The Field Irish Pub & Eatery 3281 GRIFFIN RD., FORT LAUDERDALE 954-964-5979 THEFIELDFL.COM For two decades, the Field has brought Ire- land to South Florida. The bar began as a small cottage but has expanded to five dining rooms, a bar, and a big patio bar under a stately banyan tree. Here, find a fine pour of Ireland’s elixir, Guinness stout, along with Smithwick’s (pronounced “Smiddicks”) red Irish ale. There’s also Irish coffee to sip by the fireplace (when those Florida nights dip be- low 60 degrees) and, on weekends, live music from Irish bands. The Field offers a full menu of Irish favorites, from Irish stew to corned beef and cabbage, and an Irish breakfast (on weekends). Flanigan’s Seafood Bar & Grill 2721 BIRD AVE., MIAMI 305-446-1114 FLANIGANS.NET Ask nearly anyone in Miami and they’re likely to tell you that their favorite place for an un- pretentious round of drinks is Flanigan’s. Joe “Big Daddy” Flanigan opened the first Flani- gan’s in 1959, in Pompano Beach. The nauti- cal-themed bar was a hit for its ice-cold beer, fresh seafood, and baby back ribs. The only thing that has changed since then is that, with 24 locations in South Florida, you could prob- ably spin around and throw a dart and hit a Flanigan’s. Now that’s progress. Fox’s Lounge 6030 S. DIXIE HIGHWAY, SOUTH MIAMI 305-703-6553 FOXSLOUNGE.COM For seven decades, Fox’s Sherron Inn was Mi- ami’s dark bar: a place to drink martinis, ca- noodle with a secret paramour or forget your troubles with (or without) a buddy. Fox’s closed in July 2015, but Lost Boy & Co.’s Chris Hudnall and Randy Alonso have reconsti- tuted the joint as Fox’s Lounge. Their loving attention to detail brings instant nostalgia to all who pass through its doors. The martinis are strong, the fried chicken is classic, the bar is as dark and cool as a cave. Walking in, it takes a minute to adjust your eyes to the dimly illuminated palace of cocktails, but there’s no adjusting to the precisely crafted drinks, the classic menu, and the friendly banter between you and the new friend you made at the bar. The new Fox’s is a welcome and wonderful tribute to old Miami. Funky Buddha Brewery 1201 NE 38TH ST., OAKLAND PARK 954-440-0046 FUNKYBUDDHABREWERY.COM When it arrived on the scene in 2010, Funky Buddha Brewery was among the first Florida breweries to introduce food-infused beers to the suds-guzzling masses. And not just any food — an entire library of pop-culture fare. Fan favorites include a range of inspiration, from desserts and sandwiches to cocktails and spirits — even an agave-based hard seltzer — all riffed as part of Funky’s ever- expanding and seasonally rotating repertoire. That means key-lime, sweet-potato- Fox’s Lounge Photo by Patrick Michael Chin
