12 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 | casserole, and peanut-butter-and-jelly ales, and porters infused with maple, bacon, and coffee. The production brewery and taproom in Oakland Park also houses the Craft Food Counter & Kitchen, whose fast-casual menu is the edible equivalent of the beer lineup. The Gibson Room 2224 SW 22ND ST., MIAMI 305-570-4311 THEGIBSONROOMMIAMI.COM When Michael Beltran saw a space become available just a few short blocks from where his grandparents lived in Miami’s Shenan- doah neighborhood, the chef knew he had to turn it into something wonderful. The Gibson Room is a dark, sophisticated place that offers upgraded versions of classic cocktails like its namesake (a martini garnished with a pickled onion in lieu of an olive) while listening to live jazz. That in itself would make this lounge noteworthy. But Beltran’s food menu takes it up several notches with offerings like a trout tartine, grilled oysters, and an oxtail- and-shrimp ramen. Plus, what other cocktail lounges offer Sunday brunch? It’s no surprise that Michelin recently added this classy venue to its Florida Guide. Grails Restaurant & Bar 2800 N. MIAMI AVE., MIAMI 786-870-4313 GRAILSMIAMI.COM Imagine a sneakerhead and sports fan’s dream incarnated as a Wynwood bar. That’s Grails. The walls inside this sports bar are lined with shadow boxes filled with an ex- pansive sneaker collection, while the walls outside are covered in seasonally changing, sports-themed murals. Cocktails are served in collectable porcelain sneakers and paired with upscale bar bites like cheeseburger dumplings. If there’s a game, fight, or match being broadcast, odds are it’s being shown on one of the 50-plus monitors arrayed both in- doors and out. Gramps 176 NW 24TH ST., MIAMI 855-732-8992 GRAMPS.COM At its entrance, this Wynwood institution boasts “air conditioning, cold beer, and cock- tails.” Indeed, those are the basics for a suc- cessful Miami bar, but Gramps goes the extra mile and then some — from a robust roster of live music, DJs, and drag bingo to some damn fine pizza and more. Ensconce yourself in the bar area or find a table on the patio. A little bit hipster hang, a little bit dive bar — Gramps is a welcome respite for the beer-and-a-shot crowd and the craft-cocktail maven alike. Happy’s Stork Lounge and Liquor 1872 79TH ST. CAUSEWAY, MIAMI BEACH 305-865-3621 HAPPYSMIAMI.COM If you seek a place where the booze is cheap and the patrons are salty drunks, look no further than this joint and package store on the 79th Street Causeway midway between the mainland and the Beach. Head there straight from work (assuming you have a job), order a beer, and strike up a conversation with someone who can tell you what’s really going on around here. Like the brilliant/crazy dude who has lined the walls with his weird straw sculptures. Or the ornery drunk who’s about to get thrown out for refusing to pay his $30 tab because (he insists) his glass is dirty. Play a game of pool on the chalk-dusty table, or enjoy a saucy game of strip poker on the coin-op machine. Bonus: If you’re looking to hide from your pretentious friends or Brady Bunch home life, this is probably the last place your usual posse would think of looking for you. Happy’s also operates as a package store that’s open till 5 a.m., in the event the occasion requires moving the party elsewhere in the wee small hours in the morning. Higher Ground 2217 NW MIAMI CT., MIAMI HIGHERGROUNDWYNWOOD.COM True to its name, this indoor-outdoor, jungle- themed oasis serves as an elevated respite from the bustling Wynwood bar scene. Located on the third floor of the Arlo Wynwood hotel and accessible from an exterior stairwell off NW 22nd Street or via the hotel elevators, Higher Ground is all about the art of the cocktail. Curated by Bar Lab’s global beverage director Christine Wiseman, the libations here are meticulously crafted, shot through with herbal elixirs and exotic infusions or rife with freshly pressed juices. Pair your choice with dishes from local chef Brad Kilgore, who designed the menu to complement each cocktail with a rotating selection of raw bar offerings and small plates. Invasive Species Brewing 726 NE SECOND AVE., FORT LAUDERDALE INVASIVESPECIESBREWING.COM Think of Invasive Species as South Florida’s most “Florida” brewery. While the name is a nod to our state’s nonindigenous flora and fauna, it’s also an invitation to potential pa- trons, be they natives or transplants. Stop by for a beer, and you’ll do so in a one-of-a-kind taproom — a museum of natural history- meets-urban warehouse space that sports a large array of taxidermy. You’ll sip your suds alongside a hardcore local crowd that packs the bar — indoors and out — on any given day. Most important, you’ll find a broad beer se- lection with a menu that covers everything from easy-drinking lagers and hop-bombed IPAs to fruit-infused sours and tropical drink- inspired hard seltzers that go down as easy as Orangina. For all of this we can thank South Floridians and brewers Phil Gillis and Josh Levitt, who teamed up with nearby Laser Wolf cofounders Chris and Jordan Bellus to offer a craft-beer experience that speaks purely to our Sunshine State. J. Wakefield Brewing 120 NW 24TH ST., MIAMI 786-254-7779 JWAKEFIELDBREWING.COM Johnathan Wakefield has become a legend of sorts in the craft-beer community. The brewer started out making beer as a hobby, which quickly became an obsession. Without even owning a brewery, Wakefield built a fanbase by collaborating with established breweries like Cigar City and Terrapin. Then he raised more than $110,000 in a crowd- funding campaign to open his Wynwood brewery. That brewery is famous for two things: its Star Wars theme and its Florida Weisse beers. Wakefield has perfected the art of brewing beers that are perfect for Mi- ami’s climate — be they a juicy IPA, a fruit- forward sour, or a refreshing lager. John Martin’s Irish Pub & Restaurant 253 MIRACLE MILE, CORAL GABLES 305-209-0609 JOHNMARTINSMIAMI.COM For three decades, John Martin’s Irish Pub was the place to grab a pint of Guinness in Coral Gables. The restaurant and pub, opened in 1989 by friends Martin Lynch and John Clarke, was renowned for its cheery atmosphere, live music, and an annual blowout St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The beloved watering hole closed in 2020 but reopened in November 2022 after an extensive refurbishment. Now operated by Breakwater Hospitality Group (the Wharf Miami, the Wharf Fort Lauderdale, Rivertail), along with Black Market Miami owner Erick Passo, the pub offers classic Irish favorites like bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, and a hearty Irish breakfast, plus a robust whiskey selection and (of course) a well-poured pint. Perhaps best of all, John Martin’s famous St. Patrick’s Day street festival has returned, making Miami a “green” city once again. La Cocina 1000 E. 16TH ST., HIALEAH LACOCINAHIALEAH.COM Beyond the Catskills-meets-Hialeah vibe of Kush Hialeah (formerly Stephen’s Deli), owner Matt Kuscher has opened La Cocina, a 40-seat bar that’s accessed through a corridor past the restrooms. The space is decorated in what can best be described as “Hialeah squared.” Lotto tickets and La Caja China labels serve as wallpaper, and never have so many pieces of Hialeah memorabilia been assembled in one place. Did anyone ever know of (or actually own) a genuine Hialeah Racetrack board game, for instance? Cocktails at this kitschy tribute to “La Ciudad Que Progresa” include Miami-fied Higher Ground Invasive Species Brewing Higher Ground photo Photo by Nicole Danna
