16 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 | bar, and it’s designed as such. The windows are heavily tinted. Spherical copper lamps hang above a wooden U-shaped bar flanked by green banquettes, and the only other piece of furniture in the room is a pool table. The daily happy hour at this downtown spot includes $7 classics such as a rum-based Dark and Stormy, a French 75, and a tradi- tional three-ingredient (rum, lime, simple syrup) daiquiri. The regular cocktail list, of- fered alongside a curt selection of craft beers and wines, includes nearly a dozen pop cul- ture-inspired drinks, from the “Porn Star Martini” to the “Raspberry Beret” to the “Smokey and the Bandit.” Mango’s Tropical Cafe 900 OCEAN DR., MIAMI BEACH 305-673-4422 MANGOS.COM/MANGOS-MIAMI-BEACH Anyone who’s visited South Beach has at the very least walked past Mango’s Tropical Cafe, famed for its exotic tropical atmo- sphere and lively dance shows that feature Cuban conga, Brazilian samba, and other Latin styles. Mango’s, though, is even more famous for its supersized, tropical-themed cocktails. Served in souvenir glasses, most are offered in 15-, 32-, and 45-ounce por- tions. Along with riffs on mojitos and dai- quiris, Mango’s bartenders have created a number of specialty cocktails since opening in 1981. One recent addition, the “Bomb-Ba” martini, combines raspberry vodka, water- melon liqueur, sweet lemon juice, grenadine, and lemon soda, topped off with a smoke- filled fog bubble for a theatrical presentation that lets you know the vacation (or stayca- tion) is underway. Margot Natural Wine Bar 25 SE SECOND AVE., MIAMI MARGOTNATURALWINEBAR.COM Named after Ernest Hemingway’s grand- daughter, Margot Natural Wine Bar comes to us from the guys at Bar Lab (founders of the Broken Shaker). The menu includes more than 75 natural wines, from bubbles to whites to reds to rosés and skin-contact wines. You’ll also find low-alcohol cocktails, as well as a seasonal rotation of small plates. Martini Bar 1677 COLLINS AVE., MIAMI BEACH 305-423-7226 NATIONALHOTEL.COM If you’re familiar with the National Hotel Mi- ami Beach, you’re probably aware that the venue — one of the city’s original art deco beachfront hotels, built in 1939 — recently underwent a major revamp. The upgrades in- clude a new take on the hotel’s quaint and cozy imbibing den, Martini Bar. Here, the Na- tional’s original marble flooring anchors an intimate, Gatsbyesque redesign that — in au- thentic Gatsby fashion — offers views of the property’s infinity pool (reported to be the longest in South Florida). Soak up the deca- dent vibe as you contemplate the list of spe- cialty cocktails with which to accompany it, including the “Pear With Me” (pear vodka, amaretto, lemon, pear syrup, and foam bit- ters) and the “Hibiscus Beauty” (hibiscus-in- fused vodka, St. Germain liqueur, lemon, ginger syrup, and sage). Mezcalista 921 WASHINGTON AVE., MIAMI BEACH 305-423-0094 MEZCALISTAMIAMI.COM The first resort-style property for Marriott’s Moxy brand, the eight-story Moxy Miami South Beach evokes mid-century Havana with a touch of contemporary Mexico City and a tropical vibrancy that is unmistakably Miami. Among the hotel’s many drinking and dining options, Mezcalista stands out. The sexy lounge is hidden at the back of the Como seafood restaurant, beyond an arched door- way that leads to a seductively lit lounge with banquettes upholstered in leather and velvet. The catacomblike space is dedicated to the ancient traditions of mezcal. Copper shelves hold dozens of rare and small-batch bottles, available for tasting or as the highlight for a small list of rotating cocktails. Behind the stone-topped bar, mezcaliers are on hand to engage with guests and explain the varied flo- ral and smoky notes. Adjacent to the lounge, a velvet-draped, stone-walled tasting room provides an intimate setting for private par- ties. For guests, it makes for a sultry escape to Mexico — minus the need for a passport. MIA Beer Company 10400 NW 33RD ST., DORAL 786-801-1721 MIA.BEER If it’s variety you crave, MIA is the brewery for you. Owner Eddie Leon created this Doral brewery as an experimental playground for all things beer and craft beverage-inspired. Today, that means a beer garden and tasting room with a 50-plus roster of craft IPAs, lagers, ales, sours, and stouts. Never one to stick to the rule, out-of-the-box concoctions include the home- made sangria and the brewery’s own wine- based 24 percent ABV Fuego, which can be taken as a shot or in any of several cocktails. In true experimental fashion, MIA is one of the first U.S. breweries to create its own flavored hard seltzer. Can’t decide what to try first? Sample them all with the brewery’s mega flight — one of every beer on draft. The in-house res- taurant, Masa Craft Kitchen, specializes in Fili- pino-Cuban fare, from creative riffs on the croqueta and tacos to burgers sandwiched be- tween tostones and spicy guava-grilled chicken wings. It doesn’t get more MIA than that. Miami Brewing Company 30205 SW 217TH AVE., HOMESTEAD 305-242-1224 MIAMIBREWING.COM If you’re seeking a change of scenery, take a day trip down to the Redland. Sharing the property with Schnebly Redland’s Winery, Miami Brewing Company is situated amid a lush landscape blessed with waterfalls, a koi pond, live music on the weekends and more. The taproom itself is a family-friendly affair that offers generous indoor and outdoor seat- ing. Beer and mead are on offer, including the brewery’s famous Big Rod, a blonde ale with a hint of coconut. If beer’s not your thing, then enjoy some of Schnebly’s wine, made from lo- cal tropical fruits like guava and avocado. Mi- ami Brewing Company is more than a taproom — it’s a destination. Mike’s at Venetia 555 NE 15TH ST., 9TH FLOOR, MIAMI 305-374-5731 MIKESMIAMI.COM For more than 30 years, Mike’s at Venetia has remained one of Miami’s hidden gems. Locals in the know frequent this Irish dive bar, lo- cated on the ninth floor of Venetia Condo at the western terminus of the Venetian Cause- way. Drinkers will find a welcoming bar with a seemingly never-ending list of beverage op- tions and daily menu specials ranging from pizza to rib-eye to mussels and shrimp pasta. A dozen or so TV screens make this place ame- nable to viewing whatever sport is in season. Minibar 418 MERIDIAN AVE., MIAMI BEACH 786-690-1858 MINIBARMIAMI.COM This South of Fifth watering hole in the Urban- ica Meridian Hotel has quickly become a favor- ite among Beach locals and visitors looking for a laid-back vibe. True to its name, Minibar is a small hangout that invites conversation in the courtyard, a chat with your friendly bartender, or a quiet nightcap. Cocktails are named after famous Miami neighborhoods, such as the “Co- conut Grove,” the “Wynwood,” and the “Hia- leah,” practically begging you to undertake a tour of the Magic City from your barstool. Minnow Bar 660 WASHINGTON AVE., MIAMI BEACH 305-534-9600 SEAWELLMIAMI.COM/MINNOW-BAR You’ll find Minnow Bar discreetly tucked in- side Kimpton Angler’s Hotel on Washington Avenue in South Beach. The cocktail menu here focuses heavily on clear spirits and botani- cals, but there’s a little something for everyone. Inviting couches line both the indoor bar area and outdoor patio. Bites from sister restaurant Seawell Fish N’ Oyster are available as well. Monty’s Raw Bar 2550 S. BAYSHORE DR., COCONUT GROVE 305-856-3992 MONTYSRAWBAR.COM You haven’t lived in Miami until you’ve spent an afternoon sucking down Pain Removers while gazing at a cotton-candy sunset at Monty’s. The Coconut Grove institution has seen a half-century of Miamians flock to the dockside restaurant for happy hour and trop- ical vistas. But no trip to Monty’s is complete without a round of Pain Removers — the bar’s version of the Painkiller, a tiki cocktail trade- marked by Pusser’s Rum Ltd. in the 1970s. Besides the name tweak, not much differenti- ates the Remover from the ‘Killer. Both are made with island rum, pineapple juice, OJ, and coconut cream, and both can be prepared in “strengths” that vary the rum-to-juice ra- tio. Pair the sweet, strong cocktail with a dozen oysters and watch the boats come in. No Man’s Land 666 FEDERAL HIGHWAY, FORT LAUDERDALE 954-280-6291 NOMANSLANDFTL.COM There’s a reason this vibey cocktail parlor, lounge, and restaurant from Big Brother alum Memphis Garrett is billed as a “refuge from the ordinary.” Step inside No Man’s Land in Fort Lauderdale and you immediately feel as though you’ve been transported to an intimate dinner party, a bespoke experience made complete with an arsenal of creative cocktails and equally inventive small plates served up in a sexy and sophisticated space. Mixed drinks take center stage in the form of a list that changes several times a year but always includes the “NML Old Fashioned,” a blend of bourbon, a house-made s’mores syrup, and bitters that’s garnished with a toasted marshmallow. Dishes are overtly intended to complement the libations. Exhibit A: the “Foie Gras Old Fashioned,” a bourbon- cured terrine served with a Luxardo gastrique, Angostura bitters-infused mascarpone, and Demerara brioche. Old Tom’s Sports Bar 5001 NW 36TH ST., MIAMI SPRINGS 305-888-6022 OLDTOMSMIAMI.COM A modest-size establishment just north of Mi- ami International Airport, Old Tom’s Sports Bar is always packed with locals and tourists who want to enjoy a pitcher of beer in a chill setting. Watch NFL games as you indulge in No Man’s Land No Man’s Land photo
