12 March 26 - april 1, 2026 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | February 26 - March 4, 2026 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | mously named “Best Snapper Sandwich You’ve Ever Had,” Barracuda remains exactly what a neighborhood bar should be: casual, familiar, and always lively. 3035 Fuller St., Co- conut Grove; 305-918-9013; instagram.com/ barracudagrove. The Bay Club South Beach Tucked beside Lucali on Bay Road, the Bay Club, also known as 1930 Social Club, is a rus- tic, low-key lounge that feels like a hidden ex- tension of one of Miami Beach’s most popular pizza spots. The intimate space features ex- posed brick, vintage décor, a tin-roof bar, and games like backgammon and dominoes, giv- ing it the feel of a cozy neighborhood club- house. Guests can order cocktails, wine, or draft beer while enjoying the full Lucali menu, including its well-known New York– style pizzas and calzones. It’s also a popular place to sip a drink or grab a few bites while waiting for a table next door. With small ta- bles, a sidewalk patio, and occasional comedy shows, karaoke, and live music, the Bay Club offers a relaxed alternative to the bustling dining room next door. 1930 Bay Rd., Miami Beach; 305-695-4441; instagram.com/bay- clubmiami. Better Days Brickell Better Days has been one of Brickell’s most beloved dive bars since 2014. The kitschy, 1970s-inspired space mixes craft cocktails and cold beers with an anything-goes neigh- borhood vibe that keeps locals coming back for happy hour and late-night drinks. Inside, the dim lounge is filled with couches, a pool table, string lights, and plenty of oddball dé- cor, creating the feel of a house party that never quite ends. With bartenders happy to mix whatever guests request and a crowd that ranges from after-work regulars to late-night stragglers, Better Days remains one of Brick- ell’s most relaxed and un- predictable spots for a drink. 75 SE Sixth St., Miami; 786- 485-5105; instagram.com/ betterdays305. The Cleat Key Biscayne Located inside No Name Harbor at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, the Cleat offers one of the most scenic drinking spots in Miami. The open-air waterfront bar serves frozen cocktails, cold beer, and simple seafood bites with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and the marina. Boaters and cyclists regularly stop in for a drink after a day on the water or a ride around the island. Between the sunset views and breezy dockside setting, the Cleat feels more like a tropical pit stop than a typical city bar. 1200 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne, at No Name Harbor; lighthouserestaurants.com. Copper 29 Coral Gables Copper 29 blends cocktail bar polish with dance-floor energy in the heart of Coral Gables. Known for its copper-toned décor and lively atmosphere, the bar attracts crowds looking for craft cocktails early in the evening and DJs later in the night. The space shifts easily from relaxed lounge to packed nightlife destination as the hours pass. With strong drinks and a steady flow of music, Copper 29 remains a go-to Gables spot for a night out. 206 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables; 786- 830-9640; copper29bar.com. The Gibson Room Coral Gate/Silver Bluff A neighborhood bar on Coral Way, I somehow end up there most nights (part convenience, as I live in the area). The Gibson Room is a Mi- ami Slice Hospitality residency in partnership with Ariete Hospitality Group, so it’s rooted in great food and dialed-in drinks without trying too hard. The kitchen leans toward elevated bar food, classics from Miami Slice, a proper 1/2 pound burger, and longtime staples like the signature flan. The Gibson martini, the namesake classic, adds a touch of sherry, and the Daily Bread Old Fashioned, with bourbon, banana, walnut, chocolate bitters, and a can- died pecan garnish, is my go-to. Easy for an af- ter-office drink, dark enough for a late nightcap, always meant to feel like home. Tip: Kitchen closes at 11 p.m., but they serve slices till they shut down at 2 a.m. Thursday - Satur- day. — Giovanny Gutierrez, Miami Mixologist. 2224 SW 22nd St., Miami; thegibsonroommi- ami.com. Gramps Getaway Key Biscayne Gramps Getaway brings the playful energy of Wynwood’s beloved Gramps to a breezy wa- terfront setting on Key Biscayne. Located in the former Whiskey Joe’s space, the bar pairs divey charm with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline, making it a favor- ite stop for cyclists, beachgoers, and sunset seekers. The kitchen, led by chef James Mc- Neal, turns out a thoughtful menu that goes beyond typical bar food, with dishes like tam- arind-barbecue ribs and charred broccoli salad with tangy buttermilk ranch. Af- fordable cocktails, cold beer, and a rotating lineup of DJs spinning nostalgic favorites keep the atmosphere lively without losing the laid-back feel. Whether stopping in after a beach day or settling in to watch the sun drop behind the city, Gramps Getaway has quickly become one of Miami’s most relaxed waterfront hangouts. 3301 Rick- enbacker Cswy., Key Biscayne; 305-465-2482; instagram.com/grampsgetaway. Lost Boy Dry Goods Downtown Hidden behind the façade of a vintage-style retail shop, Lost Boy Dry Goods offers one of downtown Miami’s most creative bar con- cepts. The space blends the aesthetic of an old general store with that of a laid-back cocktail lounge, serving craft drinks, beers, and rotating specials. Inside, the cozy bar and lounge seating attract a crowd of downtown regulars, bartenders, and hospitality workers winding down after shifts. The result feels equal parts speakeasy, dive bar, and neighbor- hood hangout. 157 E. Flagler St., Miami; 305- 372-7303; lostboydrygoods.com. Over Under Downtown Over Under calls itself a subtropical honky tonk, a little chaotic, very Miami, and fully in on itself. The Instagram is one of the best out, and somehow the humor lands in person too. Owner-operated, you feel it immediately. The food hits hard with blue crab hushpuppies, gator bites, smoked fish dip with fried sal- tines, and a life-saving burger. Frozen BOGOs during happy hour, $1 oysters every Sunday, fun popups and activations that keep it mov- ing. Underneath it all, a modern cocktail bar with subtropical drinks, local ingredients, and Florida seafood. Just louder, looser, and way more fun. Tip: Follow @overundermi- ami. — Giovanny Gutierrez, Miami Mixologist. 51 E. Flagler St., Miami; 786- 247-9851; overun- dermiami.com. For the Fun, Young, and Late-Night Crowd This is where the night really begins, or keeps going. Expect high energy, great music, and bars that do not believe in early last calls. Blackbird Ordinary Brickell A longtime Brickell nightlife staple, Blackbird Ordinary has thrived through years of neigh- borhood change by continually evolving while keeping its party-first identity intact. Originally opened more than a decade ago by owner Dan Binkiewicz, the bar’s current ver- sion leans into a dark, moody aesthetic in- spired by Miami Beach nightlife, complete with disco balls, cozy booths, and an LED-lit dance floor salvaged from the legendary Purdy Lounge. The venue blends craft cock- tails, DJs, and live music with a layout that encourages movement between the main dance room and a tropical outdoor courtyard lined with additional bars. Known for popu- lar ladies’ nights and high-energy crowds, Blackbird Ordinary remains one of Brickell’s most reliable spots for dancing, late-night drinks, and a packed dance floor well past midnight. 729 SW First Ave., Miami; 305-671- 3307; instagram.com/blackbirdordinary. Dante’s HiFi Wynwood The first vinyl listening bar to open in Wyn- wood, Miami, in September 2021. Besides all- around badass resident DJ Richard Medina, the venue brings in talent from around the world for the analog audiophile. Agave-fo- cused drinks and whiskey highballs in mis- matched glassware add to the soulful space dedicated to the music culture, still the best of vinyl experiences in the 305. — Giovanny Gutierrez, Miami Mixologist. 519 NW 26th St., Miami; danteshifi.com. Jolene Sound Room Downtown Jolene Sound Room sits underground in the basement of an iconic Art Deco building in downtown Miami, rumored to land right where Al Capone’s liquor tunnel once ran. Think midcentury recording studio, ‘70s en- ergy, low-lit and analog, with local musicians and DJs shaping the room. It’s exactly that. Secure a table, run bottle service off their vi- nyl-style menu, or lean into something like my personal favorite, the Sticky Mango mar- garita riff. — Giovanny Gutierrez, Miami Mix- ologist. 200 E. Flagler St., Miami; 305-603-9818; jolenesoundroom.com. Level 6 Coconut Grove Perched atop the Coconut Grove Moxy Hotel, Level 6 delivers sweeping skyline and bay views, along with a lively rooftop party atmosphere. The open-air bar mixes Latin- inspired cocktails with DJs and dancing, keeping the crowd moving well into the night. Bright lighting, colorful décor, and panoramic views make the space feel like a sophisticated B A R S T O P Photo by Giovanny Gutierrez The Gibson Room
