10 March 28 - april 3, 2024 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 | been around since 1995. The interior is deco- rated in what could be described as “frat house on the sea” — plenty of UM signs com- pete with shark jaws and the ubiquitous inter- national currency stapled to every free spot around the bar. What really separates Barra- cuda from the pack, though, is its extensive beer list — about 60 rotating beers and ciders guarantee that you and your mates will never want for variety. Pair a few brews with some wings or fish dip, feed a few bucks into the jukebox, and you’ve got the makings of a per- fect weekend afternoon slipping into evening. Batch Gastropub Miami 30 SW 12TH ST., MIAMI 305-808-5555 BATCHGASTROPUB.COM There’s always a full house at this bustling American gastropub. Equal parts sports bar, lounge, and restaurant, Batch is the place to gather for soccer games, NBA tilts, boxing matches, and gridiron showdowns. The res- taurant is also lively after work, when Brickell businesspeople and residents alike pour in for locally sourced pub grub, from bison burgers to brick-oven pizza, that pairs per- fectly with a lengthy drink list featuring a wide range of beers, wines, and creative cock- tails. Happy hour — Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. — is a can’t-miss. The Bay Club 1930 BAY RD., MIAMI BEACH 305-695-4441 INSTAGRAM.COM/BAYCLUBMIAMI Right next to popular South Beach pizza joint Lucali, you’ll find the cozy and quaint Bay Club. The menu is the same as next door, with bo- nuses like the option to order smaller pies and happy-hour deals on wings, meatballs, caesar salads, and other such bites. The cocktails are as fun and creative or as classic and uncompli- cated as you care to regard them. The Bay Club is great for catching up with a friend or going on a second date; you can opt to sit outside on the sidewalk patio, at the bar, or in one of the cozy corner tables, depending on the mood you’re in. Plus, there are comedy shows, kara- oke, and live music regularly, meaning there’s always something entertaining going on (in ad- dition to the people-watching). 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 and his team have created an extensive drink menu, including classics such as an elegant take on a Moscow mule and the “Ginstagram,” made with Tanqueray London Dry, Cocchi Americano, falernum, passionfruit, orgeat, and Peychaud’s bitters. Beaker & Gray offers a selection of nonalco- holic 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 out- fitted with a pool table, string lights, and fla- mingo decor, 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 newer 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 INSTAGRAM.COM/ BLACKBIRDORDINARY This institution in Brickell City Centre has done more than merely survive the ever-changing neighborhood; it has thrived. Evolving as needed, Blackbird Or- dinary has reinvented itself for the third time in its 11-year lifes- pan. The newest version is in- spired by owner Dan Binkiewicz’s childhood in Miami Beach. It’s dark and moody, with a major bo- hemian feel and disco balls twinkling all night. Inside the main room, you’ll find cozy booths and plenty of room to dance — and you’ll be dancing on the iconic LED-colored floor that once called Purdy Lounge home. Step “out- side” to discover a newly revamped tropical oasis with tall, stadiumlike ceilings, even more room to dance, and several bars, ensuring that your next drink — say, the classic “Blackbird,” made with sweet-tea vodka, blackberries, and lemonade — is never too far away. Bleau Bar 4441 COLLINS AVE., MIAMI BEACH 305-674-4760 FONTAINEBLEAUMIAMIBEACH.COM Located in the lobby of the iconic Fontaineb- leau Miami Beach Hotel, Bleau Bar was a popular 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 2021 renovation, Bleau Bar debuted a series of 16-foot-tall screens that allow a little separa- tion between the hotel’s entrance and the bar area. Guests can take a seat at the massive teardrop-shaped bar or an exclusive table for bottle service. On the menu: classic cocktails, a broad selection of spirits, and beaucoup people-watching. Bob’s Your Uncle 928 71ST ST., MIAMI BEACH 786-542-5366 BOBSYOURUNCLEMIAMI.COM The original location of this dive bar is 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 re- stroom hallway, adorned with photos of fa- mous 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 ta- ble at the adjacent sushi restaurant, Katana. 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, and Bougainvillea’s, a snug, self-de- scribed old Florida tavern near the Shops at Sunset Place, is exactly that for those who live in the Greater Coral Ga- bles/Pinecrest/Kendall trian- gle. Built inside a ‘40s-era cottage, it’s a fine place to sip wine and contemplate hu- manity or to down beers with friends. The default light level is dim, there’s a fireplace, and some tables are set up out- side. The affectionately nick- named Bougie’s is one of the few neighborhood bars to offer live music on a regular basis. 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 at the Freehand Hotel, equipped with twin- kling lights, table tennis, and mismatched pa- tio furniture, offers a roster of cocktails that changes according to the season and available fresh ingredients. Curb your hunger with bites like street tacos and shawarma fries. A cre- ation of Bar Lab’s Gabriel Orta and Elad Zvi, Broken Shaker has racked up coveted honors that include “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 Beaker & Gray Photo by Ruben Cabrera TOP 100 BARS
