11 March 28 - april 3, 2024 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 | daiquiris and chef Michelle Bernstein’s fare, there’s something uniquely Miami about Cafe La Trova. Bernstein’s comfort food is all- around tempting. She works to meet the foodie fantasies of her guests, whether they’re in search of elaborate dishes or a tra- ditional tres leches dessert. Cabrera’s can- tineros take pride in the art of drink making. Here, they “throw” daiquiris, tossing the pre- cious liquid from shaker to shaker to create an arch in the air before spontaneously burst- ing into a choreographed dance number. But as with all things Magic City, this joint isn’t fueled solely by good food and drink: At any given time of the day, expect guayabera-clad musicians or jazz trumpet players to fill the air with their vibrant tunes from a stage whose backdrop is the weathered façade of an Old Havana edifice. The debut Florida Mi- chelin Guide recognized Cafe La Trova for its superior food and drink. Cebada Rooftop 124 GIRALDA AVE., CORAL GABLES 786-409-2287 CEBADAROOFTOP.COM Cebada, the Spanish word for barley, is an ode to the now-shuttered Barley, which was located in Dadeland. Cebada Rooftop finds the same owners, Jorge Ramos Sr. and his son Jorgie Ramos, operating atop a one- story building in Coral Gables. Prior to opening in August 2021, the bar was in the works for more than three years. The drink names on the cocktail list poke fun at Miami-isms (and Jorgie’s childhood) — like the “Every Belen Guy’s Christmas Vacation,” made with cucumber, ginger, honey, lemon, and Breckenridge gin. No Ramos establishment would be complete without an elevated menu filled with dishes you won’t find in any other bar. (Think squid-ink linguini and roasted marrow bone.) Cervecería La Tropical 42 NE 25TH ST., MIAMI 305-741-6991 CERVECERIALATROPICAL.COM Cuba’s oldest brewery made its way to Miami after nearly 25 years of research on the part of Manny Portuondo, great-great-grandson of Federico Kohly, who founded Cerveceria La Tropical in 1888. Using the original beer rec- ipe, Portuondo revived his family’s legacy with a state-of-the-art brewery in Wynwood, bringing La Tropical to the masses for the first time since Castro seized power. The grounds are verdant, thanks to an onsite an- nex of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, and offer a full bar and live nightly entertainment. The beer selection rotates, but you can count on La Original (an amber lager) and Nativo (a suave IPA) to be available on tap. An onsite restaurant run by chef Cindy Hutson serves Caribbean food with a Miami twist, from beer-can bread with whipped guava butter to curry jerk chicken wings to a “Latin Lovers” flatbread topped with pulled pork, chorizo, and churrasco. Champagne Bar at the Surf Club 9011 COLLINS AVE., SURFSIDE 786-482-2280 FOURSEASONS.COM/SURFSIDE/ DINING/LOUNGES/THE- CHAMPAGNE-BAR Miami’s ultimate treat-yourself bar is the Champagne Bar at the Four Seasons Surf Club. Home to the largest collection of Champagne in town, this chic oasis trans- ports its guests to the Amalfi Coast. The em- erald-green bar just outside the Lido at Surf Club Restaurant is surrounded by a large lounge area and an outdoor patio and is con- sidered the property’s lobby bar. Cocktails here are stunning riffs on classics with twists often inspired by the grand parties thrown onsite in the early 1900s. They’re on the pric- ier side, even for Miami — gird your credit limit for $25 a pop — but they’re among the best to be found. 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. Dante’s HiFi 526 NW 26TH ST., MIAMI 305-965-9975 DANTESHIFI.COM Miami’s now home to several vinyl listening bars, but Dante’s HiFi, which opened in the heart of Wynwood in September 2021, is the OG. Hidden behind an unmarked black door and down a couple of corridors in, this cozy spot is dominated by raw concrete accented by heavy drapes, a massive rug, and plenty of couches. With a record collection that tops 4,000, there’s no end to what you might hear on any given night, courtesy of a DJ who’s po- sitioned at the center of the bar. Just like the Japanese listening bars that inspired it, Dante’s cocktail menu is all highballs, all the time, but ask and the bartender will whip up whatever your heart desires. Reservations are de rigueur, and if you aren’t a fan of tight spaces, a late-night weekend visit might not be for you. Prime time for relaxing/vibing: weekdays when Dante’s opens around 7 p.m. 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 oversized bar is equipped with a TV screen over every single seat, so you can watch football while Dante’s HiFi World Red Eye photo
