14 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 | as a package store that’s open until 5 a.m., in case the occasion requires moving the party elsewhere for the wee small hours of 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. 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 fan- base by collaborating with established brew- eries like Cigar City and Terrapin. Then, he raised more than $110,000 in a crowdfunding 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 Miami’s climate — be they a juicy IPA, a fruit-forward sour, or a refreshing lager. Jaguar Sun 230 NE FOURTH ST., MIAMI JAGUARSUNMIA.COM This downtown haunt is home to amazing cocktails, delicious pastas, raw-bar options, and fluffy Parker House rolls that taste like pillows from heaven. Owners Will Thompson and Carey Hynes moved to Miami in 2018 to open a chic tropical bar that was an instant hit with locals. It remains a perfect spot for first dates, martinis with friends after (or dur- ing) a long week, and pre-Miami Heat game cocktails and bites. Their motto is, “If you come for the cocktails and stay for the food — great. And if you come for the food and stay for the cocktails — great!” Reservations for the dining room are highly suggested, but the bar area is where the real party is to be found. Always check out the “Freak of the Week’’ section of the menu, where you’ll find the fea- tured specialty cocktail. Note to newcomers: Jaguar Sun is located inside the X Miami building on NE Fourth Street; it’s accessible via a side door on the breezeway that runs alongside the Metromover, appropriately marked with an arrow sign that reads “COCKTAILS.” 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 Mi- ami, 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. Jolene Sound Room 200 E. FLAGLER ST., MIAMI 305-603-9818 JOLENESOUNDROOM.COM A basement bar in Miami isn’t something you see every day, but the folks behind this retro- themed listening room know what they’re doing in terms of exploiting their below-sea-level location for optimal sound quality. A venture that pairs the Bar Lab crew with the owners of Club Space, this late-night down- town disco showcases global dance music and local DJs and backs up the entertainment with cocktails mixed by Chris- tine Wiseman (World’s 50 Best North America 2023 “Best Bar- tender of the Year”) in a Saturday Night Fever setting. Come early if you’re looking for a quiet cocktail or venture in late night when you’re ready to dance off your dinner. Lagniappe 3425 NE SECOND AVE., MIAMI 305-576-0108 LAGNIAPPEHOUSE.COM This indoor/outdoor hodgepodge of a place is named for a small gift traditionally be- stowed upon a customer by a merchant, and the moniker couldn’t be more fitting. At this serve-yourself Midtown bar, you pick your craft beer, cheese, and wine, pay at the coun- ter, and then plant yourself in a lawn chair be- neath twinkling lights. Lagniappe offers live music — and sitting under the stars on a balmy night while listening to a band evokes an evening more New Orleans than Miami. Lincoln’s Beard Brewing Co. 7360 SW 41ST ST., MIAMI 305-912-7390 LINCOLNSBEARDBREWING.COM When John Falco opened Lincoln’s Beard in May 2016, he chose a spot near West- chester instead of competing with more es- tablished brewers in Wynwood and Doral. Today, the brewery stands as a community hub in Miami’s Bird Road Art District. It’s an industrial space where you can always find a cold pint served with a hefty dose of ambiance and live entertainment. Part of its success is Falco’s commitment to giving back, continually playing host for a fund- raising karaoke night or beer-and-food-in- spired festival. The house-brewed beers rotate frequently and pair per- fectly with the on-premises food truck, Tacos and Tattoos, located on the brewery’s back patio. The menu touts a vari- ety of Latin-themed eats, from overstuffed burritos and en- chiladas to a variety of tacos. That means you can match fa- vorite core brews like the Avenge Me! Irish Red or P. Swayze American IPA with anything from fried mushroom tacos or jerk chicken-topped fries to maduro-stuffed croquetas or a three-quarter-pound surf- and-turf burrito. Los Altos 521 SW EIGHTH ST., MIAMI 305-456-5905 LOSALTOSMIAMI.COM Ever wonder what a speakeasy on top of a 30-year-old Mexican restaurant looks like? A Little Havana ballroom turned storage space, Los Altos has been transformed into a sultry mezcal-fueled lounge that requires you to make your way up a staircase and through a Mexican candy shop to gain access. Owned by the team that owns Ball & Chain, this late- night hotspot returned to the scene in early 2024, four years after a dramatic closure in- stigated by City of Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo. With a Prohibition-style vibe, the space is decorated with plush banquettes, sugar skulls, and rose-adorned señoritas. Ap- propriately, the cocktails skew toward the agave family; standout concoctions include the spicy “Oaxaca al Pastor,” crafted with Los Altos reposado tequila, Ancho Reyes Verde poblano liqueur, honey, lime, and cilantro; and the “Sayulita,” a shaken tonic of mezcal, mango, carrot, habanero chiles, ginger, and fresh lime. Lost Boy 157 E. FLAGLER ST., MIAMI 305-372-7303 LOSTBOYDRYGOODS.COM Some days you want to sip nitrogen cocktails with durian espuma amid pulsating beats and colored lights, and some days you simply want a good drink in a low-key, welcoming joint. Lost Boy returns sanity to drinking through its cool, no-nonsense vibe, brick walls, and tasteful decor. The drinks are solid classics, often tweaked with tiny twists. (A penicillin benefits from the addition of or- ange-blossom honey, for example, while an espresso martini is made mellow with a dash of CBD oil.) Can’t make up your mind? Order the “My Idea!” and your bartender will craft you a bespoke cocktail. Your wallet will enjoy a trip to Lost Boy during its daily happy hour: Drinks are half off from 4 to 7 p.m. Lost City Brewing Company 12207 NE 13TH CT., NORTH MIAMI 305-456-0318 LOSTCITYBREWING.COM Lost City Brewing, which opened in the sum- mer of 2020 amid the pandemic, feels like a rare find amid Miami’s burgeoning beer land- scape. The taproom is located in a warehouse complex, which suits its industrial setting. Inside, you’ll find a small bar and a comfort- able lounge with leather sofas. The beers are straightforward and well-crafted — not many novelties here. Instead, you’ll enjoy infinitely drinkable ales in a convivial setting. Lost Weekend 218 ESPAÑOLA WAY, MIAMI BEACH 305-672-1707 SUB-CULTURE.ORG/LOST-WEEKEND- MIAMI Step off Collins Avenue and into Lost Week- end, and you might forget you’re smack in the center of South Beach. The bar is named for John Lennon’s affair with his and Yoko Ono’s assistant, May Pang — a “lost weekend” that Jolene Sound Room Photo by Nick120mm TOP 100 BARS
