15 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 | lasted 18 months. The bar offers cocktails, craft beers — and cheesesteaks. For those who crave a little competition, bar games abound, including pool, air hockey, darts, and foosball. Pro tip: Pop into Kill Your Idol, Lost Weekend’s sister bar next door — it’s chock full of fascinating adornments, including an astronaut hanging from the ceiling and a life- size Bruce Lee statue sticking out of the back bar. Mac’s Club Deuce 222 14TH ST., MIAMI BEACH 305-531-6200 MACSCLUBDEUCE.COM One of the few remaining dive bars in Miami Beach (and one of the oldest), Mac’s Club Deuce is the seaside town’s definitive spot to drink, feed the jukebox, and shoot pool. Not much has changed inside this legendary es- tablishment, which opened in 1926. Find a se- lection of craft and domestic beers and enough hard liquor to satisfy even the picki- est barfly. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., all drinks are two-for-one. After that, the bar stays open for another ten hours, serving up cheap drinks and spontaneous misadventures. Anthony Bourdain, who was a frequent visitor, loved the Deuce’s retro vibe. The dark bar is also a hangout for celebrities seeking refuge from paparazzi, so be chill if you spot an A-lister holding a PBR. Oh, and bring cash — the Deuce accepts legal tender and nothing else. Mama Tried 207 NE FIRST ST., MIAMI 786-803-8087 MAMATRIEDMIA.COM Mama Tried is a homage to the 1970s, an era when carpeting and red velvet were consid- ered the height of chic. This is a drinker’s 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 (till 8 p.m.!) at this downtown spot includes $7 classics such as a rum-based dark ‘n’ stormy, a French 75, and traditional three-ingredient daiquiris and margaritas. The regular cocktail list, offered alongside a curt selection of beers and wines, includes nearly a dozen pop culture-inspired drinks, like the “Porn Star Martini,” the “Raspberry Beret,” and 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 atmosphere 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 portions. Along with riffs on mojitos and daiquiris, Mango’s bar- tenders have created a number of specialty cocktails since opening in 1981. A fan favorite, the “Bomb-Ba” martini, combines raspberry vodka, watermelon 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 staycation) is on. Margot Natural Wine Bar 25 SE SECOND AVE., MIAMI, FL, MARGOTNATURALWINEBAR.COM Named after Ernest Hemingway’s granddaughter, Margot Natural Wine Bar comes to us from the guys at Bar Lab (creators of 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/MARTINI-BAR Elegantly renovated to its 1939 glory (and then some), the National Hotel is home to a quaint and cozy imbibing den, Martini Bar. Here, the National’s original marble flooring anchors an intimate, Gatsbyesque space that — in authentic Gatsby fashion — offers views of the property’s infinity pool. Soak up the decadent vibe as you contemplate the list of specialty 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). Medium Cool Cocktail Lounge 1690 COLLINS AVE. #2, MIAMI BEACH 305-704-3600 MEDIUMCOOL.MIAMI Plenty of places on South Beach lay claim to “cool” status, so you have to hand it to a joint that classifies itself as merely “medium cool.” Located in the subterranean space once occu- pied by the dear-departed Rec Room (ah, nostalgia!), this lounge oozes sophisticated ‘70s Miami glam. Once you make it past the velvet rope, you’ll be escorted downstairs into a dark bar illuminated by a disco ball and a roving spotlight or two. Banquettes line the room, and there are plenty of places to rest your drink if you’re of a mind to dance. A handful of Miami’s best-known bar vets (Dan Binkiewicz, David Martinez, Josh Harris, and Naren Young) created Medium Cool as a place for those who seek the night-owl club- bing vibe without the hassle and cover charge. Table reservations are allowed, but you’re not compelled to buy bottle service. Looking to drink with a crew? Opt for a large- format cocktail served tableside just like bot- tle service. There’s also a jazz night and fun guest DJs — you never know when Diplo might drop in for a surprise set. MIA Bruhaus 10400 NW 33RD ST., DORAL 786-801-1721 MIABRUHAUS.COM If it’s variety you crave, MIA Bruhaus is the brewery for you. Owner Eddie Leon created this Doral brewery and distillery (formerly M.I.A. Beer Company) as an experimental playground for all things beer and craft booze-inspired. Today that means a beer garden and tasting room with a 50-plus ros- ter of craft IPAs, lagers, ales, sours, and stouts. In true experimental fashion, MIA was one of the first U.S. breweries to create its own flavored hard seltzer. Can’t decide what to try first? Choose any four and order a flight. The in-house restaurant, “powered by” Farmhouse Barbecue, offers everything from everything from pretzels and wings to tostones, croquetas, burgers, and pulled pork sandwiches. Miami Brewing Company 30205 SW 217TH AVE., HOMESTEAD 305-242-1224 MIAMIBREWING.COM/ There’s nothing like a a day trip to the Red- land to shed those urban blues. 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 blond 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. Miami Sound Bar 123 SE SECOND AVE., MIAMI 786-809-0900 MIAMISOUND.BAR Another entry on the Magic City’s roster of listening lounges, Miami Sound Bar is in- spired by Tokyo Music Bar in Mexico City. Here, you’ll find one of the best sound sys- tems in Miami — made in the UK and cus- tomized in Japan. If you seek a chill atmosphere with low lighting where you can sip a carefully mixed cocktail as you vibe to a DJ who spins vinyl albums from a massive collection, you’ve come to the right place. The aforementioned beverages are fun and musically inspired — try the “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” made with pear-infused bourbon, Ap- erol, amaro Nonino, and lemon; or the “Blind Melon,” with tequila, Ancho Reyes Verde po- blano liqueur, Midori, honeydew, agave, and lime. The space is super-small, so make a res- ervation to guarantee yourself a seat. 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 endured as one of Miami’s literal hidden gems. Locals in the know frequent this Irish dive bar tucked away on the ninth floor of Ve- netia Condo at the western terminus of the Venetian Causeway. Drinkers will find a wel- coming bar with a seemingly never-ending list of beverage options and daily menu spe- cials ranging from pizza to rib eye to mussels and shrimp pasta. A dozen or so TV screens make this place amenable to viewing what- ever sport is in season. Minibar 418 MERIDIAN AVE., MIAMI BEACH 786-690-1858 MINIBARMIAMI.COM This South of Fifth watering hole in the Me- ridian Hotel has quickly become a favorite 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 Miami Sound Bar Photo by Antonella Re
