12 April 10-16, 2025 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 | 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 Gables/Pinecrest/Kend- all triangle. 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 outside. The affec- tionately nicknamed 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 has evolved into a Miami Beach institution, now entering a fresh chapter under new ownership. This courtyard bar at the Freehand Hotel, with its twinkling lights and lush tropical surround- ings, recently transitioned from Bar Lab founders Gabe Orta and Elad Zvi to New York’s Authentic Hospitality group (who also happen to Ray’s Hometown Bar next door). While the ownership has changed, the com- mitment to topnotch drinks persists , albeit with a revamped menu focusing on straight- forward tropical cocktails. The space main- tains its signature indoor-outdoor layout with vintage furnishings and lush greenery that made it a welcome alternative to the area’s typical hotel bars over a decade ago. Brother’s Keeper 1710 ALTON RD., MIAMI BEACH 786-882-3528 BROTHERSKEEPERBAR.COM In 2024, four local hospitality veterans teamed up to open a much-needed neighbor- hood bar in the upper-left-hand corner of South Beach in 2024. Named after the first- ever episode of Miami Vice, the retro-in- spired spot is the perfect blend of kitsch and substance, with an inventive food menu that features options like bacon-wrapped dates with valdeón cheese, jumbo crab cakes, and jerk wings “that beat Bobby Flay.” The cock- tails are just as inventive. Don’t miss the Ins- tagram-famous “Bread Service Martini,” made with vodka, gin, and olive oil and served with a mini croissant on the side, and the “Apricot & Strawberry Junglebird,” which marries dark rum with Campari. Cafe La Trova 971 SW EIGHTH ST., MIAMI 786-615-4379 CAFELATROVA.COM Between Cuban cantinero Julio Cabrera’s dai- quiris 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 traditional tres leches dessert. Cabrera’s cantineros take pride in the art of drink making. Here, they “throw” daiquiris, tossing the precious liquid from shaker to shaker to create an arch in the air before spontaneously bursting into a cho- reographed 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 edi- fice. The Florida Michelin 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 lo- cated in Dadeland. Cebada Rooftop finds the same owners, Jorge Ramos Sr. and his son Jor- gie 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 a 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 recipe, Portuondo revived his family’s legacy with a state-of-the-art brewery in Wynwood, bringing La Tropi- cal to the masses for the first time since Castro seized power. The grounds are verdant, thanks to an onsite annex of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gar- den, and offer a full bar and live nightly entertainment. The beer selection ro- tates, but you can count on La Original (an amber lager) and Nativo (a suave IPA) to be available on tap. An onsite restaurant offers a menu created by chef Cindy Hutson that fea- tures Caribbean food with a Miami twist, from beer-can bread with whipped guava but- ter 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 (see the Bend Liquor Lounge), who teamed with notable names like Dan Binkiewicz of Sweet Liberty and Daniel Gonzalez of Hot Lime Kitchen to bring a fun watering hole to Mi- ami Lakes. There are beers on tap aplenty, as well as a full bar with an agave-focused cock- tail 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 of- fers multiple spots to drink on the premises, including the poolside Beach Club, the roof- top terrace overlooking Ocean Drive, and Shuckers at Cleve- lander Sports Bar, the last of which serves up grilled wings, coconut shrimp, and loaded na- chos and other “beloved Shuck- ers favorites” that were mainstays at the late lamented North Bay Village institution. 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. Brother’s Keeper Brother’s Keeper photo TOP TOP 100 100 BARS
