▼ Café Shaken and Stirred Cheers to Miami’s best cocktail bars. BY NICOLE DANNA T here have been times when Miami was better known for its crime scene than its cocktail scene, but, oh, how things have changed. Thanks to several talented Magic City bartenders and the growth of cocktail culture, the Magic City has made a name for itself with a growing mixology game offering plenty of places to whet your whistle. From champagne spots and homegrown success stories to tiki bars and Latin-themed concepts that serve an old fashioned from a cafecito, here are ten cocktail bars — listed in alphabetical order — to get your drink on in Miami: Broken Shaker 2727 Indian Creek Dr., Miami Beach 305-531-2727 brokenshaker.com What began in 2012 as a pop-up bar has since flourished and matured into one of Miami’s — and now New York City’s and Los Angeles’ — most popular and renowned cocktail bars. The creation of Bar Lab’s Gabriel Orta and Elad Zvi, Broken Shaker has racked up sev- eral coveted honors over the years, including Best American Hotel Bar at Tales of the Cock- tail’s Spirited Awards. And it’s all set on the site of a Miami Beach hotel, where the prop- erty’s courtyard oasis doubles as the home to a largely outdoor space where twinkling lights set the tone by the pool deck where travelers, tourists, and locals gather on mis- matched patio furniture to sip some pretty sublime cocktails. The menu presents several ways to curb your hunger and quench your thirst. The roster of cocktails changes accord- ing to the season and available fresh ingredi- ents. There’s even a “mocktail” menu for the designated drivers. Curb your hunger with bites like street tacos, Haitian-style griot and pikliz, shawarma fries, and a falafel burger. 16 16 Cafe La Trova 71 SW Eighth St., Miami 786-615-4379 cafelatrova.com You can’t visit Calle Ocho without stopping at one of the World’s 50 Best Bars. It’s all thanks to the magic made by chef/owner Michelle Bernstein’s comfort food fare and Cuban can- tinero/owner Julio Cabrera, whose expert drink-making is set against a backdrop of guayabera-clad musicians inside the weath- ered façade of an Old Havana edifice. You can’t go wrong with the award-winning “Buenavista” prepared with gin, elderflower liqueur, mint, cucumber, and lime juice, but there’s something uniquely Miami about or- dering a mojito or daiquiri here. The drink is “thrown” — a show that involves tossing the liquid from shaker to shaker to create an air- borne arch — before the bartender spontane- ously bursts into a choreographed dance number. It’s a cocktail and a show in one. bartender Will Thompson include a selection of aperitifs, martinis, and exotic-inspired cocktails. A “Freak of the Week” means there’s always something new to order up, and the happy hour offers a “Tiny Tini” with a choice of gin or vodka for $8 or classics like a Tom Collins, Manhattan, or margarita for $10 a pop. Hungry? Chef/owner Carey Hynes also ups the bar-chow game, including Jag- uar’s signature Parker House rolls served with honey-whisked butter or a perfect bowl of pasta to pair with your drink. SOME DAYS YOU WANT A GOOD DRINK IN A LOW-KEY, EASY-GOING JOINT. THAT’S WHERE LOST BOY COMES IN. Photo courtesy of Champagne Bar Champagne Bar 9011 Collins Ave., Surfside 786-482-2280 fourseasons.com Some bars are good for partying. Others for relaxing. And then there are the bars worth splurging on, like the Champagne Bar at the Four Seasons Surf Club. Home to the largest collection of Champagne in Miami, this chic palm-fringed, emerald-green bar offers a bevy of stunning seasonal libations and many riffs on classic cocktails inspired by global cit- ies. If none of them whet your whistle, a cus- tom-crafted cocktail cart available starting at 6 p.m., priced at $85 per person, will get you the experience of your choosing. Or there’s always the long list of champagne and spar- kling wines by the glass or bottle. Esotico Miami 1600 NE First Ave., Miami 305-800-8454 esoticomiami.com Esotico partner Daniele Dalla Pola loves tiki, from the movement’s storied past to its bevy of beverages infused with exotic juices and served in its very own style of glassware. And to create the perfect Miami oasis, Dalla Pola has traveled the world in search of tiki inspiration for his Miami bar and restaurant. Decorated in glowing pink neon and plenty of greenery and bamboo, it delivers Polynesian pop in spades. And what of the cocktails? The Champagne Bar at the Four Seasons Surf Club is home to the largest collection of Champagne in the city. Traditional tiki recipes are painstakingly recreated here, prepared with fresh- squeezed juices, specialty rums, and housemade mixes, and served in custom glasses designed by Dalla Pola himself. Sure, you could order Esotico’s twists on the mai tai or piña colada, but you’d be missing out on the real stars of the show, like the “Missionary’s Downfall,” a wildly herbaceous drink that blends brandy and rum with fresh mint. A line of limited-edition mugs lets you take the tiki to go: Try the Elvis-themed chalice with Esotico’s “King Ta Moko,” a blend of gin, passion fruit, housemade ginger orgeat syrup, and fresh citrus. Jaguar Sun 230 NE Fourth St., Miami jaguarsunmia.com When Jaguar Sun closed its doors for a brief pandemic-related hiatus in 2021 to offer a temporary pop-up with Sunny’s Steakhouse, Miami bemoaned the loss of one of its most quirky and cozy cocktail bars. Lucky for us, the establishment has since returned, a re- freshed reboot of its original outpost in the lobby of the X Miami building offering a menu that marries original staples with a few favorites from its days as Sunny’s. Drinks by 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 want a good drink in a low- key, easy-going joint. That’s where Lost Boy comes in. They return sanity to drinking with a cool, no-nonsense vibe and a menu of equally ap- proachable drinks. Here, all your favorite classics are tweaked with tiny twists — think a “Penicillin” with orange-blossom honey or an espresso martini mellowed with a dash of CBD oil. Can’t make up your mind? Order the “My Idea!” and the bartender will craft you a bespoke cocktail just for you. Pinching pen- nies? Your wallet will enjoy a trip to Lost Boy during its daily happy hour when drinks are half-price from 4 to 7 p.m. Monterrey Bar 40 Island Ave., Miami Beach 305-673-1717 standardhotels.com If you’re looking for a classy cocktail, head to the newish Monterrey Bar, a venue that pays homage to the Standard Spa, Miami Beach’s namesake roots, and the Monterrey Motel, which opened at 40 Island Avenue in 1953. There’s a cool speakeasy vibe at the intimate lounge and six-seat, T-shaped bar, which presents guests with its take on classic cock- tails paired with elevated light bites. The menu offers a selection of “Light and Bright” or “Slow Slipper” cocktails that are easy drinking or rich and smooth. You can’t go wrong with the “Gold Standard,” a blend of Aberfeldy 12-year scotch, passion fruit li- queur, sherry, amaro, English tea, and a 24-karat-specked ice cube. Pair it with a bar food menu that offers small plates like truf- fled tater tots; roasted bone marrow served with crispy shiitake mushroom and toast points; and chicken liver pate with pickled pearl onions, fig jam, and Melba toast. MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 NOVEMBER 10-16, 2022 NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com miaminewtimes.com
