& Speaking of which, the mojitos here are among the tastiest (and strongest) you’ll find in the Magic City — or anywhere, for that matter. BES T DIVE B AR Mac’s Club Deuce 222 14TH STREET MIAMI BEACH, 33139 305-531-6200 MACSCLUBDEUCE.COM A dive bar isn’t merely a place to drink in the middle of the day. You should also get a story — and maybe even a bit of history — with your glass. You’ll find all of that and more at Mac’s Club Deuce. The bar opened in 1926, many decades before South Beach became a haven for craft cocktails and frozen blender drinks. Of course, you still can’t get a smoked rosemary old-fashioned or a pink flamingo surprise (or whatever it is they’re pouring these days on Ocean Drive) at Mac’s Club Deuce. The Deuce serves up unadorned drinks in a low-key setting. Two of the bar’s most famous characters, owner Mac Klein and former frequenter Anthony Bourdain, have since gone to the last call in the sky, and South Beach continues to overdevelop, but the Deuce endures. BES T GAY B AR Nathan’s Bar 1216 WASHINGTON AVENUE MIAMI BEACH, 33139 NATHANSSOBE.COM Opening a bar in the midst of a global pan- demic is a risky move — but it’s one that has paid off for Nathan Paul Smith. Part of Smith’s decision to open Nathan’s bar emerged from a desire for community after a period of isolation; the other part stems from Nathan’s delightfully kitschy concept. A vet- eran of Twist, Miami’s longest-lived gay bar, Smith infused Nathan’s with his love of popu- lar culture, like seating sections devoted to TV programs like Friends, The Brady Bunch, and The Real Housewives of Atlanta. That kind of shared nostalgia and sense of fun cre- ates the perfect party atmosphere. In a night- life scene fueled by spectacle and grandeur, Nathan’s homey, casual feel is a welcome ad- dition to Miami Beach — and all of South Florida, for that matter. As it nears its second anniversary, Nathan’s Bar is a testament to the uniting power of pop culture, and it’s a home away from home for Miami’s queer community. BES T OUTDOOR B AR Mila Restaurant, Rooftop 102 102 1115-1117 16th St. Miami Beach, FL 33139 Lounge & Mixology Bar 1636 MERIDIAN AVENUE MIAMI BEACH, 33139 786-706-0744 MILARESTAURANT.COM If you thought a rooftop experience on a Drink Eat Lincoln Road side street, where you have to take an elevator up, would go unnoticed — well, you’d be wrong. Going on its second year, Mila offers stunning views of South Beach from an outdoor deck that’s popular with the newbie tech crowd and longtime locals alike. Interior designer Olya Volkova’s minimalist Japanese-inspired aesthetic combines “imperfect” materials like natural stones and reclaimed woods with hand- made fabrics and ceramics, accented by lush tropical plantings. It’s a lovely and calm space, made lively by the folks who enjoy sipping expertly mixed cocktails en plein air — even when said plein air is our sticky, humid summertime stuff. BES T B AR (MIAMI) The Taurus 3540 MAIN HIGHWAY MIAMI, 33133 305-529-6523 THETAURUSCOCONUTGROVE.COM The Taurus opened in 1926 as a neighbor- hood bar serving basic drinks and grub. It closed in the early 2000s, but thank the boozy angels that hover above our Magic City for reviving it in ’09. The 21st-century version of the Taurus is a laid-back bar with a great whiskey selection, 50 or so beer se- lections, and great eats concocted by Arie- te’s Michael Beltran and Taurus chef Justin Flit. The food menu isn’t long, but it’s ex- actly what you want: pizza, wood-fired wings, and a burger to die for. Don’t sleep on the daily happy hour from 5 till 8 p.m., which offers $8 cocktails in a dog-friendly environment. BES T B AR (MIAMI BEACH) Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Co. 237 20TH STREET MIAMI BEACH, 33139 305-763-8217 MYSWEETLIBERTY.COM South Beach is chock-full of bars, but you’ll rarely catch locals in most of them. Sweet Liberty is one of the few exceptions, and it’s no surprise given its pedigree: Founder John Lermayer was a legendary bartender and a pioneer of the Miami cocktail scene. Along with Miami veteran restaurateur Da- vid Martinez and veteran bar owner Dan Binkiewicz, Lermayer opened Sweet Lib- erty in 2015 to immediate acclaim, offering innovative cocktails and a food menu by James Beard-winning chef Michelle Bern- stein that can’t be ignored. Lermayer died suddenly in 2018, and the bar remains a tes- tament to his creativity and positivity. In- side, a giant, pink neon sign reminds us to Pursue Happiness. That has become the motto of the bar and a reminder that, while life is short, enjoying cocktails with friends can last all night. JUNE 23-29, 2022 JUNE 23-29, 2022 NEW TIMES NEW TIMES BEST OF MIAMI® 2022 BEST OF MIAMI® 2022 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com
