Miami is known for its high-octane nightlife. Whatever your night-owl needs are, there’s an area that caters to your style, beverage choice, music taste and desired atmosphere. There’s the glitz and glam of South Beach’s world famous clubs; the hidden hipster haven of Midtown and Wynwood; the river view bôites of Downtown Miami and some long standing staples sprinkled about the city.
SOUTH BEACH
Let’s start with South Beach. On South Beach, you can expect the swanky club-feel of well-heeled, international partiers and world-class DJs with swaying fans. It’s all part of the South Beach club vibe that’s made the town famous for partying. The South Beach club scene is still going strong. Currently, there’s an influx of electronic music influence making its way over from the European club scene, but Miami has long been a generator of electronic music influence because of the yearly internationally acclaimed Ultra Music Festival. Clubs here run the gamut from live music hole-in-the-wall to mega structures with rooms and rooms of different music. Check out LIV, Mansion or Set for a taste of the long-standing staples on the South Beach club scene.
If clubbing isn’t quite your jams, South Beach has more popping late night hangouts of all kinds. Try a low key beer room or a hotel cocktail lounge (B Bar at The Betsy or The Catalina), a poolside bar, The Standard or The Raleigh or a hip ping-pong lounge. South Beach is home to night crawlers of all kinds. If you stroll down Collins, Ocean or Washington Avenue, you’re sure to find somewhere to cozy up and pass the hours (and maybe a few cocktails).
MIDTOWN & WYNWOOD
Midtown and Wynwood―Miami’s blossoming, changing, art-centric neighborhoods― have new nightlife venues popping up all the time. To a visitor, just driving through the streets, you might not peg it as a bustling metropolitan nightlife center, but when the sun goes down and the doors open you’ll find some of the coolest and chicest spots around. Part of the charm of the Midtown/Wynwood area is that the spots are a bit hidden, a little undercover and part speakeasy. Once you uncover them, the venues run from cozy wooden tavern (Wood Tavern) to giant gallery party space (Cafeina) or cozy hidden live music living room (Bardot). For some food and drinks to get the party started, check out Tapas y Tintos or Gigi.
DOWNTOWN
Downtown Miami is one of the oldest areas in Miami and you can always count on an after-work crowd for happy hour that bleeds into the wee hours of the morning. Tobacco Road is a stop worth making if you’re a history buff with a taste for beer or cheap cocktails. The proud bearer of Miami liquor license Number One, Tobacco Road is an old haunt with a killer happy hour on Fridays. The Road, as it’s commonly known, is a sure bet for a good time and live jazz, blues and R&B. Other cool spots to check out downtown include the cocktail lounge and outdoor space Blackbird Ordinary, where you can play a board game and sip a craft cocktail. One of Downtown Miami’s mainstays is the legendary, giganticClub Space. This is the place to head for house, trance and techno dance music – and for partying into the wee, wee hours.
For a selection of beers that’s unrivaled, check out Democratic Republic of Beer (DRB for short) and then head over to The Vagabond for a hipster vibe and cool young crowd of locals. It’s hard to pinpoint a single characteristic for the Downtown area, it’s a large neighborhood full of character and from block to block it might have a whole new feel. Downtown Miami’s night spots are varied, but always fun.
COCONUT GROVE
Don’t forget Coconut Grove. The Grove is crawling with college bars perfect for bar crawls and small local restaurants where you can sit outside and enjoy a glass of wine. Find a parking spot or better yet, take a cab, and walk through these charming little streets popular with locals of all ages. The Sandbar Sports Grill is a longtime favorite for cheap beer and fish tacos, while the rooftop of the Mayfair Hotel offers a swank atmosphere for cocktails and a spectacular view of Biscayne Bay. CocoWalk has long been a nighttime gathering place; this is where you’ll find popular chains like Fat Tuesday. Monty’s Raw Bar is the place to go for music, happy hour and a Miami waterfront atmosphere. Catch the bay breezes at Monty’s, enjoy a cold pitcher of beer with your friends and listen to DJ music while watching locals and tourists relax and have fun.
From South Beach to Coconut Grove, Miami’s nightlife neighborhoods offer something to suit every taste. Whether you want dancing, lounging or relaxing by the bay―there’s a Miami night spot that fits the bill. Miami’s nightlife reputation is well deserved. The Magic City offers a dazzling array of nocturnal hot spots―so get the party started and have fun!