Miami's Best Bars For Cool Cocktails

Greater Miami & Miami Beach has many bars with lively atmospheres and deliciously creative specialty cocktails. From hidden gems that serve monster-inspired cocktails to late-night lounges where you can sip large-format drinks while dancing to a local DJ, there’s no shortage of great places for cool cocktails.

Take the Over Under on Great Drinks

Looking for a fun, casual spot in Downtown Miami with some of the best drinks in the area? Then head to Over Under, where the cocktail menu features refreshing frozen cocktails, beer-and-a-shot combos, and plenty of tropical concoctions, plus surprisingly delicious bar bites (like the best veggie burger in Miami). The brainchild of Brian Griffiths, formerly a bartender at Broken Shaker, Over Under is one of those bars that makes for the perfect chill happy hour spot. Opt for the peel ‘n’ eat shrimp and a Frozen Muscle Relaxer. There’s also weekly karaoke and an entertaining crowd.

Italian Cocktails in Downtown Miami

Another Downtown Miami favorite, ViceVersa is a James Beard Award-nominated aperitivo-inspired bar that serves cocktails using primarily Italian spirits, from a classic Aperol spritz to the slightly lesser known Sbagliato to Negronis garnished with lemon, lime and orange as an ode to the tropics. Pair these beverages with wood-fired pizzas and creative crudos and you’re bound to have a fantastic time, whether you’re enjoying it with a group of friends or on a date night.

Sip Cocktails to the Wee Hours

Open until 5 a.m. every day, Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Co. is one of the most-awarded spots in Miami, and having a full kitchen serving a menu by James Beard Award-winner Michelle Bernstein doesn’t hurt. From a famed pina colada made with a house blend of special rums to a savory oyster martini with Fords Gin, manzanilla sherry, mignonette, white pepper tincture and fresh horseradish, this cool South Beach bar has a craveable cocktail for every type of imbiber. Pro tip: Call ahead to reserve the special bartenders’ table, which is like a chef’s table, but it’s behind the bar so you'll feel like you’re in the middle of all the high-volume action.

Treat Yourself to High-End Cocktails

If you’re looking for fancy, treat-yourself-worthy cocktails, head over to The Champagne Bar at Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club in Surfside. Appropriately named, with the largest champagne collection in Miami, this stunning, emerald-green bar is surrounded by a large lounge area. Drink offerings include way more than champagne. You’ll discover light and bright flavors in the Surf Club Cosmo, made with Grey Goose vodka, Cointreau liqueur, cranberry and lime, and herby, bittersweet flavors in the Olive & Bergamotto cocktail, with Bombay Sapphire gin, Italicus liqueur, Rinomato Bianco olive cordial and Franciacorta sparkling wine.

A Cocktail Bar Inspired By Monsters

Located on the second floor of The Citadel food hall in Little River, Bar Kaiju is an intimate, monster-inspired cocktail lounge where every drink was created with a fictional character in mind. With a dimly-lit red tint, this hidden gem has guests flip through a collector’s binder (like in the old-school card-collecting days) to check out an array of Pokemon (aka pocket monster)-themed beverages. Must-haves include the Chukwa, a carbonated milk punch with mango lassi, and the Maskinganna, a fun, clear espresso martini made with Cristalino tequila. Hang out at the bar and watch the magic happen or get cozy in the casual lounge area.

Take A Trip to Cuba (and Enjoy a Mojito or Two)

Ranked No. 13 on 50 Best’s list of the best bars in North America, Cafe La Trova is a classic Cuban bar that transports you to Cuba’s heyday era. Award-winning bartender Julio Cabrera and his team of cantineros (bartenders) bring the retro Cuba atmosphere to life with artisanal, handcrafted cocktails. Keep it classic with the Hemingway daiquiri or a mojito, one of the best you’ll find in Miami. Chef Michelle Bernstein lends her culinary prowess with a contemporary take on Cuban-style dishes, plus there’s live music played by real Trova musicians.

Have A Drink in A Circa 1980s Sunroom

After a fun day of shopping at The Shops at Midtown, drop by The Sylvester, located right across the street. You’ll find a long room filled with mismatched vintage furniture and tchotchkes, reminiscent of an old Florida sunroom somebody’s grandparents might have had in the 1980s. The cocktail menu sports drinks with entertaining names, like the clarified and carbonated Sunny Daniels, made with Ketel One vodka, vanilla yogurt, verjus and passion fruit, or the Coochie Couture, with El Tesoro Blanco tequila, raspberry cordial and coconut foam.

Smooth Jazz & Smooth Cocktails

If you want to dance the night away while sipping on inspired cocktails in a super-luxe lounge, Medium Cool totally fits the bill. Located on the lower level of the Gale South Beach hotel, this trendy hot spot features an intimate, jewel-toned velvet lounge where everyone can feel like they’re indulging in bottle service (but without the table cost). Opt for individual cocktails like the Clover Club or go for a large-format cocktail like the Cold AF Martini that’s served in a bottle and an ice bucket, allowing you to pour a perfectly diluted martini into your own glass. Smooth jazz plays in the early evening, and as the evening progresses, the vibe heightens with live DJs.

A Classic Dive Bar That’s Actually New

Step into Brother’s Keeper and you’ll think it’s a dive bar that’s been there for decades, but don’t let the neon tube lights, pool table and large fish tank fool you. This newish cocktail haven right off Alton Road in South Beach is anything but divey. It features high-brow cocktails, like a Bread Service Martini, made with either gin or vodka, Martini & Rossi dry vermouth, sea salt, olive oil and house brine and served with a fresh, warm croissant, and a spicy margarita with a hint of Thai chilis for that kick of heat.

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