Restaurants With Live Music

Greater Miami and Miami Beach is a destination that moves to the music – and traditional concert venues are far from the only place you can hear it. From salsa and jazz to rock, live DJ sets and everything in between, take your pick from countless restaurants where live music and entertainment complement the stellar cuisine. We’ve scouted the very best dining in Miami to enjoy live music, shows and an unforgettable night out.

Cafe La Trova

Under the leadership of award-winning mixologist Julio Cabrero, cantineros mix perfect cocktails that hearken to Old Havana while breaking out into dance as a live Cuban band takes the stage nightly at Cafe La Trova in Little Havana. 

The food, scrupulously crafted by James Beard Award-winner Michelle Bernstein, is an immersion in Cuban culture, with everything from small bites like Cuban sandwich empanadas and ham croquetas with fig jam to classic arroz con pollo. Dine and chat as the band plays on – and maybe even get on your feet and dance.

The Bar at The Shelborne by Proper

The Bar at Shelborne by Proper is the airy and subtly glamorous hotel lobby bar of the recently restored Art Deco masterpiece in South Beach. Here, a sophisticated menu of light bites and cocktails tempts guests throughout the day. Take their excellent martini service, for example: your choice between Vesper-style with avocado oil-washed vodka and dry gin, or espresso with reposado tequila and Cherry Heering.

The food menu includes snapper ceviche, smoked fish dip, caviar guac, tacos and tostadas. Add to that live music Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as Tuesday jazz nights with the Brian Tate Trio in collaboration with nearby lounge Medium Cool, and you’ve got yourself a classy night out in South Beach.

MILA

A multi-dimensional nightlife hotspot, MILA combines a high-energy rooftop lounge with a cocktail bar, restaurants and live performances. Situated in the heart of South Beach in the Lincoln Road Shopping District, dinners here often transform into DJ-fueled dance parties as the night progresses.

With a sleek Japanese wabi-sabi design, the indoor-outdoor space features everything from fire dancers to visiting DJs and sound experiences. The sophisticated menu blends Asian and Mediterranean culinary traditions, plus there’s a dedicated omakase bar.

Ball & Chain

Anchoring Little Havana’s Calle Ocho, Ball & Chain is set inside a restored venue that once played host to the likes of Count Basie and Josephine Baker. Today, it offers live music every day and night, from Mambo Mondays to Bachata Tuesdays and Sabor Wednesdays. 

Ball & Chain also offers salsa dance classes for beginners and a whirlwind dance floor for the pros to show off their moves. The food keeps the party going, with steak and potato pintxos, Cuban sandwich bites, lechón tacos and some of the best mojitos in town.

Lagniappe

The beauty of the nightly live music at Lagniappe near the Miami Design District is that you can always count on finding new talent – from solo pianists, saxophonists and bass players to samba trios and five-piece funk collectives.

The music starts up around 9 p.m. every night and jams until about midnight, giving you ample opportunity to soak up a great set, mingle in the spacious outdoor patio, share a bottle of wine and indulge in delicious grilled meats and veggies along with cheese and charcuterie plates with a convivial international crowd.

Copper Blues Rock Pub & Kitchen

Situated in the heart of Doral at CityPlace, Copper Blues Rock Pub & Kitchen is a unique Miami destination. Following its self-described rock ’n’ roll attitude, live acts take the stage here nearly every night of the week, running the gamut from blues and acoustic music to salsa, country and live DJ.

Beyond the Stage Bar, you’ll also find a more relaxed beer garden, as well as a pub and kitchen, specializing in craft beer, cocktails and tasty grub. The Copper Nachos are great for sharing with your table, piled with black beans, pico, shredded Jack cheese, cheese sauce, pickled jalapeños, chipotle crema and your choice of meat. Or go for the Tostones Escandolosos topped with grilled shrimp, pico and cilantro aioli.

Soya e Pomodoro

For over 20 years, Soya e Pomodoro has been a staple of Downtown Miami’s dining scene. Set beneath an arch of the 1920s-era Shoreland Arcade, a rare example of downtown’s historic Beaux Arts architecture, it’s a cool, cave-like escape that transports diners to Italy’s old world.

Highlights of the menu include fazzoletti di formaggio e pera, silky pasta purses stuffed with pears and cheese tossed with plump sautéed shrimp in a creamy ricotta sauce. There’s also a paccheri pasta with roasted cherry tomato ragu served with the catch of the day, a fettucine Bolognese and plenty of secondi options, ranging from filet mignon medallions to branzino. Live jazz most nights of the week only adds to the romance of it all.

Mayami

Mayami, in the heart of Wynwood, is a combination restaurant, nightclub and music venue. Enjoy shows by performers ranging from fire dancers to DJs and live musicians every night of the week, including late-night live bands on Sundays until midnight. The food ranges from bites like Kobe meatballs and shrimp tempura to crispy snapper, ribeye steaks and truffle pasta.