1. Botequim Carioca Brazilian Bar And Grill
City: Downtown Miami, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (305) 675-1876
Address: 900 Biscayne Blvd.
Description: Another token Brazilian spot, patrons order from the Cachaca Bar, which features the Brazilian national Caipirinha drink with an assortment of fruit and sugar choices. Specialties include the Carioca Blue with cachaca curacao blue, triple sec, and sour mix and the Caipifruta with a choice of assorted premium cachacas, assorted fruit, and sugar. Traditional American cocktails are served; Sex on the Beach, piña colada, and margaritas, to name a few. Hard liquor, beer, and wine are also on the menu.
2. Tobacco Road Bar And Restaurant
City: Downtown Miami, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (305) 374-1198
Address: 626 South Miami Ave.
Description: At Miami’s oldest bar, which was opened in 1912, greasy American food and counterpart drinks are the draw. There’s live music and the crowd is down to earth and simply looking to have a good time. Happy hours do attract a drinking crowd, but this late-night joint is open until 5 a.m. so music, booze, and grub is what inspires people to stick around. They are especially proud of their single malt scotch collection and premium liquors—fresh ingredients (i.e., hand-squeezed fresh Florida orange juice is used for screwdrivers) are used for both food and drink. It’s just one of those consistent places for food, drink, and atmosphere overall.
City: Downtown Miami, FL
Category: Nightlife
Address: 1800 Biscayne Blvd.
4. Club Space
City: Downtown Miami, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (305) 375-0001
Address: 34 NE 11th St.
Description: In terms of nightclubs, Club Space seems to be immortal having been around for over a decade, an eternity in Miami club years. Part of its success is due to Space’s emphasis on music rather than flash-in-the-pan trends. Resident and big-name guest DJs (Deep Dish, Paul Van Dyke) keep the beats and bodies bumping. This is the type of place the fist pump was invented for. The door takes a more egalitarian approach than others, which, while admirable, can lead to problems. Most Miami clubs have the occasional kafuffle, but this one in particular is known for fights getting out of hand.
5. Nocturnal
City: Downtown Miami, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (305) 576-6996
Address: 50 NE 11th St.
Description: Fashionable things go bump in the night at this three-story club. Three bars, a cafe, and dance floor take up the first floor, a VIP lounge with balcony adjacent seating can be found on the second, but it’s the third floor that sets this club apart from others. PYTs and their admirers can dance under the stars on the bar’s spectacular rooftop terrace, which boasts of having a Funktion-one sound system, climate-controlled seating, and waterfalls. As with most Miami nightclubs, admittance depends largely on looking the part or being able to pay the steep price if not.
6. Bongo’S Cuban Cafe
City: Downtown Miami, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (786) 777-2100
Address: 601 Biscayne Blvd.
Description: Owners Gloria and Emilio Estefan infuse their flavor in this Latin cafe, which has multiple locations around the city. DJs are featured several nights of the week, but live music does happen throughout the week. Check the calendar for events and schedules. Their Miami Beach location is at 820 Ocean Dr. (305-532-9577).
7. Grand Central
City: Downtown Miami, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (305) 377-2277
Address: 697 North Miami Ave.
Description: It’s not Manhattan’s Grand Central, but it is a former railroad station situated on tracks that were once used. Live music is featured on Friday and Saturday nights and a serious sound system is a huge plus. Take advantage of free parking and check the website in advance for schedules and lineup.
8. The Vagabond
City: Downtown Miami, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (305) 379-0508
Address: 30 NE 14th St.
Description: Hipsters, artists, and wearers of skinny jeans hang out at this Design District venue. Along with up-and-coming indie acts, the bar attracts some bigger names including Little Louis Vega and Hercules and Love Affair. One-dollar bottles of Colt 45 on Thursdays satisfy the crowd’s need for irony. The bar’s legendary Saturday night party, Back Door Bamby, is one of Miami’s longest-running underground parties. Check the website for no-cover live music events and schedules.
9. Waxy O’Connor’S
City: Downtown Miami, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (786) 871-7660
Address: 690 SW 1st Court
Description: Given how many confessions come out over a couple of beers, it’s surprising more pubs don’t go the Waxy route of modeling their pub after a cathedral. The bar food could best be described as Irish Caribbean—how often do you see conch fritters and bangers and mash on the same menu? Live music takes place every Thurs and has no cover. Reggae nights are Wednesdays and the website’s schedule will list current lineups. Other locations are at 1248 Washington Ave., Miami Beach (305-534-7824); and 1095 SE 17th St., Ft. Lauderdale (954-525-WAXY).
10. The White Room
City: Downtown Miami, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (305) 995-5050
Address: 1306 North Miami Ave.
Description: The White Room is known as a live music venue and club hybrid, so different nights will yield different vibes (or different times of the night, at that). International music is a highlight and events are listed on the website.
City: Downtown Miami, FL
Category: Nightlife
Address: 20 Biscayne Blvd.
12. Andiamo Brick Oven Pizza
City: Downtown Miami, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (305) 762-5751
Address: 5600 Biscayne Blvd.
Description: Talk about multitasking: This pizza joint also hosts outdoor movies on their projection screen, which is otherwise showing sports or news. Picnic tables and floor seating are the norm; get your car washed, too, if you need it. Call for schedules.
13. Gusman Center For The Performing Arts
City: Downtown Miami, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (305) 372-0925
Address: 174 East Flagler St.
Description: What was originally a silent movie theater built in 1926 has expanded to embrace all forms of the arts from theater to film and live music. Gusman serves as a film festival venue for various events, so there’s never a shortage of film and movie events taking place in the space. It’s also an official Ticketmaster outlet, which means tickets bought on-site won’t include any tacked on fees.