Whether it’s unwinding after a long day’s work or indulging in a weekend soirée, Downtown Miami has its fair share of sultry bars you don’t want to miss. From suave cigar bars to Western saloons and hip and boisterous playgrounds – there’s something to satisfy every discerning drink enthusiast’s palate.
El Vecino
El Vecino brings you straight into the past. It’s a place for the privy, and we’ll happily put you on. The dimmed-down cocktail and cigar bar hosts regulars on the daily, but newcomers will feel equally as welcomed. The 10-seat establishment complete with vintage decor, vows to bring a never-before-seen Michelin Guide-caliber experience to the city’s cigar lovers. Moreover, the knowledgeable staff makes cigars approachable to novices while simultaneously carrying a top-shelf collection that seasoned smokers will indubitably appreciate.
If cigars aren’t really your thing and you’re simply visiting El Vecino for the top-notch libations, take a seat on the plush furniture and prepare to be wooed. The short and sweet menu includes several 305 favorites. The Belicosa is straight-up balm for the soul featuring scotch, herbal liqueur, tonic, honey, lemon, and thyme. Then there’s the Little Havana, simple and sweet, crafted with blackstrap rum, amaro, and sweet vermouth. Daily happy hour runs from 4 to 7 p.m., charcuterie and oysters included.
El Vecino is located at 698 NE 1st Ave Suite 172, Miami, FL 33132. For more information, visit their official website.
Lost Boy Dry Goods
British pub meets Western saloon, Lost Boy Dry Good has got all the vibes. Plus the libations, pool table, darts, and even the grand piano to match. Open from noon till 3 a.m. on the daily, it’s an all-day type hangout which you truly won’t want to leave. Cold beers, craft cocktails, freshly assembled sandwiches, and throw in a banging happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m., we know we’re staying.
The drinks menu is well-stocked with beer, draught and canned, cocktail classics, and house-made creations, as well as a concise menu of select wines and bubbly. We’re particularly impartial to the French martini crafted with tried and true vodka, cassis noir de Bourgogne, and a dash of pineapple. Luckily, you won’t go hungry here either, as the kitchen gives top-rated restaurants some heavy competition. Case in point: the Sloppy Jose, Cuban picadillo served on a soft and chewy potato roll. Trust us, you’ll gladly be licking your fingers after this one.
Lost Boy Dry Goods is located at 157 E Flagler St, Miami, FL 33131. For more information, visit their official website.
NIU Wine
NIU Wine is a darling little place that transports you off the streets of Miami and straight into an intimate little Catalonian tapas bar. Steps away from NIU Kitchen, the Wine counterpart focuses primarily on curated natural vino and small plates.
To go with the smooth sips, Chef Deme Lomas, a Barcelona native, prepares quite the artful bite: three-year cured anchovies from the Cantabrico Sea are paired with smoked butter; razor clams melange with sherry vinegar; and deep-fried brie with honey and quince serve as the most cherished friend to a robust wine. Minimalistic, snug, and inviting, NIU Wine might easily become your go-to date hub.
NIU Wine is located at 134 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33132. For more information, visit their official website.
Over Under
Over Under, the subtroppi honki tonk is where all the cool kids gather while the sun slowly sets. Bevvys are served in funky chalices adorned with fuzzy wires, plastic pink flamingos, and what have you. Alongside the sips, Chef James McNeal (but don’t call him Chef) dishes out immaculate noshes made from local produce.
So what are we ordering? Heavy on the local theme, subtropical ingredients prevail, and boy, are they welcome. Sip your way through the Ramon’s Jockey, made with green plantain-infused rum, sour orange sherbet, Campari, and citrus, while eyeing the provisions to come. Hickory-smoked local Mahi fish dip with pickled peppers and fried saltines; and a veggie burger that is known to convert all the carnivores in town put Over Under on the map.
Over Under is located at 151 E Flagler St, Miami, FL 33131. For more information, visit their official website.
The Corner
Once you’ve visited every other place on the list, make sure to head straight to The Corner. This Downtown favorite serves up immaculate sips all the way through the wee early morning hours, 5 a.m. to be exact. The cool cats in town know that a night out here won’t cost you an arm and a leg; plus, the fare is mighty solid.
Unforgettable craft cocktails include the Whitey on the Moon made with Death’s Door White whiskey, clove, milk, and lemon zest, or the Red Devil concocted with Del Maquey vida Mezcal, lime, achiote and fennel seed syrup, and orange bitters. There’s an incredibly expansive menu of worldwide craft beers, and the food menu here deserves its own praise. Noteworthy appearances are the killer grilled cheese sandwich, and croque madame served with a fried egg.
The Corner is located at 1035 N Miami Ave #101, Miami, FL 33136. For more information, visit their official website.
