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Miami Nightlife
Miami IS nightlife, from poolside happy hours to ultra-hot nightclubs complete with gorgeous dancers and world-class DJs. In fact, you could say nightlife in Miami easily becomes day life with hardly a break in between.
Much like the traffic and the heat of this town, the parties never stop. You can find yourself at a bar at noon and then hit a happy hour at 5 p.m., head to a live show at 9 p.m., hit a night club at midnight, and end at a lounge at 3 a.m. We’ve compiled a list of party spots that vary in the amount of insanity each delivers.
There are laid-back lounges like the infamous Purdy Lounge and poolside, celebrity-filled haunts like the Shore Club’s Skybar Miami Beach. Or you could party right on the sand at a place like Nikki Beach for some nightlife under the stars, enjoying the tropical climate of the Magic City.
Then we’ve also listed high-end party spots like LIV, located inside the world-renowned Fountainbleau Hotel, which features pricey drinks and a star-studded clientele…the type of place someone like Kanye might rent out for his birthday. In short, we’ve got our bases covered.
NIKKI BEACH MIAMI
In every sense, Nikki is a beach club, from its tiki bars and cabanas to its Survivor-meets-Fantasy Island decor.
That doesn’t mean you should bring your toddlers here (though it is very pleasant and quiet during the day).
Awesome DJs spin top tunes constantly, and great global food makes for terrific nibbling. Plus, a never-ending parade of SoBe’s famously beautiful models, society pagers and jet setters ensure that standard goings-on never get stale.
The campy vibe is irresistible, and excellent disco, lounge and dance music are certain to put you in a party mood. And as a bonus, dancing in the sand burns a lot of calories, which is a great way to keep those cocktail calories in check.
For more information visit their website here.
SKYBAR MIAMI BEACH SOUTH BEACH
Skybar’s glamorous, welcoming spaces, located in the notorious Shore Club, one of the most unique hotels on South Beach, act as a magnet for the unabashedly chic and famous.
From the gorgeous, dramatic Redroom, activity spills out the back door, into a lush garden, then to a poolside lounge, and finally to the beach itself. Accented with handcrafted lanterns, vibrant textiles, rich beading, tropical foliage and imported furniture, the lounge is designed to seduce and it succeeds brilliantly.
You’ll quite possibly lose all sense of time and place, which is quite all right. No one wants you to leave before you’re ready to go, and that will quite possibly be right around sunrise, which is beautiful coming up on the beach here.
For reservations and more information click here.
BEAKER AND GRAY WYNWOOD
Nightlife means different things for everyone, and while some may be drawn to a larger-than-life, bass-bumping night club, others prefer the quiet respite of a cocktail bar.
Enter Beaker and Gray, one of Miami’s classiest joints for a fine meal as well as stellar cocktails, shaken (like the Cool Runnings) or stirred (a la the Filthy Fifty). It’s all about quality and not quantity here, so don’t come in looking for a $5 shot and a beer special or to get rowdy.
Definitely a grown-up spot for grown-ass folks who appreciate the finer things in life, without getting stuffy about it.
For reservations and more information click here.
BALL & CHAIN
The original Ball & Chain opened in 1935 when Calle Ocho was simply known as the Tamiami Trail, through which farmers would send oranges and other crops east to the Downtown Miami area.
It has survived decades of reinvention, calling itself at one time the Ball & Chain Tavern, and serving as a venue for legendary performers like Billie Holiday and Chet Baker.
These days, the Ball & Chain is once again serving as a live music and dance venue, with a full bar, a fine drink menu, and tapas for when the mood strikes. While they’re still just starting out, there’s no doubt that larger acts will be hitting the stage here in no time.
For reservations and more information click here.
LIV @ FONTAINEBLEAU MIAMI BEACH
While the Fountainbleau remains one of the more beautiful and prestigious hotels in all of Miami, it’s not surprising that LIV, the hot-to-trot nightclub held within, is also one of Miami’s crown jewels for an evening of pure decadence.
LIV is all velvet rope and VIP and Gucci and Prada and bottle service. It’s not the place to go in jeans and a t-shirt hoping for a free shot of Jameson to go with your $6 beer. It is the place to go if your Manolo Blahnik’s finally arrived and you’ve got the need to show them off while hoping to rub elbows with Kim Kardashian, Alex Rodriguez, Kate Hudson, or Jay-Z (all previous guests of the establishment).
For reservations and more information click here.
SWEET LIBERTY MIAMI BEACH
«Oh, sweet, sweet liberty,» is the kind of thing you’ll be uttering once you’re three cocktails in at this hip cocktail bar that’s been making a name for itself since opening last year.
The SoBe watering hole is more specifically located in the Collins Park area of the sunny tourist destination. It’s one-part casual, two-parts sexy, and oh, so very boozy. Order up a Collins Park (a magical concoction of Ford’s gin, orange blossom, creme de peche, lemon juice, egg white, and match ) because, hey, you’re in the neighborhood and do as the locals, right?
Or peruse the extensive menu and do double-takes at the Basic Bitch and What What, respectively. Get yourself a fancier-than-usual Cuban torta or go straight for the skirt steak because you’re on South Beach and YOLO might still be a thing. And of course, enjoy the well-curated tunes here that offer salvation in audio form (just don’t forget to send me a thank you card from the bar).
For reservations and more information click here.
THE BAR BEHIND COYO TACO
Locals know that Coyo Taco serves up some seriously scrumptious tacos, and those who frequent it also know that it’s one of the best nightlife spots thanks to its hidden, speakeasy-esque bar.
Yes, that’s right. The Bar Behind Coyo Taco still remains hidden from outsiders while embracing Miamians (and those who know who to ask) with generous pours of tequila and Mezcal.
Pop in past the ‘Employees Only’ double-doors to find yourself in this hip and cozy bar where different DJs play nightly. Sip and swirl your cocktails knowing full well you’ve entered into one of the city’s best-kept secrets.
After all, Miami is nothing if not the sort of city that thrives on exclusivity.
For reservations and more information click here.
BASEMENT MIAMI BEACH
It’s a dance club. It’s a bowling alley. It’s a skating rink. It’s a bar.
It’s Basement, and it’s one of Miami’s hottest places for a night of total debauchery and pure fun.
Located inside the Edition Hotel in Mid-Beach, Basement is the literal basement of this posh, beachfront hotel.
It’s a popular spot for the 305’s who’s who, attracting the likes of celebs (think Drake and Wilmer Valderrama among others). World-class DJs are frequently found here as well (hello, Questlove!)
As if all that weren’t enough, the place is beautiful and perfect for a night of Instagramming. In short, it doesn’t really get much better (or more Miami) in town than spending a night in the sea-level city’s only real Basement.
For reservations and more information click here.
NO. 3 SOCIAL WYNWOOD
Rooftop lounges simply aren’t as common in Miami as they are in other major cities (possibly due to all that weather we deal with).
That said, for nights when you want a beautiful view as well as stand-out libations, there’s No. 3 Social.
Located in Wynwood, this sophisticated hot spot by notable Chef Norman Van Aken features a refreshing cocktail menu alongside delectable bites (the Tostada for a Gardener is an absolute delight).
Add to that live bands and DJ nights, a poppin’ ladies night (on Thursdays), a cinema night (Tuesdays), and a happy hour that extends into weekends (sorely needed in Miami), and you’ve got a place that you and your crew will be praising long into the workweek.
For reservations or more information click here.
Source: The USA Today
