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While restaurants across the city continue to reopen, bars in Miami remain closed—and they’re likely going to stay that way, for the time being. Though folks looking to booze it up elsewhere than at home shouldn’t despair. Most of the best bars in the city are restaurants first, meaning your favorite watering hole might be ready to welcome you back, albeit with a few accommodations. For instance, you’ll need to make reservations (yes, even for a drink as these places are all operating at 50-percent capacity) and sit down to enjoy your cocktail—no posting up at the countertop. Concessions aside, if you’re itching to get back out there, these spots make it possible to enjoy a night out complete with live music, hand-crafted cocktails and, yes, even the occasional happy hour.
Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Co
Ranked on the World’s 50 Best Bars’ 2018 list, Sweet Liberty has the rare distinction of being a local spot, an industry hangout and a tourist fave. There’s something for everyone in the spacious bar, whether it’s an elegant cocktail, a satisfying burger or 95¢ oysters and $5 rosé at happy hour—which returns on Thursday and will be offered daily. The notoriously late-night spot will now close at midnight instead of its usual 4am, and you’ll have to make reservations ahead of time, but the bones will be the same. Like the neon PURSUE HAPPINESS sign that hangs on the wall—the maxim of the bar’s late co-owner, John Lermayer—Sweet Liberty will always a good time.
Reopening May 28
New hours: Daily 4pm–midnight
Café La Trova
This nostalgia-soaked Cuban spot in Little Havana is every bit as delightful as the drinks are strong. One of those rare places that attract locals and tourists alike, La Trova provides an electric atmosphere, live Spanish music and drink prices that won’t send you home broke. And it’s doing it all over again post lockdown. Stop by for Michelle Bernstein’s award-winning eats, drinks courtesy of decorated cantinero Julio Cabrera and live tunes every night.
Reopening May 27
New hours: Sun–Tue 5–10pm; Wed, The 5–11pm; Fri, Sat 5pm–midnight
Esotico
Daniele Dalla Pola’s ground-floor drinking den is a jungle of banana-plant wallpaper strewn with neon signs and kooky glassware—and it’s yours to experience once again. Stop in for rum-fueled tiki cocktails and tropical dishes inspired by Polynesian and Caribean cuisines. It’s the same convivial vibe you remember only with fewer communal punches going around. However, large-format drinks are still available to go every day from 4 to 6pm.
Reopening May 27
New hours: Mon–Sat 5pm–midnight
Beaker & Gray
Nearly two weeks after reopening for takeout and delivery, the Wynwood restaurant starts dine-in service on Wednesday. It’ll be a lot of what you’re used to—like elevated global eats and progressive hand-crafted cocktails—and some changes that might take some adjusting—including sit-down service at the bar and the adjacent lounge, plus more tables on the patio, to accommodate for social-distancing.
Reopening May 27
New hours: Wed–Sun noon–9pm
Calle 23
Located in the former Plomo Tequila & Taco Bar space, Calle 23 came on the scene just as the city shut down. Now the Cuban restaurant is back and making lots of noise—literally—reopening with live music on Friday and Saturday nights, a bottomless mimosa brunch on Sunday ($19) and a lively atmosphere that’ll have you dancing in your reserved seat, whether inside or on the sidewalk along Miracle Mile.
Reopened May 20
New hours: Mon–Thu 5pm–midnight; Fri 5pm–2am; Sat 5pm–2am; Sun 11am–4pm, 5pm–midnight
The Bar
The small, Coral Gables bar spills out onto Giralda to offer its patrons more outdoor seating and places to enjoy a drink while practicing social distancing. Ladies still drink free on Fridays from 5:30 to 7:30pm and happy hour returns on weekdays from 4 to 7pm, so expect larger crowds and longer waits for a table during both times. Hungry? Snack on burgers, nachos, tacos and other bar bites while you’re there.
Reopened May 20
New hours: Daily 11:30am–2am
Batch Gastropub
There’s no home team to root for with sports on hiatus, but the sports bar/restaurant is still serving up the competitive vibes and booze-friendly eats you’ve been missing—from towering nachos and crispy wings to chicken and waffles. Tables will be spaced out, you might see some adorable blow-up animals as seat fillers and there won’t be football projected onto the big screen, but the important things remain, like ladies’ night on Friday and bottomless brunch on the weekend.
Reopening May 27
New hours: Mon–Thu 4pm–3am; Fri 4pm–5am; Sat 11:30am–5am; Sun 10am–3am
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