Miami, Florida is known for its beautiful people, beautiful beaches and lively nightlife. Downtown Miami is one of the city’s urban residential neighborhoods – we take a look at the top spots to head for a tipple.
The Corner can be found in Park West Downtown, which is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Miami. The Corner is in the perfect downtown location to be at the benefit of Miami’s media and entertainment hubs. It has received several accolades from the Miami New Times, including ‘Best Jazz Night Miami’ and ‘Best Afterhours Miami’. The place features a fun list of cocktails, an extensive selection of bottled brews and wines, and happy hour deals Monday through Friday from 4 to 8pm. The Corner is a hip spot to quench your thirst any night of the week.
Located on the 16th floor of the EPIC Hotel, Area 31 is the place to dine and sip on cocktails like a celebrity. With a swanky poolside ambiance complete with a DJ and breathtaking views of Miami’s skyline, Area 31 is a local favorite. It takes its name from Fishing Area 31, which is one of the rare, sustainable international fishing zones left in the Atlantic Ocean. After impressing a date with one of Area 31’s impeccable seafood dishes, finish off the night with a cocktail on the picturesque Terrace Lounge. Enjoy the beautiful Miami sunset over the bay.
The Coya restaurant in downtown Miami pays tribute to Incan culture with its Peruvian-inspired menu and Latin American-inflected decor. The lounge is filled with antiques, and features an additional, members-only section. Coya features a separate ceviche counter where guests can watch the chefs prepare their orders, along with the Pisco Bar, which is a destination in itself. Here, customers can enjoy a range of creative and handcrafted spirits and mixers, along with a selection of rare tequilas and rum.
Club Space is the ultimate destination for a dance club in Miami. Established in a massive, 25,000-square-foot multi-storey warehouse, Club Space easily falls under the category of a ‘superclub’. It is known for recruiting top international dance and DJ talent including David Guetta, Avicii, and Tiësto. Voted as one of the top 100 clubs in the world by DJ Magazine, Club Space has state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. I promises guests a high-energy night filled with dancing and good drinks.
The Bar At LVL 25 is the crown atop the Conrad Miami Hotel, on the 25th floor. The Bar offers beautiful views of Biscayne Bay and a relaxed atmosphere for easy socializing. The Bar seems to be less of a tourist trap and more of a destination for the corporate crowd. This makes it a welcome escape from the ever-lively Miami nightlife. In addition to a menu that provides artisan cocktails, light bar fare and a happy hour that runs from 4 to 7pm, The Bar also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Located in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Miami, MO Bar + Lounge has floor-to-ceiling, panoramic windows that provide gorgeous views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline. With high ceilings and elegant decor, MO Bar + Lounge exudes class, elegance and a poise that is further highlighted by the drink menu. This menu contains an endless selection of spirits and handcrafted cocktails. MO Bar + Lounge also offers live Cuban jazz and Spanish guitar shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. This creates the perfect ambiance for a night of glamour and sophistication.
Voted the best restaurant in Brickell, Miami, by the Miami New Times, Toscana Divino has been showcasing fine Tuscan cuisine, fashion and art since 2012. Toscana’s menu was inspired by many traditional Italian meals that are served throughout Tuscany. Inside, the decor is sleek and modernized, providing an atmosphere that is casual and pleasant. With a wine list comprising vinos that are largely from Tuscany, Toscana Divino also offers wines from other Italian regions and European countries. This provides guests with quite a large selection to choose from.
The anachronistic Libertine is a perfect find for those seeking a late night, after-hours venue. It is a recently established watering hole that pays homage to the speakeasies of the 1920s, complete with a nondescript street entrance and a baby grand piano that has been turned into a DJ booth. Inside, it is decorated with an assortment of vintage mirrors, chandeliers, poker tables and just about anything else that might be found in an old tavern, bar, or lounge. Libertine seems to aim for a more mysterious, and label-less atmosphere. In an additional nod to the Prohibition era, Libertine has decked its menu out with speakeasy-inspired cocktails. For example, it serves its own version of the Old Fashioned, along with many other creations.
Voted one of the 20 Miami restaurants to watch by the Miami New Times, NIU Kitchen serves Catalan-style cuisine sourced from local and exotic and fresh ingredients. NIU Kitchen is a chic and quieter venue in the heart of downtown Miami. It has a rustic interior design with high ceilings and walls made of refurbished wood and a massive chalkboard. The kitchen is tucked into the back of the restaurant behind NIU’s wooden bar. The restaurant offers authentic Spanish food, without any of the frying. NIU Kitchen provides the perfect ambiance and dining options for an intimate evening, or a casual outing with friends.
Pub One is a relaxed, neighborhood karaoke bar located in the heart of Downtown Miami. The place has a refreshingly cheap, daily happy hour from 4 to 7pm. It is famous for its personable, down-to-earth staff, a jukebox full of alternative and punk rock, and its all-round dive bar atmosphere. Except, Pub One is most likely the cleanest dive bar in existence. Even the bathrooms are neatly spotless, but the bar itself exudes all the grunge necessary to ensure guests an enjoyable night devoid of any pretences and frills.
