Looking for cheap food and half-price cocktails to kick-start your night? Jo Ann Mayer has the answers as she looks for the best happy hour in Miami at some of the cities most popular bars and restaurants.
Miami includes several municipalities and neighbourhoods. Each has its own personality and charm. While this is one of the best places in the US to enjoy a few drinks — emphasised more so by its Spring Break party scene — prices here can be steep. One way to enjoy Miami for less and make the most of your time in ‘The Magic City’ is to enjoy happy hour with the locals in one of the vibrant neighbourhoods.
Featuring popular haunts and hangouts in the likes of South Beach and Downtown Miami, Jo Ann has the lowdown on Miami’s best happy hours to begin your night in style.
SOUTH BEACH HAPPY HOURS
Photo credit: clevelander.com
As one of the top tourist destinations in Florida, Miami Beach has an abundance of Happy Hour opportunities. Here you’ll find the iconic South Beach area where upscale happy hours can be found at the historic art deco hotels along the famed Ocean Drive.
The Blues Bar at the National Hotel
- Location: 1677 Collins Avenue
- Hours: Daily, 5–7 p.m.
- Why go: Take in the art deco details of this inspired bar located in a historic art deco hotel.
- Specials: Half price domestic beer, house wine, and well drinks. There is no happy hour snack menu, but the bar has a tapas menu that features $9 watermelon and feta, $10 crostini or smoked chicken in cucumber, $14 tuna tartare or 6 grilled oysters or assorted cheeses, and $16 steak tartare.
Pool Bar at the Clevelander Hotel
- Location: 1020 Ocean Drive
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 3–7 p.m.
- Why go: One of the best and liveliest all-year-round pool-bar scenes in Miami Beach.
- Specials: $5 domestic beers and wine, $6 imported beer and cocktails, $8 for fish tacos, stuffed potato skins, sausage mac and cheese, conch and shrimp fritter.
LINCOLN ROAD HAPPY HOURS
Photo credit: Café at Books & Books Facebook
The Lincoln Road Mall is a mile-long pedestrian area filled with shops, restaurants and bars with happy hours.
- Location: 927 Lincoln Road
- Hours: Monday to Thursday, 4–7 p.m. / Friday to Sunday, 4–6 p.m.
- Why go: Great place for people watching while enjoying organic or vegan food.
- Specials: $4 beer, $7 wine, $7 for your choice of burger, chicken wrap, quinoa and kale salad, Caesar salad, bang bang shrimp or tacos.
- Location: 1111 Lincoln Road
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 4–6 p.m.
- Why go: Chic restaurant with super tasty, modern and authentically Mexican inspired cuisine.
- Specials: $5 beer, $6 wines, $8 margarita, $5 chips with salsa, $8.50 for choice of tacos, quesadilla, flautas, or empanadas, $10 queso fundido, $14.50 guacamole.
DOWNTOWN MIAMI HAPPY HOURS
Photo credit: area31restaurant.com
Happy hour deals are always welcome in the main cultural, financial and commercial area of South Florida and one of the most popular happy hours around is at Area 31 — a restaurant at the Kimpton EPIC Hotel.
- Location: 270 Biscayne Boulevard Way, 16th floor Kimpton EPIC Hotel
- Hours: Monday to Thurs, 5–8 p.m. / Friday, 5 p.m. to close (10 p.m.)
- Why go: From the terrace bar on the 16th floor, you can take in the panoramic view of Miami River, Brickell and Downtown Miami.
- Specials: $7 drinks, $8 bar bites (choose from goat cheese croquettes, truffle fries, ceviche, or pork belly steamed bun). On Friday drinks are priced by the hour ($6 at 6 p.m., $7 at 7 p.m., $8 at 8 p.m.)
WYNWOOD HAPPY HOURS
Photo credit: KYU Facebook
Wynwood, once a neglected textile warehouse district, is now a world-class destination for street art. Head for one of Wynwood’s top-class restaurants for food and happy hour after seeing the sights.
- Location: 251 NW 25th Street
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 4:30–7:30 p.m.
- Why go: One of the hottest, new restaurants in Wynwood. The cuisine features BBQ infused Asian dishes that are best shared. Happy hour takes place at the bar area.
- Specials: $4 beer, $6 wine, $7 cocktails and $5 small bites offerings of crispy pork, crunchy kale, roasted cauliflower, pork belly, cabbage salad or fried chicken.
- Location: 2637 N Miami Avenue
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 4–7 p.m.
- Why go: A great place to enjoy top quality food before sipping on cocktails out on an open terrace.
- Specials: $7 cocktails, $6 wine, $5 beer, $5 kettle corn, $6 grilled cheese, crudité, or cheese fries, $7 croquette or mocha.
COCONUT GROVE HAPPY HOURS
Photo credit: Glass & Vine Facebook
Known affectionately as ‘The Grove’, this is the original neighbourhood of Miami. Known for its lush vegetation and bohemian flare, it is a tropical oasis from city life.
- Location: 2820 McFarlane Road
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 4–7 p.m.
- Why go: Located in Peacock Park in the heart of The Grove, you can enjoy the beauty of nature at this outdoor oasis.
- Specials: $5 beer, $8 cocktails or selected wines, $4 snacks (olives, spiced nuts, ZTB bread, pickled vegetables, cured meat), $7 small bites (sweet potatoes, hush puppies, pan tumaca, stracciatella)
- Location: 2550 S Bayshore Drive
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 4–8 p.m.
- Why go: Monty’s waterfront location provides a cool breeze and views of the yachts anchored in Biscayne Bay.
- Specials: Half price beer and wine; $1 oysters, shrimp, clams, and when in season, stone crabs are discounted.
- Location: 3540 Main Highway
- Hours: Daily, 4–8 p.m.
- Why go: This Italian restaurant bar & terrace is known for its rustic Italian dishes including homemade pasta and stone-fired thin crust pizza.
- Specials: $3 beer, $4.50 wine, $6 — $8 Neapolitan-style Pizzetta, $5 fries, $7 fried calamari, $8 sliders with fries, $12 Italian sausage and peppers.
DOWNTOWN CORAL GABLES HAPPY HOURS
Photo credit: Bulla Gastrobar Facebook
Known as ‘City Beautiful’, Coral Gables was modeled after the Garden City Movement started in England. The downtown area of Coral Gables includes The Miracle Mile shopping district consisting of a half mile of upscale stores and restaurants. One of the best restaurant-bars in the area is the Spanish infused Bulla Gastrobar.
- Location: 2500 Ponce De Leon Boulevard
- Hours: Daily, 5–7 p.m.
- Why go: Inspired by tapas restaurants in Spain, this restaurant specializes in Spanish and Catalan cuisine.
- Specials: Drinks are half-price. There is not a specific happy hour menu, but the regular menu offers a selection of tapas including $6 gazpacho, $7 tortilla Española, $9 bunuelos de bacalao, $15 tartar de atun.
VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE HAPPY HOURS
Photo credit: Rusty Pelican Facebook
Take a break from the bustle of the city and drive over the Rickenbacker Causeway to the island of Key Biscayne. You are just 15 minutes from Downtown Miami, but it feels like a world away. From the Village of Key Biscayne, you can admire Miami’s skyline, ranked as one of the best skylines in the US by Travel and Leisure magazine.
- Location: 3201 Rickenbacker Causeway
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 4 -7 p.m.
- Why go: Enjoy the view of Miami’s skyline from the Lounge of this waterfront restaurant. The Rusty Pelican offers contemporary American cuisine and fresh local seafood.
- Specials: $3 beer, $5 wine, $7 selected cocktails, $6 slider or little neck clams; $8 tuna taco, ceviche, or seafood bunuelos, $10 crispy oysters, fried calamari, or ham croquettes.
Attended any of the Miami happy hours above? Let us know on Twitter @travioor or post a comment on Travioor’s Facebook page.
Originally published at www.travioor.com.
