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Amika
| Looking for ample servings of house music, stiff drinks and sexy people? Amika has it all, packaged into its swanky discotheque. Clubland veteran and occasional politico Tony Guerra opened Amika for adults who wanted to have fun without having to swim the turbulent megaclub waters, where teenybop barracudas bite at their heels. Located at the old Shadow Lounge venue, the new layout includes a "loft" for VIPs, where anything goes--and usually does. | ||||||||||||||||
| B.E.D. 929 Washington Avenue Miami Beach, FL | The B.E.D. that premiered on Sex and the City--the one where Carrie tells off a group of Berger's friends about his breakup with her via Post-it note--was a larger interpretation of this SoBe institution. The real Washington Avenue B.E.D. features the same king-sized beds and white linen partitions, but within a smaller, more intimate environment. An acronym for Beverage, Entertainment and Dining, this is the place for weeknight parties starting on Mondays, when Secret Society lures a fair share of hip-hop stars such as Missy Elliott and Kanye West, and continues through to Michael Capponi's long-running Wednesday nights, where only the ultrafab get past Sergio at the door. | ||||||||||||||||
| Buck15 707 Lincoln Lane Miami Beach, FL |
Above Miss Yip Chinese Cafe is Buck15, the most underground bar and lounge to ever hit a second-floor loft space. Relax on funky brown and orange cloth sofas and order champagne on coffee tables that look straight from the basement of That '70s Show. Hear DJ Melissa Smock spin '80s old-skool hip-hop, electro, indie rock and disco amid punky, street-style décor. Patrons--who have already included the Black Eyed Peas, Thom Filicia and Casey Spooner--find themselves staring at glass cases filled with owner Jennie Yip's collection of 202 Homies for hours. | ||||||||||||||||
| Cafeteria 560 Lincoln Road Miami Beach, FL |
Kicking back on Lincoln Road with a mango margarita as people swarm by is often the best alternative for nights when the chaos of clubland is just too much for you. Cafeteria is such a spot. Not that it lacks clubland aesthetics: The dining area is relaxing, for sure (and perfect for being spotted by an ex while you chow with a new flame), but head to the rear lounge where the oh-so-sexy Beau Beasley throws Dramateria on Fridays and funky house music plays almost nightly. Oh, and don't worry about the head-pounding buzz that follows those sugary cocktails you love so much, because alcohol-absorbing fare is served 24/7. | ||||||||||||||||
| Casa Tua 1700 James Ave Miami, FL |
Unlike the majority of Miami venues, which announce their exclusivity with long lines and loud promoters, this intimate, 80-seat restaurant, bar and lounge simply whispers its mission: to "provide South Beach with something beautiful, fashionable, timeless and classic--where quality reigns over quantity and patrons are as comfortable as they'd be at home," as owner Miky Grendene explains. But although the restaurant--which serves delicious, delicate Italian fare--is open to members of the public lucky enough to snag a lunch or dinner reservation, the upstairs bar and lounge is available only to Casa Tua Club members. On any given night you'll encounter South American expats in sharp, colorful Charvet shirts in town for one night, catching a flight to São Paulo in the morning; lanky blonde model types from London politely sipping Veuve together in a corner sofa; and Miami Beach's finest local party people, ripping it up to "Guantanamera" on the lounge's makeshift dance floor. | ||||||||||||||||
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The District |
If you long for a vibe that is more SoHo than so Saint-Tropez, cross the causeway to Miami's urban hub the Design District, where the aptly named District serves as epicenter for a funky hipster scene. The East Village-style restaurant/lounge centers on a rustic courtyard and features the standard nightlife elements--youth, sex appeal and apple martinis. The people who party here are as much a part of its character as its original art and earth-toned walls. Brickell Avenue yuppies, Wynwood artists and SoBe fashionistas collide to make a very interesting social cocktail. Electro-Pop parties, spun off from PopLife, where mods rule, showcase an eclectic collection of DJs and live bands, such as Miami's resident Latin-funk/fusion group the Spam Allstars, on Thursdays. | ||||||||||||||||
| The Forge 432 41st Street Miami Beach, FL |
This 35-year-old bastion of Miami Beach glamour is unabashedly fancy and playfully highfalutin. When tuxedo-clad waiters theatrically remove the silver cover from your 16-ounce Super Steak, you'll understand why this grand establishment is pure fun and never overdone. Don't let the museumesque 17th-century artwork and stained glass fool you; come 11 p.m. on a Wednesday (the venue's most heavily promoted party night), Jay-Z and Maroon 5 will blast through the dining room, bikini-clad models might saunter around the tables, and anyone from Michael Jordan to Michael Jackson could very well be a few feet away. Owner Shareef Malnik has created the most unforgettable, entirely unique white-tablecloth dining experience in the city--sophisticated yet sensual, snobbish but never stuffy. After indulging your appetite, hit adjacent club Jimmy'z, where you'll party to the hottest Latin and European dance music and satiate the rest of your senses. | ||||||||||||||||
| Mansion 1235 Washington Avenue Miami Beach, FL |
Brought to you by the same people who gave you Opium Garden and Privé, Mansion is a reincarnation of one of South Beach's most infamous spots. Over the years 1235 Washington Avenue has been known as Club Z, Glam Slam and Level, but as Mansion the supposedly cursed venue has seen some of its best nights. The cavernous confines, designed to look like an enormous manor, host a number of one-time-only events and concerts by acts such as the Roots and Velvet Revolver. And on a good night, such as Empire Events' hip-hop Fridays and Michael Capponi and Antonio Misuraca's upscale Saturdays, you might rub elbows with the likes of Paris Hilton and Simon Rex as they rub up against each other. | ||||||||||||||||
| Metro Kitchen + Bar 956 Washington Avenue Miami Beach, FL |
Chic boutique Hotel Astor has long been a South Beach hotspot for cocktails in the breezy outdoor courtyard or the tiny, sleek lobbyside bar. But take a walk downstairs through its in-house Metro Kitchen + Bar--especially after 10 on popular Tuesday or Saturday nights--and you'll get a glimpse of textbook Miami-style debauchery. Watch tablehopping owners Karim Masri and Nicola Siervo and promoters extraordinaire, such as Tommy Pooch, conduct the famous (Carson Daly, Anna Kournikova, Sting, et al.) and fabulous into a glorious symphony of drinking, dining and dancing. Arrive around 8 or 9 for a good hour of audible conversation; come late and you'll see why this clubstaurant is a favorite among the scene-cuisine set. Although you'll be wowed by the meal (try the spicy octopus carpaccio and guava and Mascarpone spring rolls), you'll be just as captivated by the copious eye candy swirling about. | ||||||||||||||||
| Mynt 1921 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL |
Nicola Siervo opened Mynt at a time when sprawling megaclubs were taking over South Beach's nightlife, forcing VIPs into cramped VIP rooms. But along came this frosty cool hotspot, which essentially was one large VIP room disguised as an intimate lounge. A-listers, beautiful models and celebrities such as Rosario Dawson and Vin Diesel have basked in the posh, ultramodern setup and perpetual lightly minty aromatherapy ever since. Mynt's smaller space became one of the reasons why it blew up; the lucky few who get inside can enjoy the company of friends without spending half the night looking for them. In recent years, the green (little) giant on Collins Avenue has inspired a number of imitations. Smaller venues with whitewashed décor and unyielding velvet ropes might pretend they don't take after Mynt, but they do. | ||||||||||||||||
| Onda lounge 1248 Washington Avenue Miami Beach, FL |
Nightlife doesn't have to be uncomfortable. This funky lounge with all the amenities of other hotspots--but cozy nonetheless--is a choice destination when painting the town red with friends. A gorgeous arrangement where patrons can relax with a bottle of bubbly takes up half of the club, while the other is occupied by a DJ booth overlooking a spacious dance floor. Onda Lounge is one of SoBe's favorite party places, and it has something for everybody: retro rock, popular hip-hop and even Latin tunes on the weekend. It has also become a haven for celebrities. Janet Jackson, Jermaine Dupri and Tara Reid, not to mention Shaquille O'Neal and a host of other professional athletes, kick back amid a crowd that teeters between in-the-know locals and out-of-town insiders. | ||||||||||||||||
| Pawn Shop Lounge 1222 NE Second Avenue Miami Beach, FL |
A fun-loving hipster vibe resonates throughout Pawn Shop Lounge, which is actually carved out of what used to be a pawn shop south of Wynwood. Today, the place is a playground for adults who want to let their hair down. There is even a school bus smack in the middle of the joint, where patrons can misbehave and not get detention. In the upscale portion called the Airport Lounge, faux flight attendants make your favorite cocktail with minibottles. The Trailer Park section of Pawn Shop appeals to the edgier crowd, with a tire swing and Bud Light straight out of a keg. On Fridays, the popular indie night Revolver brings in the best live alternative and New Wave bands this side of the Top 40. And if the Pawn Shop sounds too underground, don't be mistaken: Celebrities such as Paris Hilton have been known to drop in and sing a tune or three. | ||||||||||||||||
| Prime One Twelve 112 Ocean Drive Miami Beach, FL |
Restaurateur Myles Chefetz's (Nemo, Big Pink, Shoji Sushi) finest dining concept to date serves top-tier prime beef, scrumptious sides and oversized salads at what's arguably the most buzzing bar and dining room in town. As the antithesis to Miami's many modern, art deco-reminiscent establishments, Prime One Twelve brings sturdy, classic brick-and-dark-wood panache to the Beach, along with high-class, alert service and quality plates. But forget the menu itself for a moment: The restaurant also serves as the backdrop for the city's most dynamic social scene; it's so busy that even Sunday and Monday nights feel like holidays or bona fide events. Grab a Lucite stool at the bar and pretend to watch the game (or Fashion TV) while munching on complimentary bacon strips and chatting up the friendly bartenders or always interesting patrons. Beware, however: Between the festive ambiance, stunningly dressed guests and mouthwatering bites, the place is downright addictive. You'll soon call yourself a "regular," shaking hands with Myles and manager/reservations master John Hart before you know it. | ||||||||||||||||
| Privé/Opium Garden 136 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL |
It's the sort of place where Puff Daddy unexpectedly runs into J. Lo, where Anna Kournikova jumps behind the bar and serves patrons drinks, where famous rappers take an impromptu spin in the DJ booth, where Shaquille O'Neal has a personal reserved table, and where the entire cast of That '70s Show hangs out when in SoBe. Scan the celebrity gossip pages of the world and you'll probably read about some young star getting out of control at Privé. The exclusive top floor of the Opium Garden complex is among the international It Spots. And for good reason: The team behind it, owners the Milon brothers and Roman Jones--as well as signature promoters Michael Capponi, Antonio Misuraca and Ingrid Casares--fills the place up with a catalogue of young, gorgeous fabulosos. | ||||||||||||||||
| Rok Bar 1905 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL |
Tommy Lee opened this joint last year with his partners from Mynt with one purpose in mind: "South Beach needs a place to rock out," the Mötley Crüe drummer said. And rocking out is undoubtedly the theme: Nightly playlists include steady doses of Billy Idol, Guns N' Roses and, of course, Mötley Crüe. But don't expect a grungy dive. Rok Bar aims to appeal to the rock star inside us--and not necessarily the rock with acid-wash jeans and a mullet. Slick, hot-pink and black walls tagged with the names of your favorite rock songs enclose cozy couches. A ladder leads up to an elevated stage where guys like Lee and Kid Rock surprise the crowd with DJ sets, and rockers such as Yeah Yeah Yeahs front woman Karen O can sit pretty. Getting in isn't particularly hard, but don't try too late, as the small bar approaches its capacity with relative quickness. | ||||||||||||||||
| Rumi 330 Lincoln Road Miami Beach, FL |
Rumi is named after spiritual poet and philosopher Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi. On South Beach, the two-story retro-lounge might not be as spiritual per se, but it is definitely spirited. Rumi explodes from four-star restaurant into boisterous hotspot as early evening turns to late night. Owner Alan Roth is the personality behind it all, and the establishment shares his unique qualities--chic with a rock 'n' roll brand of irreverence. Speaking of rock, Roth periodically hosts intimate concerts in the upstairs lounge, where acts such as the Bacon Brothers and Seal have performed. | ||||||||||||||||
| The Shore Club Hotel 1901 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL |
Although its primary purpose is as a 325-room hotel (we often forget), this Ian Schrager-managed property arguably features more fun per square foot than anywhere else in town. From the wildly popular in-house eateries Nobu and Ago--must-stop shops for visiting and resident boldfacers from Anna Kournikova to Jay-Z--to breezy, outdoor, tree-laden lounge SkyBar and its indoor VIP component, the Red Room, it's a carnival of after-dark delights. But even during the day, the poolside and patio scene rocks, and--between famed Pipino Salon (owned by Ric Pipino) and men's and women's designer clothier Scoop (the consummate answer to every "what should I wear out tonight?" question)--whether you stay overnight or not, this hotel could very well be the best way to get the most "Miami" out of every minute. | ||||||||||||||||
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