Beer Towns » Miami
DRAFT Beer Town: Miami
By Ciara LaVelle
With historic bars, home-grown breweries and a restaurant scene worthy of a culinary capital, Miami proves there’s more to its charm than parties and piña coladas.
Appeared in: May/June 2009 Issue
Click a pin to turn that category on or off on the map:
Beer Bars:
Bars:
Sleep:
Dine:
Do:
Other:
Brewpubs
Titanic Restaurant & Brewery5813 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
Coral Gables FL
Don’t let its location next to the University of Miami fool you -- Titanic Brewery is no underclassmen’s chug-fest. In addition to its own brews, this casual spot offers a healthy list of microbrews from around the country and above-average pub food like shrimp skewers and seafood chowder. The brewers and owners often serve as bartenders as well, serving up six-tumbler samplers of brews like Boiler Room Nut Brown Ale and Captain Smith’s Rye.
Gordon Biersch
1201 Brickell Ave # 1
Miami FL
This financial district brewery is a no-brainer for lunching execs from the area’s offices, but there’s good reason to visit even if you’re not a suit: Gordon Biersch brews six beers in German style, from the light, hoppy golden export to a bitter, coffee-flavored schwarzbier, and its restaurant offers plenty of worthy pairings, including the “Brewer’s Feast” of gourmet appetizers like kobe sliders and Southwest egg rolls, and gorgonzola bone-in ribeye, a house specialty.
Big Bear Brewing Company
1800 N University Dr
Coral Springs FL
With five varied, handcrafted ales and a rotating selection of seasonal fruit ales, dark beers and more, this northern outpost is well worth the drive. Big Bear is also a restaurant, with hearty, “Floribbean”-style dishes like mojo citrus chicken and jerk chicken salad with mango. And with its own homemade Bruin root beer, kids and adults alike can reap the benefits of homebrewing.
Florida Beer Company
725 Silver Palm Ave
Melbourne FL
Most “local” Miami brews aren’t local at all -- they’re made three hours north and shipped statewide. Some, like Hurricane Reef and Key West, are available throughout Miami in bars and bottleshops; others are produced for individual bars, such as The Immaculate IPA, available only at The Abbey Brewing Company on South Beach. You can find a Florida beer at any respectable beer bar in the city, or make the drive north and enjoy one in its natural habitat.
The Abbey Brewing Company
1115 16TH Street
Miami Beach FL
This hidden gem isn’t a brewery -- it’s an offshoot of Florida Beer Co. Though beer isn’t brewed on site, micros like Dan’s Double and The Immaculate IPA are good enough “imports” to compete with the bar’s vast lineup of domestic and international brews. Tiny, wood-paneled and smoky, The Abbey blends a culture of fine beer with dive bar ambiance -- one that becomes more charming the longer you stay.
Luna Star Cafe
775 Northest 125th St.
North Miami FL
Across the street from the Museum of Contemp-orary Art, Luna Star is something of a thinking man’s bar, with walls that serve as a rotating art gallery and live folk and bluegrass music most nights. Its beer selection is every bit as cultured, with more than 100 imports and microbrews -- and not a Bud Light in sight.
Zeke's
625 Lincoln Rd
Miami Beach FL
Located smack in the middle of Lincoln Road’s hip, touristy walking mall, Zeke’s is the antithesis of the flashy, fantastico scene for which Miami is known. While the area’s fashionistas are busy parading from shop to shop, low-key locals head to Zeke’s patio for the people-watching as much as its selection of over 100 beers for $4 each.
305.672.3118
Churchill's Pub
5501 NE 2nd Ave
Miami FL
One of Miami’s music scene staples, Churchill’s lets local acts cut their teeth in its dingy, punk-rock den. This dive and its slashed-shirted, dreadlocked clientele is about as far as you’ll get from the beach’s posh nightclubs, and it’s an essential experience for anyone looking for the other side of the city.
Tobacco Road
626 South Miami Ave
Miami FL
This former speakeasy holds the oldest liquor license in Miami proper, and claims to have served gangster Al Capone back in its outlaw days. Today, you’ll find plenty of history on the walls in the form of vintage black and white photos and band posters, plus a small second-floor music venue and an outdoor seating area perfect for enjoying its home-smoked ribs.
Barton G.
1427 West Ave
Miami Beach FL
The food here’s delicious, but presentation is Barton G’s specialty. Almost every dish has a trick up its sleeve, especially the desserts, sized for a small army and arriving with showy flourishes like crackling Fourth of July sparklers or carnival games. Not to be missed: the restaurant’s signature nitrogen-frozen martinis, overflowing with smoke.
Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory
6022 South Dixie Hwy
South Miami FL
If you want authentic key lime flavor, this is the place. Blond Giraffe is based in Key West, but their South Miami outpost offers the same sweet-and-sour pies whole or by the slice, as well as a don’t-miss delicacy: chocolate-dipped frozen key lime pie on a stick, every bit as decadent as it sounds.
Le Bouchon du Grove
3430 Main Highway
Coconut Grove FL
An bistro café with French singers on the stereo and menu items scrawled on a blackboard, Le Bouchon du Grove would fit in on the streets of Paris. And its food lives up to France’s high standards, with classic dishes like steamed mussels and fries or peppercorn steak crowding every red-checkered table.
Dogma Grill
7030 Biscayne Blvd
Miami FL
Hot dog lovers, meet your mecca: a roadside fast food joint serving up dogs piled high with almost anything you can think of. Bacon, avocado, sour cream, coleslaw, and jalapeños are just a few of the ingredients topping Dogma’s 100-percent natural, no by-product hot dogs and soy dogs, all served straight off the grill in a warmed bun.
The Standard
40 Island Avenue
Miami Beach FL
Hip yet unpretentious and boasting one of the best spas in Miami Beach, The Standard sits on the Venetian Causeway between downtown and South Beach’s over-the-top Ocean Drive scene. The vibe here is mod but not overbearing; for proof it doesn’t take itself too seriously, look to its Love-life Bingo nights, a mildly dirty twist on the favorite Florida pastime.
The Pelican
826 Ocean Dr
Miami Beach FL
Not long ago, South Beach was known more for quaint vacation bungalows than glitz and glamour. The Pelican is a throwback to those days, with rooms decorated with thrift store and antique treasures. But some things never change; its Ocean Drive location can’t be beat.
The Biltmore
1200 Anastasia Ave
Coral Gables FL
With its elegant coral-color tower rising above pristine lawns, The Biltmore is one of the most storied spots in South Florida. Debuting in the Jazz Age, the resort hosted the world’s elite, from the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to Bing Crosby. Today, it’s a registered historic site with 18 holes of golf and more than 100 wines by the glass at the Cellar Club wine bar.
Fisher Island Hotel & Resort
1 Fisher Island Dr
Miami Beach FL
Where exclusivity is concerned, it’s hard to top Fisher Island, a private island resort accessible only via the resort’s own ferry. The hotel here is part of one of Miami’s most affluent communities, so it’s not surprising that suites here come with hot tubs and views of the Atlantic Ocean or the Miami skyline.
www.fisherisland.com/hotelandresort
Casa Casuarina
1116 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach FL
Also known as the Versace Mansion, Casa Casuarina is the former residence of clothing designer Gianni Versace. Now it’s a 10-suite hotel all done up in the designer’s extravagant style. The price tag on the 1930s mansion makes even one night here a pipe dream for most, but for the lavish surroundings it’s worth every penny.
Bayside Marketplace
401 Biscayne Blvd # R106
Miami FL
Serving Port of Miami cruise passengers and Miami Heat fans going to a game at the stadium next door, Bayside appeals to tourists and locals alike. Local musicians and street performers entertain passersby outside its shops and restaurants, while down along the docks, visitors can charter boats for cruises or deep-sea fishing excursions.
Art Deco Tour
1200 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach FL
The Miami Design Preservation League leads 90-minute walking tours daily through the heart of the city’s most colorful architecture, showing off styles like Mediterranean Revival, MiMo (Miami Modern) and, yes, Art Deco. It’s a great introduction to South Beach, visiting plenty of hotels and restaurants worth a second look when the tour’s over.
ArtWalk
Wynwood Arts District FL
Miami’s artists’ community comes alive every second Saturday of the month, as galleries throughout the Design District and Wynwood open their doors for nighttime parties. These “Second Saturdays” are the best way to explore Miami’s gallery scene, and also make for a cheap night out (drinks and snacks are almost always free).
Lincoln Road
South Beach FL
The strolling mall of Lincoln Road is second only to Ocean Drive when it comes to South Beach’s spots to see and be seen. Though it’s lined with boutiques, galleries and restaurants, Lincoln Road’s greatest commodities are the people strutting from shop to shop, from ritzy club-goers to rowdy spring breakers. Sit down for a meal outside and order a drink -- the entertainment is free.
Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne FL
This is Miami’s natural side, a taste of the Keys 20 minutes from the center of the city. At Crandon Park, visitors can rent kayaks and snorkeling equipment or charter a sunset cruise. Not far from the park, Jimbo’s is a squatter’s settlement-turned-local hangout, with bocce courts and cheap beer served out of the cooler.
Exquisito
1510 SW 8 St
Miami FL
This small restaurant holds its own in Little Havana’s overcrowded Cuban dining scene by focusing on the classics: fried plantains, rice and beans, and meats flavored with mojo and chimichurri -- all done exquisitely. And with enormous servings priced at around $10 per meal, it’s also one of the best values in the city.
305.643.0227
Tapas y Tintos
448 Espanola Way
Miami Beach FL
Set on scenic, Spanish colonial Espanola Way, Tapas y Tintos turns every meal into a self-made tasting menu with its variety of small plates. Guests can eat outside in gently lit European ambiance, or in the dining lounge to live Latin music.
Jaguar
3067 Grand Ave.
Coconut Grove FL
Ceviche is a popular tropical delicacy in Miami, and for sheer variety, there’s no better place than the ceviche spoon bar at Jaguar. Diners can be as adventurous as they want, with squid, swordfish, and tuna incarnations, or stick with a classic piece of meat from the latam grill.
Scorch
13750 Biscayne Blvd
North Miami Beach FL
Argentinian steakhouses abound in Miami, most offering an “all you can eat for one high price” buffet. Scorch is an intimate and cost-effective alternative: expertly grilled steak, pork, and ribs in a small setting. Service is a la carte, but with Scorch’s huge portions and low prices, diners here still save compared to warehouse-sized buffets.
305.949.5588
David's Cafe
1654 Meridian Ave.
Miami Beach FL
When tourists find themselves craving coffee in South Beach, they’ll turn to any of the eight surrounding Starbucks. But locals needing a caffeine boost head to the window at David’s Café, serving up Cuban espresso drinks like café con leche as well as empanadas, media noches and other Cuban treats 24 hours a day. If you’d like a seat while you eat, there’s a diner and restaurant behind the glass.
Dine
Joe's Stone Crab11 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach FL
A legendary South Beach dining experience, Joe’s claim to fame is its sweet stone crab legs and tangy mustard sauce. They’re such a commodity, in fact, that even with reservations, diners sometimes wait hours for a table. If you don’t feel like standing around, Joe’s takeout window is right next door.
www.joesstonecrab.com
Beer Town Viewed: 825 Times.
