For locals and travelers alike, finding a place to drink in Miami isn’t the hard part — it’s narrowing down the best options to choose from that’s tough. With a bar scene like no other, the Magic City is officially home to two of the top 50 bars in North America, according to hundreds of drink experts with The World’s 50 Best.
Although the World’s 50 Best Bars has been ranking cocktail bars since 2009, the North America’s 50 Best Bars list debuted last year to shine a light on more drinking establishments.
Ranking high at No.9 is beloved Calle Ocho staple Café La Trova.
It has even received a second recognition in the form of the Roku Industry Icon award, given to founder Julio Cabrera in honor of his work bringing Cuban cantinero style to the city.
Part bar, part restaurant, and part music venue, it’s like taking a time machine to 20th-century Cuba through savory handcrafted cocktails and classic decor. It is famously the home of “La Chancleta,” a classic mix of cachaça, ginger-honey syrup, and lime juice served on a wooden sandal. Now don’t worry, this is one chancleta you shouldn’t be afraid of. You can also sip on a Hemingway Special (rum, maraschino, grapefruit, and lime juice), a Hotel Nacional (pineapple rum, apricot liqueur, pineapple, and lime juice), and a simple mojito criollo (rum, lime, sugar, mint, and soda water).
Where: 971 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33130
Coming in at the No.34 spot is Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Company.
This South Beach neighborhood bar boasts an endless collection of spirits, at nearly 1,000 bottles! From a bubbly section to a variety of cocktails and a martini menu, there’s truly something for everyone. Try their “Golden Sunset” (Martini Fiero, Luxardo Bitter Bianco, sweet white vermouth, soda, and Prosecco) or their famed piña colada (rum, pineapple, coconut cream, coffee beans, and a Pedro Ximenez float). Cheers!
Where: 237 20th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139
As part of this year’s 50 Best Bars list, Christine Wiseman of Bar Lab Hospitality (Miami Beach’s Broken Shaker and Arlo Wynwood’s MaryGold’s Florida Brasserie and Higher Ground), is the winner of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award. Only one bartender is selected by their peers to represent the best of the best from the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean and Canada.
The 2023 honorees were chosen by a voting body made up of “260 gender-balanced anonymous bar industry experts, including bartenders, bar owners, drinks media and well-travelled cocktail connoisseurs from the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean,” according to 50 Best.
Check out the full rankings on the World’s 50 Best website here.