There are so many hidden gems to discover in the Magic City, especially when it comes to speakeasies in the most unassuming of places. You just have to know where to look!
Here at Secret Miami, we’re always on secret-revealing duty and luckily for you, we’ve got a number of bars that have some of the most amazing drinks the city has to offer. From speakeasies that will take you back to the Prohibition era and bars hidden behind unmarked doors at hotels and restaurants, here are the best ones everyone has to try at least once. However, we just don’t want to give too much away.
1. Tea Room, Brickell
Everyone knows about Sugar, EAST Miami’s fancy rooftop located high above the streets of Brickell. But not everyone knows about its sister bar just down the hall through a secret black door. Inside Tea Room, you’ll be transported to a sophisticated Hong Kong-inspired cocktail lounge where the views are just as spectacular, if not more, thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s plenty of creative cocktails, live music and an Asian Night Brunch — a two hour feast that’s just as beautiful as the speakeasy itself.
Where: 788 Brickell Plaza, Miami, FL 33131
2. Los Altos, Little Havana
It’s been a long two years, but in case you missed it, this beloved Mexican speakeasy atop Taquerias El Mexicano has finally reopened! Complete with sugar-skull decor, leather couches and flowing tequilas and mezcals, this speakeasy has the best vibes. Just make your way through the piñata-and caramel-filled dulceria and give them the secret password which is — you guessed it — “tequila.”
Where: 521 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33130
3. Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, multiple locations
Everyone loves a good secret and an even better time. After munching on scrumptious Bodega tacos, make your way through a graffiti-lined hallway to a port-a-potty door. You won’t find a bathroom — you’ll find one of the coolest speakeasies in the 305 instead! The lounge is lined with vintage couches, loud music, wall messages and a whole lot of tequila, which gives it a totally Miami vibe.
Find Bodega’s speakeasy locations on their website.
4. The Pool Hall, Overtown
Founded in 1954, this billiards club has been restored to its former glory, paying homage to the community’s golden age of entertainment with a modern twist. To find it, all you have to do is enter Red Rooster and head up the staircase covered in pictures of the famous and everyday people of Overtown in the ’60s and ’70s. That’s when you’ll spot the speakeasy’s stylish vintage decor, a pool table and a swell cocktail menu offering vintage-inspired concoctions.
Where: 920 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33136
5. Dante’s HiFi, Wynwood
While we love a dark, intimate room to sip cocktails, we especially love it when that very space puts on electric beats and soulful music to enjoy. Dante’s HiFi is more than bar to enjoy a great cocktail — it’s the city’s first vinyl listening bar inspired by the Japanese culture of kissa bars. Visitors can expect authentic, HiFi musical experiences from globally recognized artists in a comfortable setting.
Where: 519 NW 26th St, Miami, FL 33127
6. Kaona Room, Downtown Miami
Hidden behind a secret door inside The Canvas Bar, the team at Kaona Room are known to dish up a tropical Polynesian getaway in the middle of Miami! Capitalizing on the tiki cultural craze that began in the 1930s, this “speaky-tiki” features a carved wood bar, wicker chairs, neon lights and other tiki tchotchke touches alongside tropical concoctions and jazz tunes to evoke a sense of escape.
Where: 1600 NE 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33132
7. Coyo Taco, multiple locations
Come for the tacos and stay for the secret back bar. In the wee hours of the night on weekends, this popular taqueria turns into a lit dance party and you wouldn’t even know it. If you’re looking to get down to some music, just push your way through a set of doors down the hall and discover live DJs and a selection of more than 50 mezcals and tequila.
Wynwood location: 2320 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127
Coral Gables location: 120 Giralda Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
8. Swizzle Rum Bar & Drinkery, Miami Beach
Below the Stiles Hotel, Swizzle is a dark, cozy bar worth seeking out. Just remember to ring the doorbell at least 5 times to have the mixology experience of a lifetime! As you take your seat on a barstool, you’ll get to pick your drinks or quick bites. The bar stocks up more than 150 varieties of rum — talk about an impressive lineup — which play a central role in their sophisticated craft cocktails.
Where: 1120 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
9. Mangrove, Downtown Miami
Once you get your fill of jerk chicken, pineapple-glazed plantains and Jamaican rice and peas at Jrk!, make your way past the counter to the newly opened Mangrove. The moody space filled with leather banquettes, a vinyl library and yellow DJ booth will welcome you to stay for a drink or two. Happy Hours runs every Tuesday to Thursday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. You can also indulge in their dinner menu, which includes a variety of Caribbean dishes.
Where: 103 NW 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33128
10. Freddys Speakeasy, Downtown Miami
Hidden behind a door in one of the ballrooms on the property of the InterContinental Miami, this speakeasy gives off major Prohibition era vibes that will have you dusting off your best flapper dresses and pinstripe suits. You’ll be greeted with a taste of a Four Ballades cocktail, made with Casa Noble infused with cilantro, Cointreau, fresh lime and simple syrup. There’s classic posters on the wall, vintage furnishings and a dazzling candlelit bar stocked with bottles that add to the sultriness in the atmosphere. Freddys Speakeasy is accessible by reservation only.
Where: 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami, FL 33131
11. Red Phone Booth, Brickell
It’s not hard to miss the bright red phone booth nestled at 1010 Brickelll. After all, there aren’t many around nowadays. But if you ever find out the “secret code” to enter (hint: befriend someone who’s already a member or ask a friendly concierge at a nearby hotel), you’ll get to see what Red Phone Booth is all about. It’s an exclusive bar that’ll transport you back to the Roaring 20s with incredible cocktails, a cigar program and old school aesthetics.
Where: 1010 Brickell Ave Unit 105, Miami, FL 33131
12. Bar Kaiju, Little River
With a glowing red bar and cocktails named after mythical creatures like Godzilla and the Lochness Monster, this unique drinking den will transport you to the places and cultures that these tales originate from! Each cocktail flavor takes inspiration from the creatures themselves, the geographical areas they “reside in” and the cultures that created them. Find Bar Kaiju on the second floor of the Citadel Food Hall.
Where: 8300 NE 2nd Ave 2nd floor, Miami, FL 33138
13. Nossa Omakase, Miami Beach
A bit on the pricier side on this list, those who score a seat at this omakase speakeasy will receive special instructions on how to access the hidden location. Upon giving the password, which rotates nightly, you’ll enter the neon-lit Bar Nossa and receive a complimentary sake while black-and-white Japanese films play on the walls. You’ll then move to the circular counter where the freshest ingredients and an unforgettable experience await.
Where: 1600 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
14. Room 55, Miami Beach
This hidden rooftop is an incredible addition to Miami’s list of speakeasies. It can be found within the Pelican Hotel, transporting you into the 1930s with its timeless elegance and warm lighting. Sweeping oceanfront views from the outdoor terrace will welcome you to stay for a drink or two, like the quince sour and the Great Gatsby martini. If you’re hungry, be sure to grab one of their bites, including oysters and tuna tartare.
Where: 826 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
15. Santa Diabla, Miami Lakes
Over in Miami Lakes, tucked behind neighborhood favorite Chela’s Cocteleria, lies Santa Diabla. Described as an elevated social club with a sexy Spaniard vibe, this speakeasy serves up fine spirits, cocktails and light tapas. From 6 p.m. to midnight, the vibe takes on the ‘Santa’ part of the name — the music is low, the tapas are flowing and the lights are bit brighter. But once the clock strikes 12, ‘Diabla’ mode commences: the music turns up and the party truly begins.
Where: 15301 NW 67th Ave, Miami Lakes, FL 33014
16. One K Room, Brickell
You can enjoy Mediterranean-inspired drinks and late night revelry at the mysterious One K Room — you’ll just have to find it first! Disguised behind the Brickell seafood joint known as One K, this vintage drinking den is the perfect setting for your next outing, with a Thursday Ladies’ Night and DJs spinning every Wednesday through Saturday into the late night.
Where: 1000 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33130
17. 80’s 305 Bar, Little Havana
During any given day at Cafe La Trova, you’ll find Cuban cantineros pouring you some of the best drinks in town from behind the bar as live Trova musicians play on stage. But at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, the restaurant transforms from 1960s Cuba to 1980s Miami with their neon-lit, disco-fueled bar out back. Sip on some specialty cocktails from the bar’s menu and put on your dancing shoes because DJs bring back all the old school jams!
Where: 971 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33130