Indie hangouts
Leave the crowds of tourists and the well-heeled elite behind and relax with the city’s on-pulse crowd. The city's indie hangouts attract local artists, musicians, and creatives like honey to a bee, and they serve a delicious nectar of craft ales and cocktails. Wood Tavern
Hang with the arts crowd and find a little inspiration for yourself, at this trendy bar in the hip Wynwood area. People from every walk of life add color to this earthy bar, where you can taste sharp blends of tequila and lime, or crack the tops off local craft beers - try the local brewery’s Wynwood IPA for an authentic taste of this artsy neighborhood. The delicious tacos that roll out of the kitchen add a little extra sizzle to this bar’s effortlessly cool appeal.
2531 Northwest 2nd Avenue, Miami FL 33127 . Dance bars
Give into Miami’s exotic rhythms and hit the floor in your favorite of the city’s many venues designed for dancing. For a shuffle and a sway on South Beach, head to Mango's Tropical Cafe, or put your tangoing talent to the test at Little Havana’s PAX. Hoy Como Ayer
You can’t visit Miami without shaking your hips to some Cuban rhythms, and Hoy Como Ayer gives you the floor to show off your salsa moves until the early hours. Grab a mojito, lose yourself in the Latino rhythms, and feel 10 pounds lighter after dancing until your feet can take no more. It’s not cheap, but as the name "Today like Yesterday" suggests, this place can quickly become addictive - especially when live musicians take to the stage.
2212 Southwest 8th Street, Miami FL 33135.
Live music
Miami bounces to music from every corner of the globe. Atmospheric venues - from grunge rock basements, to pineapple-decked rumba rooms - are scattered right across the city. Jackie Gleason Theatre
This gorgeous Art Deco performance space is a jaw-dropping place to catch a concert, and whether you’re watching a rock tribute act, a touring ballet troupe’s deft swirls, or a roof-rattling singer the venue adds a real X-factor to any performance. Removable seating lets you enjoy a concert with a civilized meal, or bounce to the beat as your favorite band storms the stage.
1700 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach FL 33139.
Nightclubs
Miami’s streets boom with music at night as the rich and famous head for exclusive clubs. The locals, meanwhile, tend to hit Latino-flavored clubs to shake their tail feathers. Try your luck getting into South Beach institutions like Mansion, or give the more welcoming – but no less wild - clubs in Downtown a whirl. LIV
You may have to pay through your teeth for your entrance and drinks, and you’ll potentially have to stand in line for hours as celebrities waltz past you, but once you’re inside, you won’t regret the hassle for a second. This glamorous club is a universe of light and color, and the throbbing sound system keeps everyone dancing below the venue’s spectacular neon-blue dome of a roof. As it's a regular in the gossip magazines’ star-spotting pages, chances are you’ll be shaking your hips next to actors, fashionistas and industry big shots, as you live the high-life on the dance floor.
4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach FL 53140.
Fifty
Dress up to the nines, and rise above the city to party over Miami’s jagged skyline at Fifty. Taking its name from its 50th floor location, this achingly cool club rattles to the sound of cocktail shakers in the evening, before pulsing with the latest beats after midnight. Dance by the outdoor pool, with the city twinkling below you, the ocean stretching away beside you, and a universe of stars flashing above.
485 Brickell Avenue, Miami FL 33131.
