The best bars in Brickell, from breezy rooftops to karaoke lounges

One of Brickell’s oldest and most popular bars, Blackbird is a hell of a late-night spot, offering drinks and dancing till 5am every night. A bar with a soul is a rarity in this city, but Blackbird is bursting with character. Inside the dim bar, you’ll find tasty cocktails. Outside, under the shadow of the Metromover, expect a DJ or an occasional live band.

The lobby bar of the beautiful Mandarin Oriental wins for most glamorous on the list. Even if you’re not a tourist, stop by for an ornate cocktail and an amazing view of Biscayne Bay and the Downtown skyline from the tip of Brickell Key. It’s not cheap, but MO Bar’s home on the isolated Brickell Key makes you feel like you’re leaving Miami—even if it’s only a short drive over a bridge. So, technically it’s cheaper than an actual vacation.

Dom’s is a solid local bar at the base of a condo building that strikes just the right balance of trendy and understated. Dimly lit and cozy, when Dom’s fills up, it feels like you’re hanging out in your friend’s chic apartment with 50 other good-looking pals. On Wednesday, Dom’s also hosts a popular ladies night, and Thursday is for karaoke. When you’re ready for a late-night snack, the pizza shop next door is an excellent option.

Sugar is a lush, upscale rooftop bar in the heart of Brickell. Located on the 40th floor of the ultra-modern East Hotel, Sugar is known for its gorgeous view of Miami. Date night? Special occasion? Feeling fancy? Sugar will do the trick for all of the above. Though drinks ain’t cheap, the atmosphere is one-of-a-kind in this city.

Looking for a sleek, understated cocktail bar in Brickell—one that channels the effortless cool of Williamsburg, for instance, and hasn't been overrun by the neighborhood's swarms of tourists or recent transplants? The intimate ground floor of this bi-level modern Asian restaurant fits the bill, boasting a beautiful, creamy quartzite bar, tufted leather cocktail booths, ambient lighting and one of the best happy hours in the area. Available Tuesday through Sunday from 5 to 8pm in the bar and dining room, the menu features $1 oysters, $10 cocktails made with ingredients like aloe and shiso, and a selection of beer and wine for $7. Aside from its solid drinks and friendly prices, downstairs at Kaori also hosts weekly Sound Sessions on Fridays and Saturdays, when some of Miami’s best DJs spin vinyl and keep the chilled vibes going all night.

This divey joint pays homage to the Magic City’s oldest bar with a liquor license, dating all the way back to pre-Prohibition. Though the original bar closed in 2014, Kush’s rendition is a worthy tribute. Expect lots of nostalgia, craft beers on tap and Kush Hospitality’s signature menu of boozy, inventive cocktails—plus a greatest-hits selection of classic American bar fare to sop it all up.

A tightly packed bar nestled under a Brickell tower, Better Days’ bartenders sling beer and pretty good cocktails while a young crowd shoots pool and plays the occasional board game among the kitschy decor. Better Days feels like a local neighborhood bar, which is rare in Brickell, where options usually skew towards the upscale. Here, though, you’ll find no dress code or turned-up noses. In fact, on weekend nights, the crowd can get pretty rowdy.

Inspired by the idea of wanderlust, Casa Florida is a charming, pastel pink-hued mix of restaurant, bar and lounge that’s taken notes from the best watering holes across the state. “From Ybor City to St. Augustine, we traveled to different places in Florida learning whatever we could,” says Casa Florida cofounder Gaston Gonzalez. In keeping with the nomadic theme, Casa Florida’s indoor lounge (if you can call it that) is located inside a converted 1965 GM bus, while its bar fits neatly inside an old shipping container.

An aesthetically pleasing noodle bar that gives way to a cocktail den as the night drags on, this sexy spot offers quality cocktails and elevated bar snacks in the heart of Brickell. Few places in Brickell nail the dinner and drinks combo as well as Baby Jane. If you come a little later, order a few starters like the tuna poke tacos or rock shrimp tempura and you’ve got yourself a chic date night.

Sweet Caroline is a true karaoke bar (not just some random guy with a microphone and a laptop), and its intimate size ensures you’ll have a captive audience. There may be other karaoke nights around town, but this spot is the only dedicated karaoke bar, with more than 300,000 titles to choose from. Sweet Caroline also has a great happy hour, with half-off all drinks from 6 to 8pm daily.

A popular watering hole for fans of the U, this gastropub has no shortage of TVs for sporting events and slings beer-friendly fare such as burgers, cheese fries and chicken wings. Batch often has great specials for big games and events (and obviously any and all things UM). Stop by and snag some cheap beer buckets and discount cocktails next time your team is playing.

Take a modern, minimalist interior, a fantastic raw bar (oysters, ceviches, clams and seafood cocktails, plus glorious sauces) and daily fresh catches, and you have a winner. Though it's primarily a restaurant, the local business crowds flock to River Oyster's big, circular bar to slurp copious briny bivalves and martinis, especially during the daily happy hour (4:30 to 7pm) when cocktails and wine are $8 and oysters—which fans say are the freshest in town—go for half-price.

The first thing you should know about the new Okeydokey food hall is that it's not, technically, a food hall. It’s a large, sprawling, three-story Brickell entertainment venue with multiple vendors and bars selling very different lineups of food—which, we admit, sounds a lot like a food hall. Three bars and vendor kitchens dot the downstairs space, while the second floor features a dining room and lounge full of cushy leather couches. On the third floor, find an adults-only lounge where DJs spin on weekends. 

American Social is a sports pub where no corners are cut, appealing to both sports fans trying to catch the game and young professionals trying to catch happy hour. Even if you don’t care what’s on one of the venue’s TVs, American Social’s waterfront views and tasty food menu make it a worthwhile choice for any night. It’s a favorite for young (and single) Brickellites looking to knock back some drinks, dance a bit and schmooze on the dock.

El Tucán is a former Latin cabaret that’s recently made an oh-so-Miami pivot to a full-blown nightclub, swapping the sultry performances for flashy bottle service, glitzy DJs and jungle-themed LED light projections. It’s one of the only clubs in Brickell but, thanks to its past life as a cabaret, the interior has a delightfully vintage old Havana charm that makes for a more unique experience than your average dance spot.