Dodge the tourist traps with our guide to the best bars in South Beach

Why limit yourself to mojitos and daiquiris? At Swizzle, rum gets the treatment it deserves, with an inventive cocktail menu that explores the full depth and nuance of this quintessential Caribbean spirit. Ideal for a boozy nightcap, this dimly lit drinking den hidden in the Stiles Hotel boasts more than 150 varieties in a cozy, low-key atmosphere.

The Deuce isn’t the only spot in South Beach where you’ll find neon lights, a dingy pool table, cheap-as-dirt drinks and a rotating cast of lovable degenerates. A stalwart sports dive in the ever-trendy and manicured South of Fifth ’hood, Ted’s is a dark and cool escape from the elements where dogs are welcome and dress codes are strictly unenforced.

It’s technically in Mid-Beach, but Broken Shaker is a destination in its own right, the spot that ushered in a new golden era of craft cocktail culture not just on the beach but in all of Miami. Located in the Freehand Hotel, the bar itself is tiny but services a sprawling poolside garden where the vibe is laidback bohemian and the weekend parties get frisky.

Plenty of South Beach hotels have a rooftop bar, but Watr stands out enough to make braving the tourists (and the price tags) worth it. If you’re set on a buzzy cocktail scene with 360-degree ocean and city views, it doesn’t get more spectacular than Watr. Reservations are required for non-hotel guests at this sleek and well-shaded deck perched atop 1 Hotel.

What’s a better antidote to our post-quarantine social anxiety than a disco ball-strewn, television-themed gay bar? A hop and skip away from Twist, the legendary gay mecca that’s recently been plagued by a string of unfortunate phone thefts, Nathan’s is decidedly friendlier and delightfully kitsch with six themed private sections, among them Sex and the City, Black-ish and The Brady Bunch, plus additional patio seating.

Forget South Beach—Sweet Liberty is known as one of the best bars in Miami. Period. This flashy cocktail bar whips up amazing cocktails alongside a menu of fresh seafood and delicious bar food. Happy hour (95 cent oysters, $7 wine and $9 cocktails) is every day from 4 to 7pm. Write that down.

The great Mac Klein ran this bar, one of Miami’s oldest, until he passed away in 2016 at the ripe old age of 101. Today, his bar lives on just as he intended it: old-school, smoky, unpretentious and simply the best dive bar in Florida. Stop here to drink beneath the bar’s neon lights, which were installed during the filming of a Miami Vice episode.

Miami’s undisputed champion of drag brunch. They practically invented the pairing of mimosas and drag queens and continue to do it (on the sidewalk of Ocean Drive, no less) better than anyone in town. Reservations for the popular weekend brunch shows are advised. The $45 per person fee comes with food and bottomless mimosas.

As the name implies, Minibar is diminutive. But what it lacks in size it makes up for in personality. The decor is chic, the vibe is intimate and laidback and the cocktails are really solid. Minibar has quickly become a watering hole for South of Fifth cool kids. On the weekends, resident DJ Niko plays a solid mix of ’80s and ’90s-heavy dance hits, from Queen and Abba to Technotronic and everything in between.

The Abbey serves up dive-y vibes (read: pool, darts, jukebox) and a welcome change of pace from the frilly Lincoln Road, which sits just a block behind it. Fans rave about the house-brewed beers (the Abbey is part of the Tank Brewing Co. family) and the stellar IPA lineup, but booze is also on the menu here.

Happy hour runs from 5 to 8pm at this petite, polished South of Fifth bar from the team behind Ariete. ScapeGoat prides itself on its cocktails, which are actually quite good. Don’t expect the serious cocktail bar attitude here, though. It’s a lowkey atmosphere, but things can get silly at night.

A beloved for-the-people bar in a chunk of South Beach ripe with tourist traps. Don’t fear the life-size statue of Bruce Lee hanging menacingly over the bar. He is simply there to ensure you have a blast in this classic Miami Beach bar. Your wallet will love the $3 PBR.

The cute bar of the recently renovated Kimpton Angler's Hotel. This place takes its cocktail program seriously and the proof is in the glass. Both outdoor and indoor seating is available as well as a seafood-heavy menu featuring a sneaky good muffuletta. Because you love gin. The cocktail menu revolves around that beloved spirit and they’ve got some good choices behind the bar.