The best waterfront and beach bars in Miami for drinks with a view

The Wharf has been packed with well-dressed Miamians since it opened on the Miami River back in 2017—it even spawned a Fort Lauderdale sibling that opened in 2020. In addition to booze, the outdoor bar is dotted with a selection of food stalls including outposts of Spris Artisan Pizza and La Santa Taqueria. The young, casual atmosphere wins every time: astroturf and picnic benches encourage mingling. There’s boat parking available for nautical folk too but anyone is welcome to enjoy some champagne during the day or liquor and dancing at night.

A complete renovation of the sea wall and deck in 2014 gave this 30-year-old North Bay Village standby a new lease on life. Patrons here can kick back with a pitcher of beer, wings and steamed clams while taking in unobstructed views of the Miami sunset over the water. Umbrellas and palms provide a fair amount of shade for sports fans taking in the latest match on one of the flatscreen TVs. Plus, unlike many spots on this list, the onsite marina offers boat docking free of charge.

The bayside deck of The Standard Spa, Miami Beach plays host to an artsy-chic bar scene with unrivaled views of the water. The bar menu here is as light as the vibe, with fresh salads and veggie snacks like buffalo cauliflower “wings” and seasonal hummus and crudite. It isn’t rare to spot a school of dolphins frolicking in the bay while downing a few glasses of sangria and frosé—that is, if you’re not too distracted people-watching at this enclave for the ultra-hip.

Located on a marina, this popular Grove hangout is a sweet spot for cold beers, stiff drinks and casual seafood. Thatch-roofed tiki huts surround a stage from which reggae and calypso bands do their damnedest to persuade the diners and drinkers to dance. On Friday afternoons find a rowdy happy hour crowd (heavy with thirsty UM kids) eagerly slurping up strong frozen drinks. For a more family-friendly vibe, come on the weekends, order a basket of fried seafood and a pitcher of beer for yourself and send the kids off to dance to the live music.

Look the part of a fancy, seafaring yachtsman at this posh, bayfront restaurant where the Euro crowds, Mediterranean menu and Instagrammable views create a truly Miami scene. It’s fun, not stuffy, and Sunday brunches take daytime partying to new levels—rosé flows, the cabanas are full and the over-the-top seafood towers just keep on coming.

This Greek dream makes its home along the Miami River in a 100-year-old converted fish market. A partially covered deck with tied-back white curtains and ivy-wrapped columns sets the scene for the simple, yet rustic Mediterranean fare that’ll accompany date night rounds of ouzo tinged with fresh-pressed juices. While the main bar is tucked inside the charming rustic environs of the restaurant, the view from the outside bar makes the decision to take your cocktail al fresco a no-brainer.

Located inside Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and helmed by the same family from the adjacent dock-and-dine destination Boater’s Grill, the Cleat is the blissfully laidback yet chic waterfront bar Key Biscayne was missing. Whether you’re perched at the thick terrazzo slab horseshoe bar or slung back on an Adirondack chair with your toes in the sand, every seat is the best seat in the house to enjoy panoramic ocean views with your boozy piña colada or ice-cold beer. Though there is limited covered seating, the entire place is outdoors, so do mind the weather if you’re making a trek out to the Cleat.

As part of a $20 million dollar property-wide transformation, the Mondrian South Beach recently unveiled this polished stunner of a pool deck with a restaurant, bar and lounge that features eye-popping views of Biscayne Bay (and the mega-yachts that float by). The oversized thatched hut is festooned with rattan lanterns and cushioned chairs making it the ideal backdrop for drinks like the Jade made with No.3 Gin, lavender and lemon extract. Pro tip: make sure to settle in a half-hour before sunset.

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Floating on the waterfront docks of the Miami Beach Marina, this longtime favorite gets lively during happy hour and on the weekends. The straw-thatched tiki hut bordering the pool offers a stunning view of yachts docked on the Atlantic while their infamous frozen Pain Relievers and Miami Vice cocktails take the sting out of a tough day at work. On weekends, enjoy a rotating lineup of live music with your peel-and-eat shrimp, oysters and clams.

Sure, they’ve got more than 20 TVs posted up around the joint—but none of them hold a candle to the view of the Intracoastal Waterway at this laid-back watering hole in North Miami Beach. Dive-bar delicacies like chicken wings and potato skins sidle up to beer and frozen adult beverages, making this a favorite spot to catch a Heat or Marlins game. This isn’t just any sports bar—the 700 seats, fifty-space boat dock and a sunny pool deck (did we mention there’s a pool?) make sure of that.

The WetLab has been one of the best-kept secrets in Miami—and for good reason. It takes a bit of maneuvering to find (it’s located behind the University of Miami’s RSMAS campus on Key Biscayne), but the views and prices are more than worth it. A wide-open terrace looks out over the turquoise waters of the bay, with string lights gently illuminating the view after the sun sets. This bargain beer drinker’s paradise with lots of icy-cold craft brews on tap also boasts live music and a laidback college atmosphere.

Nikki Beach is the quintessential beach club, an outdoor fantasyland sprawling over a stretch of sand with tiki bars, lounge chairs and torches. Decorated with beautiful people, it’s like the Playboy mansion meets Survivor, where the fittest don’t merely survive, they flourish. Buxom beauties attract well-oiled, deep-pocketed sugar daddies, and the studs also get rewarded for their packaging. In addition to the restaurant and beach club, there’s a club and lounge for when the party moves inside.

Classic Americana on the water—that pretty much sums up the feeling at this lively Brickell joint. Red, white and blue adorn the outdoor patio that overlooks the Miami River. Beer is the way to go here, with an impressive roster of craft brews on tap—and if you can tear yourself away from the waterfront view, there are self-serving beer tap tables inside and house-made soft pretzel bites once the munchies strike.

Nestled within a post-industrial warehouse next to Kiki on the River, this waterfront enclave features an outdoor lounge on a wood-lined deck that juts out onto the Miami River. Here, a see-and-be-seen crowd watches the sun set on the Downtown skyline with glasses of champagne and white cranberry Blossom Martinis in hand. Live DJ music echoes throughout the deck as boats cruise the river and plates of thinly sliced crudos accompany the cocktails coming out from behind the bar.

This buzzy beachfront club is on a petite man-made island in Biscayne Bay. An ideal gathering spot for boozy brunches and larger parties, the boho-chic ambiance pairs with bottle service and DJ-spun tunes for a unique, Euro-inspired waterfront dining experience in Miami. Reservations are hard to come by, but the wait is totally worth it once you’ve dipped your toes in the sand.

Perched on the waters of Biscayne Bay right off the Rickenbacker Causeway is a massive tiki hut that beckons thirsty locals with hurricane glasses filled with frosty rum runners, margaritas and Mai Tais. Looking for a nosh to soak up some of the boozy concoctions? The menu is replete with bar favorites—nachos, wings, quesadillas—with items like gator bites and coconut mahi nuggets offering a twist to the usual fare. A deck festooned with faux parrots, brightly painted wood and the odd carved coconut or two provides a breezy lookout for enjoying the tipples while the bay ripples beyond.

This lively, bi-level spot in the Fontainebleau Miami Beach channels a sun-splashed, South of France vibe—crisp whites, vibrant teals and an ocean view that’s hard to beat. The upper level overlooks both the pool and the ocean—the perfect spot for lounging back with a crisp glass of rosé (or a pitcher of their eponymous punch) and a plate of oysters while watching the bar scene light up with chic patrons chatting amidst DJ-spun tunes.