Miami’s cocktail culture just scored another win: Café La Trova has been named one of the World’s 50 Best Bars extended list for 2025, landing at No. 82 on the 51-100 ranking. For locals, the recognition feels overdue. For visitors, it’s one more reason to make a beeline for Calle Ocho—just in case its spot at No. 13 on the list of the best bars in North America didn't convince you.
Created by legendary Julio Cabrera alongside James Beard Award–winning chef Michelle Bernstein, Café La Trova instantly envelops guests in live music, warm hospitality and the unmistakable aroma of rum cocktails being shaken by bartenders in crisp white jackets. The cantinero tradition isn’t just revived here; it thrives.
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Cabrera’s cocktail program is rooted in Cuban classics (think daiquiris, mojitos, and El Presidente) but elevated with modern flair and Miami energy. The execution is elegant, but also a sense of theater that makes each drink feel like part of the show. And while the cocktails command attention, Bernstein’s menu ensures guests never leave hungry. Croquetas, empanadas, ropa vieja and lechón are prepared with finesse, offering a dining experience as compelling as the drinks.
What sets Café La Trova apart is its ability to balance authenticity and innovation. It’s a place where Cuban heritage is honored but never frozen in time. The music, the food, the drinks—they all feel alive, evolving in a way that reflects Miami itself: bold, diverse, and impossibly fun.
"The extended 51-100 list is another opportunity to celebrate the passion, creativity and world-class hospitality that define the very best in the business — and this ninth edition does not disappoint," The World’s 50 Best Bars Head of Content Emma Sleight said in a statement. "From brand new destinations and emerging markets to beloved favourites, the extended ranking shines a light on even more of the world’s finest bars. Today, we raise a glass to those venues that go above and beyond, offer congratulations to the incredible teams whose hard work has earned their bar a spot on this prestigious list and hope it encourages more people to discover their next drinking destination."
The World’s 50 Best Bars list is one of the most prestigious bar rankings in the world, with votes cast by an academy of more than 800 industry experts. The extended 51–100 list offers a preview of the global conversation before the top 50 are revealed. This year’s countdown happens October 8 in Hong Kong, where bartenders, writers and cocktail lovers will gather for the official announcement of the 2025 winners.
Recognition on a global list is well deserved, but Miamians don’t need an award to tell them Café La Trova is special. It’s already a local institution, one where nights stretch into mornings, friendships deepen over daiquiris, and every guest leaves feeling like part of the family. Now the rest of the world knows it, too.