These two bars in Miami were just ranked some of the best in North America

Miami’s cocktail scene isn’t exactly quiet—but it’s getting more serious recognition. Two local spots, Café La Trova and ViceVersa, just earned places on the 2026 list of North America’s 50 Best Bars, landing at number 42 and number 46, respectively.

The list, announced this week at a ceremony in Vancouver, reflects votes from more than 300 industry insiders across the U.S., Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean, showcasing bars that are pushing drinks culture forward right now. Miami’s pair of entries might sit further down the rankings, but they offer a pretty clear snapshot of what the city does best: atmosphere, personality and drinks that don’t feel like an afterthought.

Downtown, ViceVersa embraces Italian aperitivo culture with a distinctly Miami edge. The bar, tucked just off the lobby at The Elser Hotel, is intimate, with low lighting, jewel-toned interiors and a crowd that includes everyone from in-the-know locals to cocktail obsessives passing through. 

Rome-born bartender Valentino Longo is behind the menu, building drinks around Italian spirits, bitters and vermouths, organizing the list into categories like Negronis, Martinis and house signatures. The food, developed with the team behind Sunny’s, doesn’t feel like an afterthought either, with a tight menu of raw bar plates and Neapolitan-style pizzas that easily make it easy to settle in for the night.

Across town, Café La Trova offers something closer to a full-on experience. Set just off Calle Ocho in Little Havana, it blends restaurant, bar and live music venue into one space—dinner service gives way to dancing and the bar fills up with guests enjoying a menu rooted in classic Cuban cocktail tradition.

That program comes from Julio Cabrera, one of the most respected cantineros working today, who treats each drink as both craft and performance. The daiquiris are crisp and balanced, the rum-forward variations lean nostalgic without feeling dated and the occasional twist—like a toasted coconut Negroni—keeps things from veering into museum territory.

The two bars don’t share much stylistically, but that’s kind of the point: Miami’s strength is all about range. And this year’s list suggests that range is finally getting noticed beyond the city limits.