The best Miami parties and club nights

Do those ladies have beards? If you’re passing 1306 on the last Sunday of the month, they most certainly do—and these drag queens are putting on the wildest show in the 305. This party used to take place at the Corner, but got so big and popular that it had to be moved to 1306, a venue that can accomodate the crowd. The party is stacked with the best drag performances in Miami. Watch as anything from life-size Jesus crosses to full-on Little Mermaids appear before your eyes. These queens are climbing the walls, showing their full behinds, and there’s no cover at the door. They’re raunchy and fascinating and 100 percent magic.

This purple-tinged party and showcase of the city’s freshest R&B talent is downright sensual. Taking place at Gramps on the second Saturday of every month, RnBae offers complimentary cotton candy, flower crowns and advertises itself as the party “where bae comes to vibe.” If you’ve been looking for love in all the wrong places, give RnBae a shot. Bae will be waiting.

Sundays at El Patio are, in every sense of the word, lit. Get there early enough and you might get a taste of the sancocho, a traditional Latin-American soup only available at Patio on Sunday. But if you’re a little late (perhaps stumbling in after a boozy brunch) don’t worry. This outdoor party goes well into the night (till 3am, to be precise). There’s dancing, drinking and a whole bunch of beautiful people pretending like Monday isn’t just hours away.

The 100-capacity bar in the back of a small taqueria might not be the first place you’d venture for a Monday night soiree, but if you’re walking the streets of the Wynwood Arts District, it downright better be. Every Monday, internationally renowned Miami DJs Oscar G and Lazaro Casanova turn this tiny hang into a hip-shaking paradise for no cover at all. Named for Oscar G’s Murk Records, the friendly duo share the bill. Casanova starts the night with top-shelf house music, followed by Oscar G’s blood-pumping Latin-infused style.

Miami’s big bills can bring a player down, but just because you ball on a budget doesn’t mean you don't ball. Sidebar’s Cherry Pop Saturday is for the stylish deal-stealer in you. There’s never a cover, and the drinks are good without costing a fortune. The tunes are always high-caliber and open-format, meaning you might hear a little bit of this and a little bit of that, whatever is hip and now mixed with some classics that never fail. The bar’s big backyard keeps the place vibin’ on an even keel, while the inside space offers video games and a pool table, if you’re feeling frisky.

Once a month, Sweat Records founder Lolo Reskin steps behind the booth and spins the night into an absolute dance party. Just like the selection Reskin curates at Sweat, the music is eclectic, but always infectious. By midnight, inevitably, the dance floor is packed. And, with the help of the Anderson’s amazing cocktails, modesty is in short supply.

Kanye name-drops it, Lil Wayne raps about it and Drake basically called it hip-hop’s church. Every Sunday night, EDM party palace LIV becomes a haven for those with status and swagger. Floyd Mayweather and his money team make regular appearances, as do urban A-listers and a host of Instagram models. It’s expensive to get in—sometimes $100 or more—but if you charm security, you might be able to work your way through the door for nothing. Just make sure you arrive when doors open around 11:30pm, because this place will fill up fast.

It’s “your girl’s favorite party,” as the flyers proudly proclaim. And, honestly, the ads aren’t wrong. Peach Fuzz has been setting roofs on fire for four years. Recently, the party has had a difficult time finding a home. It bounced around Miami Beach for a bit before finally settling at downtown hotspot 1306, where it now takes place once a month. The party's longtime DJs DZA and Pase Rock take the helm spinning the best in ’90s and early-2000s hip-hop, a perfect mix of party jams that attracts hipsters, weed-smokers, college kids, old-schoolers and people of all tastes and backgrounds. 

The Miami party scene is fickle, but this no-cover Tuesday weekly has been a dance-ready favorite for four years running. It’s one of the only shows in town giving locals a place to party past their bedtime on this side of Hump Day, often keeping the booze and beats flowing well past 3am. Slap & Tickle has a reputation for bringing up-and-coming, cutting-edge to Bardot’s intimate carpet. It’s run by local DJs, but the crew regularly books national and international acts, with past guests including experimental turntablist Gasslamp Killer and UK garage/house mistress Hannah Wants. Girls usually get in free, while men pay a $15 cover, unless there’s a major guest, and then tickets vary. Be warned: the Wednesday hangovers are legendary.

Every third Thursday of the month, promoter kings Poplife take over the backyard of the Pérez Art Museum Miami. They bring in super talented local bands and DJs—sometimes legendary acts such as Arthur Baker—for a fresh mix of live music and turntable action. For the standard $16 museum admission, you get the tunes for free, but tickets for drinks and barbecue snacks come at an additional charge.Since launching in 2015, it’s grown to be a regular who’s-who hang. Plus, the PAMM backyard, with its waterfront view, is absolutely stunning.