With roots in Medellín, Bogotá and Barcelona, Mad Radio bills itself as a global community of music lovers with a shared passion for vinyl records and underground beats. Part night club, part all-day cafe and part radio station, the Miami outpost resides in a midcentury-era motel off Biscayne Boulevard’s historic MiMo strip. Despite its seasonally sleepy neighborhood, Mad Radio draws locals and house music-loving visitors with its friendly prices, hi-fi sound system and consistent weekly lineups of DJs, themed nights and boozy brunches.
Mad Records Cafe, the brand’s casual all-day eatery, is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8am and offers separate menus of breakfast and lunch plates, healthy eats, comfort food, happy hour specials and late-night snacks. The indoor cafe space has an intimate and bohemian feel, with diner-style counter seating, a DJ booth and a few tables that look out over Biscayne. Downstairs, you’ll find more seating on the outside patio, which features plenty of shade and views of Little River. Yes, that is the Gold Rush Cabaret strip club just across the water—but you’ll barely notice with all the adorable manatees swimming by!
Brunch is every Saturday and Sunday from 8am until 4pm, when you can order bottomless Aperol spritzes for $40 and vibe out to DJs spinning vinyl starting around noon. My visit during brunch gave me a chance to try items from several of the menus, including the Amazon Acaí Bowl, Burrata & Greens, Steak & Eggs and the Smashed Cheeseburger. Everything was delicious—fresh, well portioned and seasoned to perfection—which took me a bit by surprise for a spot that feels like an upscale hostel. Espresso coffee drinks, matcha, mocktails and a full bar make Mad Records Cafe an underrated spot for posting up day-to-night.
The heart of Mad Radio is its late-night bar. The club-like downstairs lounge is small but effective: dark and moody with a powerful sound system, a bit of seating and most of the space reserved for dancing. With low-slung sofas and its own bar, the riverside patio is also a great spot to chill when it’s time for some breeze and a break from the dancefloor. True to its ethos, Mad Radio broadcasts sets from local and international DJs via its app, with performances later uploaded to YouTube, giving artists global visibility in real-time.