Kat Bein

Miami may not be the largest city in the world, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in 24-hour party potential. The best clubs in Miami are some of the best in the world—and the best Miami parties are where you want to spend your nights. Sure, South Beach can be expensive, but there are more no-cover bars and clubs than you might realize. The 305 also births a lot of great musicians, and they love to show off for the community that raised them. Here, we showcase some of the best spots for a party every week and every month. There are other things to do in Miami, sure—but save them for the daylight hours. RECOMMENDED: See the full coverage of Miami nightlife

The water attraction set amid the beautiful 17-acre park has so much to offer. There's a wave pool, water fall, lazy river, tot lot and party areas. It’s a public park, again, with a water playground, a wave pool, lazy river, water fall, splash pad, party areas, and a snack bar. It's absolutely perfect for day parties or birthdays, and the price is right, too.

This Hialeah gem has an activity pool with a slide, and two twin 30-ft water slides for added excitement. There's also a zero-depth-entry swimming pool, concessions and plenty of room for sitting. The water park is only open on weekends, though, so don't expect any aquatic fun on school days.

This place isn't technically in Miami rather in Broward, the next county north. Although, for the money and the attractions, it's definitely worth the drive. There are four five-story-tall water slides, an 18-inch deep wade pool with interactive fountains and fun, a 12-inch deep pool for the kids 5 years and younger, as well as a 410-foot tube line. 

This is a public attraction owned and operated by the city that offers a lazy river, a few playground areas, a pirate-themed area and a shipwreck water playground. There are wade pools for toddlers and large recreational pools for more experienced swimmers, plus splashy slides for thrill seekers. 

Vinyl records line the walls of this cozy club and lounge on the bottom floor of the Gale Hotel, just across from the Delano on Washington Avenue. It mixes great decor with a laidback atmosphere and moderately priced drinks. It can feel a little like a house party. Local DJs appreciate the open-format style, giving them the room to play anything from ’90s hip-hop or ’80s new wave. Recent months have seen live sets from classic hip-hop acts, including Miami’s Trick Daddy and Phife Dawg of a Tribe Called Quest, signifying that Rec Room is taking its party profile up a serious notch.

Hotel clubs are a prominent fixture of the SoBe nightlife scene, and this basement-level dark room nestled in Collins Avenue’s historic Delano is a clear crowd favorite. Hip-hop heads and basketball stars regularly frequent the ever-popular Monday night party. Jay Z and Beyonce have even been found here cuddling up in one of the club’s intimate booths. Friday brings an open format mix with a heavy lean toward Latin and R&B, and the music stays bumpin’ indie dance, house, top 40 and more throughout the weekend. It’s a fancy establishment, so be prepared to drop a few dollars. Not the place to ball on a budget.

And the award for best nightclub name goes to! This spot on the beach is expertly decorated, lined from ceiling to floor with gold-painted cassette tapes and a dance floor topped with a glowing flying saucer for a light fixture. Designed more for dancing than sitting (hence the name), it's packed tight and kept very dark, except for those moments the fixture flashes and illuminates everything around you. Partially owned and operated by internationally renown DJ-producer Behrouz and Electric Pickle’s Will Renuart, Do Not Sit has earned a reputation for top-tier guest acts and underground sensibilities—no VIP allowed.

Steve Aoki, the mustachioed master of L.A.-based label and lifestyle brand Dim Mak, is a notorious figure in EDM. He was one of the first producer-DJs to cross over into the mainstream, thanks to high-energy compositions and onstage antics (cake throwing, anyone?). But as recently as 2004, he was standing in the audience like the rest of us, sharing a cheap hotel room and saving his cash for the shows and magic of Ultra.  Magic came not onstage but in the form of a woman strolling down Ocean Drive, wearing a “huge flowing dress, massive headphones and humongous glasses.” The stranger turned out to be Björk. “She was so majestic,” recalls Aoki. After mustering up the courage to speak to her, the two exchanged phone numbers and kept in touch. No collaborations resulted from their chance meeting but the unexpected interaction resonated with Aoki, who experienced part of what draws millions of people to Ultra every year: the opportunity to see some of the biggest names in music. In 2010, he went from being a face in the crowd to a performer, playing his first show at Ultra.  His 2017 headlining set boasts tons of surprise guests, and while he can neither confirm nor deny anything on record before the show, we have a feeling that “Just Hold On” collaborator Louis Tomlinson will make an appearance. And Aoki might just drop a new track while he’s at it. “[Ultra] is the perfect ground for experimentation, to play all your new music and get the best feedback you can from a crowd,” say

Nothing says “South Beach” like a day by the ocean, but all those hours spent soaking up the rays and salty air can work up a mighty appetite. Good thing SoBe harbors some of the tastiest seafood in Miami, thanks in large part to the world-class chefs who’ve chosen to drop anchor there. The SoBe Seafood Festival (Oct 21–24) spotlights the local catch, bringing Miami’s star chefs and hungry hordes together for all-inclusive drinks and à la carte offerings, including some off-the-menu specialties. The fun kicks off tonight with a sold-out dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab, but the main event comes Saturday when guests can try the best that 17 local restaurants have to offer. So much to eat, so little time. To help you choose, we asked co-founder Valerie Roy for her top-five favorites. Crab cakes from Red Fish Grill Crab cakes are one of those ubiquitous appetizers you’ll catch on every menu, whether the restaurant specializes in seafood or not, but no matter how many you’ve tasted, we’ll bet you’ve never had them like this. Red Fish Grill tops a towering hunk of fresh crabmeat with a delectable tropical slaw and creamy aji amarillo sauce that’ll have you scraping your plate. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about—everyone else is doing it. Angry shrimp from Smith & Wollensky Who ticked off the crustaceans? Whoever it was, they deserve a freaking medal of honor. You’re going to love them when they’re angry, which is a Smith & Wollensky’s way of saying they’re spiced up, placed on a mo

There’s a certain mindset that comes with Miami. We indulge a little more. We move a little more slowly. We drive a little more crazily. To the outside world, we may look and sound a little garish at times—and what ya gonna do about it, huh!?—but if you get to know us and truly become one with our culture, you’ll see that we’re really just having more fun than anyone else. How do you know you’ve fully assimilated? Turns out there’s a test: You’re a true Miamian if you… 1. Know all the lyrics to the Santa’s Enchanted Forest commercial. 2. Threaten to kill everyone on the road the minute you start driving. Warner Bros./via Giphy 3. Speak fluent Spanglish. 4. Party until the sun rises on Northeast 11 Street. 5. Wake up insanely early to stand in line for cinnamon buns and strawberry shakes at Knaus Berry Farm. 6. Ride an airboat. FX/via Tumblr 7. Travel to another city or state and are always the loudest table or group in any given situation. 8. Learn to dodge the tourists in the middle of Northwest 2 Avenue taking pictures of the Wynwood murals. 9. Painfully explain to out-of-town friends that “South Beach” and “Miami” are not interchangeable terms. 10. Stand up for everything Pitbull does, even though you prefer his early work on M.I.A.M.I. via MTV 11. Reach a blood-caffeine level that hovers around 30 percent cafecito. 12. Visit Mango’s Tropical Café on Ocean Drive at least once. 13. Learn to convert all things to “Miami time.” 14. Scoff at other cities’ Cubanos. 15. Take