Miami’s Most Festive Bars for the Winter

Need to warm up this season? Head to these bars — plus, where to find exclusive BACARDÍ cocktails.

By Vox Creative Nov 21, 2018, 3:16pm EST

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By Vox Creative Nov 21, 2018, 3:16pm EST

Noah Fecks

This advertising content was produced in collaboration between Vox Creative and our sponsor, without involvement from Vox Media editorial staff.

Winter in Miami look a little different than you’re probably used to. Down in South Florida, lights are strung on palm trees, everyone’s in swimsuits rather than snow suits, and the only white powder you’ll get comes in the form of white sand beaches.

But Miami natives still know how to enjoy the season. No Miami holiday party is complete without a tray of croquetas, the breaded and fried finger food that’s full of ham and gooey béchamel. Another Miami winter tradition is coquito, the eggnog-like rum and coconut cream cocktail that is legendary but difficult to find, even in Miami.

Want more festive cheer? You’ll even find exclusive BACARDÍ cocktails, available just for the season, at some of your favorite local bars. Here’s where to go.

Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill

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Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill is so popular that it seems like a Miami institution, even though the restaurant has only been on the scene since 2010. The indoor booths and tables, as well as the seating outdoors, are always packed. Sugarcane specializes in small plates, sushi, and Japanese robata-grilled dishes. In the past, Sugarcane has offered special seasonal dishes, such as a pot pie of duck confit and foie gras, pomegranate-glazed lamb chops, and eggnog ice cream. But rum is at the heart of Sugarcane’s cocktail menu, with plenty of festive options to choose from: try a sangria made with BACARDÍ rums, or a rum version of the traditional Old Fashioned recipe, for starters.

The BACARDÍ-exclusive cocktail to order: Festivus for the Rest Of Us

This year, Sugarcane is offering the exclusive BACARDÍ cocktail, Festivus for the Rest of Us — a concoction made of BACARDÍ Superior Rum, pineapple, ginger syrup, Averna Amaro bitters, and a pinch of Chinese five spice. Frank would be so proud.

3252 NE 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33137

(786) 369-0353

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1-800-Lucky

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For something different, try Wynwood’s 1-800-Lucky, a food hall and marketplace where you can sample a variety of Asian cuisines. From bahn mi sandwiches and dim sum to green tea ice cream and cocktails, 1-800-Lucky has you covered for delicious food and drinks. Lucky boasts one of South Florida’s only frozen beer machines. But if that doesn’t quite put you in the seasonal spirit, visit one of the food hall’s two bars and ask the bartender to make you a BACARDÍ Milk Punch.

143 NW 23rd St, Miami, FL 33127

(305) 768-9826

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Black Market Miami

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Shake off your winter blues at Black Market Miami. With enough space for your whole crowd, Black Market’s party atmosphere and focus on sports will take the stress out of the post-holiday season and give you a chance to relax. Order a beer at their long bar, or bask in front of one of their 30 big-screen TVs with a signature cocktail in hand. Leave your cares behind with a classic like a Daiquiri or a Hurricane.

168 SE 1st St, Miami, FL 33131

(305) 400-8023

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Dolores But You Can Call Me Lolita

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This two-story restaurant stationed in an old firehouse offers two contrasting experiences. Upstairs, Dolores serves more upscale fare like Pork Osso Buco. Downstairs, the Lolita lounge specializes in quicker, bar-friendly bites. People-watch downstairs or enjoy the ever-balmy Miami air on the terrace, and pair your experience with a classic rum cocktail, like a Dark n’ Stormy.

The BACARDÍ-exclusive cocktail to order: the Heat Tropical Mojito

Spice up your season with the exclusive BACARDÍ cocktail, the Heat Tropical Mojito. It’s got everything you love in a Mojito including: BACARDÍ Banana Rum, mango puree, and a few dashes of Sriracha. (And yes, they’ll add more Sriracha if you ask.)

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1000 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33130

(305) 403-3103

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American Social

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Escape the cold at this refined sports bar, where you can kick back on patriotic pillows and pour your own beer while watching the game on one of 25 TVs. You can also order a drink from their fully stocked bar while taking in their waterfront view. Ask for a BACARDÍ Rum Punch to stay in the holiday mood.

690 SW 1st Ct, Miami, FL 33130

(305) 223-7004

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Blackbird Ordinary

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Another bar where you can get your wintry cocktail fix, Blackbird Ordinary is a low-key hangout that serves up a wide range of cocktails. Come here to dance and listen to the DJ late into the night. Elevate your party with bottle service or keep your energy up with a rum and coffee cocktail. Refuel with finger foods, such as paninis and pizza.

729 SW 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33130

(305) 671-3307

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Cantina La Veinte

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With its hip décor and snapshot-worthy bar, this waterfront restaurant brings a glamorous twist to traditional Mexican cuisine. Eat with a view of the kitchen and museum displays of pottery or bask in the glitter of more than 100 lit bottles at the bar. Order a BACARDÍ Cranberry Old Fashioned to match your spicy pork tacos, and listen to the mariachi band liven the mood.

495 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131

(786) 623-6135

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Crazy About You

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As the name would suggest, Crazy About You has one of the most romantic settings around. With its chandeliers and stylish setting, this Miami restaurant is all about making memories. Even if you’re not there for date night, you can still enjoy the restaurant’s comfortable outdoor seating and eclectic, Instagrammable bar. The menu offers a wide range from lighter chicken dishes to more substantial choices like braised beef short rib. Enhance the restaurant’s stellar view of the Miami skyline across the river with a flavored BACARDÍ Mojito (coconut, strawberry, pineapple, lime, or mango), or get cozy with a hot buttered rum.

The BACARDÍ-exclusive cocktail to order: the Miami Sunset

Only on the menu for the season, the Miami Sunset cocktail is made with BACARDÍ Grapefruit Rum, passion fruit puree, lime and pineapple juices, and a dash of grenadine.

1155 Brickell Bay Dr #101, Miami, FL 33131

(305) 377-4442

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Ball & Chain

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Drink in the winter spirit Miami-style at this iconic Calle Ocho lounge. Opened just after the end of Prohibition, the old Ball & Chain has a colorful history as a gambling club and mob-owned jazz lounge. Though its seedy days are over, the bar keeps that ambiance alive with its swinging dance floor and vintage décor. Celebrate the season at Ball & Chain with a seasonal jazz set, and sip a Calle Ocho Old Fashioned with BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho Rum, plus a hint of tobacco for an old-school Havana style. Or, to get in the spirit, try its featured cocktail, the Crema de Vie (Cuban Eggnog).

1513 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135

(305) 643-7820

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Bulla Gastrobar

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This Spanish gastrobar embodies the best of classic Coral Gables. Bulla Gastrobar’s hardwood floors, marble bar, and elegant décor declare its high society roots, but its complex cocktails confirm the opulence with flavor. To-go menu offerings include paella and Cochinillo Ibérico Asado, if you’re craving a night in, but if you’d rather stay and enjoy the ambiance, order a plate of croquetas to share and toast with a round of Mojitos.