1.  The Broken Shaker

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Elad Zvi and Gabriel Orta are the forward-thinking mixologists behind the Broken Shaker, a popular pop-up bar that established a permanent home at the Freehand, an innovative hostel concept. As the name indicates, cocktails are the thing here, and the menu changes almost daily, as drinks are all handcrafted with fresh-pressed ingredients and infusions made from a variety of herbs and spices, picked by the bartenders themselves.

 

2.  Regent Cocktail Club

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A grand addition to the Collins Avenue cocktail crawl is already gaining plenty of accolades, as cordial mixologists—waistcoats and all—pour deliciously inventive drinks in a space that feels worlds away from the hustle of South Beach, yet is in the heart of it all. The Club’s retro stylings, complete with leather banquettes, live lounge music and a side patio for cigar smoking, make it feel as if the Rat Pack could walk through the door at any moment.

 

3.  Sunset Lounge

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Yet another hotel lounge, this one is on South Beach’s Bayside. The name says it all: there’s simply no better place to watch the sun go down than from the playful rooftop of the Mondrian South Beach. Tuck into one of the private cabanas with a signature caipirinha and let the night envelop you.

 

4.  Abbey

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Sick of candy-colored martinis? Seek salvation in this hole-in-the-wall-turned-microbrewery, which offers rare European imports plus several own-made beers. Luckily, it didn’t lose its classic dive-bar soul in the conversion process—or the dartboard. It’s a fine place to meet the locals, and even better when preceded by a meal at Southern food star Yardbird right next door.

5.  FDR at Delano

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The Delano’s subterranean speakeasy is the very antithesis of its trendy parent hotel. The dimly lit den of chandeliers mixes old-school Florida decor with the aesthetic of a swanky cruise-ship lounge. Though it only has a capacity of 200, it attracts a diverse crowd: everyone from young hipsters and chic sophisticates to Golden Girls clones on a fancy night out on the town.