- The Room (South Beach; tel. 305/531-6061): This NYC import exudes that hip Meatpacking District vibe with its simple, yet chic, concept of an impressive international collection of beer and wine only, comfy seats, candlelight only, and a contingency of locals who know about this place and refuse to share it with the other poor souls who don't.
- Mokai (South Beach; tel. 305/531-4166): A small lounge off the beaten path of South Beach proper, Mokai is reminiscent of an apres-ski bar in Aspen with its brick walls, dim lighting, and comfy leather couches, but quintessentially Miami with celebrity clientele, star DJs, and astronomical drink prices.
- Opium/Prive and Mansion (South Beach; tel. 305/531-5535): This trendy troika of nightspots is among the hottest in Miami for dancing, drinking, and slews of celebrity sightings. Friday and Saturday are the hottest nights at any of them, and you're almost guaranteed to spot a celebrity at any given moment.
- Tobacco Road (Downtown Miami; tel. 305/374-1198): Al Capone used to hang out here when it was a speakeasy. Now locals flock to this road-well-traveled place to hear live, local bands perform, as well as national acts such as George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars, Koko Taylor, and the Radiators. It's small, it's gritty, and it's meant to be that way here as it's the proud owner of Miami's very first liquor license.
- Upstairs at the Van Dyke Cafe (South Beach; tel. 305/534-3600): Even though this jazz bar isn't in a basement, but rather on the second floor of the Van Dyke Cafe, it resembles a classy speakeasy in which local jazz performers play to an intimate, enthusiastic crowd of mostly adults and sophisticated young things who huddle at the small tables often until the wee hours.
- Stop Miami (Wynwood; tel. 305/576-0900): This boho hangout in the burgeoning, arty area of Wynwood is best known for its tapas, wine, cheese, and some of the funkiest art, artists, and DJ collectives this side of Brooklyn.
- La Covacha (West Miami; tel. 305/594-3717): This hut, located virtually in the middle of nowhere, is the hottest Latin joint in the entire city. Do not wear silk here, as you will sweat. Friday is the night, so much so that the owners had to place a red velvet rope out front to maintain some semblance of order.
- Nikki Beach Club (South Beach; tel. 305/538-1111): What the Playboy Mansion is to Hollywood, the Nikki Beach Club is to South Beach. It's here where Survivor meets The Brady Bunch in Hawaii, with a bit of St. Tropez thrown in for taste.
- Automatic Slim's (South Beach; tel. 305/695-0795): Proudly billing itself as a place where "the beautiful people come to get ugly," Automatic Slim's is a good-time bar in which anything goes and pretenses are left at the door.
- Twist (South Beach; tel. 305/538-9478): South Beach's most popular and long-lasting gay bar, Twist is where the who's who of the gay community convene for cocktails, consorting, and, at times, contorting.
- Le Tub (Hollywood; tel. 954/931-9425): This former 1959 Sunoco gas station was transformed into a kitschy waterfront oasis whose resplendent scenery is almost secondary to the decor: old toilet bowls, bathtubs, and sinks -- seriously. Not the least bit as gross as it sounds, Le Tub also has the best hamburgers, chili, a 4am closing time, and a strict "no children" policy.
- Duval Street (Key West): South Florida's own version of Bourbon Street, Duval Street is party central, with bars galore.
- Clematis Street (West Palm Beach): Until recently, nightlife in Palm Beach County was either an oxymoron or reserved for haughty private clubs on the island of Palm Beach. Thanks to a downtown revitalization, downtown West Palm now boasts a strip of its own, with trendy restaurants, clubs, and bars.
- Las Olas Boulevard/Riverwalk (Fort Lauderdale): Moving off the beachfront strip and onto the more quaint (but no less calm) riverside, Fort Lauderdale now boasts its very own downtown nightlife scene with restaurants, bars, and clubs.
- Biba Bar (West Palm Beach; tel. 561/832-0094): The harder to find, the hipper it is, so they say, which is why this dimly lit, loungey hotel bar is tucked away in the middle of this mod motor inn -- a hangout for in-the-know locals and visitors.
- The Dock at Crayton Cove (Naples; tel. 239/263-9940): Right on the City Dock, this lively pub is a perfect place for an open-air meal or libation while watching the action on Naples Bay.
- CityWalk (Orlando; tel. 407/363-8000): This 12-acre entertainment complex is a collection of eateries and nighttime entertainment spots. It's also a haven for theme restaurant aficionados, featuring a Hard Rock Cafe, the NASCAR Grille, a Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. Additionally, you'll find plenty of places to dance the night away to the sounds of jazz, reggae, hip-hop, and pop.
- Pleasure Island (Orlando; tel. 407/939-2648): This 16-acre, all-in-one complex of clubs, restaurants, and shops runs the entertainment gamut from jazz to modern rock to dance music. Catch an improvisational comedy show or hustle along on the disco floor -- there's something here for everyone. Big-name artists occasionally make special appearances on the outdoor stage, but a nightly fireworks display ensures that every night ends with a big bang.
- Ocean Deck Restaurant & Beach Club (Daytona Beach; tel. 386/253-5224): Reggae rules at this hot, noisy, packed, and always-fun beach bar near Daytona Beach's municipal pier, the town's "happening" district. By contrast, the upstairs restaurant is suitable for children, and it has great ocean views to accompany its fine and inexpensive fare.
- Seville Quarter (Pensacola; tel. 850/434-6211): In Pensacola's Seville Historic District, this restored antique brick complex with New Orleans-style wrought-iron balconies contains pubs and restaurants whose names capture the ambience: Rosie O'Grady's Goodtime Emporium, Lili Marlene's Aviator's Pub, Apple Annie's Courtyard, End o' the Alley Bar, Phineas Phogg's Balloon Works (a dance hall, not a balloon shop), and Fast Eddie's Billiard Parlor (which has electronic games for kids, too). Live entertainment ranges from Dixieland jazz to country and western.
- Flora-Bama Lounge (Perdido Key, near Pensacola; tel. 850/492-0611): This slapped-together Gulf-side pub is almost a shrine to country music, with jam sessions from noon until way past midnight on Saturdays and Sundays. Flora-Bama is the prime sponsor and a key venue for the Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festival during the first week of November. Take in the great Gulf views from the Deck Bar, and, if you're coming in late April, don't miss the Interstate Mullet Toss and Beach Party.
- Shuckums Oyster Pub & Seafood Grill (Panama City Beach; tel. 850/235-3214): "We shuck 'em, you suck 'em" is the motto of this extremely informal pub that became famous when comedian Martin Short tried unsuccessfully to shuck oysters here during the making of an MTV spring-break special. The original bar is virtually papered over with dollar bills signed by old and young patrons who have been flocking here since 1967.
Florida Travel Experiences
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USA
Shannon, Rob, Eric, and I took a drive down the east coast to Florida.Our journey started in Ottawa, Canada. We drove through Ontario to... Continue reading »
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Disney World 1997
It was 1997 when I went to Florida. So there wont be any pictures as I don't have a scanner.Disney World is a place i always wanted... Continue reading »
