Sure, this winter has us all feeling a little cheated: we survive the soul-sucking summer for the perfect days of January, and thus far we've gotten... summer (minus about 10 degrees). But don't start self-diagnosing yourself with seasonal affective disorder just yet, as there's plenty to be happy out. Just ask these ladies. Or any of the people hitting up one of these dozen new happy hours that'll have you forgetting summer is only a measly four months away.
Beaker & Gray
Wynwood
When: Monday-Friday, 5-7pm; Monday-Thursday, midnight-2am
It's all about the Lincolns at this long-awaited Wynwood spot with $5 Moscow Mules, daiquiris, margaritas, and house liquors; $5 craft beers and glasses of wine; and $5 small plates like the sandwichitos with plantain brioche, pork belly, and watermelon rind.
Area 31
Downtown
When: Fridays, 6-11pm
In yet another attempt to get Miamians to do ANYTHING early, Areas 31’s offering a “chase the clock” happy hour where craft cocktails are priced by the hour: $5 at 5pm, $6 at $6pm, and so forth until 11pm. All by the brand-spanking-new poolside bar with the Miami-required live DJ -- and of course the legendary view.
Uvaggio
Coral Gables
When: Monday-Friday, 5-7pm, Saturday, 6-7pm
Though we can’t promise Heath Porter will let you bring in a Big Mac and pair something nice with it, he will happily pour you a $6 glass of fine wine or a $4 craft beer, and tell you how to pair it with something much more delicious, like yogurt naan bread or roasted bacon.
Regent Cocktail Club
South Beach
When: Sunday-Thursday, midnight-2am
Not like you weren’t going to cap off that 10pm dinner with a fine, hand-crafted beverage from one of the best cocktail bars in Miami anyway. But starting January 18th, you can do it without equaling your dinner check, since drinks will only be $10 at Regent's new late-night happy hour.
La Feria del Mercado de San Miguel
Downtown
When: Monday-Thursday, 5-7pm
There was a time when drinking in Bayfront Park was reserved for guys who preferred the subtle pairing of Night Train and illicit substances. But no more! This storied Madrid market opened a pop-up in the park, where you can pair Spanish favorites with buy-one, get-one-free drinks four nights a week.
GK Bistronomie
Wynwood
When: Every day, 4:30-7:30pm
Check out Wynwood’s contribution to the Peruvian food onslaught and wash it down with half-priced beer and wine, or $5 craft cocktails like the Lima Redemption: Redemption rye, orange-infused pisco, fresh lime, allspice, pepper, dill, and spearmint.
Sliderz
North Miami
When: Monday-Friday, 4-7pm
The new mini-burger spot from the Burger & Beer Joint guys is pairing crazy-cheap sliders and small sandwiches with half-priced beer, wine, and Champagne. It’s conveniently next door to a gym so you can feel EXTRA good about yourself while you do it.
Boatyard
Ft. Lauderdale
When: Every day, 4-7pm
One of South Florida’s best boat-up restaurants has finally re-opened, with heavy input from the guys behind YOLO and Fork & Balls. Check out the improvements and sip on two-for-one drinks while you take in the sunset over the canal.
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Miami's 13 Best Waterfront Bars
Filling Station
Oakland Park
When: Tuesday-Saturday, 3-7pm
The Miami burger institution has moved, like so many long-time Miamians, to Broward and has a new $1 “cheapo taco” menu with chicken, fish or pork tacos, or $3 ahi tuna and steak tacos. Pair them with a craft beer for $4 each.
The Dutch
South Beach
When: Every night, 6:30-7:30pm
Don’t accuse the Dutch of overcharging for oysters, for this hour they’re a very reasonable $1.63. You can use that extra cash to enjoy $12 glasses of Veuve, and other champagne specials.
Apeiro
Midtown
When: Monday-Friday, 4-7pm
Miami’s best new spot to eat outside makes that outdoor dining extra inviting with a specially-priced happy hour menu full of lamb burger sliders, bacon-wrapped dates and other stuff that tastes good at 5pm. Almost as good as half-priced beers, wines, and house liquors, or $6 specialty cocktails.
Marion
Brickell
When: Monday-Saturday, 5:30-7:30pm
Brickell’s super-authentic French brasserie has $1 oysters and other cheaply-priced small plates, plus $5 glasses of wine, $4 beers of the day, and $7 specialty cocktails. And lucky for you it’s right next to the Metrorail station in case you have a few too...oh who are we kidding, nobody rides that thing anyway.
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1. Beaker & Gray
2637 N Miami Ave, Miami -
2. Area 31
270 Biscayne Blvd Way, Miami -
3. Uvaggio
70 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables -
4. Regent Cocktail Club
1690 Collins Ave, Miami Beach -
5. La Feria del Mercado de San Miguel
301 Biscayne Blvd, Miami -
6. GK bistronomie
218 NW 25th St, Miami -
7. Sliderz North Miami
1817 NE 123rd St, North Miami -
8. Boatyard
1555 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale -
9. The Filling Station
3200 N E 12 ave, Oakland Park -
10. The Dutch
2201 Collins Ave, Miami Beach -
11. Apeiro Kitchen & Bar
3252 NE 1st Ave #101, Miami -
12. Marion
1111 SW 1st Ave, Miami Financial District
Housed in a former factory, Beaker & Gray is all about high industrial ceilings, walls of exposed red brick, and an impressively sophisticated cocktail program. Here, "mixologist" isn't just a frilly synonym for bartender -- the Beaker & Gray staff has got cocktail-craft down to a science (literally). The "mixologists" are well-trained to prepare you an individual drink to your taste, whip something up from the house cocktail menu, or concoct a perfect classic Old Fashioned. To pair with your artisan beverage, the kitchen offers a killer menu of global-inspired small plates, like pumpkin gnocchi topped with pork rib or miso oxtail with sweet potato. And for those on a budget, there are plenty of dishes and drinks listed on the bar's extensive daily happy hour menu.
Michael Porter, a 20-year sommelier -- along with Top Chef alum Bret Pelaggi -- took his favorite bottles and created an entire menu of stuff to pair with them at this Coral Gables hot spot. Try the veal sweetbreads with gnocchi, beech mushrooms and gremolata with the J.L. Chave Mon Coeur 2010 Côtes du Rhône. Pair with any of their 20+ wines by the three or 6oz glass, or one of their 100+ by the bottle.
Regent Cocktail Club is a club, but not the kind you’re thinking, despite its South Beach locale. The Cocktail Club, inside the sophisticated Gale South Beach Hotel, is the kind of club you’d find in New York City circa 1940, with the sound of live jazz, the scent of cigars, the taste of Sazeracs and Sidecars, and a seat next to Frank Sinatra himself. It’s decorated like a retro speakeasy, which is reflected by the classic cocktail menu, each one anchored by the traditional recipes of the time. Maybe Frank Sinatra won’t be here, but everything else remains the same: during your evening at Regent, you can expect to be serenaded by live music as you sip your Old Fashioneds, stepping outside every so often for breath of fresh… cigar air on the patio (it’s the 21st century, nobody smokes inside anymore).
This historic Madrid food market is here in pop-up version through the end of January 2016. The market will feature Spanish classics like corn-fed ham, gin and tonics, squid-ink paella, montaditos, gazpacho, fruits, meats, fish and so much more. Better stop by before it closes, you won't regret it.
GK Bistronomie, Chef Rafael Perez’s dreamlike bistro in the heart of the Wynwood Arts District, piques the senses with the combination of its bright, open layout --walls are plastered with intricate mirrors and tables have aqua-tone settings -- and vibrant dishes whose elements are often plated asymmetrically and cacophonously, like true works of modern art. The menu reads like a wish list of Peruvian delicacies you can only hope to try during your next theoretical visit to South America, with a handful of ceviches (whose preparation you can watch at the ceviche bar), hot apps like anticuchos, fish chicharron, pork taquitos, and skirt steak churrasco. End your meal with an unexpected creme brulee with Madagascar vanilla beans, ginger marshmallow, Thai basil, and pickled blueberry.
You can have as many of Sliderz mini-burger's as your heart desires because, in mini-form you can really have as many as you want without feeling too guilty, right?
Boatyard taps into the pulse of Fort Lauderdale’s yachting community as a dockside seafood restaurant. The menu boasts fresh daily catches like salmon, mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna, black grouper, and local swordfish, which you’ll dress with citrus butter, shitake lemongrass, lemon herb vinaigrette, or saffron lemon nage. But, of course, you’ll be hungry as you await your gilled delight, so you’ll want to start your meal off with some “Shareables.” Opt for honey-butter-escorted Bimini bread, which is made with vanilla, sugar, and a coconut glaze, or the Brussels spouts with ginger, kimchee, and peanuts. Come for the food and stay for the impressive views of the Intracoastal.
The Filling Station, now closed, was once home to one of Miami's toughest eating challenges, the nine-patty 18 Wheeler. Nine onion rings were stacked between the patties in addition to 18 slices of cheese and two whole pickles. If you finished it in an hour, it was free! What a steal, right?
They claim to make things that make them happy, which means, you're going to most-likely eat things that make you happy. The chef is Andrew Carmellini, who is a pretty big deal in the NYC scene. Go taste his food, homemade hot sauce and speciality cocktails.
This restaurant serves a range of Mediterranean dishes, from kebabs to pasta. The lively bar area serves inventive cocktails like a poached fig margarita.
This breezy French brasserie feels wonderfully Parisian with an Art Deco bar and a charming cafe component. "Table snacks," cheeses and charcuterie boards are all great for sharing.