Miami is synonymous with nightlife. The legendary stretch of South Florida beach is renown as one of the longest established nightlife scenes in the country but it’s also one of the fastest-growing. A new breed of millennial partiers—fueled by the beat of Ultra Music Festival, the epicenter of electronic dance music held annually in Downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park—is transforming the historic tropical playground of the rich and famous into the go-to dance destination for those who prefer both classic and contemporary.
Nightlife in Miami can be quite fickle, with business closings and the newest hotspots opening regularly, but WALL Miami has been defying the odds hosting South Beach's longest running parties—Favela Beach. Since its opening, WALL has been a magnet for celebrity clientele and international DJs, and the go-to spot for EDM fans.
This DJ-driven mega-club features three full-service bars in a massive, domed main room playing a variety of hip-hop, house and rock music. Some of the world's top DJs spin here including David Guetta, Steve Angello and Tiësto. With A-list celebrity VIP regulars, LIV is considered one of the toughest velvet ropes in town.
Miami’s first 24-hour ultra-club presents an “immersive” experience that’s part-cabaret and part-night club featuring dancers, DJs and aerialists in Cirque-style performances and exotic acts. One of DJ Magazine’s Top 100 Clubs, E11EVEN also boasts a rooftop restaurant and lounge, Touché.
Things heat up at this Calle Ocho hotspot in Little Havana that once played host to Billie Holiday, Chet Baker and Count Basie. Newly restored to its former glory, the Cuban-style Latin and Jazz joint features live music, bar bites and cool cocktails and is a great spot to end the night.
Described as “an intimate, liquor-fueled love machine,” this dancehall for the discerning music enthusiast is a boutique entertainment and music emporium located in the heart of the Wynwood Art District.
Ocean Drive’s high-energy spot offers cabaret-style entertainment with live Latin music featuring the world-famous Mango dancers. Come for dinner and stay for the show, nightly from 8-11 pm.
Story has a bigger and bolder concept than other nightclubs on the beach, with an even greater emphasis on the electronic dance music underground. Saturday night parties are epic when up-and-coming DJs drop the beat alongside mainstream headliners that have included Skrillex, Steve Aoki and Calvin Harris.
This late-night rooftop party spot on the 50th floor atop the W Miami is a who’s-who of dance and drinks. The exclusive lookout point for before-dinner cocktails or late-night drinks plays host to a rotating roster of top DJs with a chic and sexy ambiance accented by the private outdoor pool.
This lively LGBT haunt on Miami Beach is well known for its “never a cover, always a groove” slogan. The unassuming exterior on Washington Avenue is home to seven bars on two levels, including the outdoor Bungalow Bar, where erotic male dancers bump, grind and gyrate and drag queens take the stage.
Located in the South Beach Art Deco Historic District, the Clevelander has a significant following for the place to go for an unforgettable, nonstop after-beach party. With multiple pool bars, Miami-inspired cocktails served day and night, and the home of ESPN studios, the Clevelander welcomes all to its oceanside playground.
Throwback to the days when the Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra and Elvis performed in this iconic lobby bar of the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. This opulent meeting place of the stars has seen the likes of Diddy, Michael Phelps, Kim Kardashian, Adam Sandler and even President Barack Obama grace its glittering halls.
This hip, retro downstairs lounge at the Gale South Beach Hotel is a cool, subterranean lounge with wood-paneled design, various knick-knacks and stacks of old records. A welcome contrast to glittering South Beach, the soundtrack here is a refreshing mash-up of 1980-90s classics.