Where To Get That Much Deserved After-Work Drink
It’s 5 p.m. on a weekday and you need a drink. Honestly, most weekdays I need a drink before noon, but that’s another story. Fortunately for those of us in Miami, there’s really no shortage of where you can go for a half-priced cocktail once you clock out.
American Social
In Miami, any restaurant on the water makes for a good happy hour spot (called “Social Hour” at here). Just don’t get too drunk and try to hop on someone’s boat. Or do. I’m not here to judge.
Happy hour deals: $10 specialty cocktails, $6 premium liquors, $5 call liquors, $4 select draft beers, house wines, house liquors and the house margarita. From 4 to 8 p.m. Monday – Friday and 3 – 7 p.m. on Saturdays.
What to drink: The house margarita. At only $4, it’s a no brainer.
What to eat: Sadly, there are no food deals during happy hour, but the soft baked pretzels, spinach and artichoke dip, and chicken wings are great apps to share.
690 SW 1st Ct., Brickell
305.223.7004
americansocialbar.com
Barsecco
Barsecco could quite possibly have the best happy hour in Brickell. Not only do they offer it seven days a week, but also the amount of food and drinks included is incredible.
Happy hour deals: Craft cocktails, nine different types of martinis, champagne cocktails, beer and wine for just $6, as well as five different types of pizzas and other tapas for $7 from 3 to 7 p.m. daily.
What to drink: The spicy cucumber cilantro margarita. It’s refreshing with just a little bit of heat and the cilantro adds a lot of flavor. The lychee martini was also done just right – not too strong and not too sweet.
What to eat: The prosciutto di parma pizza, made with mozzarella, prosciutto and baby arugula. The pizzas are pretty small, so you could definitely eat one by yourself. The cheese tequenos come with two different types of sauce; a “secret sauce” and a cilantro crème fraîche. The cilantro one is better in my opinion. And the truffle parmesan fries are to die for.
1421 S. Miami Ave., Brickell
305.577.9809
barsecco.com
Buenos Aires Bistro
I love restaurants that have a lounge area for happy hour. On the corner of Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Aragon Avenue, Buenos Aires Bistro has several tables with couches and oversized chairs, that are perfect for sitting back and sipping on a cocktail.
Happy hour deals: Half off all drinks and discounted bar bites from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday – Friday.
What to drink: The Spicy Mamacita or the hand-shaken daiquiri. My go-to drink is a spicy margarita, so once I saw the Spicy Mamacita on the cocktail menu, I knew what I was going to get. The hand-shaken daiquiri is a simple, but excellent drink and far better than a frozen daiquiri.
What to eat: Prosciutto bruschetta and empanadas. This was truly the best bruschetta I’ve ever had. Why all restaurants don’t serve it with a pile of prosciutto on top is beyond me. They have a lot of options for empanadas, but the ham and cheese was my favorite.
180 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables
786.409.5121
buenosairesbistro.us
Bulla Gastrobar
In my opinion, Bulla is easily one of the best, if not THE best happy hour spot in Miami. They have three locations in Miami: Coral Gables, Doral and The Falls, as well as in Winter Park, Tampa, Atlanta and Charlotte.
Happy hour deals: Half off wines, $7 house specialty cocktails and martinis, $6 house liquors and sangria (or $24 for a pitcher), $3 off bottled beers and drafts. Every day from 5 to 7 p.m.
What to drink: One of the reasons I first fell in love with this restaurant back in 2018 was because of their sangria de cerveza (beer sangria). Instead of wine, it’s made with Mahou beer, Elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, pear puree and topped with oranges and mint. After one of these, switch over to the Moscow Mule. Even a bartender at another restaurant said that Bulla has the best Moscow Mules. Their secret ingredient is cardamom and currant-infused syrup and a piece of candied ginger.
What to eat: You may have noticed that food isn’t included in their happy hour deals. But their tapas are so good that I get them anyway. Some of my favorites are the croquetas, tuna tartar, tortilla Española and huevos Bulla, to name a few.
2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables 786.810.6215
5335 NW 87th Ave. #102, Doral 305.260.6543
8870 SW 136th St. #RR01, The Falls 786.988.5231
bullagastrobar.com
Copper 29
Just down the street from Calle 23 (and under the same ownership) is Copper 29. If you’re looking for a party in Coral Gables – whether for happy hour, late night or brunch – Copper 29 is your best bet.
Happy hour deals: $7 – $8 cocktails, $5 wines, $4 beers, half off well drinks and discounted bites on weekdays.
What to drink: While I’m more of a dirty martini kind of girl, the passion martini here is very good, made with vodka, passionfruit puree, simple syrup and lime. You can also never go wrong with a classic Moscow Mule.
What to eat: The pork sliders and the BBQ chicken flatbread. Both are great snacks for the late afternoon; they’ll hold you over until dinner, but won’t fill you up.
206 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables
786.580.4689
copper29bar.com
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
Fleming’s is the place to go if you’re looking for a bougie, upscale happy hour rather than a cheap drink.
Happy hour deals: Slightly discounted drinks from 5 to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
What to drink: The Blueberry Lemon Drop – vodka, fresh blueberries and candied lemon – and The Ducky – Sauvignon Blanc over ice with lime juice. Both are $9.
What to eat: The sweet chili calamari – it’s tangy and delicious. Tossed in a sweet chili sauce, it’s so much better than traditional calamari. The burrata with prosciutto is of course phenomenal; who doesn’t love meat and cheese?
600 Brickell Ave. Suite 150, Brickell 786.915.8790
2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Suite 100, Coral Gables 305.569.7995
flemingssteakhouse.com
La Taberna Giralda
Although La Taberna Giralda doesn’t draw a huge happy hour crowd, the food is excellent. Appropriately called Tappy Hour, they offer discounts on drinks and tapas.
Happy hour deals: $6 bar bites, $4 draft beers and $2 off house wines from 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
What to drink: While I paired my food with a glass of red, you can’t go wrong with white wine or beer.
What to eat: Tortilla Española is one of my favorite dishes at Spanish restaurants and La Taberna Giralda’s is excellent and only $6 during happy hour. What really surprised me was the Garbanzos Fritos: Spanish sausage with Serrano ham and chic peas. Everything was just so flavorful and I ate every last sausage link.
254 Giralda Ave., Coral Gables
786.362.5677
giralda254.com
Mamey Miami
Out of all the happy hours I’ve been to in Coral Gables, Mamey is my favorite. Mamey opened in August 2020 inside of the THēsis Hotel. Their happy hour doesn’t take place in the restaurant, but on a separate third floor rooftop courtyard. With an “island-minded” menu, the vibe is nothing short of a tropical paradise.
Happy hour deals: $10 cocktails, $7 wines and spirits, $6 bites and $5 beers from 3 to 6 p.m. daily.
What to drink: Yes, their cocktails are pretty pricey for a happy hour menu, but I cannot stress enough how good they are. The jerk margarita is my absolute favorite. Made with tequila, mezcal, jerk-spiced agave, and watermelon, strawberry and lime juices, it’s both fruity and spicy. The holy lychee was also good; if you’re a lychee martini fan, you’ll definitely like this drink.
What to eat: Everything. No joke – all the bites are $6, so why not? The white truffle and brie grilled cheese is the best and if you’re party is larger than two people, you’ll want at least two orders. The ghee roasted plantains are also extraordinary, sitting in a jerk-spiced crema and topped with pickled onions and herbs. Every menu item here is bursting with flavor.
1350 S. Dixie Hw., Coral Gables
305.266.2639
mameymiami.com
Monty’s Raw Bar
When it comes to a fun happy hour spot on the water with good food and drinks, Monty’s can’t be beat. This tiki-themed restaurant has good, yet strong drinks and live music during happy hour (although this is temporarily suspended thanks to Covid).
Happy hour deals: $6 painkillers, mojitos, frozen drinks and select wines. $5 well drinks and premium and craft beers. $4 imported beers. $3 domestic draft beer. $1 oysters and shrimp. Monday – Friday, 4 to 7 p.m.
What to drink: The painkiller is a must. You get to choose how many shots of rum they put in, also known as a PK1, PK2 or PK3. Just a fair warning that PK3s are dangerous because you can’t even taste the rum. Their frozen drinks, like the Miami Vice and piña colada, are also delicious and fitting for the tropical vibe.
What to eat: Though they have outstanding deals on the raw bar during happy hour, I’ve never actually had it. I always go for the brick of curly fries and nachos. Worth paying full price.
2550 S. Bayshore Dr., Coconut Grove
305.856.3992
montysrawbar.com
Sawa Restaurant and Lounge
One of the best parts about going here for happy hour is that the waiter actually checks in on you before happy hour ends so that you can get in one last round of drinks, instead of ignoring you until the menu is back to full price like a lot of places in Miami.
Happy hour deals: $8.88 mules, $7.77 craft cocktails, $5.55 wines, bellinis and well drinks, $4.44 beer and sake. For food, there are four different categories with different prices: Bronze is $5.55, silver is $7.77, gold is $9.99 and platinum is $11.11. If you’re sitting at the bar, happy hour is from 4 to 8 p.m. daily; if you’re at a table, it’s from 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
What to drink: You can never go wrong with a Moscow mule, and here they have four different types made with vodka, tequila, bourbon or gin.
What to eat: Being a Mediterranean/Japanese fusion restaurant, there are some menu items that are a must, like the hummus and the lamb lollipops. Homemade hummus is undeniably better than store-bought and it comes with warm pita bread for dipping. If you like lamb, you’ll love the lamb lollipops, which have a jalapeño mint demi glaze on the side. Their sushi rolls are also outstanding, like the Antarctica and the spicy tuna sushi sandwich. The sushi sandwich is exactly as it sounds: Spicy tuna, scallions, crispy onion and tempura flakes are put between two “slices” of sticky rice, looking like small, triangular finger sandwiches.
360 San Lorenzo Ave. #1500, Coral Gables (Shops at Merrick Park)
305.447.6555
sawarestaurant.com
The Wharf
Sadly, their Riverside Happy Hour is only on Fridays, but that’s okay because it’s probably the best day of the week to go there. Right on the Miami River with seven different bars and five food trucks, there’s no better place to unwind from your 9 – 5.
Happy hour deals: $3 wines by the glass, $1 Wharf lager from 4 to 7 p.m. on Fridays. They also have game nights every Thursday with their “Beat the Clock” happy hour. Starting at 4 p.m., mules, mojitos and margaritas are just $4 and increase by $1 every hour until 7 p.m.
What to drink: Well, there’s not a ton of options as far as happy hour drinks go, so pick your poison: Mojito, margarita or mule on Thursdays and wine or beer on Fridays.
What to eat: There are tons of food options here from tacos to pizza to doughnuts. Food isn’t discounted during happy hour, but you’re definitely going to want tacos after a few Wharf lagers.
114 SW North River Dr.
305.906.4000
wharfmiami.com
Yard House
With widescreen TVs in every corner and dozens of beer on tap, Yard House is about as sports bar as it gets. I love their late night happy hour, which is offered from 10 p.m. to close from Sunday through Wednesday.
Happy hour deals: $4 off half yards (beer), $3 off 9 oz. wine, $2 off all draft beer, wine, spirits and cocktails, select half-priced appetizers and pizzas from 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays at the Coral Gables location, from 3 to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays at the Miami Beach location, and from 10 p.m. to close at both.
What to drink: The pomegranate margarita is as good as it looks, made with tequila, pomegranate, lime juice, citrus agave and a sugar rim. They also have just about every beer imaginable.
What to eat: While happy hour is usually about the drinks, I come for the food. They have over 10 half-priced appetizers to choose from and if I could, I would order them all. But since I can’t, I always go for the poke nachos. Instead of the usual cheese, meat and guac, these are topped with marinated tuna, wontons, avocado, serrano peppers, green onions, cilantro, sesame seeds, sweet soy ginger sauce, white truffle sauce and sriracha aioli.
320 San Lorenzo Ave. #1320 (Shops at Merrick Park), Coral Gables 305.447.9273
1681 Lenox Ave., Miami Beach 305.535.5660
yardhouse.com
Coffee and Countries 