E11even and Club Space Are Among the World's Best Nightclubs

Miami is home to a plethora of nightclubs, so it's not surprising that some of the world's best are also located in the 305. The International Nightlife Association recently released its annual list of the World's 100 Best Clubs, which includes two spots familiar to South Florida clubgoers. At No. 6 is the mammoth E11even, with its neighbor across the street, Club Space, coming in at No. 18.

The International Nightlife Association, which released the list, is a Barcelona-based nonprofit representing the interests of the nightlife industry and its partners. It's associated with the U.S.-based American Nightlife Association.

Other notable American venues on the list include D.C. concert hall meets nightclub Echostage at No. 5; New York City's massive Avant Gardner complex, which includes the Brooklyn Mirage, at No. 10; Omnia Nightclub, located inside Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, at No. 15; and Exchange LA at No. 67. Globally, there are familiar names like Brazil's Green Valley (No. 2), DC-10 in Ibiza (No. 8), Fabric in London (No. 26), and Berlin's Berghain (No. 51), which might be more famous for its strict door than its nightlife offerings.

The complete list of the World's 100 Best Clubs can be viewed at nightlifeinternational.org.

Both E11even and Club Space are located on NE 11th Street in what historically has been known as downtown's Park West district. It's the sole area in the city where venues can operate with a 24-hour liquor license, allowing for after-hours parties.

Still, despite their proximity, E11even and Club Space are pretty distinct in what they offer. E11even serves a deep-pocketed clientele that often wants to participate in the spectacle associated with nightlife — think tables close to the DJ booth, bottle parades, and a bevy of beautiful women. On any given night, the headliner could be a rapper or a big-name EDM producer. Meanwhile, while not Miami's cheapest nightlife option by any means, Club Space focuses much more on its music programming. There are tables, but the dancefloor is expansive and takes up most of the room. Club Space and its sister venues, the Ground and Floyd, will host a range of acts and sounds, be it tech-house, techno, dubstep, house music, or drum 'n' bass. You go to Space because of who is playing, not because you want to buy a table — although the option is there if you wish.

Overall, the International Nightlife Association's list focuses on nightclubs that take up considerable real estate. The megaclub, as it is often referred to, has been on a decline in Miami since its peak in the 2000s and early 2010s, as developers have gentrified formerly industrial areas of the city where megaclubs often sprouted, with Park West and Wynwood being the best examples of the phenomenon. Real estate prices and NIMBY neighbors also make it a considerable risk to open a nightclub in the city.

Nightlife trends, led by Gen Z, are also seeing patrons opting for more intimate spaces and lounges, especially after the pandemic, where people seem to want to reconnect with friends on a more personal level.