The Magic City welcomed Magie Wine Garden in 2024 with open arms, one of the most laid-back yet beautiful spots in town. We also got ViceVersa, a tiny yet extremely sexy bar that makes one of the best negronis in the city, and we even were blessed with the grand return of South Beach's beloved Foxhole.
Plus, inventive cocktails reigned supreme this year with the opening of Panamericano Bar, a new Brickell spot that whips up intricate craft cocktails inspired by travels throughout the Americas.
Essentially, it has been a wonderful year for Miami's evolving bar scene. As we keep our spirits bright (da-dun-ching) as we head into 2025, New Times has you covered on the seven best new Miami bars of 2024.
Brother's Keeper on Alton Road in Miami Beach is one of the best new bars of 2024.
Brother's Keeper photo
Brother's Keeper
1710 Alton Rd., Miami Beach786-882-3528
brotherskeeperbar.comThe hospitality veterans behind Lost Boy Dry Goods, the rugged, old-school bar in downtown Miami that serves fire cocktails (they're also the team behind Tropezón and Fox's Lounge) and QP Tapas, a beloved tapas pop-up, opened Miami Beach's much-needed neighborhood bar this year. The retro-inspired spot is cool and inventive, with a fire food menu that features options like the oysters Rockefeller with bacon, artichokes, and caramelized onion, as well as "Crab Rangoonies" with a guava duck sauce. The cocktails are just as inventive, with concoctions like "the Arrival" made with Corozon Silver tequila, Aperol, Meletti amaro, lemon, and tajin, and the "Millionaire Swizzle" made with Bacardi Ocho rum, apricot, lime, Sloe gin, and raspberry. (We love a retro cocktail bar that also serves excellent bar food.)
The Canvas Bar
1600 NE First Ave., Miami305-800-8454
thecanvasbar.miamiThe first proper, late-night cocktail bar in Edgewater has finally arrived, and it's a dream come true for any cocktail connoisseur who lives near Morningside, Edgewater, or Omni in Miami. The long overdue neighborhood bar opened this past summer with elevated comfort foods, handcrafted cocktails, craft beers, and even global wines with retro entertainment, including vintage arcade games, billiards, and foosball. Therefore, this spot had all the fixings to become a local favorite — and it's become a hit for game day. It also doubles as a sports bar and a tropical speakeasy. We're not kidding.
Foxhole
1218 14th Ct., Miami Beachfoxholebar.comFoxhole has just made its grand return in Miami, and this time it features a complete renovation of the original Foxhole that results in a more elevated experience filled with Asian influence. Here, expect vinyl DJs playing feel-good tunes from the '80s and Disco eras, as well as a viewing bar for sporting events in the evenings that shifts into a listening bar at night with highly curated international DJs. Plus, the newly revamped bar has an elaborate new cocktail menu with signature "Foxtails" like the "Spring Affair," the "Disco," and the "Changing Lanes." Foxhole hopes to bring back the fun in Miami's bar scene, and its new inviting space already seems to be doing just that.
Highlights of the food menu include Wagyu tacos topped with sesame avocado purée, caviar cornets filled with crème fraîche and Ossetra caviar, and patatas bravas elevated with confit potatoes and a duo of aiolis.
Kissaki photo
Kiss
500 S. Pointe Dr., Miami Beachinstagram.com/kissmiamibeachThe team behind South Beach omakase spot Kissaki has just opened Kiss, and it's already been a much-welcomed addition to the South of Fifth neighborhood. The beverage program is led by Joji Watanabe, cofounder of the New York cocktail bar Rokc, known for its creative presentations and avant-garde techniques. At Kiss, the drinks lean toward the experimental, with offerings like the "Smoky Piña Colada," made with milk-washed coconut milk and mezcal, and the "Cucumber in the Pepper," a spicy margarita served in a hollowed red bell pepper. For a nostalgic twist, there's "Coke Without Coke," a housemade cola syrup blended with rum and more than ten other ingredients. "We wanted to create something unique for Miami," says Watanabe, whose influence extends to every element of the bar program. "Each cocktail tells a story, from its ingredients to its presentation."
Magie Wine Garden
8281 NE Second Ave., Miami305-982-7881
instagram.com/magiemiamiIn a town filled with club-restaurants and fancy out-of-town imports, a low-key, no-fuss, high-quality wine and snack bar was a welcome addition to Miami's dining scene. Located in Little River, Magie opened over the summer as a counter-service wine and snack bar where guests pair bottles of wine or craft beer with no-fuss snacks in a lovely, dimly lit setting. The snacks range from tinned fish and caviar to an array of charcuterie choices, so guests can vibe as if they were having a wine night at home. It's the perfect spot to end the night after a date night dinner, and it's even the perfect spot to catch up with an old friend. Founded by Caroline Strauss, a veteran of the Miami restaurant scene, she wanted to create "a pop-up space for the community to hang and do their thing," as she so perfectly describes Magie. And, boy, did she accomplish this.
Panamericano Bar
900 S. Miami Ave., Ste. 260, Miami305-403-7304
panamericanobar.comPanamericano, Brickell's newest craft cocktail bar, operates more like a quiet temple of mixology than your standard speakeasy. Located on the second floor of Mary Brickell Village, its sleek, modern space makes cocktails that are as carefully crafted as they are imagined. The bar offers a unique blend of Latin American-inspired drinks with a majorly theatrical presentation. "It's an homage to what the Americas have to offer," says owner Andrei Stern. "Panamericano celebrates the spirit of our own continent — quite literally." Drinks range from the "Taco Martini," a martini subtly infused with taco flavors and garnished with a miniature taco, and "From Argentina With Love," a highball inspired by Argentina's beloved poached pear dessert and Malbec. These inventive combinations go beyond clever names. They're made with methods like sous vide, oil washing, and milk clarification to give each drink a distinct texture and taste. And that's not all — Panamericano's menu also includes "ceremonies," immersive cocktails that are inspired by Latin American rituals that extend beyond just flavor. This new bar is truly unique.
ViceVersa opened in June of 2024 with neo-Neapolitan pizzas made of daily stretched mozzarella and local flours that undergo a 24-to-48-hour cold fermentation process.
Photo by Cleveland Jennings
ViceVersa
398 NE Fifth St., Miamiviceversamia.comHelmed by acclaimed Miami bartender Valentino Longo, this new Italian aperitivo bar in downtown Miami opened over the summer with authentic Italian cocktails and a selection of pizzas that even nonna would approve of. Here, you'll find Italian influences in every detail, including its menu that is full of negroni options, including the "ViceVersa Negroni" made with ViceVersa Mi-To (the house dolce amaro blend and Bombay Sapphire), as well as the "Negroni Sbagliato" made with ViceVersa Mi-To, Franciacorta (an Italian sparkling wine). The menu also has three other sections dedicated to other spirits and cocktails. But the real star of the show might be the neo-Neapolitan pizza made with daily stretched mozzarella and local flours that undergo a 24-to-48-hour cold fermentation. Unlike classic Neapolitan pizzas, this style of pizza adheres to rules that aren't as strict as the Neapolitan rules. ViceVersa is how you aperitivo like an Italian.
