Guest Post by Jayson Goetz

It isn’t hard to have a good time in Miami. Want to know some hot spots to check out and nightlife action you can partake in? This is your guide to top clubs, live music, plus a pub crawl or two. Put on your party hat (or dress) and get ready to have some fun in the Miami sun.

Miami Nightlife Hot Spots

For those visiting the area for the first time there are a few main areas where the action is located. These are the places the locals hang out at and are known to not disappoint when it comes to a bit of raucous, sometimes naughty, after-hours entertainment. Be sure to check out:

South Beach – say SoBo like you mean it and you’re in. This is the posh strip of beach that is known to high-end partiers around the world. If you have an expensive dress that needs a night out and want to see and be seen with the stars, it’s your nightlife jewel. If female, make sure to wear high heels, or some clubs won’t let you in.

Popular spots to eat, drink and dance include: Purdy Lounge, Mango’s Tropical Cafe, Rec Room, FDR, Nikki Beach, Basement, VIP South Beach Inc.and LIV.

Wynwood Art District – the place to get your art on or dance the night away. Called “Miami’s Largest Block Party” the second Saturday of every month the neighborhood hosts Art Walk. Thousands of locals and visitors take to the streets visiting art galleries, clubs and breweries while checking out the largest collection of street art in the country.

The neighborhood is home to Electric Pickle – named “one of the best dance clubs in America” by Rolling Stone. Take a virtual Art Walk tour and see many of the spectacular murals that are on display here: Wynwood Art Walk Tour.

Coconut Grove – quaint, chic with a bohemian vibe and sailboats in the Bay. Do you enjoy hookah? Want to try it? If so, the Oasis Lounge and Hookah Bar in the center of town is waiting just for you.

A few other spots to get into the groove at Coconut Grove are: Fat Tuesday, Cabana One, Sandbar Sports Grill, Barracuda Taphouse & Grill, Tavern in the Grove and the legendary Taurus Beer & Whiskey House.

Miami Live Music Scene

Listening to live music is one of the best things to do in Miami. The city is one of the entertainment capitals of the world and top performers of all music genres perform here. Hip hop, jazz, reggae, house, techno, glitch, Italo, nu-disco, EDM, salsa and DJ’s spinning the night away can all be found.

Is dancing to electronic music in an old warehouse your thing? Try out the club Trade. What about live performances by underground local bands? Then head downtown to Grand Central. A few more popular live music venues are: Oceans Ten in South Beach, Bardot in midtown and Bougainvillea’s Old Florida Tavern (aka “Bougies”) located in South Miami.

Every year the city plays host to three major music events. Learn about the Winter Music Conference, the Ultra Music Festival and Miami Music Week by clicking here: WMCINFO.com.

Want to visit more than one nightclub yet skip the cab fare? Metromover is a free public transit system that can transport you around downtown and to the Omni and Brickell districts. Weekends it runs until midnight.

Another option in Miami is taking to the seas for a wild party. You can go out and engage in an exciting Miami booze cruise with Miami Turn Up Entertainment.

Pub crawls in Downtown Miami

Viewing Miami city streets from the sky it looks like a lanky starfish with four arms. To get your pub crawl party on you will want to have a basic idea of where you are going and how to get there. Best to take these notes before the evening adventure begins but if you get lost, rest assured there is a bar on most blocks for you to grab that next pint of beer in.

A few notable spots to start out at are: Fado Irish Pub, Blackbird Ordinary, El Tucan and MO Bar + Lounge. Pick one, have a drink then wander off and see what you can find. Or hop on the Metromover to the Brickell District and see where you end up. A little spontaneity can be the best way to have an authentic nightlife experience.

What about a Little Havana for your evening? If you want to impress the locals, say it in Spanish “La Pequeña Habana”. The popular club Ball & Chain is located in this neighborhood. It has live Jazz music starting at 6 p.m., Thursday through Saturday. Saturday nights at 9 p.m. the wild Cuban fiesta La Pachanga starts and salsa dancers do their thing.

If you visit Miami in October during carnival, Little Havana is where the world-renown Calle Ocho Festival takes place. If you love Pan American culture as much as a frothy glass of stout, you won’t want to miss it. More than one million visitors attend and there are 30 stages of live entertainment.

Want to be at the beach bar hopping or a more swanky part of town plus have someone do the navigating for you? Pub Crawl Miami is a company that specializes in just that. To view their ‘Crawl Calendar’ click here: Pub Crawl Miami.

They also have an article on “Hangover Cures That Really Work (and the Ones That Don’t). You may want to read that too.

Don’t forget to look up at some point during the night to get a glimpse of the historic Freedom Tower – named for its role in helping Cuban refugees who were escaping Castro’s communist regime settle in the city. Set in the middle of downtown, it is 17 stories high and bathed in colored light at night. Use it as your nightlife in Miami adventure compass.

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