The 5 Best Upscale Bars In South Beach

Like its nightclubs, restaurants and Art Deco hotels, South Beach’s best upscale bars are an embarrassment of riches. But that’s what happens when your address is synonymous worldwide with partying and playing into the wee hours.
When you’re craving a hand-crafted martini in a SoBe speakeasy, how do you know where to go? Rest easy. You’ve come to the right place.
Check out these drink dens, considered among the best upscale bars in South Beach:

Martini Bar: Built in 1941, the Raleigh Hotel is an Art Deco landmark, and in all that time, the intimate Martini Bar has lost none of its allure. A curved mahogany bar. Eight stools. A handful of tables. When you need a break from the hurly-burly of South Beach, make a beeline here for a Bee’s Knees.
Make it a date: The Martini Bar staff holds a cocktail shake-off from 6 to 8 p.m. on the first Friday of every month. Attendees enjoy complimentary cocktail tasters and $10 cocktails.
Order this: Bartenders mix the When the Smoke Cleared cocktail with Vida Mezcal, pineapple juice, Aperol, ginger syrup and lime juice.
Martini Bar, The Raleigh, 1775 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-534-6300

Dragon Lounge: The mezzanine lounge of Katsuya, the sleek South Beach sushi joint inside the SLS Hotel, is notable not only for its expertly crafted cocktails but also its support of Miami-based artists, who regularly take a brush to the lounge’s walls.
Make it a date: Celebrity chefs and artists step into the spotlight on Katsuya’s Arts and Culture Nights.
Order this: SLS designer Philippe Starck inspired the Jasmine Margarita, which stars Don Julio Silver Tequila and pomegranate.
Katsuya, SLS South Beach, 1701 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-455-2995

The Bar & Courtyard: Sit at the mother-of-pearl bar or grab a seat in the dramatic courtyard of this modern-looking South Beach hotel.
Make it a date: The Setai’s Sunday jazz brunch features limitless Champagne and Bloody Marys.
Order this: Mixologist Philip Khandehrish’s Chili Passion Martini is an unforgettable blend of chili-infused Russian standard vodka, passion fruit rum, passion fruit pulp, ginger syrup and chili flakes.
The Bar & Courtyard, The Setai, 2001 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-520-6000

Rose Bar: The embodiment of glamour and sophistication, the Delano’s Rose Bar sits just off the grand lobby of this Miami Beach landmark. People-watching from this perch has been called “the quintessential South Beach experience.”
Make it a date: Specials on drinks and bar bites are available during Cocktail Hour, held from 4 to 7 p.m. weekdays.
Order this: Made with tequila, Grand Marnier, green chartreuse liqueur and lime juice, the 17th Street cocktail is the Rose Bar’s take on a margarita.
Rose Bar, Delano, 1685 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-674-5752

Mondrian Bar: Formerly known as the Sunset Lounge, this indoor/outdoor space at the Mondrian is known for its sublime views of, you guessed it, sunsets.
Make it a date: Feeling stressed? Stretch during one of the Mondrian’s outdoor yoga classes, then sip something sublime afterwards.
Order this: The formula for Grecian Summer includes Greek liqueur, a cucumber-mint reduction, tonic water and Prosecco.
Mondrian Bar, Mondrian, 1100 West Ave., Miami Beach, 305-514-1941