June 7th 2022 – We’ve added four extra spots to this South Beach guide. Even more reasons to be happy… (Have we missed any of your favorite places? Let us know by contacting us at hello@wineguidemiami.com)
South Beach happy hour can often mean one thing: A full afternoon of buy-one-get-one free on Ocean Drive’s giant, sugary cocktails. Think margaritas the size of your head – loud music playing. Fortunately, this isn’t the only offer available. Take a few steps back from the beach into more residential areas, and you’ll find bars and restaurants with late afternoon specials worth taking advantage of. You just need to know how to find them.
Santorini by Georgios
Santorini might have the best value happy hour close to the beach. From 3-7pm Monday to Thursday, and 4-5pm Friday-Sunday, $5 buys you a glass of wine, and $7 gets you a cocktail or a small plate. These Greek bites are excellent: Think spanakopita, giant beans, falafel & tahini. The spicy Ammos Mule and creamy Pina Colada are both highly recommended.
So there’s great food and drink options. How about the setting? This is one of the best parts: comfy poolside seating, just a stone’s throw from the beach. Even without the low prices, this would be an excellent place to enjoy an afternoon in the sun.
101 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach – Check the menu
Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante
So we’ve been to the restaurant named after a Greek island (Santorini). Now over to the Italian – Sardinia, which is located over on the west side of the South Beach at sunset harbor. The first thing you’ll notice when ordering here is the incredibly generous basket of bread arrives at the table. The focaccia is excellent.
Wine offers are good, too: You have four reds and whites to choose from (almost all Italian), or Veuve Cliquot Champagne for $10. The refreshing Vermentino (white) and fruity Montepulciano (red) are both good choices. Beers are $5 and cocktails $8.
From the bites, the small margherita pizza is highly reccommended.
Wine lovers interested in staying beyond happy hour will also be pleased to know that Sardinia offers a wine-paired tasting menu: $95++ with wines included.
Happy Hour runs 4-7pm Monday-Friday.
1801 Purdy Ave, Miami Beach. Here’s the menu.
Barceloneta
Barceloneta is another Sunset Harbour favorite. The trick here is to arrive early enough – close to 5pm – to snag a one of the cushioned outdoor seats, especially on Thursday and Friday. Wines, including the very good Cava, are $10 and pours are generous.
Food-wise, the Pincho de Tortilla is small but mighty. The battered tempura green beans, served with aioli, are delicious. And it’s worth venturing off the Happy Hour list for the tasty patatas bravas.
Happy Hour runs 5-7pm Monday to Friday.
(Conveniently, you can pop into Azul Spirits & Wine – one of our South Beach wine shop picks – for a bottle to take home once you’re done. It’s next door.)
1400 20th St, Miami Beach
Semilla
Semilla, down on Alton Road, is serious about happy hour food. If anywhere else in Miami offers truffle pasta for $12 at happy hour, we’d like to hear about it. Other options include the braised beef brisket shepherd pie and the roasted cauliflower. But if there’s one plate you shouldn’t miss, it’s the little potato and cheese croquetas – perhaps the greatest fried joy that $8 can buy.
From the wine list, the dry Provence rose is the best call. The cocktails, including the Moscow Mule and Mojito, are very good too.
Happy hour runs from 5-7.30pm.
1330 Alton Rd, Miami Beach. Here’s the menu.
The Standard
The Standard really needs no introduction: sunset views, good vibes. You know all about it. But did you know that they also have happy hour? From 4-6pm Monday-Thursday (read: winter sunsets), you can enjoy a frose with a view for $7, or beer for $5. Not bad.
40 Island Ave, Miami Beach – Here’s the menu
The Drunken Dragon
It’s difficult to imagine a better cocktail deal in Miami: The Drunken Dragon’s delicious, artistic drinks are half-off every day from 5-7pm. So are beers and wines.
Food-wise, you have plenty of choices. The gyozas are always popular, but don’t overlook the curry-salted DD fries. The truffle aioli dip is special. The stir-fried dok boki are tasty and very filling.
The Drunken Dragon also gets bonus points for offering an element of surprise. From the outside, it looks like a cross between a dive bar and a fast-food joint. Inside, it’s dim-lit and beautiful. This makes it a fun place to surprise visitors from out of town. It’s also, perhaps, a reason why The DD has become popular with celebrities: You have to know to go. And now you know. You know?
“Dragon hour” takes place 5-7pm daily.
1424 Alton Rd, Miami Beach
Monty’s Sunset
Monty’s is a sort of beach-shack style bar serving oysters and fried food. Let’s get that out the way: It’s not fancy. But it’s one of the few bars with views over the city, which means it’s one of the few with good sunset views. And from 5-8pm Monday to Friday, frozen cocktails and mojitos only set you back $6 and the ability to walk in a straight line. That’s why it’s one of the most popular South Beach happy hours.
Enjoy these from a plastic cup by the Monty’s pool from 5-8pm Monday to Friday (excluding holidays).
300 Alton Rd, Miami Beach
Water Lion Wine + Alchemy
The wine lover’s happy hour…
This isn’t the first time we’ve recommended Water Lion Wine + Alchemy, Miami Beach’s very own wine bar. Jacqueline previously wrote about its relaxed atmosphere and diverse range of thought-provoking bottles to try. Think modern minimalism, a concise but well-chosen wine list, all tucked inside the lobby of the Sagamore hotel.
Now we bring you news of an update: Happy Hour! From 4pm-6.30pm Monday-Friday you can enjoy wine starting at $7 per glass, and a range of bites such as Devilled Eggs ($6), Charcuterie ($12) and Vegan Mousse + Radish ($8).
We’ll drink (wine) to that.
The Sagamore, 1671 Collins Ave, Miami Beach. Here’s the menu.
Tanuki
Tanuki is Alton Road’s modern Asian restaurant, featuring fresh and tasty Chinese, Japanese, and South Asian dishes. It has a large, open indoor space as well as pavement dining space.
Happy hour is offered daily (except for certain holidays) from 4pm-7pm throughout the whole restaurant. It features a range of dishes priced from $5-12, including shishito peppers, crispy rice and pork ribs.
The light, fruity rosé Prosecco ($8) pairs well with the spicy Asian food, and the cocktails ($9) are delicious.
1080 Alton Rd, Miami Beach. Website here.
Sushi Garage
Sushi Garage, a bustling sushi spot on Sunset Harbour (and also Coconut Grove), calls its happy hour “the happiest happy hour”. It might be right. Its range of food options is wide: Sushi starts at $4 a piece, tacos of various forms are available, and it also has dumplings, noodles, and avocado rice. For vegetarians, the generous portion of avocado tempura is not to be missed.
It has a handful of wines – mostly well-known brands – are available from $7 (half price), but we suggest heading over to the happy hour cocktail list where $7 buys you something special. Half price Sake carafes are also on offer.
Sit up at the bar for the best atmosphere and view of the busy restaurant.
1784 West Ave, Miami Beach – More info on their website
Note: Prices and times are correct at time of writing. Please let us know if you spot any changes.
Sarah is a freelance wine educator, writer and events host, based in South Beach. She holds the WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits and is a current Master of Wine student.
