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Spritz Into Spring: The Ultimate Guide To Happy Hours In SoFlo

April 18, 2024

Happy Hour originated in the early 20th century in the U.S. Sailors in the Navy used the term to describe a period of entertainment, often involving boxing matches and other leisure activities. With time, this concept was evicted in after-work social gatherings, especially during the Prohibition era when people would meet in speakeasies to enjoy illicit drinks.

A lot of time has passed since then and Happy Hour has become a more elevated experience. Whether it's the chic martini bar frequented on Fridays, the sports bar offering pitchers of beer at bargain prices, or the waterfront dive bars erasing the day's woes, the choices are plentiful all over the U.S.

South Florida has evolved significantly over that time as well, from its reputation solely as a Spring Break destination for cheap shots among college students. Its burgeoning culinary and beverage landscape now garners widespread acclaim, attracting a diverse clientele.

These 10 happy hour locales serve as a testament to the city's ability to deliver unparalleled enjoyment and cater to a spectrum of tastes.

Amelia’s 1931
Raise a glass at Amelia's 1931 for "The Bee's Knees" Happy Hour extravaganza! Behind an unexpected door lies a fine dining culinary journey and cocktail experience curated by Chef Eileen Andrade, highlighting classic Latin flavors mixed with Asian influence and the art of craft cocktails. From Tuesday through Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., guests can enjoy this one of a kind experience along with irresistible offers including $7 Local Draft Beers, $8 Select Boutique Wines, and meticulously crafted well Spirit Cocktails for just $10. Also, Happy Hour offerings continue with Amelia's After Hours – every Friday and Saturday from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. inviting guests for a journey into the past. With fantastic throwback music and an exclusive late-night Happy Hour food and drink menu, it’s not to be missed. But that's not all – gaining access is a mystery unto itself, as a secret passcode is the key to entry. Stay in the loop by checking out Amelia's 1931 Instagram story after 3:00 p.m. on the Friday or Saturday you plan on attending: Follow: @amelias1931 and unveil the secrets of the night! Amelia’s 1931 is located at 13601 Southwest 26th Street, Miami, Florida 33175. Dinner is served Wednesday through Sunday, 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Special note regarding Amelia’s 1931 Dress code: No hats, flip flops or shorts. Smart casual please. Telephone: (305) 554-4949; www.amelias1931.com

Brasserie Laurel
Brasserie Laurel is a contemporary brasserie imbued with the spirit of a classic French cookery as well as Chef/Owner Michael Beltran’s extant culinary considerations and deft understanding of classic and contemporary techniques. Here, guests will discover an upscale take on a neighborhood French boîte, a place as welcoming for raw bar and a glorious glass of Wine or a sophisticated supper. Located downtown at the Miami Worldcenter, Brasserie Laurel is the perfect spot for Happy Hour, available Monday to Sunday from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Guests can enjoy a select menu of savory appetizers (Range $12 – $25) such as a Half-Dozen Oysters, Beef Tartine, French Onion Soup, Terrine Tea Sandwich, Crudités and a Cheese Plate, as well as Caviar with pan frit, chives and crème fraîche at market price. Also on offer, five signature cocktails with flavor profiles carefully calibrated to stand alone at Happy Hour or enjoyed with food for $10 each including the Martini, Old Fashioned, Gimlet, Daiquiri and Margarita; $10 Wines-by-the-glass, and $8 Beer. The complete Happy Hour menu can be viewed – HERE: https://brasserielaurel.com/menus/. Brasserie Laurel is located at 698 Northeast 1st Avenue, Suite#: G170, Miami, Florida 33132, located in the Miami Worldcenter at the base of Miami Worldcenter’s Caoba Residential Tower along the development’s 7th Street pedestrian promenade. Telephone: (305) 330-9048; www.brasserielaurel.com - Follow on Instagram: @LaurelMiami

Chug’s Diner
Located in the heart of Coconut Grove, Chug’s Diner is Chef/Restaurateur Michael Beltran’s take on an American diner with a Cuban spin, a tribute to both classic American cookery and his rich Cuban heritage. Unlike most diners, Chug’s features a full bar with a specially curated Cocktail list. Happy Hour is available Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to close and Friday – Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to close and features $9 House Cocktails, select $9 Wines-by-the-glass and $5 Monopolio Beers. Plus, with any food purchase between 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., diners can also enjoy $.99 Martinis. Chug’s Diner is located at 3444 Main Highway, Suite#: 21, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133. For more information, visit: www.chugsdiner.com - Telephone: (786) 353-2940. Follow on Instagram: @ChugsDiner

El Vecino
Owned/operated and created by Chef Michael Beltran, El Vecino has become a go-to spot for both cigar lovers and Cocktail connoisseurs. Its new Happy Hour, available daily from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., will undoubtedly appeal to both, plus sports-lovers, who have also adopted El Vecino as a sophisticated spot to enjoy drinks, a smoke and a game, shown on one of El Vecino’s big screen TVs. First the drink specials, ten of them in total – five Cocktails, three Wines and two Beers by the glass. Priced at $12 each, Signature Cocktails on offer include the Court Royale – Gin, Lillet, Apple Brandy and lemon; Tattletale – Scotch, honey, Angostura Bitters and orange; and Bermuda Sour – Blackstrap Rum, orange and egg white. Wines and Beers by-the-glass ($6 – $14) are also on offer. Cigar enthusiasts and neophytes alike will enjoy the Happy Hour menu’s cigar pairing recommendations, curated by El Vecino’s Cigar Program Director Nicolás Jiménez. Also available during Happy Hour, oysters on the half shell (half dozen and dozen) and a charcuterie board complements of El Vecino’s savory sister restaurant, Brasserie Laurel. El Vecino is located at 698 Northeast 1st Avenue, Suite#: G-172, Miami, Florida 33132, located at the base of Miami Worldcenter’s Caoba Residential Tower along the development’s 7th Street pedestrian promenade. For more information, visit: www.elvecinomiami.com and follow on Instagram @ElVecinoMiami.

Eva & The Oyster Bar
Eva, the latest concept by Ariete Hospitality Group (AHG), opened October 2023 at CocoWalk, just steps from AHG’s other Coconut Grove concepts. Eva offers a delicious taste of the Mediterranean through the unique culinary prism of Chef/Restaurateur Michael Beltran and Corporate Chef Ashley Moncada, as well as an exquisite Wine list and bar program. Monday to Friday from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Eva offers a top-notch Happy Hour featuring $10 Wines by-the-glass and 50% off select bottles of Wine, $6 Beers, and $12 select signature Cocktails including the Verikoko, Ambrosia, Golden Zest and Scintilla. Also available during Happy Hour, a select food menu ($8 – $22) offering several dips and salads, Fried Calamari, Charcuterie, Skewers and a Lamb Burger. The full Happy Hour menu can be viewed – HERE: www.evacoconutgrove.com.

Nestled within Eva’s space is The Oyster Bar which opened in September 2023 as an intimate experience, specializing in raw bar classics, delectable small plates, and thoughtfully curated libations to pair perfectly with the bounty of the sea. Guests can enjoy Happy Hour specials Monday to Friday from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., including $9 Well Spirits, $9 Wine by-the-glass, $6 Beers and Oysters for $1.50 each. Eva and The Oyster Bar are located at 3015 Grand Avenue, Suite#: 120, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133 at CocoWalk in the heart of Coconut Grove. For more information on Eva and The Oyster Bar, visit: www.evacoconutgrove.com - Follow on Instagram: @EvaCoconutGrove | @TheOysterBarMiami

Toro Toro
Toro Toro, Chef/Restaurateur Richard Sandoval’s Pan-Latin Steakhouse at the InterContinental Miami Hotel, features a stellar lineup of Cocktails and offers Happy Hour Tuesday to Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. During Happy Hour, guests can enjoy $5 Beers, $6 select Wines by the glass and $8 select Cocktails. Advance reservations are encouraged and can be made on OpenTable - HERE: www.torotoromiami.com. Toro Toro is located at 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami, Florida 33131 inside the InterContinental in Downtown Miami. Telephone (305) 372-4710; www.torotoromiami.com

The Gibson Room
Local hotspot The Gibson Room by Chef/Restaurateur Michael Beltran is a relaxed, neighborhood tavern with a robust live music schedule, vinyl night, elevated tavern fare and an upgraded Cocktail program. The ideal destination to vibe, dine and imbibe, the restaurant offers a top-notch Happy Hour daily from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. featuring $10 Wines-by-the-glass, $2 off Draft Beers, $10 Well Spirits, and $10 House Cocktails including the House Gibson, Pimms Cup, Cloak & Dagger, Espresso Martini, Dark & Hoppy, Buena Vista and Improved Beer Cocktail. To eat, guests can enjoy Grilled Oysters for $1.50 each and $8 snacks such as Tostones, Charcuterie and the Gibson Burger. The full Happy Hour menu can be viewed – HERE: www.thegibsonroommiami.com. The Gibson Room is located at 2224 Southwest 22nd Street, Miami, Florida 33145. For more information, visit: www.thegibsonroommiami.com - Telephone: (305) 570-4311. Follow on Instagram: @TheGibsonMiami

The Taurus
Located in one of Miami’s most definitive neighborhoods, The Taurus by Chef/Restaurateur Michael Beltran serves as one of Coconut Grove’s longest-standing locales; the perfect dining and drinking den for Happy Hour festivities as it has been serving South Floridians for nearly a century. Happy Hour is offered daily from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and features several specials including 2-for-1 House Liquors, $13 Boiler Makers and 2-for-1 Draft Beers, as well as a Taurus “Happy Meal” for $15 which includes a Scrap Burger with fries and a 12 oz. Monopolio Beer. The Happy Hour menu can be viewed – HERE: www.thetauruscoconutgrove.com. The Taurus is located at 3540 Main Highway, Suite#: C103, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133. Indoor and patio seating is available. For more information, visit: www.thetauruscoconutgrove.com - Telephone: (305) 529-6523. Follow on Instagram: @TheTaurusCoconutGrove

The ScapeGoat
Nestled in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood, The ScapeGoat is an intimate bar known for its classic cocktails, inventive contemporary libations, and carefully curated selection of Wine, Beer and Spirits. An Ariete Hospitality Group (AHG) concept, this edgy drinking den is the perfect destination for any occasion. Guests can enjoy Happy Hour Specials daily from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., and 1:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m. including $10 select rotating Cocktails. The ScapeGoat is located at 100 Collins Avenue, Suite#: CU4, Miami Beach, Florida 33139. Telephone: (786) 275-6488; www.scapegoatsobe.com - Follow on Instagram: @ScapeGoatMiami

The timeless tradition of Happy Hour is much more than just a time of discounted drinks. It is a moment to let go of the day's worries, connect with friends and colleagues, and relish life's simple pleasures. So, let's raise our glasses once more, not only to the delight of Happy Hour in South Florida but to the promise of countless more moments filled with shared laughter, clinking glasses, and a resounding "Cheers to Happiness!"

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