Miami’s drink scene splits into a few different moods depending on the night you’re chasing: a dim, formal room before dinner, a club that runs around the clock on weekends, or a day-to-night spot that starts at the pool and ends at the bar. If you’re mapping out the best places to drink in Miami, five venues cover most of that range: Zuma, Sexy Fish, STORY, E11EVEN and Strawberry Moon. Each sits in a different part of the city with its own hours, dress code and booking process, and this guide walks through what the venue pages say about each one and how Red Carpet VIP books the table or the entry.
Quick picks, by what you want from the night:
- A dim, formal start to the evening: Zuma, Downtown Miami
- A design-led room for dinner and a late drink: Sexy Fish, Brickell
- A large South Beach nightclub: STORY, Miami Beach
- A club that runs 24/7 on weekends: E11EVEN, Downtown Miami
- A pool-to-bar scene that runs from day into night: Strawberry Moon, Miami Beach
- Zuma Miami: A Japanese Izakaya Bar in Downtown
- Sexy Fish: The Aquarium Room in Brickell
- STORY Nightclub: South Beach After Dark
- E11EVEN: The 24/7 Weekend Club
- Strawberry Moon: Day-to-Night on Washington Avenue
- Dress Code and Booking
- Plan Your Night
Zuma Miami: A Japanese Izakaya Bar in Downtown
Zuma sits inside the Kimpton EPIC Hotel at 270 Biscayne Blvd Way, and its venue page lists the bar on its own hours, separate from the dining room: 6 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The room is described as dim-lit and fine dining, built around modern Japanese Izakaya cooking from the robata grill, which makes it a polished place to start a night with a cocktail before moving on. See Zuma’s full venue page for current hours and dress code, or ask Red Carpet VIP to set the table.
Sexy Fish: The Aquarium Room in Brickell
Sexy Fish is a seafood restaurant at 1001 S Miami Ave in Brickell, and its venue page describes a dining room that holds a 40-foot-long aquarium and a 30-foot-high waterfall. It opens at noon every day; Sunday through Wednesday it closes at midnight, and Thursday through Saturday it runs until late, which makes those nights the natural ones for a drink before or after dinner. Sexy Fish’s venue page has the current hours and reservation details, and Red Carpet VIP can book the table.
STORY Nightclub: South Beach After Dark
STORY is a 27,000-square-foot nightclub on the corner of Collins Court and 2nd Street in the center of Miami Beach, created by David Grutman and Groot Hospitality, the group that also runs LIV at Fontainebleau. It opens Thursday through Saturday, plays a mix of EDM and hip hop, and is strictly 21 and over. STORY’s full venue page has the dress code and night-by-night details, and Red Carpet VIP can arrange hosted entry and table reservations.
E11EVEN: The 24/7 Weekend Club
E11EVEN in Downtown Miami bills itself as the world’s only 24/7 ultraclub. Its venue page lists doors at 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, with the party running 24/7 on weekends, so it is the entry on this list built for the very late end of a night out. It plays Hip Hop, Top 40 and EDM, and it is strictly 21 and over with a valid ID. E11EVEN’s venue page covers the dress code and entry details, and Red Carpet VIP can arrange VIP tables and hosted entry.
Strawberry Moon: Day-to-Night on Washington Avenue
Not every drink in Miami happens after dark. Strawberry Moon, inside The Goodtime Hotel at 601 Washington Ave, is described as a contemporary Mediterranean restaurant, bar and day-to-night swim club, with a casual dress code. That makes it a practical stop earlier in the evening, before a later night at one of South Beach’s clubs. See the full Strawberry Moon page for hours and reservations, or ask Red Carpet VIP to set the table.
Dress Code and Booking: What to Know Before You Go
Every one of these rooms sets its own dress code, so check the venue page before you leave the hotel rather than after you’re in line. Here is what the venue pages currently say:
- STORY: proper attire required; no tank tops, sleeveless T-shirts, shorts, sandals, flip flops, beach attire, jerseys or athletic wear, and no hats. The venue can deny entry at the doorman’s discretion.
- E11EVEN: upscale, stylish nightlife attire; no beachwear, tank tops, shorts, baseball caps, flip-flops or sports jerseys.
- Zuma: no shorts, flip flops or sandals, baseball caps, or active wear.
- Sexy Fish: no dress shorts, casual slides, flip flops, beach shoes, crocs, or plastic or foam shoes.
- Strawberry Moon: casual dress.
STORY and E11EVEN are both 21 and over, and E11EVEN asks for a valid ID with no exceptions.
How Red Carpet VIP books it: an event representative scopes the night and the price point with you, you get an itinerary and contract by email, and payment runs through a secure payment link or bank wire. Cash is accepted, but the reservation isn’t guaranteed until it’s paid. Before the night, an RCVIP host sets a meeting time and walks your group in past the line to your table. The grand total, including service charges, is given before you arrive, and booking ahead is recommended but not required.
Plan More Places to Drink in Miami
Whether the plan is a Japanese Izakaya start at Zuma, a late drink at Sexy Fish, or a straight line into STORY or E11EVEN once the sun goes down, it helps to settle the route before the night starts. For a wider comparison of the city’s clubs, start with the guide to night spots in Miami. For dinner options, see the Miami restaurant guide, or get in touch with Red Carpet VIP to start planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the dress code at Miami’s best bars and lounges?
It varies by venue. Across this list the venue pages rule out shorts, flip flops and sandals, and STORY and E11EVEN also rule out tank tops, baseball caps and jerseys. Strawberry Moon lists casual dress. Check the specific venue page linked above, since the exact list differs room to room.
Is there a 24-hour club in Miami?
E11EVEN in Downtown Miami bills itself as the world’s only 24/7 ultraclub, and its venue page says the party runs 24/7 on weekends.
Do I need a reservation to get a table?
With Red Carpet VIP, booking ahead is recommended but not required. A booked night comes with an itinerary and contract by email and a host who meets your group and walks you in to the table.
What’s the difference between a lounge and a nightclub in Miami?
A room like Zuma or Sexy Fish is a restaurant first, a place to sit, order food and talk over a drink. STORY and E11EVEN are nightclubs: late hours, a DJ lineup and a 21-and-over door.
