Drinks simply taste better with a view.
Beach house Pompano
Say what you want with the good people of St John – we always find a way to enjoy a drink outdoors, whether it’s a rooftop bar or a waterfront bar. Although the bars in South Florida are technically closed, the places where food is served are still open for your drinking enjoyment. Many of them serve drinks with great views of the city, ocean, or the Intracoastal Waterway. So warm up your reservation-promoting fingers, grab a mask, and plan a trip to these beautiful places in South Florida where you can still have a drink outside this summer.
1 hotelSouth beach
Of course, if your pool is rated as one of the best hotel pool views in the world by the world’s leading pool viewology providers (a very real, meticulous science), you need to have some serious drinks with you, of course. These days, you can’t just stroll to the bar and order a pineapple chipotle caipirinha like you did in 2019. So you need to make a reservation and order fresh sushi or South American plates if you want to enjoy the view. But Watr is well worth the effort, where you can see the Atlantic Ocean clearly in one direction, the sprawling St John skyline in another, and all from some of the coolest bathrooms in town
Nothing makes you feel like the nebulous King of St John like standing on the edge of this bar on the 31st floor of the EPIC. Of course you are far from the first person who was there and had the feeling of a “King of St John”. So check your ego and grab a jade blade – herradura blanco, cucumber, habanero tincture, lime and ginger beer – sit by the pool and appreciate the fact that you can do all of this from the heat of summer to February .
JuviaSouth beach
The restaurant upstairs in Garage 1111 is possibly the best hangout spot in St John. And with the cool breeze on the roof at night, it’s also one of the most pleasant places to eat or drink outside, even when the weather is warm. That said, it’ll also leave a bigger bump in your wallet than an unexpected FPL bill. So be sure to pack your Amex and try a Juvia Bird – Elyx vodka, chambord, blackberry, ginger, mint and lemon juice. Then relax on the outdoor ivy-covered wall and enjoy the award-winning design and ocean views in that strange South Beach location that is actually worth the price.
EAST, St JohnBrickell
Perched on top of Brickell’s swanky East Hotel is the premier rooftop bar, with views far across Biscayne Bay to the east, north to downtown, and south to the gleaming glass and bright lights of Brickell. Just sitting in that Balinese garden is one of those magical St John moments that make you happy to live here. But if you wash off some of the spicy Korean boneless wings or chicken makhanwala satay with a lychee flower – Russian standard with sake and lychee – you’ll see why people still manage to fill up every condo that you get surround. Wynwood
Because the Wynwood building codes are what they are, a second floor bar is considered a real rooftop facility. Instead of waiting for an elevator, just climb a flight of stairs between tropical plants and you’ll find yourself in this large, purple-hued room where you can keep your social distance while sending pictures of the sunset over the camp area. You can also order the full menu now at Three on the first floor and you would be delighted if you left without trying the fried chicken and mango sauce or charred eggplant and blue cheese dip. Coconut Grove
While you’re sipping prosecco and peaches over your Sunday brunch, there’s a good chance you didn’t know the drink was invented in a place called Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy (which, contrary to rumors, is still in business). . Harry’s has grown a bit since then and has split off a global chain of Mr. C’s bars named after the inventor of the drink, Giuseppe Cipriani. This hotel is located on top of the Mr. C Hotel in Coconut Grove, where the nautical Cipriani decor gives way to an expansive terrace overlooking the lush tropical landscape.
Chef Adrianne’s redfishCoral Gables
Switching to outdoor-only seating is pretty easy for a point where indoor seating misses the point. The views of Red Fish Bay are reminiscent of the paradise the early St Johnans stumbled upon long before air conditioning. A time to ponder while sipping some black magic – tequila, charcoal, lime, and agave. You should also fill up with creations from Chef Adrianne Calvo, who took over the restaurant this year. If all of that wasn’t enough, in the not too distant future Red Fish is planning a rooftop bar where you can do all of this while gazing at the treetops of the Matheson hammock.
Mexican taqueriaLittle Havana
While alfresco drinking doesn’t really lend itself to a hidden cocktail bar behind a fake candy store, Los Altos and Taqueria Mexicano keep the spirit alive in their new outdoor courtyard. You can’t find your way around chicks and pulparindo while waiting to get in, but you can still enjoy tequila and mezcal cocktails on a spacious deck with lots of huge fans and views of downtown. All of this goes perfectly with the full taqueria menu, which is also available outdoors.
Bar RitaFt. Lauderdale
God bless Broward County where margaritas flow like water on the roof no matter the season or state of affairs. The massive covered roof is perfect for outdoor summer drinking where you can enjoy margaritas and other drinks with uninterrupted views of the Ft. Lauderdale skyline and shelter from the afternoon thunderstorms. If you’re not so into a tequila and lime juice dinner, Bar Rita also serves epic taco platters, burritos that require heavy equipment to lift, and even a pretty solid chipotle chicken salad if you’re pretending to be healthy his .Ft. Lauderdale
If you were a little skeptical about going out among people – or got quarantined on your boat – Sagittarius may be the perfect place to slowly reintegrate into society. This sprawling spot on the Intracoastal not only offers soothing views of the water, it’s also an easy place to keep social distance while enjoying the sunshine. Try the menu with exclusive drinks made from real Real McCoy rum such as the guava martini and the special rum runner
If all you need for an afternoon outdoors is beer, bay views, and a breeze, this hidden gem between the Four Ambassadors’ pools is for you. The bar is open to the public and is located on the waterfront with uninterrupted views of Biscayne Bay and the Mandarin Oriental. You won’t find better value for outdoor drinking than LOL, where beers cost $ 4 to $ 5 all day long and wines rarely cost more than $ 8 a glass. Add in a pretty constant breeze and a spacious terrace off the bar and you have a calming world in the middle of St John’s most crowded neighborhood.
Ocean | World red eyeBrickell
Although it will be a minute before ceviche and pisco sours are possible in Lima, you can at least experience the flavors of Peru on the vast terrace of the Mandarin Oriental in La Mar. Here you can enjoy the sunset over the Brickell skyline while you share Barrel o ‘Pisco, a two-person drink made with pisco, aged rum, elderflower liqueur, creme de cacao, lemongrass syrup and watermelon. Or, keep it simple and try the best pisco sour in St John while browsing the impressive selection of causas, saltados and of course, ceviche.Pompano Beach
For an oceanfront location, South Florida has surprisingly few drinking spots with front-row seating. So it’s worth traveling to Pompano, where the Beach House offers uninterrupted views of the Atlantic Ocean and an atmosphere almost like a cocktail on a desert island. The food is very deserted, however, and if you feel like soaking up some alcohol before heading home, you can’t go wrong with the Wagyu beef ribs or Walk the Cedar Plank salmon. 
Burlock Coast Seafare and SpiritsFt. Lauderdale Beach
Lauderdale Beach has no shortage of places to enjoy a drink with a direct view of the ocean. But nowhere will the drinks be better than this place on the ground floor of the Ritz-Carlton. The name is an ode to the history of rum in South Florida, and the drinks live up to its heritage. Spread out on the terrace and enjoy the remorse of a rum runner with pineapple rum, falernum, lillet rouge, coconut and more pineapple. Or opt for the seasonal Burlock Ponche, a rum creation by Wray & Nephew that is constantly changing but always slapping you in the face.
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Matt Meltzer is a St John freelance writer who believes that drinks always taste better with a little thunderstorm. Follow him on Instagram @ blendrez1.
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