Twist ★ 4.6
$$South Beach{'monday': '13:00-05:00', 'tuesday': '13:00-05:00', 'wednesday': '13:00-05:00', 'thursday': '13:00-05:00', 'friday': '13:00-05:00', 'saturday': '13:00-05:00', 'sunday': '13:00-05:00'}
Twist on Washington Avenue has run since 1993, the South Beach gay institution that packs seven distinct bars under one roof from main floor pop to an upstairs lounge to the back-courtyard dance floor.
Tip: Free entry every night. Each room has its own scene; the back patio is the easier breather after midnight when the dance floor fills.
Palace Bar & Restaurant ★ 4.5
$$$South Beach{'monday': '11:00-02:00', 'tuesday': '11:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '11:00-02:00', 'thursday': '11:00-02:00', 'friday': '11:00-03:00', 'saturday': '10:00-03:00', 'sunday': '10:00-02:00'}
Palace on Ocean Drive is the South Beach drag institution that has run for more than three decades, a sidewalk patio and inside bar where the queens lip-sync at the curb to traffic and tourists.
Tip: Sunday drag brunch is the signature; weekday evening drag shows are easier walk-ins. Ocean Drive parking is murder, so Uber.
R House Wynwood ★ 4.5
$$$Wynwood{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': 'closed', 'wednesday': '16:00-22:00', 'thursday': '16:00-22:00', 'friday': '16:00-23:00', 'saturday': '11:30-00:00', 'sunday': '11:30-18:00'}
R House on NW 2nd Avenue is the Wynwood Latin-American kitchen that turned a decade of drag brunches into the most-booked queer Saturday and Sunday in Miami, with two seatings per weekend day.
Tip: Drag brunch at 11:30 and 14:30 Saturday and Sunday with bottomless drinks. Reserve weeks ahead for prime weekends.
Score Bar ★ 4.2
$$South Beach{'monday': '15:00-05:00', 'tuesday': '15:00-05:00', 'wednesday': '15:00-05:00', 'thursday': '15:00-05:00', 'friday': '15:00-05:00', 'saturday': '15:00-05:00', 'sunday': '15:00-05:00'}
Score on Washington Avenue is the South Beach video bar and dance club, formerly on Lincoln Road, now relocated to Washington with two floors, drag shows nightly and a Sunday tea dance.
Tip: Open every day from 15:00 to 05:00, happy hour weekdays until 21:00. Sunday tea dance from 17:00 is the locals afternoon.
Bar Gaythering ★ 4.2
$$South Beach{'monday': '17:00-03:00', 'tuesday': '17:00-03:00', 'wednesday': '17:00-03:00', 'thursday': '17:00-03:00', 'friday': '17:00-03:00', 'saturday': '17:00-03:00', 'sunday': '17:00-03:00'}
Bar Gaythering on Lincoln Road runs as the ground-floor bar of Hôtel Gaythering, the queer hotel bar with Karaoke Mondays, Trivia Wednesdays and a low-key crowd that skews local more than tourist.
Tip: Free entry every night; the karaoke Monday and bingo Thursday calendars are the easier walk-ins. Hotel guests get a separate lounge upstairs.
Dante's HiFi ★ 4.7
$$$Wynwood{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': '21:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '21:00-02:00', 'thursday': '21:00-03:00', 'friday': '21:00-03:00', 'saturday': '21:00-03:00', 'sunday': 'closed'}
Dante's HiFi on NW 26th in Wynwood is the city's first vinyl listening bar, an intimate analog room built by Walshy Fire with Rich Medina spinning his 8,000-record collection through a custom hi-fi system.
Tip: No reservations and capacity is tight; doors open Tuesday through Saturday from 21:00. Phones away inside and the back banquettes are the seat.