Image: The bar at Flanigan's
The bar at Flanigan's Photo courtesy of Flanigan's
Whether you rep the "U," bleed aqua and orange for the 'Fins, cheer for the ‘Noles (we forgive you), scream "Go Gatos!" when watching a Panthers game, still believe in the Marlins, or proudly claim your status as a Heat Lifer, one thing's for sure: Miami knows how to do sports bars right.
From iconic, wing-slinging institutions like Sports Grill and Flanigan's to buzzy newcomers like Batch Gastropub and sneaker-clad Grails, the 305 is stacked with spots where you can catch every pitch, goal, slam dunk, and touchdown in style.
Here are the ten best sports bars in Miami to catch the Florida Panthers playing in the Stanley Cup Final for Game 4, listed alphabetically, because we love all our local teams (and beers) equally.
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Beer and the game at 305 Sports Bar
You can watch almost any game at 305 Sports Bar in Brickell, but soccer is what dominates the screens here. On game days, expect to hear plenty of hinchas on fire — a term often used to describe passionate enthusiasts and 305 Sports Bar's seemingly unofficial motto. Celebrate winning goals with the bar's robust bottle and draft beer selection, while a food menu offers all the usual sports bar suspects, from wings to burgers. For Latin-fare fans, there's also a wide array of dishes that represent the flavors of South America to Mexico, with appetizers like tequeños and salchipapa to arepa sandwiches and entrées like Venezuelan pabellón or Colombian pibe.
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The bar at Batch Gastropub
Whether it’s 11:30 a.m. at Sunday Brunch or 11:30 p.m. on Ladies Night, expect a full house at this American gastropub. Equal parts sports bar, lounge, and restaurant, Batch is the place to be for soccer games, NBA playoffs, boxing matches, and football showdowns. The restaurant offers delicious bar eats, from Buffalo chicken nachos to pork belly potstickers, that pair perfectly with a lengthy drink list, which features a wide range of beers, wines, and creative cocktails. Happy hour — Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. — is also a can't-miss.
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Black Market Miami
More than 30 4K TV monitors and a dozen beers on draft — and a few dozen more in bottles and cans — await you at Black Market Miami and its new location at Bayside Marketplace. The original location's sports bar in the heart of downtown Miami is the place to be on game day. The menu includes a variety of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and wings tossed in a choice of sauces. Black Market offers a weekday two-for-one happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m., while the Bayside location is equipped with more than 40 TV monitors — many of them located outdoors — and an open-air bar overlooking the nearby marina. The Bayside location is also steps away from Kaseya Center, making it an excellent place to meet friends before Heat games.
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The bar at Flanigan's
Ask nearly anyone in Miami, and they're likely to tell you that their favorite place to have an unpretentious round of drinks and delicious food and to watch a game is at Flanigan's. Joe "Big Daddy" Flanigan opened the first Flanigan's in 1959 in Pompano Beach, and it's still a family-run restaurant chain to this day. The original nautical-themed bar was such a hit for its ice-cold beer, fresh seafood, and legendary baby back ribs that there are now 24 locations across Florida. Each restaurant's walls are lined with memories of family and friends playing in their natural nautical element – fishing, diving, beaching, and boating. And, oh yeah, those legendary baby back ribs were made for watching a sports game.
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Grails in Wynwood offers pitcher specials during Miami Heat games.
Sneaker-themed Grails has all the fixings you need for a memorable game day, from daily drink specials to live music, gourmet comfort food, and more than 60 TV screens. Order a cocktail served inside a ceramic drinking vessel that looks like a sneaker, and gather around a screen broadcasting the game of your choice. (There are enough monitors to broadcast them all.) The space offers seating for about 70 indoors, about 120 on the covered patio, and about 100 outside. The menu ranges from chicken wings made with pasture-raised birds to black-truffle fries and Buffalo cauliflower.
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The taps at Mike's
Every neighborhood needs a no-frills sports bar that offers high-quality food, friendly service, and great value. Downtown Miami has one in Mike's. This long-running establishment hidden in the Venetia condo building at the foot of the Venetian Causeway has maintained its local charm for years. Take the elevator to the ninth floor and discover its appeal. The bar offers 20-plus TV sets, pool tables, daily specials, breezy Miami views, and the satisfaction of having found yourself a veritable hidden gem.
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Sports and beer go together like beans and rice.
It can be tough being a Miami Dolphins fan, but you can find friends with the same taste in teams at Old Tom's. This dark watering hole next to Miami International Airport is always packed with locals and tourists who want to enjoy a pitcher of beer in a chill setting. Watch NFL games as you indulge in sports bar classics such as the award-winning chicken wings. Trivia contests, karaoke, and musical entertainment are also on tap if the game gets too painful to watch.
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Sandbar Sports Grill is one of the best sports bars in Miami
This beach-themed establishment might look like an ordinary bar from the outside, but step inside and you're hit with the sort of mayhem you'd find at a frat house on game day — right down to the college kids and cheap beer. Sandbar's food offerings are solid, from the fish tacos to the five-pound burrito, and the drinks are in a category of their own. Try the hurricane, made with Captain Morgan spiced rum, Myers's dark rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, and grenadine and you'll see why this Coconut Grove staple can weather any storm.
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Chicken wings at Sports Grill
Founder Eric Haas met his wife Lori, and together, they opened the original Sports Grill on Sunset Drive in 1987. Since then, they've expanded to locations across Miami, and for good reason. Sports Grill serves the meatiest and tastiest wings in town. They come smothered in your choice of special, Buffalo, barbecue, garlic, glazed teriyaki, or Miami Heat sauce. Add a nice mix of craft brews, a welcoming atmosphere, and consistently excellent service, and you've got a winning spot for Heat games, Fins action, Panthers games, and Canes pride.
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Giant screens await you at Stone Sports Bar.
This ultra-modern sports bar is the spot to be on game day. Located inside the CMX Studios at the Brickell City Centre, it goes one step beyond "dinner and a movie" to offer sports fans a choice of doing "the game and a movie" instead. Belly up to the bar or snag a table, and you'll be presented with an extensive menu offering an impressive array of elevated pub fare alongside plenty of beer and creative cocktails. The best part: Every seat in the house has a view of one giant screen or another, including the giant LED wall screen that claims the title of one of the largest in the state.