5 Dark Bars in Miami
Updated: October 12, 2009
Who needs bright lights in a big city? Some clubs, lounges, and dive bars prefer to ease up on the filaments. From darkened pickup joints that are forgiving on both ends to celebrity hotspots where the stars don't want to get noticed, these are the watering holes in Miami that will make your eyeballs dilate.
Back to Black
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Fox's Sherron Inn
Read Reviews6030 S Dixie Hwy, Miami, FL 33143 (map)
Alcoholic anonymity has been the calling card for this throwback South Miami lounge since 1946. The neon "Fox's" sign at the front is the ironically bright beacon for sly foxes everywhere. Whether it's the middle-aged married man squeezing into a booth with his mistress or the barely drinking age frat boys trying to appear older, the drinks are stiff and cheap--just like the electricity bill.
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Purdy Lounge
Read Reviews1811 Purdy Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (map)
Who needs heavy lighting when you charge no cover? The South Beach haven for the unpretentious keeps its hanging red light bulbs dim and far apart, especially as patrons back away from the main bar.
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Mokai
Read Reviews235 23rd St, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (map)
This intimate and occasionally celebrity-studded South Beach nightclub knows how to make the most of its mystical space. With just 4,000 square feet and an allotted guest capacity of 220, the fortunate ones to get past the velvet rope can relax retro style on wooden ottomans with their backs against bricked walls.
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Martini Bar and Concert Hall
Read Reviews5701 Sunset Dr., South Miami, FL 33143 (map)
Don't let the cheery open-air patio fool you. Guests who go past the outdoor restaurant facade of this Sunset Place institution will find the dark, pulsating center of this dimly lit dance club.
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Love Hate
Write a review419 Espanola Way, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (map)
Most of the lights at this SoBe bar point at the walls, and with good reason. This lounge is owned by Miami Ink's Ami James and Chris Nunez, and it's their artwork that's on display. Beyond the illuminated tattoo parlor art and backlit bar it's easy to find cozy areas to make yourself invisible at will.
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