{"id":243376,"date":"2026-04-23T15:34:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T15:34:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/243376\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T15:34:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T15:34:15","slug":"two-miami-bars-ranked-among-the-50-best-in-north-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/243376\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Miami Bars Ranked Among the 50 Best in North America"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"\"
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFrom left: A cocktail from Italian aperitivo bar ViceVersa in downtown Miami and a Cuban-inspired cocktail from Cafe La Trova in Little Havana.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Left photo by R.C. Visuals, Right photo by Cafe La Trova<\/p>\n

For Miami\u2019s bar scene, the validation came fast and loud Wednesday night.<\/p>\n

When the annual North America\u2019s 50 Best Bars list<\/a> dropped on Wednesday, April 22, two familiar names to New Times readers made the cut. Caf\u00e9 La Trova<\/a> landed at No. 42, and ViceVersa<\/a> entered the prestigious \u201cTop 50\u201d grouping for the first time since its opening. It debuted at No. 46, marking a major milestone for the Italian aperitivo bar.<\/p>\n

Both are currently featured in New Times\u2019 Top 50 Bars in Miami Right Now list<\/a>, a reminder that the city\u2019s best drinking destinations are not just local favorites, but contenders on an international stage.<\/p>\n

However, beneath the celebration, sits a more complicated story.<\/p>\n

\"manFamed Miami bartender Julio Cabrera was inducted into the Bartender Hall of Fame at Caf\u00e9 La Trova, honoring his legacy, passion, and Cuban cocktail culture.<\/p>\n

Caf\u00e9 La Trova Remains Miami\u2019s Most Acclaimed Bar<\/p>\n

Few bars in Miami carry the cultural weight of Caf\u00e9 La Trova.<\/p>\n

Founded by world-famous Cuban cantinero Julio Cabrera <\/a>and James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein, the Calle Ocho bar has been Miami\u2019s crown jewel since it opened in 2019. In 2022, it debuted on the coveted list at an impressive No. 6, followed by No. 9 in 2023. Then, in 2024, it ranked No. 13 on North America\u2019s 50 Best Bars list<\/a>. That same year, it landed the 66th spot on the World\u2019s 50 Best Bars\u00a0ranking<\/a>. But these numbers are mostly frivolous \u2014 what makes a great bar isn\u2019t its \u201cranking,\u201d but its soul.<\/p>\n

Cabrera has made cocktail-making the heart and soul of\u00a0Caf\u00e9\u00a0La Trova. \u201cBeing again on the list of the 100 World\u2019s Best Bars for the fifth year in a row is an amazing accomplishment and achievement,\u201d Cabrera told\u00a0New Times in a 2025 interview<\/a>. \u201cEvery day, it gets harder to be on that list. A lot of great bars open every year around the world, and we\u2019re proud to represent Miami, the state of Florida, and the whole Latin community in the U.S. We are also so proud to be on Calle Ocho in Little Havana. We want to thank all our team, the ones who work tirelessly every day to give their best to our guests, who are the reason for what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Between the live music played nightly behind the bar and on stage to his own cantinero bartending school, the bar is a living, shaking, stirring tribute to the golden age of Cuban cocktails and bars. Essentially, Caf\u00e9 La Trova has become not just a national destination, but a worldwide one. This is why this year\u2019s ranking feels complicated.<\/p>\n

\"\"Cabrera has made cocktail-making the heart and soul of\u00a0Caf\u00e9\u00a0La Trova.<\/p>\n

The Shift Means More Competition<\/p>\n

In 2025, Caf\u00e9 La Trova held the No. 13 spot. This year, it dropped to No. 42. A 29-place fall is not subtle. It\u2019s a shift that invites scrutiny, especially for a bar that has not lost its identity, its talent, or its ability to deliver one of the most immersive hospitality experiences in the country.<\/p>\n

Inside, little has changed. The cantinero tradition remains intact, rooted in the legacy of Havana\u2019s El Floridita. The cocktails are still built on rum, citrus, and technique. Bernstein\u2019s menu continues to anchor the experience with dishes that feel both nostalgic and precise, from croquetas and bu\u00f1uelos to mojo-laced entr\u00e9es that carry the same energy as the drinks.<\/p>\n

So, why the drop? The answer may have less to do with Caf\u00e9 La Trova itself and more to do with the cities surrounding it on the list.<\/p>\n

\"\"New York and Mexico City have tightened their grip on the upper tiers<\/p>\n

Screenshot via Instagram\/@50bestbars<\/p>\n

The Rise of New York and Mexico City<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s rankings reflect a broader shift in North America\u2019s cocktail landscape.<\/p>\n

New York and Mexico City have tightened their grip on the upper tiers, sending more bars into the Top 50 and reshaping the balance of power. These cities benefit from dense hospitality ecosystems, constant reinvention, and an international talent pipeline that fuels rapid new openings.<\/p>\n

Miami, by comparison, has always moved differently. It thrives on personality, on cultural specificity, on rooms that feel alive rather than overly engineered. That identity has earned global attention, but it does not always align with how ranking bodies reward innovation, consistency, or expansion across multiple venues.<\/p>\n

A drop like Caf\u00e9 La Trova\u2019s does not signal decline. It only signals competition.<\/p>\n

\"\"The \u201cPoesia\u201d cocktail by ViceVersa<\/p>\n

ViceVersa\u2019s Ascent Signals a New Wave<\/p>\n

If Caf\u00e9 La Trova represents Miami\u2019s foundation, ViceVersa points to where the city is headed.<\/p>\n

The bar, led by Italian expat Valentino Longo, enters the Top 50 at No. 46 <\/a>after sitting at No. 56 last year. The climb marks one of the most notable upward movements for a Miami bar this cycle.<\/p>\n

ViceVersa leans into contrast. Its design blends Miami\u2019s glow with Italian futurism, from a curved illuminated backbar to interiors that feel pulled from a stylized Roman past. The menu follows suit, drawing on the Futurist \u201cPolibibita\u201d philosophy, in which cocktails are built around tension. Saline meets floral. Bitter meets bright. Texture becomes part of the experience. Drinks like the \u201cLittle Tonico\u201d and the \u201cForza!\u201d are not just balanced. They are composed with the intent to surprise. Behind the bar, Longo\u2019s technical precision is matched by a sense of play that mirrors the city outside its doors.<\/p>\n

In the kitchen, chef Justin Flit keeps the momentum going with a menu that emphasizes clean flavors and strong sourcing. The result is a bar that feels contemporary without losing warmth.<\/p>\n

ViceVersa\u2019s rise suggests that Miami\u2019s next chapter may be defined by hybrid bars that merge global technique with local energy.<\/p>\n

\"\"Bar Kaiju in Little River was just ranked among the top 100 bars in North America<\/p>\n

Photo by Anthony Nader\/52 Chefs<\/p>\n

Bar Kaiju Climbs Upward<\/p>\n

In 2025, five Miami bars ranked <\/a>within the extended Top 100 list. This year, that number drops to three. Bar Kaiju, which climbed from No. 77 to No. 70,<\/a> is one of the few to move upward. <\/p>\n

The neon-drenched, monster-themed cocktail den that earned a spot on\u00a0New Times\u2019 Top 50 Bars 2026<\/a>, was named\u00a0one of the top 100 bars in North America<\/a>. The recognition came Tuesday, March 31, when North America\u2019s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, revealed its extended 51-100 list. At Bar Kaiju, creativity is the entire point. While many speakeasies lean into Prohibition-era nostalgia, this Miami standout looks elsewhere for inspiration: Japanese monster movies.<\/p>\n

Inside, the space glows with neon hues, vintage film posters, and bold Japanese artwork. The menu reads like a cinematic universe, with cocktails inspired by iconic creatures and characters. <\/p>\n

Therefore, as the stage grows more crowded each year, Miami continues to make its presence known.<\/p>\n

\"\"The \u201cMartini Doppio\u201d from ViceVersa in downtown Miami<\/p>\n

Where Miami Stands Now<\/p>\n

All in all, there is so much to celebrate in the Magic City this year. Two bars making the Top 50 is no small feat, and three in the Top 100 is spectacular.<\/p>\n

Both Caf\u00e9 La Trova and ViceVersa represent distinct sides of Miami\u2019s identity, one rooted in heritage, the other in evolution. On the other hand, Bar Kaiju leans into creativity and fun. Together, they tell a story of a city that refuses to be boxed into a single style.<\/p>\n

\u201cHappy to see Miami rebound with two bars back in the Top 50 and with Bar Kaiju at No. 70,\u201d adds New Times contributor <\/a>and acclaimed mixologist, Giovanny Gutierrez. \u201cTo think we [Miami] got on the map in 2022 with Sweet Liberty, Broken Shaker, and still the champ, Cafe La Trova, that debuted at No. 6.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miami is now competing against cities with a longstanding history of investing heavily in hospitality as both art and industry. And it\u2019s safe to say it\u2019s becoming a cocktail destination to be reckoned with. Cheers to you, Bar Kaiju, Caf\u00e9 La Trova, and ViceVersa.<\/p>\n

Bar Kaiju. 8300 NE Second Ave., Second Floor, at the Citadel, Miami; barkaiju.com<\/a>.
Caf\u00e9 La Trova. 971 SW Eighth St., Miami; 786-615-4379; cafelatrova.com<\/a>.
ViceVersa. 398 NE Fifth St., Miami; viceversamia.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From left: A cocktail from Italian aperitivo bar ViceVersa in downtown Miami and a Cuban-inspired cocktail from Cafe…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":243377,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[2907,10738,2318,225,227,226,15403,2908],"class_list":{"0":"post-243376","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hialeah","8":"tag-awards-accolades","9":"tag-cocktails","10":"tag-downtown","11":"tag-hialeah","12":"tag-hialeah-headlines","13":"tag-hialeah-news","14":"tag-little-havana","15":"tag-national-spotlight"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243376","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=243376"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243376\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/243377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=243376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=243376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=243376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}