Don’t let the palm trees fool you—fall flavor is in full swing across Miami! This season, bars and restaurants from Brickell to South Beach are trading icy mojitos for warm spices and cozy bourbon. Whether you crave a dark, sophisticated Old-Fashioned or an indulgent pumpkin martini, here’s your guide to the best autumnal sips under the South Florida sun.
Savory Spices and Coffee Kicks
Miami’s upscale spots are leveraging deep, warming flavors like espresso, fig, and spiced rum to craft sophisticated holiday drinks.
Indulgent Pumpkin & Espresso
The Pumpkin Espresso Martini is the essential fall cocktail this year, appearing at two major waterfront venues:
- Delilah Miami: This stylish, celebrity-attracting restaurant offers a classic take on the Pumpkin Espresso Martini ($21), blending vodka, coffee liqueur, and pumpkin-spice syrup for sipping on their chic Biscayne Bay patio.
- Verde (at the Pérez Art Museum Miami): Here, the Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini ($15) is made cozy with Tito’s Vodka, Bailey’s, espresso, and pumpkin spice, topped with Jameson cold foam for an indulgent terrace treat.
Deep, Dark Rum and Whiskey
- LT Steak & Seafood (Betsy Hotel): Starting in October, this acclaimed venue features the 1888 Festive Old-Fashioned ($17), which swaps whiskey for Brugal 1888 rum and blends in chai tea syrup for a warming, spiced depth, best enjoyed with live jazz.
- Hotel Continental: The retro-chic Divebar offers the elevated Pumpkin Chai Mai Tai ($16), which uses Coconut Cartel rum with a unique caffeine-free pumpkin pie chai mix. For a different vibe, try their Pomegranate Gin Bramble ($16) with Hendrick’s gin and tart blackberry elixir.
- Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club (Lobby Bar): Guests can enjoy a classic Bourbon Maple Old-Fashioned ($18) made with Woodford Reserve and maple syrup for a perfect post-dinner sip.
- American Social Bar & Kitchen: The seasonal menu features Fig City, a subtly spicy Manhattan variation that uses Whistlepig Piggyback Rye, fig liqueur, Amaro Nonino, and Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters for a fruit-forward and warm flavor profile.
- Ball & Chain: In the heart of Little Havana, the legendary live music venue offers the Cafecito Bourbon. This cocktail is a perfect seasonal sip to enjoy while soaking in the neighborhood’s lively rhythm.
Unique Coastal & Global Flavors
Several restaurants are fusing international culinary traditions with classic fall ingredients, perfect for celebrating the season without losing the tropical Miami vibe.
Fig, Pear, and Plantain Infusions
- Donna Mare Italian Chophouse: Adjacent to the Cadillac Hotel, this spot brings the soul of Italy with its sophisticated Spiked Fig Negroni ($18), mixing Hendrick’s gin with fig liqueur and fresh thyme for an earthy, sweet seaside sip.
- ADRIFT Mare (Hotel AKA Brickell): This Mediterranean venue on the 25th floor offers the autumnal Garden Sour ($17), featuring whiskey infused with rosemary and fig, available at a special happy hour price during weekday lunch.
- Cleo (Miami Beach): Welcoming November with the zesty Fall Fizz ($16), Cleo blends vodka, pear liqueur, lemon, ginger, and soda for a crisp, lightly spiced refreshment that still suits the breezy terrace.
- Uchi Miami: The award-winning Japanese spot features the Camuri ($16), which mixes Planteray Original Dark Rum and Campari with spiced plantain tepache, providing an exotic fusion of tropical and autumnal notes.
- Beauty & The Butcher: This restaurant embraces fall with The Perfect Pear, a seasonal creation that combines Tito’s Vodka with pear syrup, allspice, and fresh lime juice, where the fruit’s sweetness is enhanced by warm spices.
- AVIV: The Mediterranean-meets-modern restaurant AVIV offers a twist on the classic with the Fig-Stachio Manhattan ($17). The rich base combines fig-infused Russell’s 10 Year Bourbon with PX Sherry and sweet vermouth, while pistachio and Turkish Tobacco Bitters add warming, earthy notes for the perfect seasonal sip.
Fireside and Theatrical Sips
- Teatro (Adrienne Arsht Center): This immersive dining destination offers The Firebird ($20), a seasonal margarita riff using tequila, tamarind syrup, and a house-made habanero shrub for a perfect balance of heat and complexity, served over a hand-shaped shaved ice sphere.
- Bungalow Beach Bar & Grill (Cadillac Hotel): This charming beachside bar serves the indulgent S’mores in the Sand ($18), blending Havana Club rum, chocolate liqueur, coconut cream, and coffee, garnished with toasted marshmallows and a graham cracker rim—bringing the campfire right to the sand.
- Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann: Faena’s new cocktail menu includes Midnight Elegance, a refined and unforgettable drink. It blends Código Reposado Tequila with Rosaluna Mezcal, adding fresh lime and a touch of jalapeño to balance the smoky depth and spice.
Sophisticated & Immersive Sips
- Shiso: This venue delivers bold autumn flavors with the Kunsei Old Fashioned ($16). Its layered, unexpected profile combines Suntory Toki and Jim Beam Black with shio kombu and smoked brisket, creating a savory riff that nods to the Japanese tradition of smoked flavors.
- KOKO: This restaurant’s Oaxacan Old Fashioned ($16) reimagines the classic with smoke and spice, balancing reposado tequila and mezcal with house-made guajillo cinnamon syrup for warming heat and a subtle chocolate finish.
Late-Night & High-End Options
Miami’s top dining rooms and rooftops offer innovative new drinks, including complex spirit-free options and stylish updates to classics.
Global & High-End Creations
- Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann: Faena’s new cocktail menu includes Midnight Elegance, a refined and unforgettable drink. It blends Código Reposado Tequila with Rosaluna Mezcal, adding fresh lime and a touch of jalapeño to balance the smoky depth and spice.
- STK Aventura + STK South Beach: STK’s Pumpkin Spice Martini gives the popular espresso martini a luxurious seasonal spin. The cocktail blends silky pumpkin spice RumChata with espresso, finishing with a dusting of pumpkin spice for a cozy, elevated, and festive flavor.
- Rosemary’s Miami (Wynwood): This NYC-born Italian establishment has unveiled a new fall menu featuring a variety of Italian specialties like Gnocco Frito and Cavatelli with wild mushrooms. For a sweet finale, the restaurant is highlighting four contemporary coffee cocktails, including the Espresso Martini, a Cafecito with reposado tequila, and a Rosemary’s Frappe with mango liqueur.
Beyond the Bar: Coffee, Dining, and Day Trips
The seasonal experience extends to sophisticated non-alcoholic treats, high-end dining, and even neighboring Fort Lauderdale.
Fall Dining and Zero-Proof Treats
- Rosemary’s Miami (Wynwood): This NYC-born Italian establishment in Wynwood has unveiled a new fall menu featuring a variety of Italian specialties like Gnocco Frito and Cavatelli with wild mushrooms. For dessert, they highlight four contemporary coffee cocktails, including the Espresso Martini, a Cafecito with reposado tequila, and a Rosemary’s Frappe with mango liqueur.
- Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club (Il Merkato): For a non-alcoholic treat, the Italian market offers its signature Pumpkin Spice Affogato ($14).
- Casa Sensei (Fort Lauderdale): The acclaimed Pan-Asian and Latin American spot is featuring a creamy Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Martini, perfect for sipping on their dog-friendly patio or during a scenic Riverfront Gondola Tour.
Upscale Classics & Coffee Culture
- Papi Steak: The Don Draper ($16) cocktail brings bourbon sophistication with an autumnal twist. Built on apple-infused Brother’s Bond Bourbon, it captures the season’s essence and is rounded out by the vanilla-honey notes of Licor 43.
- Double Knot: Reflecting its fusion of tradition and flavor, The Double Knot ($16) cocktail is a refined fall pour made with Maker’s Mark Bourbon and Rye, capturing the soul of an izakaya—smooth, bold, and full of character.
- Sofia Miami: This chic spot offers the Ita Negroni ($18), paying homage to Italian flavors by infusing Cinzano with coffee. This energized drink is topped with a leaf-shaped garnish for a festive photo moment.
Rooftops, Art & Day Trips
- The Elser: The Elser rooftop also offers the Southern Sunset ($20), a refined blend of bourbon, sparkling prosecco, and peach purée with a cinnamon-sugar rim, providing a comforting yet celebratory sip against the Miami skyline.
- Level 6: Perched above Coconut Grove, the rooftop oasis offers the Tremendo Old Fashioned this season, a perfect sip to complement the elevated Spanish-inspired tapas and sweeping Biscayne Bay views.
- Glass & Vine: Tucked into Peacock Park, the Mangrove Mint cocktail adds a refreshing yet warming balance to this open-air retreat, complementing the vibrant American and South Florida-inspired cuisine.
- Stiltsville Fish Bar: This venue offers the Walking on Stilts cocktail, which brings a rich, cozy edge, making it a perfect standout choice for fall in South Beach alongside fresh seafood.
