Knight Concert Hall, Photo Credit: Justin Namon
From grand concert halls to underground clubs and dive bars, a multitude of music venues call Miami home. A whole heap of local jazz artists, bands, world-class symphonies, popular musicians and DJs make sure of that. Here’s where to catch quality tunes regardless of who is center stage.
Hoy Como Ayer
Hoy Como Ayer, which translates into “today as yesterday,” serves up a heavy dose of live Latin music — funk, pop, salsa and more. As the name suggests, you’ll see — and hear — a blend of past and present here. History literally lines the walls in the form of black-and-white portraits of musical heavy-hitters like Celia Cruz, Arturo Sandoval and Benny Moore.
The crowd is laid-back and diverse, so throw back a mojito and let the rhythm get you on your feet.
Should the mood strike, continue the tour of Little Havana at nearby Ball & Chain, a fixture on Calle Ocho that offers more live music, DJ sets and free salsa classes.
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
From opera and Broadway musicals to symphonies, pop concerts and world music, Adrienne Arsht Center attracts marquee acts. Located in downtown Miami, the Arsht Center is the Sunshine State’s largest performing arts venue. It also has the second largest stage in the United States, perfect for crowd-drawing acts like Chaka Khan (February 17) and David Sedaris (April 20).
There are three state-of-the-art theaters — the 2,400-seat Ziff Ballet Opera House, the 2,200-seat Knight Concert Hall, the open-air, 57,000-square-foot Thomson Plaza for the Arts and the intimate Carnival Studio Theater — so it’s no wonder that the facility hosts such a wide variety of shows. What’s more is every seat has a solid stage view (excellent for watching the Miami City Ballet’s every jeté and pirouette) and impeccable sound (for when you want to hear each violin in the Miami Symphony Orchestra).
The Fillmore Miami Beach, Photo Credit: The Fillmore Miami Beach
The Fillmore Miami Beach
The landmark Fillmore Miami Beach plays an important role in TV history: It was a frequent home for top 1960s performers, with Jackie Gleason, Dick Clark and Ed Sullivan being just a few of the names on the illustrious roster.
Fast-forward to today, and the venue still impresses as a versatile mainstay. The Fillmore hosts a variety of artists and concert-goers. The pit in the front makes it perfect for the energy of a Run the Jewels show (January 25) or for those who want to get up close for Sting (February 25). The standing area in the middle and seated area in the back offer plenty of options for those who’d rather have a bit of distance from the action.
The Regent Cocktail Club at The Gale Hotel
The Regent Cocktail Club has an unquestioned speakeasy vibe: shadowy, candlelit ambience and the tinkle of the house piano in a cozy, intimate space. That’s one of the selling points of this captivating hideaway at The Gale House in South Beach.
Another boon: A curated menu of ever-changing, handcrafted cocktails. Try one of the specialties or relax with a classic old-fashioned while taking in the low-key sounds of soulful live jazz.
A sister-in-spirit alternative is the Lobby Salon at Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star The Betsy — South Beach, another understated venue for a great evening of live music (mostly jazz) and more amazing libations.
LIV at Fontainebleau Miami Beach
We’ve all done our time in energetic dive bars and slinky cocktail lounges. But sometimes, nothing will do but over-the-top opulence. That’s where LIV at Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Fontainebleau Miami Beach comes in.
Whether you want to boogie to the up-tempo DJ sets (Brazilian DJ Alok, January 25) or lounge by the bar, the nightclub’s 18,000 square feet of space provides plenty of room to do both. LIV is über exclusive any night, but for those who need a bit extra, lavish skyboxes and VIP areas are available, too. But the dance floor, the great equalizer, is where you’ll want to spend the bulk of your time.
