My husband and I are getting ready for our first visit to South Beach. We are staying at the South Seas. I've been reading about all the great bars and restaurants and was wondering if there are any good happy hours we should check out. Looks like drink prices are pretty high, so this would be helpful. I was also wondering about dinner reservations. Are they necessary at most places and do people really eat at 10:00 at night? We're in our 40's, so maybe that's just what the younger crowd does?

We made a same-day reservation at A Fish Called Avalon, then cancelled it when we got a walk-up table at Wish (they had previously not had any openings). I think we ate around 9P. I did not see any free happy hour appetizers anywhere.

You can eat at any time really. The "in" crowd eats late - so sometimes it is easier to get an early reservation. We were just at Joe's Stone Crabs on Sunday at 5 pm. It was very crowded but no wait. At 7 pm there is at least an hour wait and our waiter told us by 9 pm when the in crowd arrives they are usually out of the largest claws. So sometimes it pays to be "out"!

There are really no happy hour specials during season.

Have a wonderful time.

Monty's, at the south tip of South Beach, has 2 for 1 drinks from 4-8. It's a nice place for happy hour.

The Clevelander outside bar has happy hour from 4-7pm and it is a must do at least once.

Pretty much all hotel 'porch' bars on Ocean Drive will have happy hours because it is so competetive. It will be posted.

Eat at Nobu at The Shore Club. You are going to South Beach during peak season so make dinner reservations.

South Beach is a late night town. People eat late, go out late (nightclubs don't open until 10PM), and sleep late.

The Sky Bar at The Shore Club will be open by 7 or 8PM. It isn't a night club per se.

I don't know if any of this still exists in South Beach, but when I lived there, the best happy hour was at the Palace (Ocean and 11th? or 12th?) from 4-7pm ...2 for 1 drinks.

pepper: The Palace is technically a gay bar FYI, but they do have a fun Happy Hour with drag queen performers. The crowd is mixed and lots of fun.

rjw -

yeah.... I know, but my husband and I always hung-out there, because it was a great deal and a lot of fun!!!