MIAGuide
5 Miami Clubs That Don’t Completely Suck
Nightclubs can suck, but these ones are actually pretty fun.
Clubs can be the worst. If you even get in—which might not happen if the doorman dislikes the shirt you’re wearing—you’ve got to put up with $25 beers, painfully loud music, and insufferable people who think buying a VIP section gives them carte blanche to act like they’re training for the assh*le Olympics. But while expensive drinks and loud music might be unavoidable, these spots can actually be a good time—as long as you know what you’re in for. And if you want to dance but hate clubs, we can help with that too.
THE SPOTS
Space is an OG Miami club that opened in 2000. Unlike most clubs, it isn’t too claustrophobic, and thanks to all the plants and a semi-open roof, the air feels fresh even when the person next to you is smoking. These days it’s both a club for people who actually care who’s behind the DJ booth and people who want to dance until the sun hits them in the face, which literally happens thanks to that semi-open roof. Just know that headlining DJs often don’t come on until 3am at the earliest, so go ahead and have that espresso after dinner—and check out our guide to places you can have breakfast if you stayed at Space all night.
Going to E11even is like embarking on an advanced white water rafting trip. You need to know what you’re getting into and mentally prepare or else things can go very badly, very quickly. E11even is ridiculous. There will be topless dancers twerking, dollar bills flying through the air, and random aerial acrobatic performances happening in the center of the club. Also, a famous rapper will probably start performing at, like, 4am and you’ll spend so much money that you’ll cry on the phone to your bank the next day. Still, this is a piece of Miami everyone should experience at least once.
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Floyd is like Space’s little brother, both in size and personality. They share the same owners and are located right next to each other. Floyd is more intimate, though—just one big room with a DJ booth in the middle of the club. There is no stage. Acts perform right on the dance floor at eye level with everyone else, and the crowd usually cares about the music more than the scene, which is good because there isn’t much room to do anything but dance. If it wasn’t for the expensive drinks, this place might feel like a very large house party.
Unlike most clubs, there are things to do at Basement other than just dance while trying not to spill your drink all over your shirt. There are rainbow bowling lanes here (which you have to reserve in advance for at least $60 per hour) and a tiny indoor ice skating rink, both of which get more fun and more dangerous with every drink you consume. It's one of the more unique club spaces in Miami Beach, and also an overall solid spot for bachelorette parties or other big group celebrations.
This classic gay club is still one of the best LGBTQ nightlife spots on South Beach. Walking through this place feels a bit like going to one of those carnival funhouses with a series of small, crowded rooms. Each one has a different vibe and personality, but they’re all usually full of dancing people, some of who won’t be wearing shits. As a result, a night here can feel like bar hopping without having to actually walk more than 15 feet.
