Les crusing bars et les happy hours font partie des vacances, voici donc un guide complet…
Amusez-vous et rappelez-vous qu’on ne conduit pas si on a bu et qu’on ne peut fumer dans aucun bar de la Floride.
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All-Stars Sports Bar and Grill
This lively neighborhood tavern with a comfortable feel features pool tables and 30 TVs that show a variety of sporting events. The living room area provides an intimate, quiet spot to work someone’s action.
Happy Hour: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily; Breakbeat Sundays feature $2 kamikaze shots and $5 pitchers; every Tuesday is karaoke night; every Wednesday is ladies’ night, when ladies drink free 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
Specialty Drink: Jägerbombs, made with Jägermeister and Red Bull
Location: 2201 W. Sample Road, Pompano Beach (954/968-7777; www.allstarssportsbarandgrill.com)
Armadillo Cafe
The horseshoe-shaped bar at this award-winning restaurant is perfect for combining gourmet eats from the kitchen with flavorful martinis and margaritas. For large parties, tables surround the bar. The wine list is carefully crafted, and the list of appetizers, salads and desserts put a whole new spin on the term bar food.
Happy Hour: 5-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: Apple martinis and prickly pear margaritas
Location: 3400 S. University Drive, Davie (954/423-9954; www.armadillocafe.com)
Aviator’s Tavern
Watch planes come and go from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport at this cozy bar while sipping a cool cocktail. Fly high and have some down-to-earth fun during the lingerie show on Wednesdays; do your version of the Steve Miller Bands Big Old Jet Airliner during Friday karaoke.
Happy Hour: 4-10 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: Chocolate martini
Location: 1150 Lee Wagner Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (954/359-0044)
Baja at Riverfront and Ghost Bar
Upscale fun in a downtown setting, Baja is a high-tech nightspot with dance, Top 40 and hip-hop DJs spinning Wednesday-Saturday nights. The intimate Ghost Bar inside Baja offers sensual music for mixing and mingling, while the main room features a huge dance floor, a wicked light-and-sound system and dance platforms so you can shake that thang.
Happy hour: 6-10 p.m. Fridays with three-for-one cocktails, two-for-one frozen drinks and a free buffet; 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Wednesdays ladies drink free Vox raspberry martinis; Thursdays are college nights with Power 96 DJ Zog and a hot-body contest, as well as two-for-one drinks for men and $3 U-Call-It drinks for ladies
Specialty drink: Vox raspberry martinis with fresh raspberries and edible flowers
Location: 300 S.W. First Ave., Fort Lauderdale (954/462-5604; www.bajabeachclubs.com)
Bamboo Room
Best recognized for its roster of blues, roots and acoustic artists, this intimate venue is also renowned for its classic cocktails and handsome décor. Tippling is treated seriously here, as bartenders lovingly craft all manner of beverages, from the exotic to the esoteric. A dazzling assortment of antique glassware and cocktail shakers are on display behind the bar, and vintage 78s of blues greats such as Bessie Smith and Josh White line the wall.
Happy Hour: 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays
Specialty Drink: $3 classic cocktails, including the old-fashioned, comprised of bourbon, a half-lump of sugar, a dash of Angostura bitters, a maraschino cherry, an orange slice and a splash of club soda; or the angel’s kiss, dark crème de cacao with half-and-half floating on top (add a maraschino cherry, it becomes an angel’s tit)
Location: 25 S. J St., Lake Worth (561/585-2583; www.bamboorm.com)
Banana Boat
Arrive by foot, car or boat to this floating oasis on the Intracoastal, where there is live music four nights a week and two full bars, inside and out.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: Bahama Mama, made with island rum, coconut rum, exotic juices and a floater of dark rum
Location: 739 E. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach (561/732-9400; www.bananaboatboynton.com)
Beach Bums
Spring break is always in session at this multilevel dance club and sports bar where the view of ocean includes women in itty-bitty bikinis and guys without shirts (not that that’s always a good thing). Wet your whistle at the pool bar before taking a dip, or catch a really big game on the really big 250-square-foot TVs. Flashback Fridays feature the best in freestyle, old-school, ’80s mix and dance.
Happy Hour: Noon-7 p.m. daily
Recommended Drink: Rumrunner
Location: 219 Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (954/779-2544)
Benny’s Ice House
This favorite neighborhood hangout for working stiffs open until 5 a.m. serves inexpensive, well-prepared bar grub. The sprawling interior offers a large-screen TV for sports, plus pool tables, dartboards, a variety of video games and a jukebox that can download more than 100,000 songs. The wait staff is friendly and quick to refill that empty mug when the suds run dry. Smokers are welcome.
Happy Hour: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, featuring Skyy vodka drinks for $3, 22-ounce Icehouse drafts or Bacardi Limón for $2, plus plenty of hors d’oeuvres
Recommended Drink: Icehouse beer
Location: 9803 S. Military Trail, Boynton Beach (561/734-6924)
Billabong Pub
This smoker-friendly hangout prays to the beer gods by serving over 150 imported brews. For further amusement, Billabong has three pool tables, two dartboards, foosball and best of all, Galaga, for anyone who needs old-school video games. Live bands rock your world on Saturdays (and soon on Sundays), and the jukebox plays everything from X to Alice in Chains to White Stripes.
Happy hour: 5-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 20-cent wings Monday nights
Specialty drink: Framboise Lambic
Location: 3000 Country Club Lane, Pembroke Park (954/985-1050)
Bistro Las Olas
This cozy and comfortable eatery gets high marks for its attractive cocktails, creative dishes and a professional wait staff.
Happy Hour: 5:30 p.m.-close Tuesdays; Wednesday is ladies night with $3 Skyy vodka drinks and $3 mini pizzas
Recommended Drink: Skyy cosmo
Location: 1103 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (954/523-9393)
Blue Anchor
Stepping through the doors of the Blue Anchor is like traveling back in time to foggy old London, when Jack the Ripper prowled the streets and Queen Victoria ruled the empire. It’s a good thing times have changed. This lively and friendly British pub serves excellent food and an impressive selection of beers, and the wait staff is cheery. There is live music four nights a week by bands such as the John Cat All-Star Band and Mad Cow.
Happy Hour: 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily
Specialty Drink: Fullers, a British hand-drawn ale
Location: 804 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach (561/272-7272; www.theblueanchor.com)
The Blue Boar
If you didn’t hear about this place from someone else, you’d never even know it existed. Located in an unsuspecting strip mall, this laid-back sports bar has awesome food, dart leagues, pool tables, one big-screen TV, about a dozen smaller screens, touch games and a jukebox that plays everything from The Eagles to Alice in Chains.
Happy Hour: 2-9 p.m. nightly; Friday happy hour includes 25-cent wings
Specialty Drink: Millie’s Melon Ball
Location: 1306 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach (561/686-3865)
Blue Martini
This is a classy place for the fashionably casual to drink and mingle. Have a cocktail on the way to a movie (it’s across the walkway from Muvico), or for after-comedy drinks (the Palm Beach Improv is next door). The inside area features multilevel bars, while the outdoor patio area is loud, festive and usually crowded. Thursdays feature the search for Miss Three Olives, in which ladies dress in black and the fashion police select weekly winners. Mondays are In the Biz.
Specialty Drink: Red apple martini
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Location: 550 S. Rosemary Ave. (CityPlace), West Palm Beach (561/835-8601)
Boca Beer Works
At this sports bar, beer is king. While swilling a brewski and talking shop, check out sporting events on eight TVs. Bring a designated driver, since they don’t serve food to sop up the suds.
Happy Hour: Noon-7 p.m. daily
Recommended Drink: Jamaican sky, a wine-based frozen drink
Location: 1929 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton (561/347-8044)
Bonefish Creek
Legend has it the original Bonefish Creek in the Keys was washed away in the ’60s by Hurricane Donna but revived years later in West Palm Beach by a couple of fellas who liked to fish, chill out over cold beers and eat good food. This would be that place. Every Wednesday is bike night.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: The bone-a-rita, a house favorite margarita with Cuervo Gold and DeKuyper Blue Curacoa; or the island ecstasy, a mix of Parrot Bay rum, Key Largo schnapps and DeKuyper Banana
Location: 4449 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach (561/687-2122; www.bonefishcreek.com)
Bonefish Grill
Swim upstream to this restaurant that specializes in the freshest fish available. Kick back a cocktail while nibbling on the bang-bang shrimp appetizer, or have a glass of wine with some Chilean sea bass or rainbow trout, served with a choice of sauces.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. daily
Recommended Drink: Aphrodisiac martini, a sexy mix of Skyy Vanilla vodka and passion fruit juice, garnished with a watermelon icicle
Location: 321 N. University Drive, Plantation (954/723-9660; www.bonefishgrill.com)
Boston’s on the Beach
This casual oceanfront restaurant and bar has been packing them in for 20-plus years. New England-style seafood is a specialty, especially their clambake feast. Fuhgettaboutit Fridays offer primo drink specials and live music to help you melt the stress of the week away. Island Sundays include Bacardi rum drinks for $2.50, Sam Adams lager or light for $3, and 10 top neck steamers or chicken wings for $5. Live music daily.
Happy Hour: 4-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, with free buffet
Recommended Drink: The Bushwhacker, containing dark and light crèmes de cacao, Kahlúa, Coco López and half-and-half
Location: 40 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach (561/278-3364; www.bostonsonthebeach.com)
Bru’s Room
Former Miami Dolphins’ linebacker Bob Brudzinski is the namesake behind this ultra-popular sports bar that serves delicious chicken wings and all the big (and so not big) games.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; Thursdays feature Jäger bombs and Irish car bombs for $5; Fridays offer lime cosmos for $4; Sundays mean Bloody Marys for $3
Recommended Drink: Absolut Vanilla White Russians or Finlandia lime cosmos
Location: 35 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach (561/276-3663)
Bull Bar
An upscale, nautically-themed hangout that features live music on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Smoking is permitted.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; Wednesday is Ladies’ Night
Specialty Drink: Mojito
Location: 2 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach
561/274-8001
Cafe del Mar
Food, drink, live entertainment and a beachside setting are just a few good reasons to stop by this popular establishment. Freestyle Sundays offer free drinks for ladies and Party 93.1-FM DJ Raul Rocdahouse; Thursday is ladies night with two-for-one Absolut specials; Friday features two-for-one Vox drinks; Saturday is Greygoose Vodka night with two-for-ones.
Happy Hour: 3-10 p.m. daily
Recommended Drink: Del Mar Punch, a party in a glass made with vodka and tropical juices; or the Café Del Monster, a scary mix of peach schnapps, Bacardi orange and Monster Energy Drink
Location: 213 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (954/767-8233; www.cafedelmarbeach.com)
Café Iguana
This 25,000-square-foot dance megaplex features 88 televisions and eight Bars, including the exclusive VIP Martini Bar. The « Red Zone » features a 25-foot-long Bar made of ice that is surrounded by big screen TV’s.
Happy Hour: 4-8 p.m. Fridays with Y-100; Sam Madison’s Martini Mondays featuring two-for-one martinis
Specialty Drink: Apple and watermelon martinis
Location: 8358 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines
954/433-8787; www.cafeiguanapines.com
Cagney’s Bar and Grill
This neighborhood sports bar has nine televisions for viewing and billiard tables and dartboards for gaming. Live classic-rock bands perform, and if you’re lucky, you might catch a lingerie show.
Happy Hour: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily; 25-cent wings 8-11 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; Thursday is ladies night
Specialty Drink: Red Snapper, a combo of Crown Royal, amaretto and cranberry juice
Location: 5983 S. University Drive, Davie (954/680-9578)
Canyon
The colors and flavors of the Southwest surround you at this restaurant known for the best margarita in town. It gets noisy and packed during happy hour, but it’s worth bumping elbows for.
Happy Hour: 5:30-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Specialty Drink: Prickly pear margarita
Location: 1818 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (954/765-1950; www.canyonfl.com)
Capone’s
A relative newcomer to Himmarshee Village, Capone’s nonetheless is packed shoulder-to-shoulder most Friday and Saturday nights. The mural on the wall depicting scantily clad women draped over a bar or shaking their butts to the music makes for a reasonably accurate portrayal of the bar’s patrons.
Happy Hour: Three-for-one drinks 5-10 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9-11 p.m. Saturdays; ladies drink free 10 p.m.-close Wednesdays
Specialty Drink: Red Bull and vodka
Location: 310 S.W. Second Ave., Fort Lauderdale (954/524-1969)
Carrabba’s
The young host Fred will show you to your seat for casual Italian dining that doesn’t seem like it comes from a chain restaurant. Dark wood, hanging grapevines (OK, they’re plastic) and the smell of a wood-fired oven can make an Italian grandmother sing That’s Amore. Try the Mezzaluna ravioli or the Italian chicken pizza, which takes your taste buds to a place Domino’s never will.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. nightly
Recommended Drink: Carrabba-Rita, a margarita made with Sauza Gold tequila, amaretto, triple sec and fresh lime juice
Location: 2224 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., West Palm Beach (561/615-8900; www.carrabbas.com)
Cathode Ray
This ultra-popular gay bar has four distinct environments: a sports bar with pool table, dart games and bleachers; a romantic piano bar; the main bar, which boasts a small dance floor and a wall of TV screens; and finally, the front sidewalk, where smokers mingle on benches. Mondays are comedy nights; Two-for-Tuesdays feature live music; Wednesdays are Gaymetine; Thursdays are mixers nights and include Stoli cosmos for $2.50 and a live show by Monica Moore. Fridays keep you moving with techno, hip-hop, retro and $1 shots du jour; and Saturdays feature a Retro Dance Party with Liquid Rainbow and free drink promotions.
Happy Hour: 2-9 p.m. daily
Recommended Drink: The Nicotini, a nicotine-infused martini; and the Black Lung, a Black Russian with nicotine-infused vodka
Location: 1307 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (954/462-8611; www.cathoderayusa.com)
Cayenne Grill
Located in CityPlace, this warm, attractive eatery specializes in Latino-flavored cuisine suited for gringo palates. Sit at a table (inside or outside), a cozy booth or on either side of the long bar, which serves up some great cocktails.
Happy Hour: 5-7 p.m. Sundays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: $2 fresh-squeezed Sauza margaritas
Location: 550 S. Rosemary Ave. (CityPlace), West Palm Beach (561/491-2226)
The Circus Bar and Grill
There aren’t any creepy clowns piling out of cars here, just laid-back folks looking to have a drink or two over games of foosball, pinball, darts or pool. The greatest show on earth at this place, open since 1978, is the award-winning chicken wings, which are served extra wet or slathered with garlic.
Happy Hour: 5-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; $2 domestic beers and well drinks Saturdays and Sundays; all-you-can drink drafts for $5 after 9 p.m. Mondays
Specialty Drink: Crackhouse, with Black Haus blackberry schnapps and cranberry juice
Location: 1461 S.W. 30th Ave., Pompano Beach (954/973-1483; www.circusbar.com)
Clamsters Bar and Grill
A casual local hangout that has a good atmosphere and great food. Take in a friendly game of pool, dance your ass off to live bands Thursdays-Saturdays and try not to clear the house during Tuesday’s karaoke. There’s a smoking section for people who need to light up.
Specialty drink: Budweiser World Select, which is only served in two South Florida bars
Happy hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays
Location: 1391 S. Military Trail, Deerfield Beach, 954/481-3755
Crabby Jack’s
Wood floors, slatted windows, an outside deck and drinks that’ll make you feel seasick are all part of the aye, matey feel of this rustic, nautically themed bar. A full menu offers the bounty of the sea as well as meat and chicken. Bring cotton for your ears for Wednesday karaoke; Sundays are for easy riders during Biker Bash. Smokers are welcome on the outside patio.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: Voodoo Juice, a spirit-raising mix of six different rums and pineapple, cranberry and orange juices
Location: 5425 W. Atlantic Blvd., Margate (954/984-4422; www.crabbyjacksusa.com)
Cricket Club
This country bar is open 22 hours a day for people looking for cold beer and no hassle and offers live country music Fridays and Saturdays. Smokers are welcome.
Happy Hour: Noon-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: Budweiser
Location: 9900 Sandalfoot Blvd., Boca Raton (561/482-7400)
Dakotah 624
After the last meal has been served, this bistro shuns its gourmet air for a late night happy hour geared to the young and beautiful of Atlantic Avenue. DJ Al Johnson plays dance music, and a late-night menu includes crab-stuffed marinated portobello mushrooms, a spicy shrimp cocktail and bison burgers (yes, that kind of bison).
Happy Hour: 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Wednesdays
and Thursdays
Specialty Drink: Fruit-infused martinis with Frïs vodka
Location: 270 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach (561/274-6244; www.dakotah624.com)
Davie Ale House
This large, boisterous hangout for the sports-minded has dozens of TVs showing a variety of games. When football season begins, or if there’s any sort of playoff game, you’ll be lucky if you can find a place to stand. Miami Dolphins and Florida Marlins players hang out here, primarily because of the local hotties looking for an interception.
Happy Hour: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and 10 p.m.-close daily
Recommended Drink: Captain and Pepsi, blending the spiced rum and the cola
Location: 2080 University Drive, Davie (954/236-0062; www.alehouseinc.com)
Davie Junction
Urban cowboys and cowgirls inhabit this country-western haven that offers mechanical bull riding on Wednesdays, line-dancing lessons Wednesdays-Saturdays, and live bands Thursdays-Saturdays.
Happy hour: $10 on Thursdays gets you in and free drinks 9 p.m.-midnight; Fridays are ladies’ nights with $5 cover and free drinks 9 p.m.-midnight for cowgirls; $15 cover on Saturdays with free drinks 9 p.m.-midnight
Specialty drink: Crown Royal with Red Bull
Location: 6311 Orange Drive, Davie (954/581-1132)
The Downtowner
This historic waterfront bar sits on the south side of the New River, with indoor and outdoor seating and a great kitchen. Local blues bands perform in the front room, while national blues and jazz acts frequently play in the larger Maxwell Room. Don’t be shy about participating in a Downtowner tradition: Moon the Jungle Queen as it passes by.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, includes a buffet
Specialty Drink: Rumrunner
Location: 408 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale (954/463-9800; www.downtownersaloon.com)
Elbo Room
This Fort Lauderdale beach institution has been getting people drunk since 1938. Partygoers, spring breakers, beach bums and just plain old bums come here to slug back a few drinks before and after they’ve hit the beach. Go to the Web site at www.elboroom.com to see who’s sitting at the bar on the live Webcam.
Happy Hour: 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 10 a.m.-3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays; Thursday is ladies night with $1 drinks 7 p.m.-close
Recommended Drink: Reece’s rumrunner
Location: 241 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (954/463-4615; www.elboroom.com)
E.R. Bradley’s Saloon
This well-known bar and restaurant is a hit with tourists and locals looking for a few drinks, good conversation and fresh air in a downtown setting. Most of the covered, decklike seating area is open-air, with a small, closed area for people who don’t like a breeze with their tropical drinks and lobster stew.
Specialty drink: Bradley’s Bloody Mary
Happy hour: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Location: 104 Clematis St., West Palm Beach (561/833-3520; www.erbradleys.com)
Florida Tap Room
An open-air waterside eating and drinking establishment with a sports Bar atmosphere, a full menu and 11 handcrafted brews.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Every night
Specialty Drink: Mango Madness
Location: 515 S. Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
954/779-3008; www.floridataproom.com
Foster’s Too
People from all walks of life haunt this laid-back bar, where you just might run into owner Howard Foster, who also runs the original Foster’s in Lake Park. Swig some brews, chow on wings, cue up at one of the pool tables, check out a game on one of the dozen-plus TVs and puff away on your cigs while you’re at it. That’s right, smokers are welcome. Karaoke Thursdays-Sundays, open jam on Wednesdays.
Happy Hour: 7-10 a.m. (yes, A.M.!) and 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: Foster’s draft
Location: 5780 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach (561/640-9414)
The George and Dragon Pub
This popular British pub offers a feast for all the senses. Peruse thousands of pieces of memorabilia, listen to live music, from Hot Rod (Thursdays) to Ready, Steady, Go (Fridays) to the Beatles tribute band Hello/Goodbye (Saturdays). There’s a dance floor, traditional British and American dishes, and an oyster bar to feed your libido.
Specialty drink: Key lime and 007 martinis
Happy hour: 4-7 p.m. daily; two-for-one rum drinks Thursdays; 007 Tuesdays with $3 nine-ounce martinis
Location: 4140 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale (954/568-2207; www.thegeorgeanddragonpub.com)
Georgie’s Alibi
A classic gay hangout that hosts special events each month, including CD release parties, art exhibits and drag shows.
Happy Hour: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday with two-for-one drinks; 9 p.m.-closing on Thursday features $3 Long Island iced teas served in 22-ounce Mason jars
Specialty Drink: Billy’s Cosmopolitan
Location: 2266 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors
954/565-2526; www.georgiesalibi.com
GiGi’s Tavern and Oyster Bar
Upscale and attractive describes the atmosphere and patrons at this Mizner Park restaurant and lounge. Sit in the main dining area, at the bar or on the patio, and sip a specialty martini while letting the ocean’s love potion (oysters) work their magic. Live music five nights a week add to the ambiance.
Happy Hour: 3-10 p.m. daily
Recommended Drink: Dirty banana martini or Key lime martini
Location: 346 Plaza Real, Boca Raton (561/368-4488; www.gigis.com)
G.W. Sharkey’s Raw Bar and Grill
Named after former owner Greg Wentworth, who had a thing for sharks, this rustic sports bar supplies casual fun and, according to the staff, is a lot like Cheers, where, yep, everybody knows your name.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Specialty Drink: $2 Washington apple shots, with whiskey, Apple Pucker and cranberry juice
Location: 2388 N. University Drive, Coral Springs (954/341-9990)
Hamburger Mary’s
Shiny, happy people frequent this laid-back Wilton Manor’s bar and restaurant, where the A/C vents don wigs, feather boas hang like garland, and the tropical drinks are as eye-catching as the wait staff. Need we say more? Oh, we do! Mojitos, baby, go great with the namesake burgers. The word is out on this hangout, so finding a table can be difficult. Mondays are themed Martinis and a Movie, featuring a classic flick and $3 flavored martinis; Tuesdays offer Mary’s House of Blues with live music and drink specials; Saturdays are Mojito Madness; and Sundays feature live reggae bands.
Happy Hour: 2-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; Sunday Bloody Sundays feature Absolut Peppar Bloody Marys for $3
Specialty Drink: Absolut Peppar Bloody Mary; and Skyy Peach, with vodka-soaked peaches on the bottom
Location: 2449 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors (954/567-1320; www.hamburgermarysftl.com)
Harpoon Harry’s
The nautical-inspired décor sets the breezy vibe at this recent addition to Hollywood’s Young Circle. There’s live music for dancing or to enhance the gourmet selections from the raw bar. Watch a game on one of eight TVs or on the giant 107-inch projection screen. Smoking is permitted outside and mist machines on the patio cool the air on hot summer days.
Happy Hour: 5-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: Mango daiquiri
Location: 1814 Harrison St., Hollywood (954/921-6800)
Himmarshee Side Bar
Right in the heart of the Himmarshee district, Sidebar offers an elegant respite from the rowdiness of the neighborhood’s other bars. Sip a cocktail, chit-chat with friends or get to know a new one. Fridays and Saturdays feature live music, usually acoustic or contemporary rock; Wednesdays are Girls Night Out, when unescorted ladies get half off cocktails and entrées from Himmarshee Bar and Grill.
Happy Hour: 5-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; Thursdays offer half price on bottles of wine; Mondays are In the Biz; Saturdays feature premium martinis for $5
Specialty Drink: Sidebar Martini, with Bacardi O, orange liqueur and pineapple, cranberry and orange juices
Location: 210 S.W. Second Street, Fort Lauderdale (954/524-1818; www.himmarshee.com)
Hot Shots Night Club, Sports Bar, Billiards and Grill
Dual-level sports bar features 19 pool tables, steel-tip darts, pop-‘n’-shot basketball and, get this, 75 TVs, including some in the bathrooms so you don’t have to miss a thing. A DJ spins pop and Top 40 hits Tuesdays-Saturdays, and the bar stays open until 3 a.m. on the weekends.
Happy Hour: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; beer and shots specials 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; late-night happy hour midnight-2 a.m. Sundays and Mondays
Recommended Drink: Rob’s upside-down pineapple cake, made with Stoli Vanilla, pineapple juice and grenadine
Location: 3868 N. University Drive, Sunrise (954/748-4232; www.hotshotsbar.com)
Hurricane Alley
Come in from the storm at this Boynton Beach haunt known for its outstanding raw bar. Nautical décor gets you in the seafaring and seafood-eating mood, and a dozen oysters slide down well with an imported beer.
Happy Hour: 4-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Specialty Drink: Yuengling
Location: 529 E. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach (561/364-4008)
J’s Bar
This laid-back lesbian hangout offers pool, darts and video games that are played on the bar’s televisions. Wannabe Indigo Girls can try their pipes during karaoke on Thursdays.
Happy Hour: 9 a.m.-8 a.m. daily
Recommended Drink: Alien secretion, with Midori, Malibu and pineapple juice
Location: 2780 Davie Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (954/581-8400)
J’s Waterfront Grille
Located in the former Bootlegger space, this upscale restaurant features a menu Emeril Lagasse would be proud of. If you can stand the heat or the sun has gone down, sit at one of the open-air dockside tables. Or just chill inside, where you’ll still have a water view.
Happy Hour: 5-7 nightly
Recommended Drink: Prickly cactus pear marg-a-tini
Location: 3003 N.E. 32nd Ave., Fort Lauderdale (954/566-2427; www.jswaterfrontgrille.com)
Johnny V’s
Very sleek, upscale restaurant and lounge on Las Olas Boulevard for people with sophisticated tastes. Enjoy a martini with items from the tapas menu, including avocado salsa and roasted carrot hummus. Cheese plates include fig balsamic-marinated grapes, olives confit and a roasted hazelnut and pear spread.
Happy Hour: Dirty Thirty Thursday, from
5 p.m. until close on Thursdays only
Recommended Drink: Hawaiitini, made with vodka, cointreau, lime, pineapple and cranberry juices
Location: 625 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (954/761-7920)
Karma Lounge
An upscale lounge catering to well-dressed young professionals who love house music and prefer a club experience more refined than the l just turned 21 party crowd.
Happy Hour: Wednesday two-for-one drinks all night and free prickly pear margaritas for women until midnight
Specialty Drink: Prickly pear margarita
Location: 4 W. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
954/523-7159; www.karmafl.com
Kim’s Alley Bar
Two of the best reasons to go to this neighborhood bar, aside from its bar service, pool and ping-pong tables and dartboards, are its sweet-ass jukeboxes. One is dedicated to ’80s bands, including Ratt, Van Halen and Flock of Seagulls, while the other rocks out to Puddle of Mudd, The White Stripes and Incubus.
Specialty Drink: Jamie’s Yummy with Skyy melon vodka, grenadine, orange and pineapple juices
Happy Hour: 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. daily; Tuesdays are $2 Jägermeister shots
Location: 1920 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
954/763-7886; www.kimsalleybar.com
Last Call
Broward County’s new blues headquarters features live local and national bands. There are two full-liquor bars, one skillfully presided over by WKPX radio host Dar McCauley of The Sunday Blues With Dar. A cheerful, convivial place to drink and hear some lively tunes. Open until 4 a.m. and smoker-friendly.
Happy hour: 4-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, plus a late-night happy hour 1-4 a.m. daily. Two-for-one drinks on Fridays with complimentary buffet; Blues and Bike Night on Tuesdays with $2 Jack Daniel’s shots and a special biker menu; Wednesdays are ladies’ nights with $3 Smirnoff martinis for the fairer sex
Specialty drink: Flaming Dr. Pepper shots
Location: 5280 N. State Road 7, Fort Lauderdale (954/733-0990)
Luce Restaurant and Bar
This 2 1/2-month old eatery is the newest gem in downtown Hollywood. The long, narrow interior has tables on one side and a bar on the other, perfect for a first date and intimate enough to keep an old romance fresh.
Specialty drink: French Kiss martini with Grey Goose vodka, raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice
Happy hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Location: 1906 Harrison St., Hollywood, 954/920-2500
Lush
At this intimate and sexy addition to the Fort Lauderdale club scene, you can sip a cocktail at the bar or get to know someone in the postmodern booths. Mondays are Sin Nights, with down-tempo and progressive house music and half off all drinks; Tuesdays take a chill with two-for-one on selected wines and scotch; Wednesdays offer two-for-one premium-infused vodka and rum drinks; Ignite Thursdays keep you raving with DJ Snoozin spinning tribal, deep, tech and funky house over $4 Bacardi and cokes; Deck Fridays feature indie, electro and rock; and Traffic Saturdays offer a roundup to the week’s music and drink specials.
Happy Hour: 7-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: The Lushatini, the house’s version of a sour-apple martini
Location: 3074 N.E. 33rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale (954/675-4772)
The Martini Bar
This club inside Las Olas Riverfront caters to young sophisticates looking for a more mature club experience. The bar is divided into two levels and has an outdoor seating area. The atmosphere is intimate, with dark lighting, draped entrances and illuminated paintings. There’s a piano bar during happy hour and dancing to live Top 40 music later in the evening.
Happy Hour: 4:30-8 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays; Wednesday is ladies night, when ladies drink half-price all night and no cover; Sunday is In the Biz
Specialty Drink: White cosmo, a traditional cosmopolitan with white cranberry juice; and the Dirty Donna, a Ketel One martini with olive juice and olives stuffed with blue cheese
Location: Las Olas Riverfront, 300 S.W. First Ave., second floor, Fort Lauderdale (954/764-4345)
Mai-Kai
Fort Lauderdale’s palm-fronded landmark is more than just a tourist-trap restaurant. It also has a wicked bar that serves legendary tropical drinks for locals who frequent one of the best happy hours in town.
Specialty Drink: Barrel o’rum
Happy Hour: 5-7 p.m. daily, with second drink on the house
Location: 3599 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale
954/563-3272; www.maikai.com
Mama Mia Italian Ristorante
This ultra-popular spot was reportedly Joe DiMaggio’s favorite restaurant. Mama’s serves up delicious and sizable portions of Italian food, plus inventive drinks in a comfortable ambiance. The bar and lounge area are separated from the main room by a curtain, but they’re worlds apart in atmosphere. The lounge area offers a European sensibility, and on M.I.A. Mondays, guest DJs spin for your listening pleasure.
Happy Hour: 3-6:30 p.m. daily
Recommended Drink: Godiva chocolate martini
Location: 1818 S. Young Circle, Hollywood (954/923-0555; www.mialounge.com)
Mangos
This is a great place to watch and meet people. Tourists and locals come for the food, drinks and live music, which ranges from jazz, swing and salsa to rock and hip-hop, depending on the night.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. daily
Recommended Drink: Mangolada, a frozen libation made with mango nectar and rum
Location: 904 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (954/523-5001; www.mangoslasolas.com)
Max’s Grille
A classy spot for a drink and bite, Max’s provides an after-work respite for the harried downtown exec and office grunt. Tropical fish make the rounds in an aquarium behind the bar as you sip a cocktail or glass of wine in this Riverfront oasis. Ask the bartender about specials from the kitchen to go with your libation.
Happy Hour: 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Sundays-Thursdays; Fridays and Saturdays till 4 a.m.
Recommended Drink: The Wake-Up Call, a blend of raspberry vodka, Red Bull and a splash of cranberry juice
Location: 300 S.W. First Ave., Las Olas Riverfront, Fort Lauderdale (954/779-1800)
McGuinness Bar and Restaurant
This Irish pub in the former Danny’s Sly Fox location offers a cozy, dark-wood interior and warm Irish service. There is outdoor seating and live music on weekends, featuring Scott Avery on Saturdays. If you need some solid food to absorb the beer, try the steak tidbits.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Specialty Drink: Irish coffee, with real whipped cream, not the canned stuff
Location: 3537 Galt Ocean Mile, Fort Lauderdale (954/561-8444)
Moby Dick
Find a whole lotta love at this new rock ‘n’ roll sports bar named for the Led Zeppelin instrumental. It features include a full menu, pool tables, one giant-screen and 28 regular TVs. You might be dazed and confused during Wednesday karaoke; ladies can enjoy free vino in the evening 7-11 p.m. Thursday. It won’t be a long time till you rock ‘n’ roll with live music on Fridays and Saturdays; and you can’t be trampled underfoot on Lazy Sundays.
Happy Hour: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; late-night happy hour 8 p.m.-close Sundays
Recommended Drink: Blue Bonzo, with blue curacao and vodka
Location: 6169 Jog Road, Lake Worth (561/491-8660; www.mobydickrock.com)
Mon Ami
College students flock to this restaurant/bar in droves, especially to the outer Skyy Bar, which specializes in, but is not limited to, an array of drinks made with Skyy vodka.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays
Specialty Drink: Pineapple upside-down cake, with pineapple and vanilla vodkas, light crème de cacao, and pineapple and cranberry juices
Location: 1400 Glades Road, Boca Raton (561/394-2428)
Muddy Waters
This restaurant and raw bar might be the closest you’ll get to the Keys, sans water. The nautical décor provides an island vibe, and the mixed drinks really do send you on vacation. Every Monday is Jimmy Buffett Day with $2.50 margaritas and 50-cent clams and oysters; Floribbean dress is encouraged. Tuesdays and Thursdays are karaoke nights; Fridays feature live entertainment.
Happy Hour: 2-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: Muddy’s Turbo Mary with Ketel One vodka, homemade Bloody Mary mix accented with a splash of conch turbo sauce, Old Bay celery-salted rim and peppered olives; also, Muddy’s Sailor Jerry’s Painkiller, with Sailor Jerry spiced rum, Coco López and pineapple and orange juices. It comes in two strengths: headache and migraine!
Location: 2237 E. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach (954/428-5577)
Oh!
Owner Tibore is almost always present to make sure patrons are having a good time at this upscale sports bar with a European-Caribbean vibe. It’s a great place to watch sports, especially World Cup soccer games, when they break out the big-screen TV. It’s a keg party every Thursday with $5 beer until the keg runs dry; Friday is International Night with DJ Sergio spinning Latin, Spanish, Brazilian, house and hip-hop; Noche Latina takes over every Saturday with live Latin rock and DJs playing the best in salsa, rock en español and more; and Sundays get mellow with acoustic soul.
Happy Hour: 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: Mojito-tini, a marriage of two exquisite drinks, made with fresh mint
Location: 171 S.E. First St., Boca Raton (561/955-1238)
The Old Key Lime House
An informal, old Florida seafood house on the water where you can drink at the tiki bar and let time slip by. Arrive at dusk and see the fish jumping. Local seafood and Key lime pie are always available.
Happy Hour: 4-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Specialty Drink: Rumrunners
Location: 302 E. Ocean Ave., Lantana (561/582-1889)
The Original Steakhouse and Sports Theater
Sports and red meat provide the theme here. Excellent steaks are served at the bar, where nine TVs are perched theater-style, and at booths and tables, where a speaker box allows you to listen to games. Energetic servers make you feel as if you’re more than some NASCAR knucklehead.
Happy Hour: 4-8 p.m. Monday-Fridays
Recommended Drink: Stealth martini, a silent but deadly mix of Stoli and orange juice with a splash of Sprite
Location: CityPlace, 700 Rosemary Ave., upstairs, West Palm Beach (561/833-1400)
Pier Top Lounge
A slowly rotating nightspot with live music and dancing atop the 16-floor Hyatt Regency Pier 66 hotel, Pier Top offers a one-of-a-kind panorama of Fort Lauderdale and beyond, beginning with the 66-second glass-elevator ride to the top floor. Sip cocktails while the room spins one full revolution every 66 minutes, providing views of the beach to the east and the setting sun to the west. An outdoor observation deck provides fresh air at high altitude.
Happy Hour: Tuesday two-for-one drinks, free hors d’oeuvres and live music
Specialty Drink: Anything this high up is already special
Location: 2301 S.E. 17th St. Causeway,
Fort Lauderdale (954/525-6666; www.pier66.hyatt.com)
Player’s
Considered one of the best restaurants in Palm Beach County, this club scores high on atmosphere, service and, best of all, food. Don’t be surprised by all the polo items, after all, you’re in Wellington. Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, you can ask the piano man to play you a song. Smokers welcome at the outside bar.
Happy Hour: 5-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: Sex on the Polo Field, a galloping mix of Smirnoff raspberry, Midori, Chambord, grapefruit and cranberry juices
Location: 13410 South Shore Blvd., Wellington (561/795-0080)
Porter’s
St. Thomas Aquinas alumnus and former Buffalo Bill Daryl Porter owns this laid-back lounge with a sports-bar vibe. Pool tables, a dart room and the dance floor will keep you occupied if the drinks don’t knock you out. Tuesdays and Saturdays feature karaoke; Sundays are Blitz, with reggae, dancehall, hip-hop and soca music. Wednesdays invite poets to share their rhyme and reason.
Happy Hour: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily; Thursday is ladies night with two-for-one drinks; Wednesday is guys night with two-for-one drinks
Recommended Drink: Daryl Porter’s special punch, a secret blend of vodka and fruit juices
Location: 4535 N. Pine Island Road, Sunrise (954/741-6850; www.portersplace.biz)
Rooney’s Mouse Trap
This is an unpretentious bar that serves all kinds, from the businessman on his way home from another debilitating, spirit-crushing day on the job to the 21-year-old out for his first (legal) drink. There are pool tables and dartboards, breakup songs on the jukebox, televised sports and the freedom to smoke until your lungs turn black.
Happy Hour: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
Recommended Drink: Stars and stripes shots, a patriotic blend of vodka, grenadine and blue curaçao
Location: 2730 N. State Road 7, Margate (954/972-2256)
Rooney’s Public House
What you expect an Irish pub to be: warm, dark, woodsy and perfect for good food, good conversation and good drinks. Nurse a pint of Guinness or Harp, have some fish and chips and sing Danny Boy until everyone is in tears.
Happy hour: 4-6 p.m. Monday-Friday
Specialty drinks: Rooney’s Irish Cream and Rooney’s Red Ale
Location: 213 Clematis St., West Palm Beach (561/833-7802)
Rosey
Rosey has long been a neighborhood favorite, drawing locals with its laid-back ambiance, zesty New Orleans cuisine (including its signature spicy Louisiana crawfish) and live roots music on Friday and Saturday nights. Area musicians from Diane Ward to The Regulators frequently blow the roof off, and the schedule includes the occasional out-of-town blues band.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: Alabama Slammer, a potent mix of alcohol that’ll slow your Southern drawl to a crawl
Location: 4587 N. University Drive, Lauderhill (954/749-5627; www.roseybaby.com)
Round-Up
Cowgirls looking for sexy cowboys can scream hell yeah at this ultra-popular country bar. A giant dance floor is ready for your boot-scoot boogying.
Happy Hour: Wednesdays are ladies nights, when ladies drink free 8 p.m.-1 a.m.; Thursdays are Sink or Swim, with $10 admission and all you can drink beginning at 9 p.m.; Beach Bash on Fridays means free drinks 8-10 p.m., a free buffet after midnight and a best-buns contest for the ladies; Saturdays are $2 shots all night; Sundays are family nights, with all ages welcome
Recommended Drink: Jäger Bomb, a shot of Jägermeister dropped in a glass of Red Bull
Location: 9020 State Road 84, Davie (954/423-1990; www.roundupcountry.com)
Roy’s Sports Bar and Grill
Neighborhood hangout features live bands, good bar grub, televised sports, pool tables, darts and electronic games. Every Wednesday is ladies night 9 p.m.-midnight; every Thursday is karaoke night with DJ Ace.
Happy Hour: Noon-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: Malibu Lifesaver, all three flavors of Malibu rum, mixed with grenadine and orange juice
Location: 8000 W. Sample Road, Margate (954/255-8108; www.royssportsbar.com)
Rush Street
Combine the slick scene of a martini bar with the booty-shakin’ vibe of a dance club and you get Rush Street. One of the few places in Himmarshee Village that regularly charges a cover, Rush Street nevertheless attracts plenty of well-dressed people who want to exorcise the dance demons.
Happy Hour: 4-8 p.m. Fridays
Recommended Drink: Extra dry, very dirty Ketel One martini
Location: 220 S.W. Second St., Fort Lauderdale (954/522-6900; www.rushstreetbar.com)
Samba Room
Three plantains up! The very handsome, Havana-style room features a swerving bar and a couple of congas here and there. Downtown professionals crowd the place after a long day of pushing paper.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, with half-price appetizers. Wednesday is ladies’ night, when ladies receive two-for-one drinks 7 p.m.-close; Thursdays offer $5 martinis all night
Specialty Drink: Traditional mojitos, as well as mango mojitos, made with mango purée and Bacardi
Location: 350 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (954/468-2000; www.crww.com/sambaroom)
Seminole Casino Palm Café and Bar
After sinking all your dough in the slots, have a drink to dull the pain. Now in the shadow of its new sibling in Hollywood, this earlier foray into legalized gambling in Broward County offers 30,000 square feet filled with more than 800 gaming machines, speed bingo, a poker room, a café and a bar.
Happy Hour: 5-8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays
Recommended Drink: The Blue Shark, a frozen concoction that will have you feeling as if you’ve won big, even if you go home broke
Location: 5550 N.W. 40th St., Coconut Creek (866/2-CASINO)
Sonar
The glam, the chic and the hip frequent this upscale and semi-underground nightspot decorated with a retro-futuristic touch. The sound system plays house and electronic music, while the menu offers an extensive list of martinis and designer drinks and tasty Moroccan-inspired hors d’oeuvres. A gallery within the club features a new artist each month; check out the works of Brazilian photographer Beatriz Ricco through April.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; on Fridays, ladies pay no cover until 11 p.m. and drink free until midnight
Specialty Drink: Funny Juice, a vodka drink served in a tall glass with an ice cube that lights up
Location: 2006 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood (954/920-8777; www.sonarniteclub.com)
South Shores Tavern and Patio
Another hidden gem in downtown Lake Worth, this establishment doesn’t look like much on the outside, but once inside, you’re taken to a place far, far away. The tropical patio and bar area is a favorite hangout for locals, and the inside is a great spot to enjoy casual dining. Live music three nights a week keeps you in a Top 40 or reggae vibe. Don’t miss the fried grouper fingers or Asian salad with seared tuna.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays
Recommended Drink: Chieko’s Bloody Mary
Location: 502 Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth (561/547-7656)
Surf Cafe
Shunning the snooty Boca Raton stereotype, this long-standing bar plays host to lots of young bands looking for a place to perform. There’s plenty of surf décor, surfing videos on seven TVs and a laid-back surfer atmosphere.
Happy hour: Noon-8 p.m. daily, Fridays
until 10 p.m.
Specialty drink: Surf shots, a yummy combo of rum and tropical juices, on Wednesdays
Location: 395 N.E. Spanish River Blvd., Boca Raton (561/392-1965)
Sushi Blues Café and Blue Monk Lounge
Last year, Sushi Blues moved from its longtime location on Young Circle to stylish, more-spacious digs on Harrison Street. In addition to delicious, eclectic Asian fare, the café serves up live blues Wednesdays through Saturdays from saxophone-playing owner Kenny Millions and his band, plus local acts and headliners hailing from Chicago and Louisiana. Chill out with a vodka gimlet in a metallic martini glass at the bar or kick back in the Blue Monk Lounge, replete with retro décor and classic photos of jazz legends such as Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and, of course, Thelonious Monk.
Happy Hour: 5-7 Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: Sour-apple martini or vodka gimlet
Location: 2009 Harrison St., Hollywood (954/929-9650; www.sushiblues.com)
Swig Bartini
Upscale without the attitude is the motto at this Weston establishment. Sit at one of three bars, shake it out on the dance floor, feed your face in the dining area or watch games on the television sets positioned around the room. The interior features brick walls, maple-wood-and-steel accents, contemporary furniture covered in an eclectic array of fabrics and granite-topped bars.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: Purple Rain, a stormy mix of Grey Goose vodka, DeKuyper Grape Pucker, Sprite, sour mix and an edible orchid
Location: 1744 Main Street, Weston (954/349-2102; www.swigbartini.com)
Tarpon Bend
This place likes to promote itself as laid-back, but on the weekends, it’s anything but. Young romance seekers come for the food, the drinks and the menu of first-date prospects who jam the place indoors and out, especially Friday nights. Live alternative, rock and pop bands perform during the week.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 4-9 p.m. Fridays; get two-for-one wings, plus Smirnoff vodka drinks and 16-ounce Amstel Light and Heineken drafts for $3, on Thursdays and Saturdays through Mondays
Recommended Drink: Silver King, made with Bacardi Light rum, blackberry and banana liqueurs, lime juice and grenadine, with a Bacardi 151 floater
Location: 200 S.W. Second St., Fort Lauderdale (954/523-3233; www.tarponbend.com)
Taverna Opa
Have a big, fat, good Greek time at this very loud, very raucous and very fun restaurant where you can dance on the tables and break dishes without getting tossed out. Traditional food rivals what you’d find in a rustic Greek eatery.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. daily
Recommended Drink: Ouzo, the licorice-flavored drink of Greece that’ll have you yelling opa!
Location: 410 N. Ocean Drive, Hollywood (954/929-4010); and 3051 N.E. 32nd Ave., Fort Lauderdale (954/567-1630)
Turn 3 Sports
By day, the hard-working, blue-collar crowd stops by for brewskis and some food. At night, the young and the restless take over this neighborhood hangout. Live music rocks the crowd Thursdays-Saturdays; Sundays and Mondays mean free pool; Tuesdays offer an eight-ball pool tournament. Other entertainment includes darts, megatouch games and a jukebox that has more than 100,000 downloaded songs.
Specialty Drink: Carrie Ann’s margarita, shaken, not stirred
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Location: 23032 Sandalfoot Plaza Drive, Boca Raton
561/483-1964; www.turn3sportsbar.com
Ugly Mug
This neighborhood bar for working folk has pool tables, televisions, electronic darts and good food, especially the chicken wings and Philly steak subs. Live rock bands play on weekends, but there is also a great jukebox for your weeknight listening pleasure.
Happy Hour: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; all day and night Sundays
Specialty Drink: pitcher of Bud Lite
Location: 5065 W. Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach (561/498-0634)
The Whale’s Rib
This place is probably what everyone from up nawth thinks a South Florida honky-tonk should be. It offers shabby-chic, sea-shanty décor; great seafood; reasonable drink prices; and regular customers dressed in bikinis, baggies and flip-flops.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: The Whaler, with Bacardi Limón and cranberry and pineapple juices
Location: 2031 N.E. Second St., Deerfield Beach (954/421-8880)
Who Restaurant and
In this large, two-level establishment with room for live music and dancing, the real star is televised sports, with TVs perched throughout so you won’t miss any of your favorite games. Chris MacDonald performs Memories of Elvis on occasion, but if he’s not there and you desperately need to hear Heartbreak Hotel, karaoke is every Wednesday.
Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays
Recommended Drink: Jack and Coke
Location: 3035 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach (561/276-7888; www.whosdelraybeachfl.com)
Your Place Lounge
If there’s one good thing in Margate, Your Place Lounge is it. This smoker-friendly hangout has pool tables, darts, big-screen TVs, live music and a friendly bar staff. Sundays are In the Biz, and Tuesdays have two-for-one drinks. Wednesdays are ladies’ nights; Fridays offer a lingerie show.
Specialty Drink: Jäger Bombs, Jägermeister mixed with Red Bull
Happy Hour: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Fridays with full buffet
Location: 1021 N. State Road 7, Margate (954/933-0059)
Zook’s
This central Palm Beach County hangout has live music six nights a week (you can’t rock all the time), sporting events on 27 TVs, pool tables, bar-top trivia machines and ultimate nachos big enough to choke a horse. Saturdays feature a hot-rod-and-custom-car show from 4 p.m. until the last person peels out. Smokers are welcome.
Happy Hour: 5-7 p.m. daily with free hors d’oeuvres; Wednesday is ladies night, when ladies drink free 9 p.m.-midnight
Recommended Drink: Malibu pineapple lifesaver, or the Dale Earnhardt Wallbanger (tastes best during NASCAR)
Location: 1999 S. Military Trail, West Palm Beach (561/969-3234)