Three bars in Miami and Miami Beach were just voted the best in North America

It’s no secret Miami is home to many bars.

Many, many bars.

And three of those bars were just named the best in North America.

A new annual list that celebrates the cocktail industry, North America’s 50 Best Bars announced its first group of winners in New York Tuesday night, and three local hot spots made the cut: Café La Trova in Little Havana at no. 6; Sweet Liberty in Miami Beach at no. 11; and Broken Shaker in Miami Beach at no. 32.

The list was created by 220 drinks experts from Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean.

50 Best Bars praised Café La Trova for its “traditional (and theatrical) cantinera style created by Constantine Ribalaigua at Havana’s El Floridita. Typically, the bartenders are busy throwing Hotel Nacionals (rum, apricot liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice, simple syrup) through the air or dramatically shaking a Daiquiri (rum, lime juice, simple syrup). Yet, the dinner jacket-uniformed staff also find time to pick up maracas and play along with the house Son Cubano band.” (El Floridita made the list, too, at no. 40.)

Master Cantinero Julio Cabrera, co-owner of Café La Trova, said the recognition in the inaugural list means a lot to the staff at the retro Cuban bar and restaurant.

“It is not just recognition for our hard work,” said Cabrera, who with Chef Michelle Bernstein opened Café La Trova in 2019. “It is recognition for everything we represent — the Miami cocktail community; the authentic Cantinero style; and the Latin immigrant community who come to this country to follow their dreams.”

Sweet Liberty was noted for its huge menu and classics from its late creator, mixology master John Lermayer, who died in 2019. 50 Best Bars praised drinks like the classic Giant’s Milk (rum agricole, dark rum, condensed milk, passionfruit, pressed lime, cinnamon) as well as new creations like the Banana Negroni (scotch, Italian bitters, vermouth, fresh banana, Szechuan pepper, sesame oil, chocolate bitters, smoke).

Located at the Freehand Miami hotel, Broken Shaker caught voters’ attention with its laid-back outdoor bar and colorful and original tiki drinks, such as the Shaker Hopper (gin, creme de cacao, creme de menthe and amaro coconut-milk foam).

Gabriel Orta, founder of Broken Shaker, says that while the quality of cocktails, food and service are all important, the overall ambiance of the venue makes it special.

“When we started, there was no bar scene, just nightclubs or dive bars or restaurants,” he said. “What we always wanted was to create a place that makes you feel good. We wanted people to come in and be themselves. That’s the feeling when you walk into the property. . . . It’s a place that feels like home.”

50 Best Bars named Attaboy on New York’s Lower East Side the best bar in North America. It doesn’t even have a menu: Each drink is custom-made for the guest after a chat with the bartender.

Café La Trova, 971 SW Eighth St., Miami; www.cafelatrova.com

Sweet Liberty, 237-B 20th St.., Miami Beach; www.mysweetliberty.com

Broken Shaker, 2727 Indian Creek Dr., Miami Beach; www.brokenshaker.com

This story was originally published June 8, 2022 at 12:46 PM.