Gay bars miami fl

Just make sure you make a reservation!

I visited for lunch, where the menu consists of three courses for just $38 per person, with plenty of choice to suit me. So, I grabbed a Starbucks, and set off walking down the Ocean Drive seafront promenade.

The walk itself is beautiful – and what I loved the most about walking down the promenade is that all the iconic images you picture when you think about Miami become a reality – people roller skating, topless men working out on the sand, power walkers with their morning coffees and smoothies, and countless joggers sprinting alongside their dogs!

I walked down the paved promenade all the way to South Pointe Park – a beautiful green space right at the southern-most tip of Miami Beach.

Sadly, its days are numbered: Owner Adam Gersten recently announced the bar will close in January 2026.

Palace Bar

1052 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach
305-531-7234
palacesouthbeach.com A South Beach institution since 1988, Palace Bar is world-renowned. The sauna is open daily, but operating hours vary depending on weekday and weekend, as well as entry hours varying depending on if you are a hotel guest or a visit so it’s best to check locally before arrival.

Address: 1409 Lincoln Rd F1, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Club Aqua, Coral Gables, Downtown Miami

Club Aqua is the other main sauna in Miami, located downtown, and is actually more of a ‘health-club’ with its wide range of amenities:

• Fully equipped gym
• Steam room
• Dry sauna
• Outdoor pool
• Sundeck
• Video lounge

Despite all the above offerings, Club Aqua is actually very reasonably priced, with a one-off visit costing just $12 on a weekday, and $15 on a weekend, (both plus tax).

A friendly staff and robust calendar featuring Karaoke Mondays, Trivia Wednesdays, and Bingo Thursdays match entertainment with libations. Whilst it’s technically ‘not legal’ to be nude in Florida, Haulover Beach has an officially designated clothing-optional area, the only one in the entire state.

I have written a detailed guide to both of these Miami gay beaches and how to find them, as well as a couple of other beaches you may wish to visit, here.

Gay Saunas in Miami

Despite being such a gay-friendly destination, there are actually not many gay saunas in Miami.

It’s the mantra of Twist, one of Miami’s longest-running queer spaces.

R House

2727 NW Second Ave., Miami
305-576-0201
rhousewynwood.com As Wynwood has come to rival South Beach as a Miami entertainment destination, it’s no wonder R House has sprung up. Create an Event and get friends (read some tips on finding new queer friends here) together to check out a queer bar in your city.

And when it comes to things to do for gay travellers, I could of course focus on ‘the usual’ – gay nightlife, the gay scene and relaxing at the gay beach…

But during my most recent visit to Miami, I had more time and wanted to delve a little deeper and experience more of what this destination had to offer – and I was kept busy!

Here are my personal recommendations for what gay travellers should do whilst in Miami.

Treetop Trekking Miami at Jungle Island

This is something that was right up my street!

Treetop Trekking Miami is located at Jungle Island eco-adventure park, on Watson Island (a man-made island connected to both mainland and South Beach by causeway) and is actually South Florida’s only aerial adventure park.

Strapped into a climbing harness (bit different to the harness I would wear the following week on Atlantis!), I explored the jungle canopy as I climbed, swung, navigated suspension bridges and zip-lined through the treetops.

There are a number of different treks you can do, to suit either age or experience, but naturally I had to go for the ‘’Thrill-Seeker’’ Trek – the most challenging option!

You would just walk down 12^th Street until you hit Ocean Drive, cross over onto the beach, and look out for the rainbow painted lifeguard tower, which is even numbered ‘12’.

Haulover Gay Beach is a little further away, roughly 12 miles north of South Beach, and so you would need to use public transport or have access to a car to get here.

Despite quickly becoming a haven for the local LGBTQ+ community, Willy’s Neighborhood Bar has closed. So please be careful with your phone / other belongings.

Twist, South Beach

Twist is quite possibly Miami’s most famous gay bar, having been in operation for almost 30 years.

Every guest room also comes with a private balcony, with incredible ocean views.

And for travellers visiting Miami pre/post-cruising, the hotel is a short taxi ride to the cruise terminals, making it the perfect choice all-round.

Address: 270 Biscayne Blvd Way, Miami, FL 33131

Gay Bars in Miami

Miami Beach, and in fact Greater Miami, has long had a reputation for being a hotspot for LGBTQ+ travellers in search of gay nightlife.

Whether I am looking for a boozy drag brunch or drag show, quiet social drinks with friends, or looking to dance the night away in a nightclub, there is something to suit everyone in Miami.

One thing to note however, which is unfortunate to say, is that like most big cities, some of the gay bars in Miami have a reputation for pickpocketing.

You can start at the old-fashioned downstairs bar before heading upstairs to pulsating EDM beats or dancing to the latest and vintage pop music videos next to a mural of Lady Liberty and end up back downstairs to dance salsa in the Latin room.