Upscale Lounges in Miami Beach

Setai Hotel Lounge

Visions of intimate conversation laced with a hint of romance can quickly fall by the wayside in the fast paced world of South Beach nightlife. Drama at the velvet ropes followed by a jam-packed club scene can often wrench the last bit of passion from ones nocturnal plans, but for those in the know, Miami Beach offers numerous opportunities for an amorous evening out on the town. Here's our list of Upscale Lounges.

SETAI LOUNGE BAR
2001 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL
The Setai is a South Beach landmark which effortlessly draws on the elegance of the city's history, while blending in modern Asian traditions of simplicity and tranquility. The Lounge Bar is a sophisticated space defined by clean lines and natural materials like stone and wood.

The long, low bar, dim lighting and cozy leather chairs offer the ideal atmosphere for lingering over cocktails with that special someone whether it's on the first date or the tenth. The room's main attraction is a wall with floor-to-ceiling wine cabinets that showcase an impressive and extensive selection of champagnes and wines. The menu offers an array of light bites and a rich assortment of caviar from around the world, which is alone reason enough to stop in for an indulgent dinner or late night rendezvous.

MARTINI BAR at the RALEIGH HOTEL
1775 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL
The Raleigh Hotel is the quintessential Art Deco hotspot. Terrazzo floors, polished wood finishes, classic bar stools and jazz lulling in the background make it the ultimate place to linger long after the sun has gone down. André Balazs of New York's Mercer and Los Angeles' Standard fame, refurbished the hotel to its original 1940's splendor before moving on to other endeavors and the revelers have followed accordingly.

Even if you aren't a guest at the hotel, the Martini Bar is a must-see - it's as intimate and sexy as they come. You can expect a full-service bar complete with a nice wine selection, but as you probably guessed, the martini is de rigueur. How you take yours is completely up to you, but they offer a menu of more than ten different flavors, including the famous Raleigh Martini. Dress to impress because you never know whom you might be rubbing elbows with here.

VUE TERRACE at the HOTEL VICTOR
1144 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach, FL
Hotel Victor is a hidden gem amid the bustle of Ocean Drive. But this isn't your average Ocean Drive type venue - locals and in-the-know visitors flock to the hotel's Spice Route-inspired restaurant, Vix, and stylish, but not-too-trendy Passages Bar and Vue Terrace.

Created by famed Parisian designer Jacques Garcia, Hotel Victor is located adjacent to the infamous Versace Mansion, and you can bet that with clout like that it only attracts the cream of the crop. Vue Terrace. Guests relax on beds while taking in the sultry South Beach atmosphere (read: beautiful people, perfect weather and tasty tapas). Head over to Vue Terrace after a long day at the beach or before a late party night and enjoy two-for-one cocktails and complimentary hors d'oeuvres - sans the college kids and typical tourists.

LAPIDUS LOUNGE
at the RITZ-CARLTON SOUTH BEACH HOTEL
One Lincoln Road
Miami Beach, FL
The Lapidus Lounge, one of only three jazz clubs on Miami Beach, features live music six nights a week and specializes in sexy, retro cocktails like the Sidecar and the Harvey Wall Banger. If you and your date prefer something a little more refined, they also offer an accessible wine list and a lovely selection of champagnes.

This fashionable, upscale bar is a tribute to the renowned 1950's architect Morris Lapidus, who designed the DiLido hotel, and is located adjacent to the resort's signature eatery Americana. While the Lapidus Lounge is most definitely a cozy date destination in itself, it's also the perfect place to stop for a nibble after a night out on the town. Carousers can feast on gourmet dishes that include three cheese crab quesadillas, crispy calamari and grilled tenderloin burgers. After the live music ends, the lounge transforms into a spacious setting with a live DJ and plenty of dancing.

MOKAI
235 23rd Street
Miami Beach, FL
Mokai was inspired by the huge canyon in New Zealand where Lord of the Rings was filmed, and is South Beach's latest VIP-only enclave. Nicola Siervo (who gave us Bang, Bar None, Joia and Mynt) joined forces with ex-NBA star Rony Seikaly and the Hotel Astor's Karim Masri to bring this high-concept lounge to 23rd and Collins that is now operated by the Opium Group. (Siervo and Masri now head up Wall Lounge at the W South Beach Hotel.)

The futuristic décor consists of chain mail drapery, eye-catching banquettes covered with burnt-orange alligator skins, hand-carved wooden ottomans, sterling-silver tables and an ultramodern custom lighting system. The kitchen is open until 5 am where they'll serve a light menu tapas like mini cheeseburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches, but you'll need more than a grumbling stomach and an ID to get in. Whoever is working the door will be nothing less than hyper-selective, so it's best to book a table for bottle service if you don't want to spend your night mingling on the wrong side of the velvet rope. However, once inside you'll discover Miami's finest, guaranteed not to disappoint.