By Juliana Savoia Group
Coconut Grove has always had a social character that sets it apart from the rest of Miami. The banyan-shaded streets, the waterfront proximity, and the neighborhood's long history as a gathering place for artists, sailors, and free spirits have produced a bar scene that values personality over flash. These three spots each reflect that in their own way, from a rooftop with Spanish-influenced cocktails above the treetops to Miami's oldest liquor license and a cocktail den modeled after a midcentury living room.
Key Takeaways
- Discover Level 6 Rooftop Restaurant, where handcrafted cocktails, an exceptional sparkling wine selection, and Spanish-influenced fare come together above the Coconut Grove skyline.
- Learn what makes The Taurus a Miami institution, from its claim to the city's oldest liquor license to Thursday night comedy, late-night happy hours, and the most beloved neighborhood bar atmosphere in the Grove.
- Find out what Mae's Room delivers in its intimate 750-square-foot cocktail den, where veteran bartender Tom Lasher-Walker executes classic drinks with the precision they deserve.
Level 6 Rooftop Restaurant
Level 6 sits above Coconut Grove with views of the neighborhood's canopy and a cocktail program that earns its elevation. The Spanish-influenced bar menu covers a range of styles, from bold and spirit-forward to bright and refreshing, with each drink built around local herbs, seasonal fruits, and distinctive flavors rather than off-the-shelf mixers.
What to Order at Level 6
- The wine program leans into sparkling wines with notable depth, covering vintage and grower Champagnes alongside bottles from emerging winemakers, available by the glass or bottle for guests who want to explore beyond cocktails.
- The Cesar Florido Moscatel Dorado is the dessert cocktail worth ordering before the evening winds down, a floral and citrus-forward wine surrounded by notes of apricot, toasted nuts, and honey that finishes the night on a genuinely memorable note.
- The handcrafted cocktail menu changes with the season, keeping the bar experience fresh for regulars who return consistently enough to have worked through the list.
- The rooftop setting makes Level 6 a natural choice for a first drink of the evening, with the outdoor atmosphere most enjoyable in the cooler months when Coconut Grove's weather is at its best.
The Taurus
The Taurus holds Miami's oldest liquor license, a distinction that would be a mere piece of trivia if the bar had not also earned its reputation as the neighborhood's most beloved gathering place on its own merits. Comedy nights, live sports, karaoke, and a bar food menu that South Floridians consistently rank among their favorites have kept The Taurus relevant across decades while the neighborhood around it changed considerably.
What to Know About The Taurus
- Thursday night comedy shows are a fixture on the calendar and draw a consistent crowd of Grove regulars who treat the Taurus as a weekly social anchor rather than an occasional destination.
- The late-night happy hour from 10 PM to close, Sunday through Thursday, offers a Cosmopolitan, Old Fashioned, Margarita, and other classics at eight dollars, making it one of the better value propositions for a nightcap in the neighborhood.
- The patio gives the bar an outdoor dimension that suits Coconut Grove's climate and the neighborhood's preference for fresh air over enclosed spaces.
- The whiskey and beer selection reflects the bar's identity as a specialist rather than a generalist, with a depth in those categories that casual bar menus rarely match.
The Taurus is the bar you bring out-of-town guests to when you want to show them what the Grove actually feels like on a regular Tuesday night.
Mae's Room
Mae's Room is named for the Bronx-born artist and hostess whose imagined living room provides the concept for the space, and the 750-square-foot interior delivers on that premise fully. Midcentury furnishings, a curated soundtrack, and a cocktail program focused entirely on flawless execution of classic drinks give Mae's Room a warmth and specificity that most cocktail bars of any size struggle to achieve.
What Makes Mae's Room Worth Seeking Out
- Veteran bartender Tom Lasher-Walker runs the program with an emphasis on getting the classics right, which means a martini, an old-fashioned, or a daiquiri here is held to a standard that the volume and chaos of larger bars rarely allow.
- Favorite specialty cocktail: Second Marriage, a spirit-forward blend of Bourbon, Calvados, PX Sherry, and Angostura Bitters served on a rock with an orange twist.
- The intimate scale of the room creates a social experience that feels more like being invited into someone's home than stepping into a bar, which is the effect the concept is designed to produce and which it achieves consistently.
- Mae's Room is the right choice when the evening calls for a genuine conversation over a well-made drink rather than background noise and distraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these bars is best for a large group?
The Taurus is the most accommodating for larger groups, with a patio, multiple seating areas, and an event-driven programming calendar that suits parties and gatherings of any size. Level 6's rooftop also handles groups well, particularly for a pre-dinner drinks gathering. Mae's Room, at 750 square feet, is better suited to small groups or couples who want an intimate experience.
Are reservations recommended at any of these spots?
Level 6 Rooftop and Mae's Room benefit from advance reservations, particularly on weekends when demand for limited seating is highest. The Taurus operates primarily as a walk-in neighborhood bar, and its layout absorbs crowds well without requiring advance planning.
Which spot has the best happy hour value?
The Taurus offers the most straightforward happy hour value with its late-night program from 10 PM to close, Sunday through Thursday, where classic cocktails are available at eight dollars. For guests who arrive earlier in the evening, Level 6's wine-by-the-glass program offers strong value given the quality of the selection.
The Best of Coconut Grove Starts With the Right Address
Evenings like these are part of daily life for Coconut Grove residents, and knowing which neighborhood puts you closest to the Grove's best bars, restaurants, and waterfront access is part of what makes choosing the right home here so meaningful. We know this community in depth and love helping buyers find their ideal Coconut Grove property. Contact Juliana Savoia Group to start your home search.
