Miami treats agave the way it treats everything else: more of it, later, louder. Forbes named Bakan among the best mezcal bars in the country, as Miami New Times reported, and the city kept building anyway.

Four rooms make the circuit, from Wynwood's big backbars to a South Beach lounge with its own mezcalier. Widen out afterward with our Miami cocktail bars guide.

The Anchor

Bakan

Wynwood$$$The Census

Bakan's backbar reads like a Oaxacan census: more than 200 agave labels under one Wynwood roof, curated by master mezcalier Benjamin Vargas. Miami New Times ranks it among the city's 50 best bars, and the mezcal margarita is the gateway order. Flights are the better education; ask Vargas's team to build one around espadin.

The Rooms That Back It Up

Mezcalista

South Beach$$$The Lounge

Inside the Moxy on Washington Avenue, Mezcalista pours from a collection of more than 200 mezcals in a low lit lounge built for slow drinking. The in house mezcalier runs guided tastings, the rare South Beach room that rewards attention over volume. Book the tasting before the night gets loose.

Coyo Taco

Wynwood$$The Back Room

Behind the taco counter at Coyo, an unmarked door opens onto one of Wynwood's best small bars, all agave and vinyl. The tacos out front are the city's favorite late night order; the mezcal in back is the reason to stay. Thursday through Saturday it runs until 03:00.

Bodega Taqueria

South Beach$$The Speakeasy

Bodega hides a full cocktail den behind a fake porta potty door at the back of a taco shop, which is the most Miami sentence in this guide. The agave list outperforms the gag by a wide margin. Go before midnight on weekends or expect a line down Alton Road.

"Bakan's backbar reads like a Oaxacan census. Two hundred labels and a mezcalier to walk you through them."

Why Agave Works Here

Miami's drinking culture runs Latin first, and mezcal slots into the city the way rum always has: as a spirit with a story, drunk late, among food. The Wynwood and South Beach scenes compete openly on list depth.

Expect 14 to 17 dollars for an agave cocktail at the rooms above, with guided tastings from around 40 dollars. Neat pours of rare tobala and pechuga climb fast past 25 dollars.

Practicalities

The circuit splits across the causeway: Bakan and Coyo sit four blocks apart in Wynwood, while Mezcalista and Bodega hold South Beach. Pick one side per night; the ride between them eats 25 minutes.

Miami runs late by American standards. The back rooms hit stride after 23:00 and the kitchens keep pace, so eat where you drink.

Running the Night

Start with a flight at Bakan, take the second round behind Coyo's unmarked door, and save the Mezcalista tasting for a quieter night on the beach side. The full city picture lives in our Miami bar guide and the Miami top 10.

For the global view, our world mezcal guide maps the smoke across 20 cities, and the Houston edition makes the Gulf Coast comparison.

The Verdict

Bakan for the census, Mezcalista for the tasting, Coyo for the back room, Bodega for the door. Miami drinks agave the way it does everything: excessively, and correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Miami bar has the biggest mezcal selection?

Bakan in Wynwood stocks more than 200 agave labels under master mezcalier Benjamin Vargas, a collection Forbes ranked among the best mezcal bars in the United States.

Where can I do a mezcal tasting in Miami?

Mezcalista, inside the Moxy on South Beach, runs guided tastings led by an in house mezcalier drawn from a collection of more than 200 bottles.

How much does mezcal cost in Miami?

Expect 14 to 17 dollars for agave cocktails, guided tastings from around 40 dollars, and rare neat pours climbing past 25 dollars.