While Miami is often recognized as a hotspot for Latin music, there is also a large alternative scene that can be overshadowed by the city’s flashy, mainstream sound. Tucked away in small bars, lounges and underground venues, alternative artists are creating spaces where fans can experience music up close and personal.
This list highlights how the alternative music scene sustains itself and gives audiences a chance to experience a side of the city’s soundscape that’s often overlooked.
Each of these venues are far from perfect. Lagniappe, located in midtown has a cramped seating area, Tea & Poets at Sunset Place, an abandoned mall. But for some reason, these places have a charm that draws people in. This article will break down what exactly makes each venue special, including pricing, ambiance and even artist lineups.
Churchill’s Pub
5501 NE Second Ave.
Miami, FL
Cover: Varies by performance | Drinks: $7–$15
Few venues in Miami are as legendary as Churchill’s Pub. After being shuttered during the pandemic and suffering through management issues, their iconic red door again opened recently. It felt like the return of an old friend. People walked in, eager to reclaim their spot in a place that has always been more than just a bar; for them, it was a temple for punk, rock and underground music.
On the inside, Churchill’s has flat black walls and a stage framed in sharp contrast to the chaos of their famous restrooms. Graffiti and stickers are part of the venue’s trademark.
The sound at Churchill’s is raw, unfiltered and unapologetic. On reopening day, bands like Bruvvy, Adhesive, Miss Michigan, and Tess Grey blasted through sets that carried echoes of classic punk and British grit. There has been an upgrade on the patio as well, which offers a little more breathing room. However, the soul of Churchill’s remains stubbornly the same: messy, loud and unforgettable. It’s not polished; that’s the point. For generations of Miami locals, this is where you go when you want music as restless and unruly as the city itself.
For upcoming shows and events, visit the venue’s website.
Lagniappe House
3425 NE Second Ave.
Miami, FL 33137
Drinks: $6–$12, no cover
One of Miami’s favorite spots to hang out, Lagniappe is tucked away in Midtown Miami and feels like a secret shared among friends. Outside, long picnic tables and hanging lights invite laughter over bottles of wine and charcuterie boards. It’s relaxed and communal, the kind of place where you can sit for hours and never notice the time pass.
Once you are inside, the energy shifts. The indoor stage is small and down to earth, but the intimacy makes every performance feel like it’s happening just for you. Low lighting gives the room a romantic, almost mysterious edge, and if you’re lucky enough to sit near the stage, you’re pulled straight into the music. The sound is balanced, never overwhelming, it allows you to whisper to the friend beside you while enjoying the music.
Lagniappe hosts a rotating lineup of Miami’s best jazz, blues, and indie acts. Some nights you’ll find the Julius Rodgers Trio, playing funk that transforms into a smoky jazz set, while other evenings belong to Melvys, whose R&B-infused vocals and jazz stylings turn the garden into an intimate listening room. Not all nights are the same; sometimes you stumble into rock solos, other nights into some smoky jazz.
Whether you are outside or tucked indoors with the stage just steps away, Lagniappe feels less like a bar and more like a home, one where music never stops and everyone is welcome at the table.
For upcoming performances, visit the venue’s events page.
Savage Labs
301 NW 23rd St.
Miami, FL 33127
Tickets: $10 to $20
Savage Labs Wynwood feels like discovery. Every inch of the venue points toward the stage, as if nothing else in the room matters. The layout makes it impossible to forget why you’re there: to hear live music, up close, without distraction. The atmosphere is warm and creative.
What sets Savage Labs apart is how it blends dining and performance. A thoughtful food and cocktail menu keeps the room buzzing, but the real heart of the venue is its stage. Tuesday open mic nights in particular have become a gathering point, a chance for new voices to audition and for the audience to watch Miami’s music scene evolve in real time.
Argentinian artist Lucca Vergara is one of them. He first arrived at Savage Labs by chance, but soon found himself embraced by the community of musicians and audiences alike. Through Tuesday open mics, he connected with other artists, sharpened his craft, and eventually debuted a new band on the same stage. “For me, Savage Labs is like a second home,” Vergara said. “I love the positive atmosphere between the musicians and the audience – it always inspires me to come back.”
At Savage Labs, his story is a reflection of the venue’s spirit: it’s a place where food, music, and opportunity converge to keep Miami’s alternative scene thriving.
For upcoming shows, check the venue’s events calendar.
Tea & Poets
5701 Sunset Dr Unit 126
South Miami, FL 33143
Cover charge for events: $10 | Drinks: $5-$9
Tea & Poets, tucked inside the semi-abandoned Sunset Place mall in South Miami, is a place that blends a laid-back café setting with a vibrant focus on live music and local art. By day, it’s a cozy coffee and study spot with mismatched couches, low lighting, and a rotating selection of handmade jewelry, zines, and artwork from small businesses and local creatives.
In the evenings, the space transforms into one of Miami’s most eclectic indie venues. A small, elevated stage framed by tapestries and string lights; hosts open mic nights, poetry slams, and themed shows like retro nights, costume concerts, and emo nights that draw a loyal crowd of alt-leaning regulars. Local acts like, The Flirt, and occasional acoustic sets from FIU students give the place a community-first vibe, where discovery feels personal and the audience is part of the experience.
The atmosphere is indie and casual. Whether you’re sipping a lavender latte while sketching in a notebook or belting out tunes at emo night, Tea & Poets offers a creative, low-key environment for South Miami’s artistically inclined audiences.
For upcoming shows and events, check out the venue’s Instagram.
Bougainvillea’s Old Florida Tavern
7221 SW 58th Ave
South Miami, FL 33143
Drinks: $5-$15
Bougainvillea’s Old Florida Tavern in South Miami, known to regulars as Bougie’s is a casual bar housed in a converted Florida home, offering guests both indoor and outdoor spaces to jam out. With its wraparound porch, string lights, and cozy wood-paneled interior, the tavern has been a South Miami fixture for years, known for its laid-back atmosphere and steady lineup of live music.
Bougie’s live music is key to the tavern’s appeal. On weekends, the indoor stage hosts local favorites like Brothers of Others and The Ordinary Boys (a Smiths tribute), leaning heavily on alternative rock, indie, and classic rock staples. The vibe is intimate, think small-venue concert energy with a crowd that actually listens; while DJs keep the patio buzzing with funk, retro, and alt-pop sets.
Weekly programming rounds out the schedule, with karaoke on Tuesdays, ladies’ night on Wednesdays, and retro nights on Thursdays, where throwback alt and rock tracks are the highlight. The mix keeps Bougie’s a consistent spot for alternative-leaning live music in South Miami, with just enough novelty to make each visit feel fresh.
Whether you’re sipping a drink beneath the banyan tree or catching a surprise acoustic set inside, Bougie’s blends nostalgia, community, and discovery in one of the few spots that still feels like old-school Miami.
For upcoming shows and events, visit the venue’s website.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed the address for Churchill’s.
