The SpeciaList | LGBTQ+ Pride
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By Brianna Bell2nd June 2024
Miami native Tiffany T Fantasia calls herself Andy Cohen's favourite drag queen. Here are her top picks for soaking up Miami's drag culture, from club kid bars to video lounges.
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Miami doesn't get its reputation as the perfect year-round tropical getaway for nothing; this vibrant coastal metropolis teems with white-sand beaches, striking palm trees, Art Deco architecture and Latin culture.
The city's cultural diversity extends to its historical and energetic LGBTQ+ community and queer-friendly party scene. Locals and visitors alike enjoy the lively nightlife and entertaining drag shows throughout Miami Beach.
We spoke with Miami-based drag queen Tiffany T Fantasia, a drag artist and comedian who has spent the last two decades in the Miami drag scene. "A bunch of friends of mine wanted to do drag, and they encouraged me to do it also," says Fantasia. "I made $10 in tips. That was enough for gas for the whole week!"
The Specialist:
Tiffany T Fantasia has performed in Mexico, Curaçaoand Mykonos, but her home is in Miami, where she has performed at the iconic drag bar The Palace for 20 years. The Palace is where she metAndy Cohen, leading to guest spots on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen and The View. (Credit: Getty Images)
Fantasia has lived in Miami since she was a child and loves the city's unique vibe.
"I love the weather, first and foremost," says Fantasia, who is a regular performer at The Palace, South Beach's most iconic LGBTQ+ restaurant and bar. "It's an eclectic city… there's so many different cultures that live in Miami. And the food is good, honey. We use more than salt and pepper."
Miami has an inclusive and thriving queer scene, but the Governor of Florida has signed bills that would ban anyone under the age of 18 from attending drag shows. For now, the United States Supreme Court has ruled against the proposed law.
"It's been tough navigating the past year or so," says Fantasia. "I've lost two gigs because of what has been going on." She adds that the good outweighs the bad, and many more people support and respect the LGBTQ+ community than are against it.
Here are Tiffany T Fantasia's picks for the hottest Miami clubs and bars for drag performances.
R House in the Wynwood Arts District is Fantasia's pick for delicious Latin food and funky co*cktails (Credit: Stephen Lang)
1. Best for food and co*cktails: R House Wynwood
The Wynwood Arts District, located north of Downtown Miami, is one of the city's creative and cultural hubs where warehouses have been transformed into restaurants, bars and shops splashed with stunning murals. It's also home to Fantasia's first pick, R House Wynwood.
"R house has a wonderful drag brunch and a night show," says Fantasia. "And it is quirky. It's right in the middle of Wynwood, so if you're very much a party person, you're right in the heart of everything, where a lot of new swanky bars are at."
Tip:
Drag shows are meant to be a mutually respectful performance. "Be respectful of the drag queens and they will respect you," says Fantasia. "Bring your cash, we love tip dollars. The more you tip, the prettier we look… bring that money out and we'll dance all night."
R House offers an exciting lineup of drag shows and events from Friday to Sunday. Athena Dion, Greek goddess and drag diva, performs at the crowd-pleasing drag brunch. "Athena Dion is a hoot," says Fantasia.
Fantasia also loves R House's "mouth-wateringly good", award-winning Latin-inspired food, served on Wednesdays and Thursdays; its menu features a variety of flavourful dishes including empanadas served with cilantro (coriander) crema, Florida blue crab croquetas (croquettes) and passionfruit tres leches cake for dessert.
"They have the craziest drinks that I have ever seen," Fantasia says. "So if you're coming down for your birthday, get one of those unicorn drinks. You're going to be like 'oh my goodness, this is the gayest thing I have ever seen!'"
Website: https://www.rhousewynwood.com
Address: 2727 NW 2nd Ave Miami, Florida 33127
Phone: (305) 576-0201
Instagram: @rhousewynwood
The old money Coral Gables neigbourhood is home to Azúcar; some of the best Latin drag in the South Florida area (Credit: Getty Images)
2. Best Latin bar: Azúcar
"Azúcar is a nightclub located in the Coral Gables area," says Fantasia, who notes thatCoral Gablesis known for its ritzy glamour and old money. "Where the club is located used to be a very, very big gay scene that kind of dwindled away. Azúcar is one of the few places that is still around."
Miami Beach Pride
Miami Beach Pride is celebrated in April. "The weather is the main reason we have pride in April," says Fantasia. Partygoers can hit up the festival at Lummus Park on Saturday and Sunday. "We have DJs, live acts, a vendors showcase… all aspects of the LGBTQ+ community." If you're looking for the hottest queer clubs after the event, Tiffany says most people congregate at The Palace and Twist.
Visitors to Miami in June may find smaller Pride celebrations throughout the area. "Wynwood has a pride festival in June," says Fantasia. Wynwood's festival is entering its fifth year and aims to celebrate the diverse LGBTQ+ community and allies in the centre of the lively arts district.
Azúcar has shows from Thursday to Sunday night. Recent queens to perform at the bar include Morphine Love Dion, who appeared on Season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race, and Peruvian doll D’Vice Dion.
"It's a Latin club," says Fantasia. "They have the best Latin drag in South Florida. It kind of reminds you of a nightclub in Havana. The drinks are amazing… but to be honest, I'm such a boring person… I drink Tito's [vodka] and soda wherever I go."
Address: 2301 SW 32nd Ave Miami, Florida 33145
Phone: (786) 234-4027
Instagram: @azucar_shows
The name is old school but the vibe is not; Gramps in the Wynwood Arts District features live concerts and karaoke nights as well as great drag shows (Credit: Christopher Collins)
3. Best club-kid bar: Gramps
Every Thursday night, Gramps – a kitschy queer-friendly bar and lounge on 24th Street in the Wynwood Arts District – has a drag show hosted by DJ Hott Pants; named Best DJ in Miami by South Florida Gay News in 2019.
Gramps features both indoor and outdoor spaces and hosts many different events, from live concerts and drag shows to comedy and karaoke nights.
"It's a very inclusive space," says Fantasia. "[Gramps] is where it's more of the queer community, club-kid type of atmosphere… They have another room on the side that karaoke. If you like karaoke, you have a spot."
Gramps is also known for its live music and delicious pizza. "I'm a sausage girl," says Fantasia. "I like a good sausage pizza. If I'm feeling healthy, I put spinach on it."
Website: https://gramps.com
Address: 176 NW 24th St Miami, Florida 33127
Phone: (305) 699-2669
Instagram: @grampswynwood
Fantasia's first-ever drag venue is one she still recommends today for its many different themed-rooms and all-night parties (Credit: Twist)
4. Best late-night club: Twist
Twist is the first bar Fantasia performed at after her friends pushed her to go on stage 20 years ago, and she still recommends the space today.
"Twist is an awesome place because it's seven different rooms, each with its own vibe," says Fantasia. "You have a video lounge, you have a more circuit nightclub feel in one room, you have a bar that reminds you of the TV show Cheers, you have a Latin room." Fantasia adds that the bar closes at 05:00. "So you can party all night," she says. "It's very avant-garde. They'll give you club-kid, they'll give you androgyny, the real woman fantasy too."
Tuesday nights at Twist feature Ebonee Excell, who Fantasia calls "a legendary diva of South Florida". Wednesday nights sees performances by gorgeous queen Tp Lords, a Miami diva who regularly hosts queer events in Miami.
Website: https://www.twistsobe.com
Address: 1057 Washington Ave Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Phone: (305) 538-9478
Instagram: @twistsobe
Fantasia likes Nathan's Beach Club in South Beach for its beachy vibe and fun video lounge (Credit: Goat Hospitality)
5. Best video lounge: Nathan's Beach Club
"This is a place that the locals go to, to hang out and have fun," says Fantasia. "Nathan's is a video lounge. It gives you a very pop [atmosphere], what's in, what's now, what's trending on the screen." Recently renovated, Nathan's features an upscale vibe with disco balls and a big screen that plays a steady stream of music videos. The bar is a popular hangout for locals who want to kick back and enjoy a relaxing evening.
Located in glitzy South Beach, known for its lively nightclub scene and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Nathan's decor channels the beach with its faux palm trees, clean-and-crisp interior and wood accents. "It gives you a nice beachy cabana vibe," says Fantasia. The lounge has a drag show every Sunday night hosted by Malaysia Babydoll Foxx, featured on Season 15 of RuPaul's Drag Race. "She is a joy to be around!" says Fantasia. Monday night's show is hosted by the "glamorous" Dasha Sweetwaters.
Website: https://www.nathansbeachclub.com
Address: 1216 Washington Ave Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Phone: (305) 600-9494
Instagram: @nathansbeachclub
This bar within a gay hotel in South Beach promises chill vibes and fun events hosted by local drag queens (Credit: Getty Images)
6. Best hotel bar: Gaythering Bar
"Hotel Gaythering is like the gayest hotel in South Beach," says Fantasia, adding that because Gaythering Bar is located inside a gay hotel, the space draws a nice mixture of locals and tourists. "There's a [men's-only] sauna there. It’s a nice chill relaxed vibe."
While Gaythering Bar doesn't specifically offer drag shows, they do provide an inclusive space with fun events that are helmed by local drag performers.
"They have karaoke on Mondays," says Fantasia. "Wednesday nights they have trivia, Thursdays they have bingo, and all this stuff is hosted by different drag queens of the area."
Website: https://www.gaythering.com/bar
Address: 1409 Lincoln Rd F1 Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Phone: (786) 284-1176
BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers.
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