It is safe to say that Miami has a reputation that is not the most prestigious. In fact, Miami is specifically known for its party and clubbing culture. Although it may sound great to outsiders, people tend to forget that the parties require ID and are mostly 21+. Being a teenager in Miami often means missing out on the city’s party scene; most events cater to college students and adults who still act like them. So really, what can teenagers do besides party?
Here is the solution: there is more to Miami than clubbing. If a teenager is stuck at home because they cannot go party with the rest of the Miami population, they are not only stuck at home; they’re stuck in the dark.
Near the Design District, there is a small jazz bar named Lagniappe that is more jazz than bar. The venue has no age requirement, allowing teens to enjoy live music with friends in a beautiful setting. On the inside, it has vintage mirrors and paintings lining the walls, each piece is a different size and has a different story to tell. The seats are decorative antique furniture that look like they belong in any English grandmother’s flat. There is a refrigerator amid the decor, filled with various ingredients to form a charcuterie board to enjoy while listening to the various bands that play at the jazz lounge.
“The whole place had this cozy, laid-back vibe with music playing and people just hanging out,” Miami Palmetto Senior High senior Mary Grace Clark said. “It didn’t feel like your typical Miami spot; it was unique.”
The outside seating area feels more spaced out and a little less intimate. It gets rather crowded, and there is no hostess to reserve tables. It is everyone for themselves, so it is recommended to get there early for a good seat. The live music starts around 9 p.m. and continues until 12 a.m. every night of the week.
“It’s not too wild but it’s still really fun, perfect if you want to hang out with friends, listen to music and have a good time,” Clark said.
Teenagers looking for a classy jazz night out, Lagniappe is the place to go.
Another perfect spot for a night out, especially during fall when Miami has cooled down, is the Nite Owl Drive-In Movie Theater. Drive-ins are a forgotten art that kids of the ’80s and 90s grew up with. Nowadays, children have movie theaters with reclining seats and mobile phones to watch films at their convenience. But nothing beats a drive-in movie theater.
“The atmosphere was very nice, and it was cool to see a movie on such a large screen,” Gulliver Preparatory graduate Max Neonakis said. “It was a really fun and interesting experience that I’d never had before.”
The Nite Owl is on a patch of land in Brickell, hidden from the bustling part of Miami. It offers a view of the sky-scraper night lights, while also keeping the drive-in intimate. There is a snack truck on the property as well, and restaurants nearby that customers can buy takeout from and enjoy their dinner with a movie.
The Nite Owl Drive-In Movie Theater is ideal for a comfy and chill movie night with friends.
If movies are the vibe but one prefers something a bit more elevated, there is a Rooftop Cinema Club located near the Nite Owl Drive-In. The cinema club has an amazing set-up, with an outdoor movie theater decorated with comfortable lawn chairs and a table for refreshments. Each person gets their own silent disco-style headphones with the movie audio because of the city noise around the venue. The rooftop also has food stands, pop-ups and super fun picture backdrops.
It is fun, different and Instagram-worthy. Their movie lineups vary every month. Right now, in October, they are projecting all the classic Halloween movies.
Lagniappe, The Night Owl Dive-In and the Rooftop Cinema Club are just some of the hidden gems around Miami that are inclusive to teenagers.
