The soul of old Miami is alive at this waterfront bar

Gramps Getaway is Miami’s official “after” destination. Whether it’s after a long day at work, after a beach day, or after a successful beach cleanup where you collected 12 Barbie heads, the Key Biscayne palapa is a place where everyone can get a good whiff of fresh saltwater and just unclench from the stresses of this city.

“Accessible waterfront” sounds about as oxymoronic as “peaceful Brickell.” Most places with a beautiful view of Miami’s waters are overpriced, unfriendly, and a little weird. But Gramps isn’t here to con you with $19 glasses of rosé in exchange for a nice view. Here, liveaboards and fishermen are welcomed with the same enthusiasm as bankers and vaping twenty-somethings. Some didn’t close out an important investment deal while others had scary standoffs with pelicans—problems that are worlds apart but can both be resolved with a frozen cocktail, good music, and a glistening fried chicken sandwich.

Everyone’s in a good mood at Gramps Getaway (another rarity in Miami). A big reason why is the food. Like a good road trip playlist, the menu here has the usual suspects mixed in with some fun surprises. There’s familiar bar food like buffalo wings and burgers, as well as basil watermelon salad and skirt steak. But unlike other waterfront foes, the food isn’t an afterthought here. It contributes as much to the allure of the place as the view of the Brickell skyline that has everyone in a blissed-out trance.

Gramps Getaway feels like a slice of old Miami, and it seems to know this too. Remnants of the people and places that came before this gigantic thatched roof are scattered around. Just above the bar is a lifesize cardboard cutout of Jimbo Luznar, a local legend who ran a charming rinky-dink waterfront operation in Virginia Key called Jimbo’s, which was great for many of the same reasons that Gramps Getaway is great. And the very same palapa that Jimbo hangs from used to be Whiskey Joe’s, a bar whose time came to an end—but whose legacy lives on through the timeless ‘70s rock playlist, sneakily potent frozen drinks, and creaky wooden floorboards spackled with decades of beach sand.

Past and present meld together at Gramps Getaway to create something this obnoxiously exclusive city has never needed more badly: a party where every coconut shrimp-loving South Floridian is invited.

How to get into Gramps Getaway

Gramps Getaway can get slammed on the weekends. The nicer the weather is, the more crowded it’ll be. But most people don’t know that you can make reservations here. So book one and walk right past the poor souls waiting at the host stand.

Piña Colada

It’s like an ice bath only better because it tastes like vacation, has alcohol in it, and your body doesn’t think it’s dying when you take the first sip.

Getaway B.L.T.

A satisfyingly simple BLT. A little heavy on the mayo, but we like it that way.

Grilled Hotdog With Fries

Your local baseball team would probably have more spectators if they started topping their dogs with miso honey mustard and jalapeño relish like this one.

Charred Broccoli

This pile of charred broccoli is coated with copious amounts of buttermilk ranch dressing that’ll make any kid (or adult) happily eat their vegetables.

Hamachi Tiradito

These are some thick hamachi slivers, and the pool of chili vinaigrette is equal parts sour and spicy (and we like how the orange slices cut through it all). It’s really good—order it.

Double Cheeseburger

Just try not to exhale and say “life is good” when you take a bite of this burger as the sun sets behind the Brickell skyline. The crispy edges of the double patties extend far beyond the potato bun, so that first bite is 60% meat and cheese—the ideal ratio, if you ask us.

Key Lime Pie

The evenly torched meringue is piped like the black diamond slope every skier aspires to go down. Topped with a sprinkle of lime zest, this pie is just the right amount of sweet and tart.

Cup O' Dirt

A nostalgic dirt cup with thick layers of chocolate hazelnut, vanilla cream, cookie crumbles, and adorable little gator gummies. Tastes like childhood.