DOWNTOWN. This pleasant lounge overlooking the water is a great place to meet friends or business associates for a drink and some conversation. The special TV reserved for big games - that means Miami Dolphins games - has a screen that measures a whopping 72 inches.

SOUTH MIAMI. Come early and stay late at Gameworks, a leisure venue where the whole family will be entertained for hours on end. Fun restaurants, stylish bars, all of the latest video games, interactive attractions and much more. Try the Vertical Reality ­ unlike any video game you've played before, it simulates a 3-story free-fall ­ and you don't move an inch! Race in the Indy 500, drive a (virtual) monster truck, and enter Jurassic Park's Lost World ­ it's all in a day's fun at this unique attraction that takes theme parks to a new, high-tech level.

DADELAND. Popular every night of the week, Hooligan's is a sports bar that keeps patrons occupied with games, special theme nights, and of course lots of drinks. The happy "hour" here stretches from 11am to 8pm, which is indicative of the kind of place this is ­ it's a place to relax and get a little crazy. Or at least watch other people get crazy. In addition to showing all of the big games in a variety of sports, Hooligan's also hosts DJ dance parties on weekends and has numerous crazy promotions such as Show Your Thong night (if you do, you drink free until midnight) and Flip Night, when the bartenders toss a coin to see if your drink is on the house. Happy hours are popular, with a huge complimentary buffet.

COCONUT GROVE. A curious phenomenon in sunny South Florida, Mr. Moe's enjoys enormous popularity as a rustic, lodge-like sports bar. Lots of wood, stone, and western accents contribute to the overall effect, and dozens of flat-screen TVs offer a sleek counterpoint. People come throughout the week, staying late to watch sports, play pool, take in live music, and compete at trivia. Also available are karaoke and mechanical bull-riding. Tasty eats, including steaks and ribs, bolster the appeal, and many beers and hard ciders maintain the earthy, satisfying theme.

SOUTH BEACH. One of Miami's few true Irish pubs, the Playwright is tucked away on Washington Avenue, right in the middle of the trendy SoBe night scene. The decor takes a page from the "all things Irish" catalogue, featuring a mahogany bar imported from the Emerald Isle; cherry mahogany tables and chairs; photos of Joyce, Yeats, Shaw, Wilde, and other great Irish penmen; and an 18th century pulpit and two spectacular stained glass windows reclaimed from an old church. Of course, Guinness freely flows, and the hospitable bartenders can mix together just about any poison you desire.