The Longest-Running Live Music Series on Miami Beach Has No Cover Charge and No Drink Minimum

The Piano Bar at The Betsy South Beach presents live jazz nine times a week. No cover charge. No drink minimum. The series has been running longer than any other live music program on Miami Beach — which is a sentence worth sitting with in a city that has cycled through more music venues than most people can count.

The November programming is the strongest argument for the series. Tuesday nights bring the Piano Masters & New Voices mentorship initiative — Grammy-winning pianist Tal Cohen and pianist Martin Bejerano, two of the most respected jazz musicians in South Florida, working with emerging talent in a format that is equal parts performance and education. The second Friday of the month is Intergenerational Jazz Night with the Ellis Duo: vocalist Cindy Ellis, pianist Ryan Ellis, and special guests across generations.

The third Saturday of the month brings Carole Ann Taylor & Friends with the Angel Perez Trio. Sunday nights are Latin Jazz with Cuban pianist and composer Edgar Pantoja — one of the most distinctive voices in Miami's Latin jazz scene, playing every week. The full monthly schedule is available at The Betsy's website.

The Betsy is at 1440 Ocean Drive, South Beach. The Piano Bar is on the ground floor. No reservation required, no cover, no minimum. The series runs year-round.

From November 7 through 10, The Betsy is running additional programming in recognition of Veterans Day: a screening of the short documentary Nothing Can Be Done, But Something Can Be Said — created in partnership with the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus — at BBar from noon to 9pm. And The Betsy Orb will display letters, poetry, photographs, and short videos honoring veterans and their families, submitted daily by community members. The programming leads into the Miami Beach Veterans Day Parade on November 11.