Twist   

Twist is the watering hole equivalent of Liza Minelli. It's seen some fabulously decadent times, some rough times and has always bounced back to the cheers of a very faithful, devoted following. Known as South Beach's most popular gay bar, Twist was once a demure little spot for a quick cocktail before continuing on into the night. Gianni Versace used to hang out here before his untimely death. Today, since there is a serious dearth of gay establishments in a hip-hop happy South Beach, Twist reigns supreme in the homogenous community. Always bustling with fantastic music, there are several bars inside, but none more fun than the outdoor bungalow bar, where you can often count on a dolled up drag queen or a lost tourist trying to get down to the latest Kristine W. remix. Earlier in the evening, Twist is a mellow(ish) place where professionals like to knock back a few before going home. As the night ages, the crowd gets frisky. As the locals say, the legend is that one never goes home from Twist alone. Sure, it gets cruisey inside, but that's not necessarily all Twist is about. The bottom line is that this is a place where like-minded people go to have a great time without having to deal with bad music, cover charges and attitude. --Lesley Abravanel