Did someone say apertivo hour?!

Dolce, LDV Hospitality’s warm and welcoming Italian dining destination at the newly renovated Gale South Beach is launching Apertivo Happy Hour on Tuesday, February 19th.  At the same time, the restaurant will begin serving a daily Sunset Prix Fixe dinner menu, priced at $29 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity.  Both get underway at 6 pm and run until 7:30 pm.

Open less than a month and already garnering praise as the home of the “best bowl of Pasta in SoBe” according to hipster guide Urban Daddy, among other accolades; Dolce will offer diners a delectable three course menu created by Italian-born chef Paolo Dorigato; with new selections offered daily.  For those who are more interested in imbibing than eating, the Apertivo Hour at the Dolce Bar provides a great opportunity to meet friends after work for two for one beers or specialty cocktails from the bar’s handcrafted Italian cocktails list.

Choose drinks that transport you to Italy like Bellinis including the Classic or Rossini (fresh strawberries, lemon zest and prosecco) or embrace the spirit of adventure with Passion & Cinnamon (fresh passion fruit, cinnamon spice, and prosecco) or Pear & Elderflower (fresh pear, elderflower, winter spice and prosecco).  Sip classic Italian cocktails like an Aperol Spritz or Original Negroni; or indulge in flavorful libations like a spicy Raspberry Collins (fresh ginger & raspberries, vodka, fresh lime and ginger beer) or an Artichoke Sour (Cynar, lime juice, simple syrup, gin and egg whites).

Dolce Italian is located at the Gale South Beach, at 1690 Collins Avenue; dolceitalianrestaurant.com; reservations at 786-975-2550.

-Images courtesy of LDV Hospitality 

A Tipsy Travel Through Time

Club vs. bar? The age old question that people ask to determine the type of person they are conversing with. If you say “club” you may be perceived as young (pretending to be young) even sceney or high maintenance answer “bar” and you’re chill, laid back, down to earth, “real”. What it all comes down to is that these two very broad categories no longer encompass the wide variety of establishments in the past few years there have been an abundance of speak easys, mixology meccas, high-end sports bars with sparklers, jazz clubs and themed lounges popping up all over the world that now force us to break that question down even further. Are you into hipster-trendy bourbon bars with a touch of tight pants or do you prefer bottle service for $1,500+?? The beauty of it all is that there really is something for everyone.

In my recent travels and at-home shenanigans I’ve stumbled upon two hidden gems that felt more like a travel through time rather then a typical vodka night on the town. One not so new, Gregory’s Jazz  Club in Rome, known to the locals and kept secret from miserable tourists. I was lucky enough to find a local willing to show me an unforgettable taste of Roman night life. The other, Gale Hotel’s Rec Room. A retro throwback reminiscent of my grandparent’s basement (in the best possible way), hidden only because the masterful Menin Hotel moguls wanted it that way. Well done!

Gregory’s Jazz  Club

On a rainy night in Rome…sounds like the beginning of a movie screen play right? Well anyway it was Rome and it was rainy and it was every bit as magical as the movies. My tour guide (who shall remain nameless) introduced me to Gregory’s Jazz  Club. From the outside it looks like any city bar, but walk up the narrow steps and tucked up in a small loft lives an acoustic musical playground. Gorgeous waitresses climbing through the small, but full crowd deliver dark red wine and crepes while the Emanuele Urso Swing Band (click link for YouTube clip) entertains a crowd full of clap happy, foot stomping fans. Emanuele along with his brother on the piano and father on the bass are just one of many musical acts that have come through Gregory’s, but for me the best! From the music, to the food, to the wine…it was an experience I will never forget and one of the many reasons why I fell in love with Rome.

Images courtesy of Gregory’s Jazz Club

Rec Room

The homage to a 70s style basement (swingers not included), may be my new favorite spot in South Beach. With an impressive vinyl collection and even more impressive DJ mixology, tunes from The Supremes and Jackson 5 are mixed with beats that only Miami knows best. They even included a life sized replica of the famous leg lamp (seen below) featured in the Christmas classic, A Christmas Story. The feel is comfortable, the drinks are timely (thanks to some very efficient bar tending) and look is nostalgic. If you need a cure for your Saturday Night Fever, I suggest you boogie on down to Rec Room before the rest of the world finds out what Gale is hiding.  

Images courtesy of the Gale Hotel

Image courtesy of SmittyLax

Dive in Movie at The Standard, Miami

No, it’s not a typo. I meant DIVE in movie. This weekend, I had my first experience at The Standard, Miami’s pool past sunset. My love for pool parties is no secret, but this weekend the party changed as we took the festivities from day to night. We traded the Chevy Malibu and roller skates for pool loungers, inflatable sharks and vodka…the heated towels were a nice touch too!

With JAWS on the “big screen” and perfect weather, we couldn’t ask for anything more! Seriously, tell me a better way to close out the weekend than with good friends (star worthy appearance by Mr. O’Donnell), a good movie (horror classic) and good cocktails?! The only downside…these cinematic pool fiestas are few and far between as The Standard crew only hosts movie night once a month, but you better believe I’ll be making an appearance next month for the 9PM showing of Blue Lagoon!!

Out with the Old Gansevoort, In with the New Perry

What happens when you take a beloved hotel and current SoBe staple and replace it with The Perry?? Pretty much nothing…the once famous Gansevoort South Beach has been sold and with the exception of some upcoming (and much needed) renovations, has transitioned seamlessly into The Perry.

Miami Beach is known for adapting quickly to change…from clubs to restaurants and every hotel up and down Ocean Drive, there seems to be less and less familiarity down here in the 305. Don’t worry some favorites still remain, but coming back to Miami year after year works because it’s never exactly the same as you left it…

-Louis

-STK

Images courtesy of http://www.perrysouthbeachhotel.com