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"Miami Beach offers numerous opportunities for an amorous evening out on the town" |
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Visions of intimate conversation laced with a hint of romance can quickly fall by the wayside in the fast paced world of South Beach nightlife. Drama at the velvet ropes followed by a jam-packed club scene can often wrench the last bit of passion from ones nocturnal plans, but for those in the know, Miami Beach offers numerous opportunities for an amorous evening out on the town. Here's our list of Seven Sexy Lounges for 2007.
SETAI LOUNGE BAR
The Setai is a South Beach landmark which effortlessly draws on the elegance of the city's history, while blending in modern Asian traditions of simplicity and tranquility. The Lounge Bar is a sophisticated space defined by clean lines and natural materials like stone and wood. The long, low bar, dim lighting and cozy leather chairs offer the ideal atmosphere for lingering over cocktails with that special someone whether it's on the first date or the tenth. The room's main attraction is a wall with floor-to-ceiling wine cabinets that showcase an impressive and extensive selection of champagnes and wines. The menu offers an array of light bites and a rich assortment of caviar from around the world, which is alone reason enough to stop in for an indulgent dinner or late night rendezvous.
MARTINI BAR at the RALEIGH HOTEL
The Raleigh Hotel is the quintessential Art Deco hotspot. Terrazzo floors, polished wood finishes, classic bar stools and jazz lulling in the background make it the ultimate place to linger long after the sun has gone down. Andre Balazs of New York's Mercer and Los Angeles' Standard fame, has refurbished the hotel to its original 1940's splendor and the revelers have followed accordingly. Even if you aren't a guest at the hotel, the Martini Bar is a must-see - it's as intimate and sexy as they come. You can expect a full-service bar complete with a nice wine selection, but as you probably guessed, the martini is de rigueur. How you take yours is completely up to you, but they offer a menu of more than ten different flavors, including the famous Raleigh Martini. Dress to impress because you never know whom you might be rubbing elbows with here.
SOCIAL MIAMI
Social Miami is the new home away from home for Manhattan's chic jet-set crowd. The opening of Jeffrey Chodorow's latest restaurant-cum-lounge at the Sagamore Hotel has reintroduced the civilized dinner club at long last. The dining room, which is situated in hotel's lobby, is sleek with a monochromatic white setting and silver accents. Opposite the dining area is a collection of photos and art installations that gives even the best museum collections a run for their money. You can sip on cocktails and peruse the art or enjoy a film in the private screening room, but once the second hand hits nine the space comes alive. Revelers can canoodle in the two-person living rooms, mingle in the game room or relax in the pool lounge. Looking for a late night nosh? The outdoor café offers small plates like deviled eggs with truffle oil-laced caviar. This is socializing the way it was meant to be.
VUE TERRACE at the HOTEL VICTOR
Hotel Victor is a hidden gem amid the bustle of Ocean Drive. But this isn't your average Ocean Drive type venue - locals and in-the-know visitors flock to the hotel's Spice Route-inspired restaurant, Vix, and stylish, but not-too-trendy Passages Bar and Vue Terrace. Created by famed Parisian designer Jacques Garcia, Hotel Victor is located adjacent to the infamous Versace Mansion, and you can bet that with clout like that it only attracts the cream of the crop. SoBe's king of nightlife, Michael Capponi, throws Thursday night's only party that begins at Vix and later decamps to the rooftop lounge, Vue Terrace. Guests relax on beds while taking in the sultry South Beach atmosphere (read: beautiful people, perfect weather and tasty tapas). And let's not forget Rejuvenation Mondays with DJ JP Rigaud. Head over to Vue Terrace after a long day at the beach or before a late party night and enjoy two-for-one cocktails and complimentary hors d'oeuvres - sans the college kids and typical tourists.
VINO MIAMI
While the younger crowd flocks to the meat-market mega-clubs, the chic 30-and-over set converges on the low cherry wood tables, soft lighting and plush, comfortable chairs at Miami Beach's first real wine bar, Vino Miami. Owner Gigi Olah offers a constantly evolving menu of more than 400 wines and champagnes - many available by the glass. Most are hand-selected from small-production boutique wineries, and Olah has even managed to secure an exclusive - and might we add, delicious - house champagne. Prices are beyond reasonable with glasses ranging from about $9 to $13, and take-home bottles in the boutique in the low to mid $20 bracket. To complement the eclectic selection of wines, Vino offers a small menu of beautifully chosen French cheeses, fondues (think champagne crab or chorizo cheese), caviar and sushi rolls. And not to worry, there isn't an iota of attitude or wine snobbery in sight - just palate-pleasing wines and the people who love them.
LAPIDUS LOUNGE
The Lapidus Lounge, one of only three jazz clubs on Miami Beach, features live music six nights a week and specializes in sexy, retro cocktails like the Sidecar and the Harvey Wall Banger. If you and your date prefer something a little more refined, they also offer an accessible wine list and a lovely selection of champagnes. This fashionable, upscale bar is a tribute to the renowned 1950's architect Morris Lapidus, who designed the DiLido hotel, and is located adjacent to the resort's signature eatery Americana. While the Lapidus Lounge is most definitely a cozy date destination in itself, it's also the perfect place to stop for a nibble after a night out on the town. Carousers can feast on gourmet dishes that include three cheese crab quesadillas, crispy calamari and grilled tenderloin burgers. After the live music ends, the lounge transforms into a spacious setting with a live DJ and plenty of dancing.
MOKAI
Mokai was inspired by the huge canyon in New Zealand where Lord of the Rings was filmed, and is South Beach's latest VIP-only enclave. Nicola Siervo (who gave us Bang, Bar None, Joia and Mynt) has joined forces with ex-NBA star Rony Seikaly and the Hotel Astor's Karim Masri to bring this high-concept lounge to 23rd and Collins. The futuristic décor consists of chain mail drapery, eye-catching banquettes covered with burnt-orange alligator skins, hand-carved wooden ottomans, sterling-silver tables and an ultramodern custom lighting system. The kitchen is open until 5 am where they'll serve a light menu tapas like mini cheeseburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches, but you'll need more than a grumbling stomach and an ID to get in. Whoever is working the door will be nothing less than hyper-selective, so it's best to book a table for bottle service if you don't want to spend your night mingling on the wrong side of the velvet rope. However, once inside you'll discover Miami's finest, guaranteed not to disappoint. |
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