The Miami cocktail scene continues to make waves with several local hotspots just announced as Regional Top 10 nominees by the esteemed Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) for their 18th annual Spirited Awards®.
These awards, celebrating excellence in the drinks industry since 2007, highlight the best bars and restaurants across the United States and with Miami’s incredible cocktail scene, there’s no shock that six Miami establishments made it to the regional top ten across three different categories.
Up for Best U.S. Restaurant Bar – U.S. East, Miami’s own Macchialina and Jaguar Sun have been honored for their exceptional cocktail lists, showcasing the Magic City’s vibrant drinking culture and innovative beverage programs.
“We are thrilled to see Miami’s dynamic cocktail scene being recognized on a national stage,” said Jacqueline Pirolo, managing partner and beverage director at Macchialina. “This is Macchialina’s third year earning this nomination, and it’s a testament to our industry’s ongoing commitment to the craft of an inspired drinking experience. Congratulations to all the nominees, we love to see our city winning!”
Macchialina and Jaguar Sun set the city’s standards high when it comes to great pasta and even greater martinis. “We are happy to be on any list that includes our friends at Macchialina. And great to see Miami continue to get national recognition,” says Will Thompson, co-owner of Jaguar Sun, a unique bar that was on the forefront to downtown Miami’s revitalization when it opened nearly six years ago. Now the area has a thriving nightlife scene, where many either start or end (or sometimes both) their nights at the popular hot spot.
In the category of Best U.S. Hotel Bar – U.S. East, Miami took home three nominations with 27 Restaurant at Freehand Miami, Champagne Bar at Four Seasons at The Surf Club, and MATADOR BAR at The Miami Beach EDITION all securing coveted spots in the top ten.
“It’s a great honor for the Champagne Bar team to be nominated in this category,” says Jonathan Gabbay, director of bars at Four Seasons at The Surf Club. “The entire team works tirelessly to deliver the best service to our guests, and to receive industry recognition shows that we are on the right track. It is also an honor to share this with our industry colleagues in Miami!”
Alexa Delgado, Director of Bars at The Miami Beach EDITION, agrees with the honor saying, “The excitement among our bar team is electric, fueling our passion to push boundaries and craft unforgettable experiences for our guests. We’re so honored.”
27 Restaurant & Bar located at the Freehand has been a staple of the Miami Beach scene for almost ten years, occupying a vibrant, historic house adjacent to Freehand Miami’s courtyard. “We take great pride in our food and cocktail menus, which are heavily inspired by Miami’s diverse culture and fueled by high-quality, local ingredients,” says Ayo Akinsete, COO of Generator and Freehand Hotels. “It’s an honor for the Spirited Awards Committee to have recognized our commitment to providing excellent service, and it’s even more special knowing that we’re following in the footsteps of our sister bar, Broken Shaker.” Broken Shaker was one of the original bars to put Miami’s cocktail scene on the map nearly a decade ago really solidifying the Magic City’s place on the prestigious award list.
And of course, one of the most exciting categories of all — Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. East features Miami Beach’s Medium Cool as a beacon of creativity and excellence, solidifying the city’s position as a hotspot for cutting-edge mixology. This late night dance den hosts jazz nights and international DJs until the wee hours of the morning with a fun cocktail program and table service for everyone.
“The Medium Cool crew is super honored and proud to be included in this year’s nominations by Tales of the Cocktail amongst so many of our favorite people. Our team assembled with the hopes to create a space driven by quality and that could provide multiple layers of an enjoyable hospitality experience; a place we always wanted to go,” says Josh Wagner, co-owner of Medium Cool. “With that MC was born; from a love of design, music, cocktails, dancing and most importantly, making people happy! So, we are thrilled that there are people that think Medium is Cool! We’re incredibly grateful for the recognition and we’re excited for what’s next.”
TOTCF will host this year’s Spirited Awards® during the Tales of the Cocktail® (TOTC) conference in New Orleans that’s taking place July 21 to 26, 2024.
Catch a few of these Miami spots — and many many more from around the globe — hosting events, pop-ups, and panels throughout the conference. For example, Macchialina will be heading to the Big Easy to host a special event on Tuesday, July 23. Aptly named “Family Meal“, this a three-hour event promises a laid back walk-around pasta party concept where guests will have the opportunity to indulge in Macchialina’s signature bambini-tinis and an antipasti buffet, while enjoying pasta presentations from renowned chefs including Macchialina’s executive chef Mike Pirolo and Sal Lamboglia from Cafe Spaghetti in Brooklyn.
For more information about the a Tales of the Cocktail Foundation 18th annual Spirited Awards® and a complete list of winners, visit www.talesofthecocktail.org.