Take a Look Around This Colorful New Tiki Bar in Downtown Miami

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For as being as tropically influenced as Miami is, it’s a surprise that the city isn’t home to more tiki-style bars. That is changing with the debut of Esotico Miami (1600 NE 1st Avenue) this Thursday, August 15.

The bar and restaurant is the brainchild by Graspa Group — the team behind places like Salumeria 104, Spris, and Segafredo — and bartender Daniele Dalla Pola aka DDP.

The cocktail menu contains an assortment of creations influenced by tiki-cocktail history. The drinks are broken down into categories that include signature drinks, limited-edition mugs, large-format cocktails, and sections dedicated to Negronis, rum flights, gin and tonics, mocktails, and beer. Think drinks like the Nu Mai Tai made with three different types of rum, passion fruit, and a “very secret ingredient,” or the large format Missionary’s Downfall with rum, brandy, pineapple, and mint.

To soak up all that booze Esotico Miami will serve up a full dinner menu with a variety of tiki-with-a-twist offerings. The menu was created by executive chef Roberto Dubois who has done stints at Juvia, Makoto, and Azul prior to Esotico. Dishes like black truffle dumplings, octopus hot dogs, and fish cakes can be found in the “pupu” menu. Larger dishes like roasted whole red snapper, chicken curry, Hawaiian style pineapple fried rice with shrimp, crab meat, and vegetables; and black squid ink risotto with braised octopus can also be found.

The 3,400 square-foot space seats 157 and features wallpaper depicting a tropical landscape, a black and white checkerboard floor, exposed ceiling, and accents like Polynesian sculptures, and a Hawaiian surfboard.

Esotico Miami opens to the public on Thursday, August 15, 2019. Open Monday-Saturday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dinner menu available until midnight; late-night menu available from midnight-2 a.m.); with happy hour forthcoming. Call 305-800-TIKI for more information.