All the industry parties and head-spinning sales at Art Basel Miami Beach might make you forget that once upon a time, Miami was the humid heart of a Prohibition-era black market full of rum smugglers, bootleggers, high rollers, and Hollywood stars looking to let loose away from prying eyes. The Four Seasons at the Surf Club recaptures the spirit of the era with its Champagne Bar, a 1930s clubhouse tucked into the ground floor of a 12-story destination.
Imagine an Art Deco ballroom bathed in warm amber light, fringed with palm trees, and staffed by servers decked out in crisp white tuxedos. The atmosphere is Chairman of the Board approved: Frank Sinatra once honeymooned here with Ava Gardner back in 1951. The star of this show, however, is the champagne (the hint’s in the name), as the space boasts the largest collection of bubbles in town. The atmosphere may be vintage, but the cocktail menu is forward-thinking. Enjoy a stiff gin martini spiked with hints of toasted rice and mango or sip on a low ABV lychee spritz.
Feeling peckish? (We know you weren’t eating at the fair.) The bar food errs on the side of the sea: salty spoonfuls of caviar, lobsters rolls with yuzu mayo, and oysters on the half shell. For those looking for heartier fare, only a Michelin starred restaurant will do. Thomas Keller’s first Florida venture is right next door. This gem of a dining room is always busy, so be sure to call ahead. While the Champagne Bar is Art Deco in decor, the Surf Club Restaurant’s menu takes all the flavors of a bygone era and reinterprets them with a distinctly modern sense of glamor. Crisp, acidic Caesars are prepared tableside and the beef wellington, prepared with shortrib, drips with a traditional sauce périgourdine. If opulence and attentive service is the goal after a long day on your feet in the Miami heat, there’s no better option.
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