WunderBar, 3900 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33140
In keeping with this week’s ‘Favorite Things’ location theme, I managed to find some downtime inside “Circa 39 Miami Beach” to enjoy WunderBar. The gorgeous little garden-like gem (with Mexican tile, freshly displayed herb greenery and puffy blue and white throw pillows,) is the perfect place to grab a drink, a light bite to eat and brush up on your RUM game!
Although WunderBar whimsically writes its daily cocktail specials on a chalk board, it specializes in all kinds of the spirit known as ‘the pirate’s drink’: oaky, vanilla-esque, molasses-like, caramel-tasting, fruity, cinnamon-y and spicy! (a.k.a light and dark rum.) I’m a novice at imbibing this smooth, strong and spirited drink, but there’s no time like the present!
I started my drink fest with the “Rum Sampler” (which is a selection of three or four of your own or the bartender’s choices of rums.) I decided to drink mine neat-verses-iced and the bartender did the choosing. With over 60 rums to choose from, I was in over my head. I sipped, slurped and swished my way through four yummy “Kill-Devil’s” (that’s one of rum’s historical nicknames.)
On the lighter side, I lapped up the festive looking “Guarapo” (served in a bamboo cup and made with freshly pressed Sugar Cane juice and 1.5 ounces of Rhum Clement Canne Bleue.) Not to be outdone, the “Lime in the Coconut,” (yes, like the song) was my favorite drink (served in a coconut with fresh lime, coconut and 1.5 ounces of Bacardi 8.)
By the way, each drink was under twenty dollars, which is a killer deal on the beach. Although I didn’t have a lot of time to eat, I did get a quick order of the “Shrimp Bang Bang” (which is fried, rock shrimp in a sweet chili Aioli.) It was the perfect bold and spicy accoutrement to go along with my savory drinks. After all, a fashionista can’t drink on an empty stomach!
While WunderBar is warm, cozy and full of atmosphere, Circa 39 Hotel is just as fashionably fetching, catering to locals with great stay-cation deals. The vintage charm, intimate nature and garden courtyard of both places makes it one of my favorite things.
WunderBar is snuggled into the back of the Hotel, just off the main lobby. It’s so light and adorable, you can’t miss it. If you happen to drive to the beach, there’s a lot just off 39th Street reserved for hotel guests or you can try your luck at street parking. Either way, it’s a great place to spend the day or make a weekend of it. Cheers!
Sunday – Thursday 11am-11:000pm, Friday & Saturday 11am-midnight.
www.circa39.com/wunderbar/
Twitter: @PalmsCircaMIA
IG: @Wunderbarmaimi
FB: WunderBar at Circa 39 Hotel
Editor: Matthew Auerbach
Photographer: James Woodley
Producer: Jessie Rosario
Stylist: Zlata Archy & Jackie Kay
Special Thanks: Tanja Morariu
Wardrobe, jewelry and shoes by www.MagentaCouture.com
Twitter: @MagentaCouture
FB: Magenta Couture
IG: @MagentaCouture