Head to the website of the upcoming Esmé Miami Beach Hotel and you’ll find the words “Can you keep a secret?” It’s an exciting tease hinting at the attractions awaiting guests in March 2021. That’s when the hotel from Infinity Hospitality opens at 1438 Washington Ave., Miami Beach.
In the meantime, Infinity is giving hints at what the hotel will be like, announcing food and beverage programming in collaboration with Miami operators Lost Boy & Co.: El Salón, Bar Pintxo, and The Roof at Esmé. Bringing them to life are James Stuart, director of Infinity Hospitality and developer of New York City boutique hotels spots like Gemma and The Lobby Bar at The Bowery Hotel, and Lost Boy co-founder Chris Hudnall, whose lead the creation of Lost Boy Dry Goods Soho Beach House.
“We’re delighted to announce our collaboration with the Lost Boy team to create three very distinct food and beverage venues that will highlight the spirit of Esmé, while bringing back the energy of the original Spanish Village on Española Way,” Stuart said.
The heartbeat of Esmé will be El Salón, located in the Esmé Village along the main paseo that connects the property’s historic buildings. The lounge will serve an inspired menu of Miami’s most iconic dishes, from arepas to empanadas to chicharron, all highlighting the Latin diversity of the Magic City. In the evening, the space will transform into an elegant cocktail bar, where guests can enjoy drinks featuring El Salón’s exclusive proprietary spirit blends that elevate classic cocktails with a precision not yet seen in the bar world to date.
A short walk down the paseo, guests will find Bar Pintxo, a modern interpretation of a Spanish pintxo bar. Pintxo means “spike” or “skewer” and this bar will offer a rotating array of snacks on sticks to be enjoyed with Spanish beer and wine. Casual and fun, the bodega-style concept will serve bites such as Pulpo Pinchose (octopus with smoked paprika) and Gilda (anchovy, pickled pepper and olive) alongside Estrella Damm beer, fizzy Txakoli wines, and Basque Cider served with its traditional theatrical pouring style.
The Roof at Esmé is a series of roof decks that feature a bar and restaurant, a pool, cabanas, and a wellness space. In the daytime, guests may take a yoga class, enjoy cold-pressed juices, or lounge by the pool sampling a selection of hand-crafted Sangrias like the Rioja Blanco (white peach, elderflower, and ginger) or Cava Brut (kiwi, raspberry, spearmint, calvados). An all-day menu of healthy and nutritious bowls, salads and sandwiches will be offered, and at night, The Roof will be the quintessential spot for revelry where guests can enjoy large format cocktails called Spirited Jugs of reimagined classics like the French 75 and Sparkling Paloma.
“Our main focus was to create a sensory journey, and we asked ourselves how we would want to spend a day eating and drinking at Esmé,” aid Hudnall of the concepts. “Through a great collaborative effort, we’re excited to deliver a unique and meaningful experience that our guests will love.”
