It's new to me
I feel like my weekend is successful if I discover one new place that makes me say, "I'm so coming back here." (Because, so often, it's more like, "Scratch this hell hole off the list.") This weekend, I hit the hidden gem jackpot with not one but TWO new spots to add to my off-the-beaten-path list. Because it's my job to know what's new and awesome in Miami, I'm often asked to play concierge (or anoint myself so we don't end up somewhere with bottle service or $80 steaks). My mission for Friday night: to find a low-key bar/lounge south of fifth street with lots of space to sit and affordable drinks.
Enter Abraxas Lounge. This place is adorable. It's in an old house (the bathroom has a shower) on 4th and Meridian - wood floors, lots of plush couches and not a beer menu but a beer book. Like 120 choices: everything from Hoegaarden (Belgium) to Golden Pheasant (Slovakian). Each night has a different music theme, and Fridays was house. When I read this on their website, I grimaced, because if I had the choice between a hee-haw country music festival in Davie and the Winter Music Conference, I'd be in a bedazzled denim vest before you could say "these colors don't run." However... the description also said that the music was low enough to carry on a conversation, which is always a must when I choose a place to spend the evening (unless it's a concert, of course, then please don't ruin my musical experience with your incessant chatter). Other nights include everything from jazz and blues (Sundays) to indie rock (Wednesdays). So yeah, Abraxas Lounge. Check it out, I think you'll love.
The next day Legion Park on Biscayne Boulevard had their farmer's market. Small, but full of good stuff like organic mango custard with granola and homemade hummus. There's plenty to eat in the area now - Pineapple Blossom Tea Room, Kingdom, Karma, to name a few - but I had read about Garden of Eatin' on meatlessmiami.com and had been dying to try it out. Saying this vegetarian restaurant is off the beaten path is an understatement and a half. It's in a house (there's a theme forming here, I think), with a handful of tables and, when we went, a DJ playing in the parking lot (and, according to the owner, a jazz fest later that day). But you don't come here for the ambiance. You come for heaping portions of delicious curry tofu, stewed pumpkin, organic stir fry, tofu fritters and blazing hot scotch bonnet sauce. There's also ginger juice and lemonade and, on that particular day, vegan carrot cake. The earlier you get there the better, because once they run out of something, ain't no more in the back. It's a field trip, for sure, but so well worth it.
-- miaeditor
| Average rating based on 2 reviews. |
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- Current 80.6 °F
- It's an alfresco night
- Try a Grove sidewalk cafe
I'll be there for sure! Beer and wine list? I'm sold on Abraxas
Posted by: eseditor on Tue, 2008-05-06 14:10