Miami Beach is a city that goes through cycles – and the thing is, it doesn’t go through them everywhere all at once. In 1964, Sean Connery’s James Bond perched coolly on a balcony at The Fontainebleau, leaning over a bikini-clad Jill Masterson while spying on a card game played by Auric Goldfinger. If anyone thought of the Deco District 40 blocks south, it was mostly to marvel that those moldering hotels were so affordable and so run down. Fast forward 30 years, and the height of cool at The Fontainebleau was a tabloid writer (with, admittedly, a fine set of pipes) performing a one-man Frank Sinatra revue, while the Deco District throbbed with techno music and glittered with neon between the historical markers, and the SoBe bohemians were nervously watching the rents start to rise as square footage shrank. Whatever “it” is, “it” moves up and down Collins and across the causeways, changing shape and location as the years go by.
And now, in 2025, is it too early to say “it” might be back in the Mid-Beach? SoBe still has Pharrell’s hotel, New World Symphony simulcasts on Lincoln Road, and fine dining overlooking the cruise ships sailing to the Caribbean. But there’s something else going on in the shadows of the mid-century modern monoliths of Eden Roc, Andaz, and, yes, The Fontainebleau. Something … buzzy? Electric?
Memories of more exciting days might haunt the SoBe sunset, but a curious Biscayne tippler might just find sparkling new memories being made in the cocktail bars a few blocks north.
MID-BEACH MEDITERRANEAN
Sharing a classic building with the Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club on Collins, you can now find Donna Mare, an upscale Italian chophouse, if you keep your eyes open.
(Courtesy Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club)
Miguel Faget aims more" GoldenEye" than "Goldfinger" with Donna Mare’s contribution to Mid-Beach culture.
“We want to be a hidden gem you might discover while strolling down Collins Avenue,” said Miguel Faget, the Cadillac’s director of food and beverage.
The place, like a mid-century American luxury sedan, is designed to create an atmosphere that balances comfort and class.
“Handmade pastas, aged steaks, and expertly crafted cocktails set the tone,” said Faget. He wants it to be a place where guests unplug from the world and connect with the people around them.
Adds Executive Chef Luigi Iannuario, “At the bar, we want patrons to feel as if they’re sitting in Rome or Milan – sophisticated yet friendly; where good conversation and impeccable taste go hand in hand.”
Alongside carefully crafted classic cocktails – it’s a gimlet and rusty nail kind of place – the bar serves some creations with an Italian twist. A Ciao Bella is a bright, refreshing number made with Lyre's blanco tequila, agave nectar, lime juice, and San Pellegrino Aranciata Rossa, while an Espresso-Self is, of course, an espresso martini, made surprisingly with Bounty dark rum, Kahlúa, Disaronno amaretto, Mozart chocolate cream, demerara syrup, and espresso.
Despite the neighborhood’s late-’50s, early-’60s aura, Faget hearkens back to a different era – more “GoldenEye” than “Goldfinger.”
“The James Bond who’d be sipping a martini at Donna Mare would be Pierce Brosnan – his undeniable charm, refined style, and playful confidence align perfectly with the Donna Mare vibe,” he said. “The late ‘90s were a golden era of effortless cool for Miami Beach.”
Being cool also means being generous, and Faget was happy to praise some of his neighbors who seem to be doing it right.
“Faena has a bold, artistic ambiance and sense of grandeur,” he said.
PAGING JOHN WICK
(Victoria Grodski)
The Continental has kept its retro cool while stepping into the future.
Practically across the street from the Cadillac is another Mid-Beach icon that’s got something new going on in historically cool surrounds. The Hotel Continental was built in 1948 as a five-story, 100-room, sleek, modern, cosmopolitan place to hang your hat in the Magic City.
It’s just been remodeled, and one of the new additions, as of this spring, is Divebar, a “curated space” that invites guests to craft their ideal drink from a self-pour beverage wall.
“When we created Divebar, we wanted a place that felt mid-century but also effortless – a spot where people could come together over great drinks and a price point that makes it easy to stay for another round,” said Xander Brown, Head of Acquisitions and Capital Markets at Spot On Ventures. “The name itself is about diving into new conversations, new friendships, new adventures. Whether you’re here for a drink or just the company, we hope you find something worth diving into.”
The Continental partnered with Miami drink innovators Unfiltered Hospitality to create a unique feature using the same radio-frequency tech that makes keyless car fobs and Apple Pay work. Only at Divebar, you get an RFID card that lets you browse a “beverage wall" that dispenses a selection of drinks on tap. It’s sort of like an old-fashioned automat, but boozy and brought into the 21st century.
How it works: First, you get an RFID card to activate the wall. Tap that card on the reader next to the touchscreen to begin.
Next, the touchscreen displays a list of what’s on offer. If you see something you’d like to sample, press on that.
Once a beverage is selected, pour as much as you like. The system tracks the ounces poured, ensuring you only pay for what you consume.
If you like what you’re sipping, you’re free to refill your drink. When you’re done, return the magic card to settle the tab. The whole thing should be simple and seamless.
What’s on offer? The four custom cocktail taps have playful twists on retro classics. The Easy Breezy is a sea breeze updated with Ketel One’s Grapefruit Rose vodka, cranberry juice, and a blend of grapefruit juice and sea salt. The Cucumber Cooler is made with Hendrick’s gin, Carpano Bianco, fresh lime juice, and a crisp cucumber sour. A Mama Mia is crafted with Madre mezcal, sweet Aperol, cactus pear, and pomegranate sour. Finally, for a real Florida flavor, the Coconut Old Fashioned features local brand Coconut Cartel’s aged rum, spiced brown sugar, and two kinds of bitters. (You can read more about Coconut Cartel’s unique rums in a previous column here.)
There are also three wine taps pouring a choice of a Sterling Vineyards cabernet sauvignon, a Matua sauvignon blanc, and a Gotham Project sabine rosé.
And, of course, local craft beers La Rubia blond ale from Wynwood Brewing Company and El Farito IPA from The Tank Brewing are served alongside Modelo Especial for those looking for a classic brew. Beyond the beverage wall taps, Divebar also has bottled beers like Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Stella, and Corona.
That is the future taking root inside an old Mid-Beach landmark.
CLASSIC COMFORTS BY THE SEA
For something a little more in the original Frank Sinatra tradition, you can still order a Jack Daniels at his old hangout Eden Roc, where Old Blue Eyes maintained a suite the year after Sean Connery stumped his card cheater at The Fontainebleau.
You can order a whiskey the way Sinatra liked it, as a 3-2-1: three ice cubes, two fingers of Jack, and one splash of water. Or you can take a distinctly different Mid-Beach approach by sliding over to Nobu, which shares a space with Eden Roc.
Every third Thursday of the month, Nobu has a complimentary Suntory Japanese Whisky Tasting, which is designed to be a “journey of exploration” of Asian whiskies, along with some of the best Japanese food on this side of the planet (as mentioned in our past column on Japanese whiskies).
That’s enough to make anyone feel like they’ve got the world on a string.
Grant Balfour is a Miami Beach native, writer, editor, traveler, musician, bon vivant and our official Biscayne Tippler.
