15 November 2-8, 2023 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | Contents | Letters | news | night+Day | CuLture | Cafe | MusiC | 3201 RICKENBACKER CAUSEWAY KEY BISCAYNE, FL | 305.361.3818 WWW.THERUSTYPELICAN.COM BE SOCIAL WITH US! FIND US ON HAPPY HOUR ShopWynwoodMiami.com DISCOVER MORE SHOP WYNWOOD Unique & Boutique Retail in the Arts District Photo: Wynwood Walls and Nika Kramer miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | ▼ BRICKELL A MEMBERS-ONLY SPEAKEASY BAR AND CIGAR LOUNGE IS COMING TO MIAMI Red Phone Booth, an establishment that bills itself as a true Prohibition experience, is headed for Miami. The exclusive speakeasy, founded and cu- rated by franchise owner Stephen de Haan, is best known for welcoming guests through an antique London phone booth that doubles as the entrance. Beyond the obvious kitsch of ever-chang- ing secret codes to gain access, however, guests will find an upscale space offering a Prohibition-inspired cocktail selection, a cu- rated small plates menu, and an exclusive ci- gar program. Red Phone Booth first opened in down- town Atlanta in 2021 and has since expanded to the area’s Buckhead neighborhood, Nash- ville, and Dallas. The brand’s fifth location will be its first in Florida, operated by Weber Bros Hospitality, and slated to open at 1010 Brickell Ave. on Friday, November 17. There’s just one catch: This speakeasy is aimed at being a members-only experience, with only a handful of ways for the public to gain entry. Although the über-exclusive lounge is open to the public, part of the unique experience re- quires guests to obtain a secret phone number from a member or local hotel concierge. The number must be dialed on the phone once in- side the speakeasy’s entrance, a restored Lon- don antique red phone booth, to gain entry. According to its creator, Red Phone Booth was imagined as a space where members could meet with friends and colleagues over a drink — perhaps accompanied by food and with a signature cigar in hand. The Miami Red Phone Booth’s interior was designed to be reminiscent of a clandes- tine hideaway, complete with vintage-in- spired décor from the 100-year-old reclaimed brick walls and honey onyx bar to cozy fire- places and custom Italian leather couches. A second-floor space known as the “Mafia Room” will be available to rent for private events and features a private bar, pool table, poker table, and flat-screen TVs. For the imbibers, Red Phone Booth boasts an in-house mixology program a selection of more than 400 spirits, including rare bour- bon, scotch, tequila, and Japanese whisky. Cocktails are prepared using fresh-squeezed juices, hand-chipped ice that’s cut to order, and a collection of more than a dozen tinc- tures, bitters, and flavoring agents. Guests can expect to pair their drinks with an Italian-inspired menu of appetizers and small bites, as well as Neapolitan-style pizzas. The Brickell menu will also offer unique, lo- cation-only items, including a shrimp pie, stone crab claws (when in season), and shrimp cock- tail. Red Phone Booth also focuses on another menu: more than 200 ci- gars, all offered from a tempera- ture- and humid- ity-controlled walk-in humidor. It’s matched with an air purification and ventilation system that cleans and re- places all the air in the venue approximately every two minutes. Later this month, Red Phone Booth will begin hosting various open-house tours for potential members beginning October 31 by appointment only. Following the tours, a series of members-only parties are scheduled to take place November 14-16, followed by a grand-opening event slated for November 17-18. Memberships — which require applicants to agree to a code of conduct, house rules, and dress code — are reciprocal at all locations and are expected to sell out quickly. Member- ship starts at $400 (individual) to $7,500 (corporate). The Red Phone Booth Brickell location is currently accepting applications for membership. “We are incredibly excited to bring the Red Phone Booth concept to Brickell,” Red Phone Booth photo Red Phone Booth will offer Prohibition- inspired cocktails. THIS SPEAKEASY IS AIMED AT BEING A MEMBERS-ONLY EXPERIENCE, WITH ONLY A HANDFUL OF WAYS FOR THE PUBLIC TO GAIN ENTRY.
