Higher Ground
2217 NW Miami Ct., Miami
highergroundwynwood.com
On the hotel’s third level at the Arlo Wynwood, you’ll find Higher Ground, the latest cocktail and food concept from Bar Lab Hospitality.The indoor/outdoor, jungle-themed refuge, which can be reached by an exterior stairs off NW 22nd Street or the hotel’s elevators, lives up to its name as a soaring escape from the bustle of Wynwood below.
Christine Wiseman, global beverage director of Bar Lab, is the driving force behind the stellar cocktail menu.The native Californian has been working in the service industry for over two decades, and in that time she has garnered international acclaim for her cocktail creations at notable establishments such as Virtue Feed & Grain, Ink, La Descarga, and Breakroom 86, before landing at Broken Shaker in Los Angeles.
All of the cocktails are made with care, and many of them have herbal elixirs, unusual infusions, and freshly squeezed juices.
Brad Kilgore oversees the kitchen at Higher Ground, which serves a rotating menu of raw bar and small plates designed to complement the cocktails. Some examples include local crudo, shrimp cocktail with cocktail sauce, and beef tartare dressed with umami oil and ancho chili and served in chilled lettuce cups.
Hours are Thursday through Sunday from 5 to 11 p.m.
Plum Market
17801 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura
786-692-5450
plummarket.com/aventura
The city of Aventura now has its own organic and locally sourced grocery store.
Plum Market, a new kind of grocery store, secretly opened its doors to customers in South Florida earlier this month.
The Aventura site of the privately owned chain of full-service grocery stores is no exception to this commitment to the communities it serves. The store spent months recruiting local growers, craftsmen, and producers to include more than 1,000 local items in its inventory.
Along with a carefully curated assortment of in-season vegetables, grocery and pharmacy needs, and all-natural and sustainably sourced meats and seafood, the local market also features an in-house, fast-casual dining area for consumers.
Plum’s wine department, curated by Master Sommelier Madeline Triffon, offers a wide variety of high-quality bottles at reasonable prices, earning the store rave reviews from wine connoisseurs.
Sustainable sushi produced fresh on-site, artisanal baked items from nearby bakeries, and Norman Love chocolates are all on the menu.
Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tropical Distillers
2141 NW 10th Ave., Miami
786-294-0328
tropicaldistillers.com
Miami-based Tropical Distillers has opened its doors as Florida’s newest distillery and venue nestled right in the middle of Allapattah.
Tastings, tours, events, an indoor/outdoor cocktail bar, and a gift store are all a part of Tropical Distillers’ mission to provide visitors with an informative and entertaining immersion in the spirit of its liqueur brands.
Using its December opening, Tropical Distillers introduced numerous new varieties, including J.F. Haden’s Liqueur, the line’s mango spirit made with Florida mangos, as well as the brand’s citrus and espresso liqueurs.
The 8,000 square foot facility houses a fully automated artisanal distillery and in-house cannery, as well as a 30-seat bar and tasting area decorated in bright, retro Florida tropical decor.
Craft cocktails, such as the “Cafecito” martini and the “Floridian” martini, and frozen drinks are available for guests to sample.
Additionally, there is a 1,500 square foot outdoor deck at Tropical Distillers where guests may enjoy drinks and eat from food trucks.
A guided tour of Tropical Distillers is available Thursday through Sunday at 1 pm, 3 pm, and 5 pm for $25. This includes a five spirit tasting and convenient tour pick-up sites across Miami. Tasting room open 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.