Urbanite Bistro, Miami

iami’s Media and Entertainment District thrives on its chic casualness. Mainstays like the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and The Vagabond are sunny, laid-back and unapologetically artsy. But Urbanite Bistro has eschewed the décor of its neighbors, favoring espresso wood and leather, with undertones of navy, red and mahogany — the newfangled keynotes of modern design.

But the Urbanite Bistro does not intend to get by on the trendy qualities of the intentionally thrown together casual feel of the speakeasy-esque space. Rather, the selling feature of this late night haunt is its all but obligatory connection to the art world. Doubling as an art gallery with works from local artists that rotate on a monthly basis, owner Frank Imbarlina (of the Brass Monkey in New Jersey) will serve comfort bistro bites until 3 a.m. The menu is an interesting commingling of Floridian fare and European flavours: seared tuna crusted in herbes de Provence with coconut & radish salad covered in a key lime-papaya reduction; the pecan-crusted boar tenderloin; and the ancho glazed grouper with cucumber salsa, Blue Cornbread, sautéed Broccoli & Malanga are among the more interesting on the admittedly artful card.

As pleasing to the eye as the menu – and the art for that matter – may be, any real connoisseur knows a good beverage makes the appeal ever so sweeter. That being said, with two large indoor bars and a cocktail menu comprised of classic standards and specialty cocktails like the Blackberry Mash, a blend of mandarin vodka, blackberry, thyme, Angostura bitters, agave nectar, lime juice and a sprig of thyme; or the Cucumis Sativus, a mix of vodka, cucumbers, lemon verbena and lavender simple syrup, Urbanite Bistro definitely knows how to dazzle its patrons.

Serving the starving artist and foodie folks who are just plain starving, The Urbanite Bistro masterfully doles a rich evening out.

Address: 62 NE 14th St, Miami, FL 33132
Contact: 305.374.0662.
Cuisine: Bistro
Area: South Miami
Venue: Retaurant, Bar

Visit MartiniBoys.com to find the best restaurants, clubs, bars, theatre and art galleries in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Miami and New York City.