With bars in South Beach, Downtown, and Miami Beach, as well as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, it was only a matter of time before Bar Lab established itself in Wynwood.
Higher Ground, from the amazing team behind Broken Shaker (and Margot and 27 Restaurant), has officially opened at Arlo Wynwood after a successful soft debut at Art Basel 2022.
The third-floor rooftop bar and cocktail lounge is inspired by outdoor arrangements in Sao Paolo, Brazil, with pockets of vegetation and a big seagrape tree serving as the focal seating space.
Higher Ground, like the Shaker with its collection of lawn sofas, Adirondack chairs, and other loungers, allows visitors to relax on hand-painted seats, swings, and chaises distributed across its more than 3,000 square feet of outdoor space. Inside, there’s an eight-person bar, a billiard area, and more seats.
Bar Lab Hospitality, known for its innovative spirit, enlisted global beverage director Christine Wiseman to create a cocktail program that fits Higher Ground’s South American vibes. “I wanted Higher Ground to evoke the spirituality, sights, colors and sense of wonder you find in the jungles of Latin America,” Wiseman explains in a statement.
“We drew inspiration from the drinks and ingredients spanning across countries such as Colombia, Peru, and Mexico.” Expect herbal elixirs, exotic infusions, and freshly pressed juices in your cocktails.
Also, Read: This Restaurant in Louisiana Serves the Most Delicious Gumbo in the States
Chef Brad Kilgore is in charge of MaryGold’s Florida Brasserie downstairs and is responsible for Higher Ground’s cocktail-friendly menu, which consists of a rotating raw bar and small plates. There’s local crudo with aji pepper sauce, shrimp cocktail, beef tartare, and oysters in a variety of presentations.
Crowds are already flocking to the Wynwood bar, with considerably more expected once High Ground begins programming—think Italian dance nights and immersive art experiences. This is Wynwood after all.
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