December 12, 2025
Each Friday, we try to compile South Florida food-related news and events that we couldn’t fit on the site earlier in the week, as well as other local news that piques our interest. Want to be included in our next roundup? Shoot us an email at bark@miamifoodpug.com.
Now Open: Romeo Room
Holiday Cocktails at El Toro Loco
Introducing Little River Night Market
Cuban Coquito at Cafe La Trova
Now Open: Romeo Room
Chef Dani Chavez-Bello and wife/partner Alexandra Oliveros Febres-Cordero, owners/operators of Coral Gables’ enchanting Babette restaurant, are thrilled to announce that the Romeo Room, their intimate new speakeasy and live music space located above Babette, is now officially open.
Accessed via an enchanting spiral staircase, Romeo Room – the romantic spiritual sister to the couple’s culinary love letter downstairs – is a sophisticated escape from the everyday, draped in velvet, whimsy, and Old World charm. Blending the grace of a Victorian tea room with the intrigue of a modern speakeasy, Romeo Room offers guests a transportive hideaway perfect for late-night carousing, drinks and small plates with friends and a chance to unplug from the everyday and take in live music.
At Romeo Room, guests will find a thoughtfully-crafted cocktail menu and a rotating menu of sophisticated small plates, including but not limited to Croquetas de jamón with golden osetra caviar; Ibérico Cinco Jotas carved to order; Chawanmushi; truffled mac & cheese and more. Romeo Room will feature Estrella Damm as its official beer (an ode to Chef Dani’s many years spent working with Chef Ferran Adrià, the incomparable chef behind the landmark El Bulli and an Estrella brand ambassador), an extensive collection of Japanese whiskies (a personal passion of Dani’s) and Nordés Gin.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Romeo Room will debut with a series of intimate weekly happenings, including:
Sake & DJ Wednesdays
A curated sake selection paired with an eclectic DJ set to usher in mid-week revelry.
Live Music Thursdays
Guests can look forward to weekly live music moments and spontaneous jam sessions that keep the night feeling fresh and unforgettable.
Romeo Room is located upstairs from Babette at 303 Alcazar Avenue in Coral Gables. Hours of operation are Wednesday through Saturday, 7PM – 1AM.
Holiday Cocktails at El Toro Loco
El Toro Loco Steakhouse has launched three brand-new, seasonal cocktails available now through December 31st, and they’re already becoming guest favorites.
Beyond being known for “the best meats in the world, at an affordable price,” El Toro Loco also delivers an elevated bar program, and their holiday creations are no exception. Each drink was crafted to bring Miami’s festive energy to the table, served inside beautifully decorated venues perfect for holiday celebrations, group dinners, or a spirited night out.
HOLIDAY COCKTAIL LINEUP (LIMITED TIME ONLY):
Santa’s Coconut Magic Martini
A silky, tropical-meets-winter martini infused with coconut and holiday spices, a playful, magical twist on a classic.
Christmas Mojito
A seasonal spin on their signature mojito, made with mint, lime, and festive touches that make it bright, refreshing, and undeniably Miami.
Berry Merry Sangria
A vibrant, fruit-forward sangria that balances sweetness and spice, perfect for sipping through holiday gatherings.
Guests can request the Holiday Cocktail Menu at any El Toro Loco location now through December 31st. Each venue has been decorated for the season, offering the perfect backdrop for holiday photos, celebrations, and content-worthy dining.
Introducing Little River Night Market
Smorgasburg, the country’s largest open-air food market, is leveling up. What began as Smorgasburg Miami is now growing into Smorgasburg South Florida, a regional evolution that reflects the momentum the brand has seen across the country from Los Angeles to Jersey City to its newest expansion in Atlanta. Miami’s beloved food and culture hub is starting a new chapter with the launch of its monthly Little River Night Market.
This first edition of the Little River Night Market will take place Saturday, December 20, from 4 PM to 11 PM, and will continue once a month at 7200 NW 2nd Avenue.
The move follows the recent closure of the Wynwood location. Over three years, Wynwood became a launchpad for hundreds of local vendors, a weekend destination for tens of thousands of Miami residents and visitors, and a hub for food, music, art and community. Smorgasburg’s legacy of discovery, creativity and connection continues to inspire Smorgasburg South Florida.
The Little River Night Market, created in collaboration with Mids Market and Reserved, blends everything Miami does best: global street food, vintage culture, flash tattoos, vinyl, design, nightlife and the kind of creative mash-ups that feel distinctly local. Taking over both the outdoor lot and the indoor spaces at 7200 NW 2nd Avenue, the market will feature a mix of current Smorgasburg vendors and new guest vendors, including Asian-inspired offerings, to create a lively night-market alley vibe.
Smorgasburg South Florida anchors the outdoor lot with a lineup of street-food vendors serving the global flavors that define Miami, an Asian Alley, and Barquito pouring holiday drinks such as Coquito. The space also features a surprise guest chef at No Reservations.
Mids Market leads the indoor experience with their signature curation of rare vintage and community-minded creatives, including Ryan Frankel & Friends, plus a flash-tattoo experience by Kame House Tattoo.
Reserved sets the tone with a hi-fi vintage vinyl lounge, blending deep grooves and salsa-clash rhythms from selectors Safe Stadick and Rum & Coke.
Cuban Coquito at Cafe La Trova
Café La Trova is embracing the holiday spirit with a limited-time-only Cuban Coquito, crafted with Bacardí Ocho Rum, Cardenal Mendoza Angelus, pandan syrup, condensed milk, coconut milk, cream of coconut, orange blossom water, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of salt. Guests can enjoy this festive sip at the bar for $13 or take home a 500ml bottle for $25, available all December. Perfectly creamy, aromatic, and unmistakably Cafe La Trova, it’s the ultimate holiday indulgence.