April 17, 2026
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.
Introducing Alchemy By Loews
Coming Soon: 400 Vinyl Room
New Brunch Offerings at American Social
Vicky Bakery Debuts Bar Victor
Introducing Alchemy By Loews
Loews Miami Beach Hotel and Loews Coral Gables Hotel announce the launch of Alchemy by Loews, a brand-wide beverage program designed to transform traditional cocktail and Free Spirited service into a transportive moment shaped by creativity and attention to detail. Inspired by botanical apothecaries and the art of intentional craft, Alchemy by Loews introduces thoughtfully composed drinks layered with subtle sensory elements that enhance flavor, mood and connection, while showcasing the masterful mixology of the Loews beverage team.
Catering to the increased interest in curated, out-of-the-box food and beverage experiences, Alchemy by Loews embraces a refined approach to multi-dimensional hospitality. The program focuses on intuitive craftsmanship and the idea that how a drink feels on arrival is as important as how it tastes.
“Alchemy by Loews is about elevating the everyday ritual of enjoying a beverage into something quietly memorable,” said Grant Hewitt, Vice President Beverage, Loews Hotels & Co. “Every detail, from aroma and temperature to glassware and texture, is considered with intention. The result is an experience that feels personal, artisanal, and deeply rooted in hospitality.”
An Apothecary-Inspired Approach to Modern Mixology: Alchemy by Loews features layered presentations including house-made tinctures, herbal infusions, small-batch mixers, spritzers, and curated bottles that tell a story. Each element is designed to complement – not overpower – the drink’s core flavor profile. At Loews Hotels in Miami Beach and Coral Gables, the program comes to life through select beverages featuring regional ingredients, seasonal botanicals, and destination-driven flavors that reflect the hotel’s surroundings.
Alchemy by Loews at Bistro Collins – Loews Miami Beach Hotel
Volcan de Mi Tierra | Volcán XA Tequila meets Luxardo Bitter Bianco, Cocchi Americano and dry vermouth – stirred, then sparked with pink grapefruit oils. Sealed beneath a cloche and revealed tableside, it exhales a curl of citrus smoke.
Okiru Martini | Soto sake and Aplós Arise mingle with lemon, cucumber, honey water and shiso leaf – light, lifted and quietly complex. A low-ABV pour from the hotel’s Free Spirited menu that blooms with cool botanicals, like a modern apothecary elixir.
Veil of Eden | Bacardí Superior shaken with lime and strawberry, then crowned with a delicate bubble of pear smoke. A single touch releases a veil of fruit, vapor and spirit in fleeting, apothecary-inspired alchemy.
Alchemy by Loews at Americana Kitchen – Loews Coral Gables Hotel
Lychee Cristalino Martini | Cristalino vodka with lychee and rhubarb, laced with St-Germain, dry vermouth and a touch of lemon – clarified and finished with a smoke-kissed bubble – it delivers a fleeting bloom of florals and fruit in the spirit of apothacary.
Bee’s Knees | Empress Gin, lemon and lavender honey come together in a refined twist on this classic cocktail – bright, floral and quietly luminous. A polished tonic of citrus and bloom.
Manhattan | Michter’s Rye and vermouth, laced with mezcal for a sultry nod to Miami’s edge and rounded with maple. Finished tableside with a torched orange peel, releasing a flash of citrus oil and fire.
Alchemy by Loews builds on the brand’s reputation for innovative, guest-centered food and beverage programming. As consumer preferences continue to shift toward personalization, craftsmanship, and Free Spirited options, the program meets guests where they are, offering elevated experiences that feel intentional, balanced, and distinctly Miami.
By focusing on detail and sensory nuance, Alchemy by Loews reinforces the brand’s philosophy that true hospitality lies in the moments guests feel, before they even take a sip.
Coming Soon: 400 Vinyl Room
400 Vinyl Room, an intimate listening lounge, will debut April 25, 2026, on the 9th floor of Gale Miami Hotel & Residences in Downtown Miami.
Inspired by the legendary “400 Club”, the exclusive private enclave within Yamashiro Hollywood that served as a gathering place for the film industry’s elite in the 1920s, 400 Vinyl Room is designed to channel the allure of Hollywood’s Golden Age while drawing inspiration from Tokyo’s late-night cocktail culture. The lounge opens adjacent to Yamashiro Miami, the celebrated Los Angeles institution’s first expansion in its 111-year history. While Yamashiro offers rooftop dining with panoramic views of the Miami skyline, 400 Vinyl Room provides a more intimate counterpart, a space where music takes center stage.
Opening 400 Vinyl Room feels like completing a circle. Yamashiro brings the dining, the history, the legacy of over a century in hospitality,” says Freddy Braidi, Partner Yamashiro Miami Hospitality Group. And now, right alongside it, a room where the night truly begins. Miami has welcomed us in a way that means everything to this team, and we wanted to give something back to this city that reflects how seriously we take that. 400 Vinyl Room is that answer.”
The 50-seat lounge will boast a vinyl-only music program rooted in funk, soul, disco, and ’80s Latin, with nightly themed sessions built around the culture of record listening. Programming will explore themed nights like Saturday Night Fever spinning the anthems that defined a generation of dressing up and going out. Guest selectors and visiting DJs will join regularly for special residencies.
Bottle service has no place here. In its place, 400 Vinyl Room presents a cocktail program defined by craft, precision, and the kind of reverence for the drink that mirrors the room itself. Every cocktail on the menu is built with intention, balanced, spirit-forward, and expressive. The bar draws its philosophy from the great American cocktail tradition: spirits-led with unexpected depth.
Cocktail highlights include All Night Long, a bright highball with vodka, strawberry cordial, grapefruit, and club soda; Smooth Operator with Vida Tobalá, Midori, lime, and basil; and Saturday Night Fever, a bold, high-energy combination of Código Blanco tequila, lemon, honey, cilantro, sriracha, and wasabi salt, vibrant, spicy. A large selection of Champagne will be offered by the glass and bottle, alongside a refined tableside champagne cart with caviar service, a nod to the room’s Golden Age DNA.
Further setting the beverage program apart is the Tiny Sips menu, a distinctive collection of small-format cocktails designed for exploration. These are not miniatures, but concentrated, intentional pours: lower in volume, higher in intensity, and meant to be slowly sipped. Selections include My Way, a Manhattan-style pour with Zacapa XO rum, Antigua formula, Lo-Fi dry vermouth, and aromatic bitters; Dirty Diana, a briny, refined take on the dirty martini with Canaima gin, white vermouth, house 400 brine, and a delicate shochu rinse; and Hot Stuff, a spicy-citrus driven mix of Ocho Blanco tequila, lime, habanero bitters, Tajín, and Aperol.
Designed by AMA Designs, The 400 Vinyl Room features warm textures, amber light, where record shelves line the walls, framed gold albums shimmer under curated spotlighting. The bar anchors the room with quiet authority behind deep velvet curtains and bespoke furnishings. Curved banquettes and intimate table groupings invite lingering conversation. The aesthetic draws inspiration from 1970s hi-fi culture and the underground vinyl bars of Tokyo, where dim lighting, carefully curated sound systems, and intentional programming create an almost sacred environment for music lovers. Every design element, from lighting to seating configuration, has been carefully considered to enhance the vinyl listening experience.
The 400 Vinyl Room will be open select evenings, offering an intimate, music-driven counterpart to Yamashiro Miami. The 400 Vinyl Room is located next to Yamashiro Miami, on the 9th floor of Gale Miami Hotel & Residences (159 NE 6th Street), and invites Yamashiro guests to start or continue the evening before or after dinner in a more intimate setting.
Photo Credit: The Louis Collection
New Brunch Offerings at American Social
American Social is shaking things up once again with an all-new brunch menu across all locations.
Delicious new additions like the French Toast Sticks and Donut Holes can be paired with classics like AmSo’s famous chicken tenders, Spinach Dip and Croquettes for a satisfying sweet and salty combo. Pair your bites with a selection from the “Spritzy Spring” menu, a refreshing new seasonal spritz lineup featuring vibrant, fruit-forward flavor. Brunch is available every Saturday and Sunday from 10:30am-3:00pm.
Vicky Bakery Debuts Bar Victor
Vicky Bakery is elevating its signature Cuban bakery experience with the debut of Bar Victor, the brand’s first-ever full-service bar, located inside its Key Largo location. The new concept expands the brand beyond the bakery counter, introducing handcrafted cocktails and shareable bites inspired by Cuban flavors in the heart of the Florida Keys.
Designed as a relaxed and inviting space, Bar Victor gives guests a new reason to gather – whether they’re locals or visitors – while continuing to position the Key Largo location as a go-to destination for an authentic yet elevated Cuban dining and cocktail experience.
The cocktail menu, crafted by Giovanny Gutierrez, features a curated lineup of modern, tropical, and Cuban-inspired drinks, including elevated classics like the Mojito Royal, Banana Daiquiri, and Guayabita Paloma, as well as inventive creations such as the Torrejas Old Fashioned and the Fuácata Cafecito Martini, a playful nod to Vicky Bakery’s beloved cafecito culture.
On the food side, the menu centers on tapas-style small plates and familiar favorites designed for sharing. Highlights include classic croquetas, tequeños with boom boom sauce, empanadas and toston nachos, along with pressed Cuban sandwiches such as the El Cubano, pan con lechón, and the croqueta preparada.
“This is a really exciting evolution for us,” said Pedro Cao, Managing Partner at Vicky Bakery. “With Bar Victor, we’re expanding beyond the bakery counter to create a full experience – one that brings together Cuban-inspired cocktails, shareable dishes, and the vibrant, laid-back energy of the Florida Keys.”
Bar Victor is located at 97630 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037 and is open from 4pm to 12am.