Giorgio Rapicavoli's new pop-up cocktail and tapas bar, Drinking Room, holds court in Hotel Astor.
Drinking Room aims to be as simple as its name—just a bar serving up quality libations that people crave. And with Eating House chef Giorgio Rapicavoli behind the project, we expect the temporary Hotel Astor watering hole (open through New Year's Eve) to be quite the hit among the Art Basel Miami Beach crowd.
Similar to Eating House, Drinking Room serves up a selection of creative cocktails and playful dishes. “We wanted to create something different,” says bar manager Eddie Fuentes. “We wanted to bring to the table a bar that had good food, good drinks, and good music to listen to. We want you to have fun.”
Located in the ground level nook of the boutique hotel, the cozy lounge delivers a lively ambiance, with a DJ station set up on one side and a few small tables and sofas peppered throughout. We recommend snagging a front-row seat at the bar and watching the team in action as they sling cocktails and serve a delectable range of tapas-style plates such as carbonara croquetas, an Italian and Spanish blend of Arborio rice, black truffle, bacon, and parmigiano.
Cocktails are packed with flavor and boast clever names: The Grow A Pear mixes spiced Scotch, velvet falnerum, and roasted pear, while the Go Green Man combines a refreshing, almost health-feeling blend of English gin, celery juice, citrus, and celery bitters.
Open daily, Drinking Room is the perfect place to start an evening or grab a nightcap on the way home. Swing by from Thursday, December 5 through Sunday, December 8 to experience edible art installations by Singapore Chef Janice Wong. 956 Washington Ave., Miami Beach