Cafeina Wynwood Lounge
We’ve been looking forward to checking out Cafeina Wynwood Lounge for ourselves, and last night we got to do just that. After a precarious drive down a two-way street, home to Cafeina, that is physically incapable of fitting two parked cars, a compact and an SUV all at the same time, we parked our car on a drab and dirty corner of Wynwood. Just a couple of years ago, the homeless were the only visitors to this area, but through the enigma of trends, this filthy, broken neighborhood is now a hotspot for people who think they are in the know in Miami, including yours truly.
We passed two enchanted lots before hitting our destination: one housed a building and was strewn with trash but the walls were spray-painted with all manner of vampires that seemed to say “stay away” but in a strangely sweet way. Next up was an empty and lushly overgrown lot, set up with cheap lawn chairs where a couple of young kids were just slipping through the gate for what seemed would be their own, private, unsupervised fun.
Cafeina is an enchanted place. The relatively small space is divvied up ingeniously into a tastefully arranged outdoor area, an indoor bar, office/kitchen area and gallery. The art show was interesting – a series of multimedia photos of Habana and other subjects. The bar is elegant in a European way: ceilings are high, colors dark including deep red, and the atmosphere cool. The outside makes use of strategically placed live greenery, huge fauteuils, a wicker-enclosed love seat, and high tops. Everything is tasteful without being obnoxious except perhaps the music which was a bit insistent and mechanic for my taste, all through the big game.
We wandered in while the staff was still setting up although the Heat game was only a half hour away. I was interested in trying a coffee-based cocktail I assumed a place named Cafeina would have, but the bar-tender was new, and he didn’t know anything about it. (There are signature cocktails at the place, including a coffee-liquor based drink.) We bought ten dollar mixed drinks and sat down in the only area where we thought we could see the projected screen and that was not reserved. However, this spot could have hosted a much larger party. Eventually, staff moved additional seating into strategic places, and guests kept coming in after the game started. We wanted to order food but were not ready when a buss boy came by, and after that nobody came our way, so we walked up to the counter to see if someone would serve us. Right away, a plucky waitress channeling Baby Girl (a.k.a. Penelope Garcia) from Criminal Minds came up and told us that we had to move. We couldn’t take up a space for a larger party, and the space was reserved for people who bought bottles and food. Ouch! We answered that we were not taking up the whole space, people were welcome to sit down, that the table had no “reserved” sign, and that we had been trying to order food. The waitress disappeared, and the manager returned. He was much more tactful and asked us to move to a high top they would set up just for us or to the table with the reserved sign! (Go figure.) He asked nicely and explained that he needed to seat a large party. I though it was reasonable; the place can’t turn away business, but my husband was mad as hell. The manager gave us free drinks, and we were finally able to order. We had sliders done medium. They were delicious: real beef, real cheese, the burger exuding that addicting juice, although the bun was wonder bread. We also had beef empanadas with salsa. The empanadas were a bit dry but seasoned well, but the salsa balanced that out nicely.
All in all, Cafeina is a great spot. Hopefully the Baby Girl looking waitress will learn how to approach guests tactfully even if they are not flashing wads of cash.
And who knows? Maybe Wynwood-style dilapidation will become the next hot thing, and we Americans, will be paying for spray-painted outdoor decor – designed by expensive local professionals for the high-rollers and made-in-China for the rest of us.
We passed two enchanted lots before hitting our destination: one housed a building and was strewn with trash but the walls were spray-painted with all manner of vampires that seemed to say “stay away” but in a strangely sweet way. Next up was an empty and lushly overgrown lot, set up with cheap lawn chairs where a couple of young kids were just slipping through the gate for what seemed would be their own, private, unsupervised fun.
Cafeina is an enchanted place. The relatively small space is divvied up ingeniously into a tastefully arranged outdoor area, an indoor bar, office/kitchen area and gallery. The art show was interesting – a series of multimedia photos of Habana and other subjects. The bar is elegant in a European way: ceilings are high, colors dark including deep red, and the atmosphere cool. The outside makes use of strategically placed live greenery, huge fauteuils, a wicker-enclosed love seat, and high tops. Everything is tasteful without being obnoxious except perhaps the music which was a bit insistent and mechanic for my taste, all through the big game.
We wandered in while the staff was still setting up although the Heat game was only a half hour away. I was interested in trying a coffee-based cocktail I assumed a place named Cafeina would have, but the bar-tender was new, and he didn’t know anything about it. (There are signature cocktails at the place, including a coffee-liquor based drink.) We bought ten dollar mixed drinks and sat down in the only area where we thought we could see the projected screen and that was not reserved. However, this spot could have hosted a much larger party. Eventually, staff moved additional seating into strategic places, and guests kept coming in after the game started. We wanted to order food but were not ready when a buss boy came by, and after that nobody came our way, so we walked up to the counter to see if someone would serve us. Right away, a plucky waitress channeling Baby Girl (a.k.a. Penelope Garcia) from Criminal Minds came up and told us that we had to move. We couldn’t take up a space for a larger party, and the space was reserved for people who bought bottles and food. Ouch! We answered that we were not taking up the whole space, people were welcome to sit down, that the table had no “reserved” sign, and that we had been trying to order food. The waitress disappeared, and the manager returned. He was much more tactful and asked us to move to a high top they would set up just for us or to the table with the reserved sign! (Go figure.) He asked nicely and explained that he needed to seat a large party. I though it was reasonable; the place can’t turn away business, but my husband was mad as hell. The manager gave us free drinks, and we were finally able to order. We had sliders done medium. They were delicious: real beef, real cheese, the burger exuding that addicting juice, although the bun was wonder bread. We also had beef empanadas with salsa. The empanadas were a bit dry but seasoned well, but the salsa balanced that out nicely.
All in all, Cafeina is a great spot. Hopefully the Baby Girl looking waitress will learn how to approach guests tactfully even if they are not flashing wads of cash.
And who knows? Maybe Wynwood-style dilapidation will become the next hot thing, and we Americans, will be paying for spray-painted outdoor decor – designed by expensive local professionals for the high-rollers and made-in-China for the rest of us.
