fbpx

Behind the Craft

Though alcohol clearly isn’t the healthiest beverage, The Craftsman probably is your most health-conscious bet when you’re looking for a buzz. Dustin Elmalem, owner of the Miami pop-up bar—an extension of the original Craftsman in New York—offers craft cocktails free of added preservatives, along with a neighborhood bar vibe.

While the Harlem location is a craft café by day and craft bar by night, the Miami version of The Craftsman (900 S. Miami Ave., Suite 135) keeps its focus on the drinks. While the venue does serve small plates and craft sandwiches—the kitchen is open until 4 a.m. daily—it’s known best for its laidback atmosphere and quality cocktails and beers.

“Nothing from a soda gun ever goes in any of our cocktails,” says Elmalem, who has worked in the industry his entire career. “That’s kind of our niche.”

Cocktails like the Tequila Mockingbird—a blend of Cazadores Blanco tequila, cold-pressed ginger and kale juice, with a cayenne pepper rim—and A Greek in Manhattan—The Craftsman’s take on an old-fashioned—are named for famous books and authors. Along with the clever cocktail names, The Craftsman has live music, DJs and Latin parties, depending on the night. On Wednesdays, the establishment teams up with Miami Comedy to host a live comedy show, and Thursday is ladies’ night. Day to day, it’s a laidback vibe, with low-playing music and friendly staff and bartenders.

Though the Miami bar, which opened in September, is a pop-up location—a temporary establishment, as the name suggests—Elmalem hopes The Craftsman’s Miami bar will be open at least for the next year.

“I want patrons to feel comfortable. I want them to feel like it’s a neighborhood bar and not a nightclub or a place with hassle,” Elmalem says. “There’s a lot of that in Miami, and we don’t want that.”

 

A Greek in Manhattan

Ingredients:

2 oz. rye whiskey

1 oz. FOS Greek mastiha

3 dashes Angostura bitters

Directions:

Stir ingredients in mixing glass with ice. Strain into rocks glass with ice. Garnish with lemon peel and zest.

You May Also Like

Blue Collar on Biscayne Boulevard Prepares for Relocation Amid Expansion Plans

Chef/restaurateur Danny Serfer created the culinary gem for comfort food enthusiasts.

Local South Florida Cocktail Recipes to Craft During National Cocktail Day 

The celebration will commence on Sunday, March 24.

Celebrity Chef From Food Network to Deliver Speech at Boca West Children’s Foundation Luncheon

Chef Alex Guarnaschelli will headline the fundraiser.

Salty Flame Opens as Brickell’s Newest Asian-inspired Steak Bar

The unique concept combines the appeal of a contemporary steakhouse with the dynamic and varied tastes of diverse Asian cuisine.

Other Posts

Toni’s Sushi Bar Unveils Redesign

To mark Toni’s Sushi Bar’s highly anticipated 40th anniversary as Miami Beach’s longest-running sushi bar, the iconic eatery is thrilled to announce the unveiling of its extraordinary redesign. The project was a collaborative endeavor between world-renowned New York City firm KONO Designs and four traditional artisans flown in from Japan to lend their inimitable knowledge

Fort Liquordale On The Beach Launches

Axe Hospitality, creators of local concepts including Chops & Hops and Mama Hanks, recently celebrated the grand opening.

AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Beach Hosts Paws & Puptails Yappy Hour

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Humane Society of Broward County.