This stylish new bar in downtown Miami wants you to pre-game with Italian aperitivos
In Italy, it’s a social tradition to indulge in an aperitivo — a pre-dinner drink — before you settle in with your steak or pasta.
The idea is to consume an adult beverage and perhaps a snack in order to stimulate the appetite. It could be a glass of wine but often is a classic Italian cocktail, an Aperol Spritz, Negroni or Bellini.
The tradition continues at the new ViceVersa in downtown Miami, a cocktail bar that creates classic Italian cocktails with a modern eye and has partnered with the chefs from the Michelin-recommended restaurant Jaguar Sun.
Created by bartender Valentino Longo, best known for being the head bartender of The Champagne Room at the Four Seasons at The Surf Club, ViceVersa is adjacent to The Elser Hotel, across the street from Bayside Marketplace.
The bar is green, dark and stylish, with works from Italian artist Jean Vaquier. The 60-seat space features marble tables, black leather banquettes and black wood chairs. There’s also a standing rail with stools.
Longo, who is also a co-owner and was named Bombay Sapphire’s Most Imaginative Bartender in 2020, created the menu, which highlights specialty drinks like Negronis, martinis and other signature cocktails.
He said that his travels have inspired him.
“My journey in hospitality has taken me around the world and opened my eyes to new techniques, spirits and ingredients, and I’ve been able to incorporate those learnings into my menus that are always rooted in my Italian heritage and aperitivo culture,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to guests experiencing this journey first-hand.”
An aperitivo bar isn’t complete with small bites and food of some sort, which is where Carey Hynes and Justin Flit come in. The chefs from Jaguar Sun, named a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide (which indicates a restaurant with good food at affordable prices), have created a small plates menu to go with your Negroni.
The dishes are mostly simple and light and include raw bar offerings (oysters with citrus mignonette) as well as such items as tuna tartare with pistachio and green olive and mussel escabeche. You can also order such appetizers as wood-fired flatbreads, culatello and coppa and Caesar salad.
There are also Neapolitan pizzas that include clam with white sauce and the Bad First Date with taleggio (an Italian cheese) pepperoncini and a sopressata pie with Thai chili and hot honey.
ViceVersa
Where: 398 NE Fifth St., Miami
Hours: 5 p.m.-midnight Tuesday-Saturday
More information: www.viceversamia.com
