Mae's Room Brings Grown-Up Cocktails And Real Conversation Back to the Grove
Mae's is nothing like Moe's
Not so very long ago, the Grove was a drinking destination. And by “drinking destination” I mean a place where you’d go to slurp 50-cent margaritas that may or may not have been made with anti-freeze. Then you’d wash them down with a pitcher of cigarette-ash lager, a tupperware container of something called “Moose Juice,” and a hearty “get home safe” from some strangely unconcerned cops.
Of course, that Grove now exists in the same alternate universe where Wynwood has artists. But with the opening of Mae’s Room, Coconut Grove is once again a place to go for drinks. The new, cozy new cocktail bar is the Grove’s first place to bring us well-thought-out cocktails that are worth sipping for a while. And though they won’t lead to the rash of bad decisions Moose Juice did, that might be a good thing.
What’s Mae’s Room doing that’s different from other Grove bars?
Mae’s is a cocktail bar, pure and simple. There’s no beer taps, there’s no “light bites” made with overpriced ham, there are no TVs. And since you can find it easily, it doesn’t call itself a “speakeasy.” It’s a place you go to enjoy a well-made, tasty, dare-we-say “mature” cocktail and actually hear the person you’re sitting next to. The drinks come to us from Tom Lasher-Walker, who in addition to winning all kinds of cool bartender awards also crafted the menu at The ScapeGoat in SoFi.
The space: Will instantly remind you of ScapeGoat. It’s a little smaller (Tom told me it seats about 27) and markedly quieter, but it has the same intimate feel of his South Beach bar. The lights are low, and the music isn’t trying to make you dull your senses with more drinks. Its biggest challenge will be avoiding overcrowding, because nothing ruins a great cocktail bar faster than having said great cocktail spilled on you by someone jockeying for bar space. As of now, they’re not taking reservations.
What to drink: If you like a good, stiff martini that doesn’t just taste like a big glass of vodka, the Direct Martini can already lay claim as one of the best in Miami. Lasher-Walker gained acclaim for the ones at ScapeGoat, and these might be even better. The Hidalgo is a fun, fruity, mezcal-and-pomegranate number that keeps from being too sweet with orgeat and lime. You can get it with tequila as the Mexican Firing Squad Special. Mae’s is also the kind of place where you can just tell the bartender what kind of flavors you like, and they’ll whip something up. Assuming you’re not the kind of weirdo who likes beef tallow in your cocktails.
Perfect for: Drinks dates, or “shall we go someplace else?” drinks after a good dinner date.
Expect to pay: $16 a drink, before tax and tip. How sad is it that this feels like a bargain?
Pro tip: Hit the happy hour from 5-7 pm when drinks are only $9. There’s no food, so it’s a perfect pre-dinner aperitif.
How’s the parking: You’ll need to park in the CocoWalk Garage.
@maesinthegrove // 3444 Main Hwy., Suite 17, Coconut Grove