I said it once, and I’ll say it again: Let’s stop calling every bar that’s not attached to an Applebee’s a “speakeasy.” Like bourbon, Scotch, and Champagne, perhaps it’s time we started attaching real standards to anything calling itself a “speakeasy.” Like, oh, I don’t know, a secret door behind a red phone booth, hidden under the 10th Street Metromover station.
That’s what I found at Red Phone Booth, a massive, two-story speakeasy and cigar lounge that comes to us from the birthplace of everything big – Texas. And yes, I get that the whole red phone booth thing is a little played out – they’ve got them on cruise ships now, for crying out loud. And yes, Red Phone Booth also has PR. So ok, maybe it’s not exactly a back-room drinking den where you yell “Coppers” and break up the card game. But for a bar with high-quality, reasonably-priced drinks, a relaxing atmosphere, great food, and an onsite humidor, it’s still fairly under-the-radar.
So hit the website, get the password, and come along as we explore the Red Phone Booth in Brickell.
Oh, great. Another member’s only spot. Miami needed this like we needed another toll lane
NO! Red Phone Booth is not at all members-only. All you need to do is go to the website, request a password, and you’re in. Yes, there’s a members only lounge upstairs with a more intimate bar, a pool table, and a ton of TVs. But any old person who dresses and behaves appropriately can get in. Even cops.
The scene: Feels like an old money, gentlemen’s club – and not the kind that involves C-section scars and $1 bills. A hint of cigar smoke fills the air, where well-heeled men and women lounge on oversized couches sucking on stogies and sipping on cocktails. There’s more than enough space for everyone, as they gather around exposed brick and electric fireplaces. It’s somehow both chic and cozy at the same time, balancing the allure of exclusivity with the laid-back vibes of a bourbon bar.
What to eat and drink: The menu is massive, with drinks broken down by spirit, and cocktails made with each one. The best part about the place: The drinks are all $16, and like the classic bar it is Red Phone Booth excels with classic cocktails. The Aviation was especially welcomed, a cocktail you rarely find as perfectly balanced as it was here. The Corpse Reviver #2 – made with an absinthe rinse – is the kind of fruity drink that knocks you on your ass before you realize there’s booze in the glass. The Smoked Old Fashioned is a fun show – I asked for it with Brugal 1888 rum for a change of pace, and the bar staff adapted beautifully.
Beyond its size, the biggest surprise at Red Phone Booth was the pizza, which everyone assumes is cooked at DC Pie Co. next door. Not true! The wood-fired Neapolitan pies here are sneaky good, and while maybe not on the artisan level of a La Legganda will be the best bar pizza you have this side of Sunset Tavern. The bistecca sliders on pretzel buns are also great for a group.
Don’t miss: The walk-in humidor. The guy who guides you through your cigar selections is Character with a capital C, exactly the guy you want working a cigar room.
Pro tip: Though the Red Phone Booth is relaxed, the dress code is not. Business casual or better, or that password is gonna be useless.
Perfect for: Watching a game. After-dinner drinks.
Expect to pay: $16 a drink. Do the math from there.
How’s the parking: That special Brickell brand of nonexistent. Take the Metromover then Uber home.
@rpbbrickell // 1010 Brickell Ave #105, Brickell