Queen Lounge Opens In South Beach
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Queen Lounge
841 Washington Ave.
Miami Beach

Queen Lounge, an intimate cocktail and gastro-lounge will celebrate its official grand opening. The 4,000-square-foot venue pays homage to the power and glamour of women in art, music and fashion throughout history.

Founded by European nightlife savant Sanaa Moussaoui and managing partner, Miami native Maria Ortiz, the multi-room venue features superior handcrafted cocktails by mixology master Thomas Merolla and small plates by Executive Chef Matthew Goldberg.

The lounge boasts a 30-item cocktail menu featuring “Timeless Truths” and Queen Lounge Signature Cocktails, created by head mixologist Thomas Merolla, a previous contributor to the illustrious bar menus of staple South Beach hotels including Delano, Mondrian, and W South Beach. Original libations include The Fabulous Josephine ($13), a blend of Champagne gently stirred with Aperol aperitif and St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur with a hint of citrus; the aptly named Wild Side ($13), a mixture of Corzo Anejo Reposado and Del Maguey Mescal stirred with Carpano Sweet Vermouth, Averna, Yellow Chartreuse liqueur, and spiked with tobacco bitters; and the Bella Donna ($13), Grey Goose vodka blended with apple cider, lemon juice and cinnamon honey. For those wishing to enjoy other classic beverages, an array of premium tequila flights and domestic and imported beer and wine is also available. As an ode to the art of mixology, Queen Lounge offers unique blended juice mixers and a personal mixologist with bottle service.

Executive Chef Matthew Goldberg, a seasoned culinary expert formerly of Wynwood’s Cafeina and trained by award-winning Miami-native Chef Michelle Bernstein, created a menu of hand-picked tapas such as Goat Cheese and Jamon Truffles ($12), herb-infused goat cheese spiked with jamon serrano rolled in a pistachio crust with rum-soaked guava glaze; Kobe Beef Sliders ($16), fresh ground kobe beef, pan-roasted with sweet shiitake mushrooms, caramelized shallots, sharp white cheddar cheese and roasted red pepper mayo; Ahi Tuna Sashimi ($12), hand sliced tuna with watercress, grapefruit, ginger, scallions, chili oil and yuzu-soy drizzle.

Situated in the center of a couture South Beach shopping destination between 5th and 9th Street from Collins to Washington Avenue, the newly renovated, European-inspired lounge will offer a respite for local fashionistas, artists and cocktail enthusiasts who frequent the iconic, boutique-laden Washington Avenue strip. Adorned with faux gold mirrors, crystal chandeliers, copper brown wallpaper – imported from Germany – and Italian metallic paint, Queen Lounge’s design is reminiscent of the world-renowned haunts of Amsterdam and London. The new hot spot will feature themed nights in a state-of-the-art venue with a daily lineup of leading local and national DJs who will keep revelers dancing into the early hours with high-energy beats.

Abstract works by internationally acclaimed metal-artist Jon Allen and iconic celebrity images line the halls of the main lounge in their exclusive venue, which features a sleek black granite-top bar and dining tables with seating for nearly 40 guests. As guests continue into the second lounge area, they will be greeted by the accented glow of six LED tables nestled between U-shaped leather seats, giving the room a burst of color with 20 different hues. On the second floor, a Prohibition-style mezzanine glass wall overlooks the lower level, hiding the entrance to this coveted VIP room from guests below.

“Queen Lounge represents the aura, allure and mystique of powerful women – queens that dominated the history of art, music and fashion,” says Moussaoui, who has operated eight hospitality ventures in three countries. “I wanted to provide a chic setting for locals and out-of-town guests to enjoy superior cocktails outside of their hotel lobbies, and I knew that there was no better place to do that than the neighborhood where South Beach nightlife was born.”

By virtue of their active participation in the local arts and entertainment scene, this team of young and vibrant co-owners has decided to collaborate with select local galleries and curators from Miami’s hottest growing Wynwood Art District as well as popular South Beach Art Deco galleries in an effort to support and celebrate the arts in the local South Beach community.

Queen Lounge is a multi-room cocktail and gastro-lounge that boasts 4,000 square feet of engaging design and a menu of innovative cocktails and tapas. Located at 841 Washington Avenue in Miami Beach, Queen Lounge is open Wednesday to Sunday from 3 p.m. to 4 a.m. The kitchen is open until 11 p.m. Guests can unwind and enjoy $5 cocktails and tapas from 5 to 8 p.m. daily during The Ultimate Happy Hour. For private bookings and advance reservations, please contact 305.397.8056, info@queenlounge.com or visit www.queenloungemiami.com.