Romeo Room<\/a>, a cocktail lounge and live music space from owners Dani Chavez-Bello and Alexandra Oliveros Febres-Cordero, is now officially welcoming guests upstairs at 303 Alcazar Ave.<\/p>\nInstead of simply adding more tables to the restaurant below, the team created a standalone experience. The lounge offers drinks, small plates, and live music Wednesday through Saturday from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., accessible only by a spiral staircase inside Babette.<\/p>\n
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The owners designed the space to feel controlled rather than crowded, filling it with a collection of vintage furniture, artwork, and objects gathered over time. <\/p>\n
An Intimate Escape Upstairs<\/p>\n
The owners deliberately moved away from the idea of an expanded Babette, choosing instead to create a room with its own vibe. Chavez-Bello noted that the architecture of the second floor contributed to the project\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe key is the size,\u201d he said. \u201cWith 32 to 40 seats, the room always feels full. You feel like you\u2019re in a different place.\u201d<\/p>\n
That limited size means the pace here is more deliberate. Because space is at a premium, prime tables are tied to minimum spends. The owners designed the space to feel controlled rather than crowded, filling it with a collection of vintage furniture, artwork, and objects gathered over time. Chavez-Bello described the room as intentionally intimate, closer to a private lounge space than a bar designed for large crowds.<\/p>\n
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Behind the bar, the focus is on whiskey, with a deep selection of Japanese producers alongside Scotch, tequila, and mezcal.<\/p>\n
Small Plates and a Whiskey-Led Bar<\/p>\n
The kitchen at Romeo Room focuses on bites that complement a drink rather than a full sit-down dinner. The menu features elevated finger foods, such as ham croquetas finished with golden osetra caviar, Ib\u00e9rico Cinco Jotas carved to order, and truffled mac and cheese.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only dish we share with Babette is the chawanmushi,\u201d Chavez-Bello says. \u201cEverything else is exclusive to Romeo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Behind the bar, the focus is on whiskey, with a deep selection of Japanese producers alongside Scotch, tequila, and mezcal. The cocktail list sticks to classic foundations with subtle, sophisticated twists. For those looking for something simpler, the house pours Estrella Damm.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766539510_950_IMG_1962.jpg\")
The weekly schedule features DJ sets and live performances on Thursdays, with sound balanced to ensure guests can still hold conversations.<\/p>\n
A Curated Soundscape<\/p>\n
While music is central to the experience, the owners have steered clear of the typical high-volume club format. The weekly schedule features DJ sets and live performances on Thursdays, with sound balanced to ensure guests can still hold conversations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very particular about the music,\u201d Chavez-Bello says. \u201cNo reggaet\u00f3n. That\u2019s banned.\u201d The speakers instead pump out a mix of soul, jazz, older pop, and select modern tracks. Even the decor serves a purpose here, as the soft furnishings were chosen to soften the acoustics and maintain a steady energy level.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not for everybody,\u201d Chavez-Bello says. \u201cAnd that\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Romeo Room. 303 Alcazar Ave., Coral Gables, above Babette; romeoroom.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThis year, make your gift count \u2013
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