The Ultimate Guide to Miami Art Week’s Best Eats, Drinks and Parties

And just like that, it’s Art Basel time once again. The weeklong art extravaganza was originally centered around art — and the argument whether it still does remains in full force — but now it has taken over the whole city featuring world-class shows, dinners, and activations from Miami Beach to the Gables and just about everywhere in between.

While there are hundreds of events and art fairs that happen over the next week, Eater Miami has rounded up some of the best food and beverage related dinners and pop-ups, events and activations around town. All are open to the public (no doorman bribery here) and either are free, RSVP, or ticketed. Happy Basel-ing.

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Dinners and Pop-Ups

HIVE Culinary Village

WHAT: Guests will be able to sip on cocktails, dance to live music, dine on bites from eateries like Night Owl Cookies and Casablanca, while climbing Red Bull’s 30-Foot tall rainbow bridge created by Josh Zubkoff and Srikanth Guttikonda, which promises a bird’s eye view of the neighborhood complete with a 360 degree photo booth.

DETAILS: December 6-9. Hours vary, schedule here. Free and open to the public. RSVP here for a free drink. Wynwood Marketplace, 2250 Northwest 2nd Avenue, Wynwood

José Ramírez- Ruiz x ALL Day Art Basel Pop-Up Series

WHAT: Chef José Ramírez-Ruiz will make his Miami debut at All Day. The chef, who’s been doing pop-ups since closing his Michelin-starred Semilla back in 2017, has created two-day a vegetable- forward menu complemented by natural wines selected by All Day exclusively for the a la carte dinner.

DETAILS: December 6-7. 7 p.m. until close. All Day, 1035 North Miami Avenue, Downtown Miami

Art Basel Counter Menu at Three

WHAT: Housed in the artsy Wynwood neighborhood Three is offering a nine-course meal during Art Basel, offered at the counter, which gives guests a behind-the-scenes look at the chefs’ culinary work in action with dishes like black truffle glazed grouper, roasted foie gras, and porcelet pig.

DETAILS: December 4-9. $95 per person. Three, 50 NW 24th, Suite #101, Wynwood

José Andrés La Pepa Food Truck

WHAT: Those looking for a late night bite can head to the pop-up “La Pepa” food trucks serving bites curated by Global Dining Collection chef José Andrés. A menu of Spanish tapas will be available for purchase for all American Express Card Members, and complimentary to Platinum Card Members plus two guests. American Express will be the only form of payment accepted at both trucks and proceeds will benefit Chef José Andrés’ non-profit, World Central Kitchen.

DETAILS: December 6-8, 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. (Wynwood) and 8 p.m. to midnight (Design District). Wynwood, 390 NW 27th Street and Design District, 95 NE 40th Street

Menu Gallery at Cantina La 20

WHAT: Chef Santiago Gomez, of Cantina La 20 and Taacology has partnered with five local chefs for “menu gallery,” with each dish inspired by a Mexican Art Deco inspired destination. The a la carte dishes will be available for dinner only and include dishes by chefs Diego Oka of La Mar, Carlos Garcia of Obra Kitchen Table, Deme Lomas of Niu Kitchen and Arson, Sebastian La Roca of Cvltvra and Norman Van Aken of Three Wynwood.

DETAILS: December 3-8, 5 p.m. to midnight. Cantina La 20, 465 Brickell Avenue, Brickell

Bocas Group Pop-Up at Mana Wynwood

WHAT: The team behind Bocas Group will bring all four of their establishments Wynwood for a five day pop-up. Featuring cuisine from Bocas House, Bocas Grill, Francisca’s and and the yet to open Laborejo, a “gastrolab” coming in 2019, it’ll feature highlights from each of the restaurant’s menus.

DETAILS: December 5-9. Mana Wynwood, 318 NW 23 Street, Wynwood

Simple Analog Omakase Dinner

WHAT: Listen to music “like never before” in one of Deja Vu’s state-of-the-art listening rooms while dining on a specially prepared omakase dinner and sipping Simple Vodka cocktails. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to support hunger relief beneficiaries Feeding America and the Miami Rescue Mission.

DETAILS: December 4. 6-10 p.m. $75 per person. Purchase tickets here. (Password: SIMPLE) Deja Vu Audio South, 120 Northwest 25th Street, Suite 302, Wynwood

American Express Presents Dinner with GDC Chef Michael Solomonov

WHAT: Feast on a dinner prepared by partner and chef and owner of Zahav, Michael Solomonov, who will curate and host an intimate dinner for Card Members on the 1 Hotel private beach. Proceeds will be donated to Young Audiences Arts for Learning.

DETAILS: December 7. 7-10 p.m. $75 per person. Purchase tickets here. 1 Hotel South Beach, 2341 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach

Hakkasan and Ruinart Collaboration Meal with Artist Liu Bolan

WHAT: Dine on a pre-fix champagne menu, inspired by Ruinart’s 2018 collaboration with artist Liu Bolan. The four-course meal pairs three of Ruinart’s wines with dishes like steamed truffle black rice dumplings, Peking duck, and charcoal grilled Chilean sea bass with champagne and Chinese honey.

DETAILS: December 3-9. $330 per person. Hakkasan, 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach

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Art Exhibits and Activations

Food Porn Art Exhibit at Naked Taco

WHAT: Naked Taco has teamed up with artists and chefs to create its Food Porn Art Exhibit. Chefs Ralph Pagano, Brad Kilgore, and Max Santiago joined forces with Michael Leoncio, Jay “JBon” Bonadio JR, and Peterson Guerrier to create art pieces that showcase the “sexual side” of food.

DETAILS: December 6. 7-11 p.m. Free and open to the public. RSVP here. Naked Taco, 1111 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach

Jewish Museum of Florida Lox & Cream Cheese Brunch

WHAT: Dine on plenty of lox, cream cheese and bagels, while listening to a panel with artist and fashion designer Daniel Chimowitz, who’s new exhibit showcases colorful “walking canvases” on hand-sewn and upcycled clothing, combining graffiti art and fashion.

DETAILS: December 9. 10 a.m. to noon. $25 per person. Purchase tickets here. Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU 301 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach

Galit Garzon Exhibit at La Piazzetta

WHAT: Latin American artist Galit Garzon will be exciting her art at the restaurant alongside live music provided by Dj Victor Porfidio as well as drinks and food specials by La Piazzetta.

DETAILS: December 8. 8 p.m. $25 per person. Free and open to the public. La Piazzetta, 5143 NE 2nd Avenue, Buena Vista

BACARDÍ x The Dean Collection Present No Commission: Miami

WHAT: Bacardi has teamed up with Swiss Beatz for a two-day event will featuring panels, art works and immersive music performances. This year, the theme for No Commission: Miami is “Take the Shot,” focusing primarily on the medium of photography.

DETAILS: December 6-7, 2 to 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. Faena Forum, 3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach

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Cocktails and Parties

Simple Ice Cream Happy Hour at Dasher & Crank

WHAT: Join Simple Vodka for a boozy ice cream social and happy hour featuring as much “ice cream as you can handle” including booze-filled variations, plus cocktails and light bites throughout the night.

DETAILS: December 5, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. $25-50 per person. Purchase tickets here. (Password: SIMPLE) Dasher & Crank, 2211 Northwest 2nd Avenue, Wynwood

Mix With the Best Pop-Up Bar at Doheny Room

WHAT: Fever-Tree has tapped talent from some of Miami’s top bars who will be mixing up their cocktail creations that showcase Fever-Tree’s mixers. On the nightly agenda are Sweet Liberty, the recently shuttered Employees Only Miami, and Bar Lab (the team behind Broken Shaker).

DETAILS: December 6-8. 4 to 7 p.m. Open to the public. Cash bar. Doheny Room, 1685, Basement Level, Collins Ave, Miami Beach

Art Plug Power House and Ketnipz’ Present “Papa Bean’s Pizza Party”

WHAT: The Art Plug Power House will play host to artist Ketnipz’ “Papa Bean’s Pizza Party”where event goers will be treated to an “over-the-top story time” with the Bean on the High Hemp Stage, and will be encouraged to grab a pillow and participate in the largest pillow fight while munching on Pizza Bar’s XL pies with a DIY pepperoni design station.

DETAILS: December 8. 9 to 10 p.m. $15 per person. Purchase tickets here. Art Plug Power House, 1440 NW 21st Street, Wynwood

Andy Warhol and Friends at Acqualina

WHAT: AQ Bar will host an “Andy Warhol and Friends at Acqualina” reception to showcase Fine Art MIA’s original contemporary collection on display at the bar. Guests can enjoy an art talk by Tamar Erdberg of Adamar Fine Arts. Il Mulino New York will provide light bites, wine and the signature cocktail of the night, The Warhol.

DETAILS: December 6. Open to the public. Acqualina, 17875 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach

1Oak Pop-Up at Rockwell Miami

WHAT: Rockwell is teaming up with 1OAK nightclub for its fourth annual pop-up. The partnership has hosted Art Basel’s buzzed about parties with performances by 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, Nas, Wiz Khalifa, Miguel and Rick Ross for the last three years. The collaboration has attracted A-listers including Lenny Kravitz, Kendall Jenner, Migos, Travis Scott, ASAP Rocky, LeBron James, Rick Fox, Giancarlo Stanton and Puff Daddy.

DETAILS: December 6 to 8. 11:30 p.m. until late. Open to the public. Rockwell, 743 Washington Ave, Miami Beach

Art Basel Closing Pool Party

WHAT: Close out Art Basel the most Miami way possible with Absolut Elyx, DJ Manuvers, and visual artists David Lavernia, Ivan Roque, and Claudio Picasso at a pool party at Generator Miami, where the artists will host their own pop-up gallery and perform live paintings. Absolut will also be bringing their mermaids to Generator Miami’s pool and decorating the Driftway bar as the copper Elyx House. A portion of proceeds from art sales will go to the All Day Foundation, which provides support to local organizations that care for the needs of children.

DETAILS: December 9. 1 to 8 p.m. Open to the public. The Generator Hostel, 3120 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach