Stepping through that wooden threshold, you enter ZeyZey, a fresh space for music and culture (and also for food and drink). As you pass through the wooden door, the first thing you encounter is a small lookout where natural wine and craft beer are sold. There's a bungalow with white walls where DJs will play. It also houses a vinyl listening room with over 3,000 records. The expansive backyard area, under a massive Bengal fig tree, includes a full cocktail bar and a stage for live performances. There are four food vendors and three private lounges.
Named after the word for happiness in iku, the language spoken by an indigenous community in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, ZeyZey is a creation of Grassfed Culture Hospitality, the team behind Chef Sebastián Vargas' Michelin-starred restaurant, Los Félix, and its sibling restaurant, Krus Kitchen.
The venue, open on Friday and Saturday nights, will feature local artists and DJs in partnership with Isabella Acker of Tigre Sounds, an independent music label and platform based in Miami. The music will be diverse, said Acker. Expect Afro-Cuban funk, Brazilian disco, salsa, cumbia, electronic fusion, and more.
ZeyZey will also host a rotating group of food vendors. In its first weekend, vendors included Dale Street Food, serving contemporary Cuban cuisine; arepas from The Maiz Project; Gutenberg Burger, creators of German-American burgers, and Mana Table, offering a rotating seasonal menu from ceviche to cold noodles.
All concepts are operated by Vargas' friends or former employees. There's also a cocktail program headed by Esther Merino. Co-founder Josh Hackler says ZeyZey fulfills a need in a city that "craves more community and cultural experiences". "For us, this project will be the heartbeat of the city's music scene with local roots and global influence", he said. "This will be a place for everyone to enjoy."
Co-founder and creative director Pili Restrepo Hackler calls the space "our love letter to Miami." ZeyZey is "a space where all these little atmospheres and different sensations collide", she said. "It's a vibrant world of sound and color, a happy place for Miami to discover".
ZEYZEY
Where: 353 NE 61st St., Miami
Hours: Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. until late
Reservations: Resy.com
More information: @ZeyZeyMiami on Instagram