10 New Venues in Miami/South Florida for Fall 2021 Meetings and Events

Located in the blossoming Pineapple Arts District, The Ray Hotel Delray Beach opened Sept. 1 and features 45,653 total square feet of meeting and event space. Venues include Rosewater Rooftop designed by Studio Munge (22,038 square feet; 169 guests), dedicated floating-glass event space The Cube (2,230 square feet; 149 guests) and The Cube Rooftop (1,360 square feet; 88 guests); Lobby Bar conceptualized by Virserius Studio (583 square feet; 45 guests); and outdoor Plaza at The Ray (9,950 square feet; 500 guests). Tropical Modern architecture from Gonzalez Architects is complemented alfresco by lush greenery accents, while inside, the LEED Silver-certified hotel boasts a collection of immersive art installations. The ground-floor food-and-beverage focal point is classic American-style Ember Grill (pictured), a 3,500-square-foot restaurant that's owned by Menin and operated by Clique Hospitality can host 151 guests, with outdoor dining for 100 and a private dining room for 24. Offerings include a menu of craft cocktails, sea- and plant-based starters and steaks cooked on the signature ember Josper grill imported from Barcelona. By late fall, with Celano Design Studio at the helm, The Ray will welcome Michelin-starred chef Akira Back to open his namesake, multisensory, 2,300-square-foot modern Japanese eatery, complete with outdoor patio seating for 100. The Ray is fully equipped to host everything from traditional conferences to group fitness gatherings and upscale weddings and milestone parties.

July welcomed the opening of Jia, a 2,500-square-foot, 60-guest, Cantonese-style Chinese dinner club presented by hospitality entrepreneur Ken Ray and spearheaded by award-winning executive chef Weng Choon “William” Kai. Located in the heart of South Beach’s South of Fifth, Jia is bold in design and color and is a fusion of Chinese, the tropics and contemporary culture decor, complete with Chiang Mai dragon-veiled walls, rustic natural-wood accents and bamboo chandeliers. Custom, hand-painted murals by local Miami Ink tattoo artists are the standout feature along with the 12-person wrap-around bar, which complement the raffia backdrop of chinoiserie decorative art. Jia is open to private corporate events and parties from Sunday to Thursday. Buyout pricing begins at $7,500.

Located in the four-diamond Waterstone Resort & Marina in Boca Raton, SeaSpray Inlet Grill opened in June. The waterside eatery offers a nod to both modern-tropical and vintage-chic and makes for a laid-back, luxurious experience (think Beverly Hills meets Tulum). Fully covered outdoor and patio dining is accompanied by an expansive bar, while a private dining room accommodates up to 20. The ambiance exudes a mix of traditional elegance and edgy, cool vibes. Each piece of furniture at SeaSpray was custom designed by the team to dress the experience, while spotlights, neon signs and soft Champagne lighting create a myriad of atmospheres within one space. Partial buyouts start at $500 minimum on weekdays until 5 p.m., while the pool deck offers $3,000 rentals. The venue is open to everything from board meetings to corporate events to social occasions; plus, guests can even arrive by boat via both the Boca Inlet and Intracoastal Waterway to enjoy shareable plates, handhelds and craft cocktails accompanied by complimentary salty breezes.

Pronounced “hockey,” Oche opened its doors to South Beach in August eager to introduce a unique, gastro-gaming experience. Named for the line that players stand behind when throwing darts, Oche features 13 booths of dart games offering 85 minutes of entertainment for groups to enjoy. Tech-driven dart games paired with pub cuisine courtesy of duo Niels van Halen and Michael Lunga, the fare is a fusion of European, Asian and Latin American influences. The venue is open to private and semiprivate events and caters to corporate gatherings, team building, client meetings and social groups ranging from 12 to 200. Additionally, for a new take on the conference concept, Oche offers projectors, microphones, speakers and audiovisual equipment.

This 75,000-square-foot, open-air, partially tented space underwent a complete renovation and reopened in April. New and notable visual changes to Wynwood Marketplace include redesigned decor, new landscaping, elevated table service and a unique shopping experience with permanent shops made out of shipping containers. In addition to helping small businesses that can pop up in the shipping container boutiques, Wynwood Marketplace also offers a space for artists to paint for free and sell their artwork to visitors through a partnership with Beam Suntory. Suitable for private and branded events, conferences, festivals and experiential marketing activations, the venue can host both live music ensembles and DJs and offers food, beverages, wine and bottle service for parties of up to 2,000 guests.

Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s iconic and community-driven Red Rooster unveiled two new event spaces in its Overtown eatery in late September. Known for its comfort food and good vibes, the "Harlem of the South" destination is now home to The Coop, a 2,800-square-foot patio garden centered around a 70-year-old tamarind tree with a retractable roof, which invites all-weather occasions and is decorated in flora with murals, sculptures and other artistic elements from world-class artists. Groups can enjoy family-style dining at handmade, reclaimed tables, and then relax on sofas or at a cozy, intimate bar. Additionally, the new upstairs Pool Hall is a 2,500-square-foot speakeasy reminiscent of a '60s-to-'70s juke joint, complete with a high-powered DJ booth and a fully outfitted bar. All types of events are welcome to the spaces, which includes access to a 70-inch drop-down screen with full internet, conferencing and collective viewing capabilities. Pricing is determined on a case-by-case basis, and private event capacity in the new spaces ranges from 80 seated to 140 cocktail style.

In September, the 5,000-square-foot Womanish exhibit officially popped up in Wynwood following its Chicago opening. The venue is the brainchild of sisters Dionna and Danyelle Gray, and hosts 15 Instagrammable installations featuring art from women around the world, from salons to party rooms to a holographic maze. Womanish is a cultural movement that aims to bring awareness to issues such as pink tax, mental health and the gender pay gap. Open to parties of 70 guests, buyouts range from $1,000 to $5,000. A different twist for private corporate events, add a custom bar or a DJ booth for any occasion through the end of the year.

Located in popular Dania Pointe, the new 154-room AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Airport opened in September and offers 1,100 square feet of meeting and event space for private corporate events, weddings, conferences and more. Guests can take advantage of on-site amenities including fitness classes, mixology lessons and networking events. On-site AC Kitchen and AC Lounge offer Spanish-inspired cocktails and fare, while the rooftop pool lends to sweeping city views, complete with cabanas and full-service food and beverage offerings.

Slated for a late-October opening in Brickell, 10,000-square-foot Sexy Fish Miami (sister restaurant to Richard Caring’s Sexy Fish London) will feature glamorous interiors from Martin Brudnizki Design Studio. The decor is set to surprise and delight guests, with an incredible collection of 10 artworks by Damien Hirst, as well as an installation by Frank Gehry comprised of 26 fish lamps, a gold-adorned ceiling and a fish tank housing live coral and a colorful array of tropical fish. Chef Director Björn Weissgerber will serve a diverse menu inspired by the seas of Asia, with a focus on Japan. The space will cater to events of up to 367 guests, with room for 259 indoors, 29 in a private dining room setting and 79 via outdoor terrace seating.

This month welcomes The Gabriel South Beach, a new lifestyle resort debuting along iconic Ocean Drive. The four-building, pastel-hued property will showcase 1930s signature art-deco vibes, along with modern aesthetics and Floridian accents courtesy of Navigate Design. With 132 guest rooms and suites and two pools—including a glass-bottom pool on the rooftop sundeck overlooking the Atlantic Ocean—the hotel will also welcome two new dining concepts: Meet Dalia (due upon opening; pictured here) and Meet Mia (due before the end of year), by INK Entertainment. In addition, the two-story lobby will welcome guests with a 30-foot mural by Mr. Brainwash, along with historic photography throughout. Private functions are welcome, from the hotel rooftop to the ground-floor pool deck, along with the outdoor courtyard, a suite with an outdoor terrace and event space, as well as a small board room on the mezzanine level.