10 New Venues in Miami/South Florida for Summer 2022 Meetings and Events

Planting new roots in South Florida, this New York-based, 3,411-square-foot elevated-casual eatery coined The Blue Dog Cookhouse & Bar landed in Boca Raton in April. Its interiors are inviting, with warm tones, natural woods, and pops of vibrant copper and brass. Globe-shaped lights illuminate the dining room, while handmade dinnerware with an antique nod dresses up the cozy banquettes. A mix of progressive and classic dishes with high-quality ingredients color the menu, along with mixology flare to pair. Chef Yanna Slavutsky fires up endless temptations like oyster shooters, fried mac and cheese balls, bone marrow crab cakes, and handmade dumplings. There’s also an array of refreshing salads, as well as hearty entrees—from braised short ribs to grilled octopus to a 32-oz. prime tomahawk. Brunch is served daily, and dessert goes all day. With High Fidelity surround sound and fiber-optic high-speed internet, Blue Dog is suitable for corporate events, team-building activities, client meetings, and baby showers. An air-conditioned patio is available for parties of 28 as well, and pricing ranges from $1,200-$2,000. A full venue buyout for 228 guests ranges from $2,000-$4,500.

The iconic, 40-year-old PGA National Resort unveiled a $100 million transformation in February. The new reveal features updated guest rooms, dining concepts, meeting spaces, and wellness offerings with the goal of disrupting the one-dimension golf resort with a well-rounded luxury experience. KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group refreshed the common areas, which now sport a timeless, 1960s Palm Beach-chic vibe. And ROHE Creative is at the helm of six new on-site dining concepts, including two spearheaded by alumni of Bravo's Top Chef—The Butcher’s Club, a sleek 1950s-era steakhouse from Jeremy Ford, and Honeybelle, an ageless beach café with comfort food by Lindsay Autry. Hosting a wellness retreat? Consider the refreshed, 40,000-square-foot spa and collection of mineral pools the perfect destination, which received an opulent resort-within-a-resort facelift from V Starr. Plus, more than 20 versatile meeting and event spaces offer more than 60,000 square feet. The indoor-outdoor spaces cater to everything from weddings and galas in the 9,990-square-foot PGA Ballroom (which seats 660 banquet style), to the 480-square-foot Board Room (with permanent conference seating for 12) that rents for $2,500. Large-scale buyouts start at $50,000.

Ya Mas!, a 3,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor Mediterranean taverna, opened on Fort Lauderdale's Las Olas Boulevard in February. The bougainvillea-drenched patio draws guests into a cozy-chic space filled with banquettes and a wooden communal table with teak and wicker chairs. There's also a honed quartz bar, and decor is accented by rattan and beaded chandeliers and a wall depicting statues of Greek gods. Executive chef Austin Blake whips up the eats with inspiration from Turkey, Greece, and Israel (think: flights of hummus and tzatziki, harissa buffalo wings, and a family-style mezze platter with a spread of meats, seafood, dips, and sides). Unique sips include the fig old fashioned, Greek salad martini, and several spritzes. A DJ hits the decks Thursday through Sunday, and don’t miss weekend brunch with large-format drinks (from $175-$200) and tableside sangria ($75). Whether birthdays, team building or bachelorette parties, groups of 12 or more are welcome for brunch, lunch, and dinner (from $25-$60 per person), while full buyouts for 85 guests can cost anywhere from $3,000-$30,000.

In January, iconic, 200-acre The Boca Raton revealed the first of its Harborside transformation—part of a $200 million renovation to establish a “New Golden Era” ahead of its 100th birthday in 2026. Within the original Cloister hotel are several new food and beverage concepts. From the esteemed Rockwell Group comes the indoor-outdoor Principessa Ristorante that sits on Lake Boca while channeling the flavors of Lake Cuomo and boasts a 490-square-foot private dining room adjacent to the swanky-yet-timeless Palm Court cocktail lounge (pictured). Within this wing also sits Sadelle’s, a quintessential New York-style bagel deli from Major Food Group. And nestled in the far southwest corner is MB Supper Club, a high-end, 4,200-square-foot dining lounge with live music and original 1950s plateware that pays homage to Addison Mizner’s former Monkey Bar. Other notable event spaces include The Cathedral, a storied, 6,045-foot banquet space that seats 220 guests, Harborside Rooftop Garden for receptions up to 50, as well as the Harborside Pool Club Family Pool and Adult Pool and Harborside Lawn, which each host up to 350. These Harborside venues are available for weddings, conferences, galas, private corporate events, special celebrations, and more. Approved buyouts range from $10,000-$75,000, dependent on venue.

The Ray Hotel Delray Beach welcomed highly anticipated Akira Back from the namesake Michelin starred chef in March. The ground-floor restaurant offers a 2,300-square foot open atmosphere outfitted with a welcoming wood-front, marble-topped bar. The dining room is anchored by curved wooden trellises that warm the space, which is filled with large, round banquettes upholstered in a custom, felted-wool fabric created from a painting by Back’s mother, Young-Hee–who also lent her artistry to the dishware. The semi-open sushi counter and a charcoal robata grill give a transparent glimpse into the culinary vision, an innovative menu that evokes childhood Korean favorites and globally influenced items alike. From AB tuna pizza to filet tobinyaki to a Pop Rockin’ signature sushi roll (yes, with watermelon Pop Rocks), Back’s thoughtfully flavored curations pair well with his multisensory cocktail infusions. Akira Back can host full standing or seated buyouts for birthdays, corporate events, and rehearsal dinners of up to 250 guests, while the 888-square-foot patio hosts 40 seated. Smaller, bespoke events like sushi classes and Omakase tastings are available upon request. Pricing varies.

Major Food Group brought a glamorously high-caliber, 150-seat steakhouse with a playful ‘80s-era swagger to Brickell in April. Dirty French Steakhouse came to life courtesy of Ken Fulk, the brainchild behind the design. Beginning with its extravagant Jungle Bar (pictured) where martinis abound, a lowly lit corridor lined with ebonized mashrabiya panels leads to the main dining room where walls of burnt-orange velvet, zebra-upholstered dining chairs, and deSede-inspired banquettes are accented by silk lanterns that illuminate a gold-leaf ceiling. The adjacent parlor offers a more intimate space, with private nooks made of aubergine-velvet wingback banquettes. Then, there’s a decked, 50-seat private dining room (buyouts begin at $15,000) with floor-to-ceiling, mosaic-mirrored disco ball walls, colored mirror tables, a silver-leaf ceiling that hosts rainbow venini glass chandeliers, and a custom rug below. Standout starters include giant grilled oysters bourguignon and the elegant mushroom millefeuille. For entrees, steakhouse essentials meet exciting spins on French preparations, from the 40-oz. porterhouse and spit-roasted prime rib to duck l’orange and Dover sole meunière. Freshly fried beignets and rum crème brûlée are complemented by a flaming tableside grand finale digestif of Hennessy.

As of May, Wynwood is home to a new indoor-outdoor dining and nightlife destination called Burdo. The 2,700-square-foot indoor dining room seats 220 and is characterized by minimalist decor and earthy tones. The menu offers up a plethora of modern American fare, from bowls to salads, and sushi rolls to pizzas. There's also a 4,000-square-foot outdoor patio that can accommodate up to 250 with a lush garden and Instagrammable neon sign dubbed Criminal Taqueria—the kitchen operates independently from Burdo—which turns out tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and elote bowls. After dark, the venue transforms into a lively nightlife venue, complete with high-tech sound and lighting systems that create spirited party scene. The outpost is the Miami iteration of the original Burdo concept founded in Medellin, Colombia, in 2014 by SinMente Group. Whether a laid-back client meeting, midday bridal shower, engagement party, or nighttime birthday bash, even buyouts range from $10,000-$30,000.

The fourth location of this colorful taqueria received a warm welcome to Plantation in March. Tacocraft Taqueria & Tequila Bar's 4,000-square-foot space boasts an eye-catching focal point crafted by P2 Design: an expansive outdoor bar (the first of its kind for the concept). There's an additional bar inside, as well as two patios that offer abundant seating for 125 guests indoors and 50 outdoors, plus a private dining room can host up to 30. Known for its funky, energetic feel, the hot spot combines chic style with modern comfort and features Tacocraft Taqueria & Tequila Bar's iconic, bright-green accents, colorful works of hand-selected art, woven light fixtures, and velvet seating. The elevated, modern Mexican cuisine boasts inventive takes on classics, like sweet potato guacamole, oxtail empanadas, and wild shrimp aguachile. Tacos, quesadillas, fajitas, and salads also grace the menu, along with churro ice cream sandwiches and tres leches bread pudding. In addition to the prickly pear margarita and Mexican old fashioned, there’s an extensive list of more than 60 tequilas (and a tasting flight). Semiprivate event pricing starts at $3,000 while full buyouts cost up to $30,000.

The 2,185-square-foot, 160-seat Alton Food Hall debuted a foodie's oasis in South Beach in April. Home to 18 food and beverage vendors with fast-casual and counter-style dining options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Alton's notable concepts include local and international themes such as Dumpling King, Jugo Boss, Moonbowls, Poke House, Nude Pita, Shimuja, Los Quesudos, Tacos & Tattoos, Golden Burgers, Miami’s Very Own, and Fatto Bene. Airmail (pictured), the centered bar, draws inspiration from the historic rum-based cocktail, as well as the 1930s international Cuban flight-based postal service. The community experience paves the way for event-friendly gatherings for groups of any size, and the food hall has capabilities to host team-building activities, client meetings, and happy hours, with rotating DJs on weekends. Event and buyout pricing varies.

YOTEL Miami a 222-room smart hotel–with an additional 231 apartment-style pads for longer stays–opened in Miami in June. The ground floor hosts Mazeh, a Middle Eastern tapas restaurant with shareable bites and cocktails, while the 12th floor is home to Float pool deck and restaurant, which overlooks Biscayne Bay and can be repurposed for everything from an open-air meeting to a cocktail mixer. Designed with meetings and events in mind, YOTEL's Komyuniti is a vibrantly decorated coworking space equipped with lounge seating, work desks, pods for small groups, and AV technology. There are also multifunctional spaces with 620 square feet of adaptable layouts for both meetings and events, plus there are three hub meeting rooms with the ability to convert into one large private space. Each meeting room is equipped with adjustable walls for intimate or large events and can incorporate coffee and tea stations with lounge seating upon request. Event catering is available via Mazeh and Float, and all spaces are available for full buyouts. Inquire within for pricing.