$$$. 4.5 Stars
Barbershop/Speakeasy
Inside the Nautilus hotel by Arlo: 1825 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
The Blind Barber is a bar & lounge concept originally brought to fruition in New York City but made its way to other popular destinations in the United States including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami, FL. Located inside the Nautilus hotel by Arlo, in the lobby just past the check-in desks is the entrance. You walk straight into a barbershop that operates just as you’d expect during the day. It offers cuts, trims, and shaves which are accompanied by a free cocktail of your choice. As you have probably imagined, the haircuts here are far from cheap. A beard trim is around $30 while a regular haircut will set you back $150. The shop’s regular hours are from 10 am to 7 pm daily.
In the back of the shop is an entrance to a speakeasy cocktail lounge that totes Miami Vice vibes with velvet seating, terrazzo tables, shiny walls, a green and pink interior, and a huge projection screen that is used for sports games or movies. This hidden bar is known to very few but is bigger than you might expect. It’s almost as if they designed this speakeasy to be a nightclub but then changed their minds and brought in more casual seating.
Nevertheless, if you get there at 6 pm or 10 pm, you can be sure that it will be extremely dark. With a DJ on most nights of the week, you can easily take a few friends here and get the South Beach feel without getting caught in any crowds. Every time we have gone it has been pretty empty for its size, but we’re definitely not complaining. Feel free to frolic around through the rows of velvet seating, floor to ceiling thick white curtains, and 70’s animal decor while the bartender is serving you up some very solid cocktails. The vibe here is very 70’s South Beach and we can promise you will agree.
Not only is this place known for its secrecy, privacy, and Miami-esque designs, but they also have a great happy hour that runs daily from 5 pm – 8pm. Our two favorite cocktails that keep us coming back for more are the:
- STRAWBERRY FIELDS: Vodka. Chartreuse. Cocchi Rosa. Strawberry
- HOT HEATHER: Tequila. Mango brandy. Grapefruit. Lime. Ginger
Although their happy hour specials change daily, these drinks are worth it at full price ($14) any day.
Along with their extensive drink menu and long list of wines, they have a food menu that tends to change but keeps the same theme. Their food specialty? Grilled cheese. Gouda, parmesan, goat cheese, brie…whichever cheese is your personal favorite, they have it in the form of a sandwich. Take your pick and pair it with their tomato soup….how can you possibly go wrong? My personal favorite is their Mushroom & Truffle Grilled Cheese ($13). The sound of that alone gives me the goosebumps! There’s not much more explaining that needs- mushroom, truffle, and grilled cheese in one sentence is a match made in heaven. The best part of this, at least for me, is that you can make any grilled cheese with vegan cheese instead at no extra charge……even real restaurants, let alone bars, won’t do this! The Blind Barber is a customer-service centered spot and the ability to cater to different diets is a great sign of their flexibility.
For those who aren’t dying to get their hands on a mushroom grilled cheese also have small snacks to pic at like popcorn, avocado dip, fries, and more. The options here were above our expectations in both the food and drinks the first time we stopped by, and this is a big reason we keep coming back!
Check out our highlighted spot of the week and let us know how you’d rate it out of 5. We give it a 4.5!
Blind Barber Photos in Miami, FL!