The Bar & Courtyard

Great ambiance, and as far as I’ve experienced, the best cocktails in Miami beach. The head mixologist has created an amazing cocktail menu, with every drink perfectly balanced. I’ll be dreaming about his fig and burnt cinnamon old fashioned!

Amazing cocktails. Beautiful view. Much less colder than the actual restaurant, and plenty of lighting. There are a variety of ages seen at this place, and the bartenders really know what they are doing.
Tip: AVOID COMING HERE ON VALENTINE’s DAY. Did just that, and service is much better, less crowded, and environment is less cliché.

The Bar & Courtyard at The Setai is almost as good as it gets in South Beach. The courtyard is stunning and although the drinks are very pricey, they are worth it. (It literally may have been the best specialty cocktail I’ve every had.) Philip, the head mixologist — who created the drink menu, was working so we were pleased to see that he is a master at his craft. I told him that I was a vodka drinker, and I believe what he made me was the Litzu Yin (had a fresh twig of Rosemary in it). My friend also had a specialty cocktail, which was also delicious and also had a fresh herb on top. What I also liked beyond the gorgeous setting and yummy drink was that the place didn’t come off being pretentious. Sometimes in these South Beach hotel bars the service is snobbish or pretentious; at The Setai we were treated with friendly service. If I had to deduct half a star for anything, it would be the crowd (or lack of one). It was pretty dead for 10 pm on a Saturday night. But, the people that were there (we met a couple from London, and two brothers from NYC) were all classy and chic. Overall A+ and can’t wait until I can afford to stay at the hotel!

My husband and I joined a few others for a pre-​dinner drink here. We were staying at the Shore Club next door so it was a short walk over. Walking through the lobby and to the back, you are straight away drawn to what is on the other side of the doors, which whiz automatically open as though they were expecting you all along.
Upon entering the courtyard, my breath was taken away by how beautiful the whole setting was. Tall palms line around it and plenty of private spaces for couples are small groups.
The cocktail menu is very creative and it was so hard to decide which to have. I ended up ordering the Zen Rose which was refreshing and exotic all at once. Cocktails will set you back a cool $ 16 – 20 and there’s even a gold martini for $ 100 if that’s how you roll. They served complimentary sweet potato chips and a Asian chili marinated cut cucumbers for noshing. Personally, I would recommend checking it out just for the setting and enjoying at least one well-​made drink while you absorb the scene. It’s too much of a gem to pass up.

excellent cocktails & outstanding service. it’s not cheap, but you get what you pay for, and more! they have excellent standards, like the sazrac made right, and some stand out signature cocktails that will knock your socks off!

When I found out about the Thursday Night Jazz events, I knew I had to check this location out. The courtyard is beautiful, and on a day when it doesn’t rain it’s almost perfect. Unfortunately, the lights make it much warmer even though the space is open and airy. Sadly, sipping a few cold cocktails don’t help cool you down too much, so you may want to dress light since it does get very warm.
The drinks off their special cocktails menu were okay ($ 10+), but far too much sugar, so I’d recommend ordering something else. Not sure if they’ll continue the Thursday Jazz events for the fall, but I would definitely come back to relax, enjoy the live music, and be reminded why people from all over the world come to places like this. It’s a great time whether you’re a tourist or a native.

A good friend recently invited us to the Cosmopolitan Summer Splash Fashion Show at the Setai. My wife and I had not been there and it seemed like a great opportunity to visit a nice place and receive some complimentary drinks and goodies from the sponsors of the show. The Setai is very lavish and a very beautiful place to experience. The bar was crowded and understaffed, no doubt due to the complimentary nature of the drinks. The courtyard area was very beautiful with palm trees and lounging space around the edge of the large reflecting pool. Overall, I found the location beautiful, but disliked the view above of the Days Inn and a larger tower behind the Setai.

I confessed my guilt at finding the food at Setai’s main restaurant a bit of a let down. But at the other side of every breakdown — and let down — is a breakthrough, or at least a fantastic cocktail– like at Setai’s Bar and Courtyard .
The bar is smooth and woody — the courtyard — comfortable, organic and spa-​like.
This place is highfalutin’ but you can feel perfectly comfortable to lounge or snuggle or have a buzzin’ good time — especially in the courtyard. Swanky swank not required — but it can be observed.
[Oooh– this just in from the Miami Unilocal Queen, Maria A.: «You can also steal yourself away and retire to the outdoor, poolside seating. Albeit humid, it’s balmy in a calming, quiet way.» (Gotta try that.)]
No clouds here– just shiny lining. Enjoy.

Stunningly beautiful pools (3) and courtyard. Lots of Asian influences: tropical plants and teak everywhere. Great service. Was surprisingly empty for a weekend in December. Maybe because the rooms are so expensive? (Started at around $ 900) Apparently about half the Setai residences were still unsold in December ’07.
Careful if you’re wearing stilettos — they’ll get stuck in the slatted wood flooring.
Strangely, they kept the red wine in the fridge at the courtyard bar. Waaay too chilled. They tried, unsuccessfully, to find a warmer bottle inside for my friend.
Also tried the supposedly five-​star pan-​asian fusion Restaurant at the Setai — good, but overpriced and not that memorable. Guess there’s a reason people don’t go to South Beach for the food.

The most beautiful place we saw in South Beach. I believe they only just started hosting DJs in the courtyard space (International Superstar DJ Sander Kleinenberg was spinning the evening we went). Get a glass of wine (that will be $ 18, thanks, this experience doesn’t come cheap) at the bar and sit in the otherworldy space outside.
Modern, but with all natural materials like wood tressles and stone walls and water, it feels exclusive but inviting. The green-​eyed boy and I decided we would just live there in the courtyard forever – or at least until they ran out of Cabernet or the music stopped.