Lekoke Wines & Bites

Transcended me to a different time…
Unknown to the owners, Frankie Sinatra is my all time favorite. I walk in and instantly fell in love with LeKoke… well, because Frankie was playing and the shock factor. This place caught me off guard. The restaurant is quaint, cozy, yet sophisticatedly eclectic. There was not a thing I couldn’t enjoy. The restaurant is decorated with camera antiquities from the 20’s and even has an old school record player (I believe from ’22) which still works by the way. And, the chandelier is just beautiful! (No details. You must go and check it out for yourself.)
The dark furnishing and details elevates its ambiance, in addition to the cigar cellar. No smoking inside though. My date knows the owners well, but that didn’t make them any more or less hospitable. The owner and his wife are just two very authentic, down to Earth great hosts! You could feel their passion and love for the establishment in Little Havana, and for life. I felt very at home, which unfortunately, can’t be said about many places in SFL.
So now that you know the place is pretty damn cool, service is beyond welcoming and on point… the wine! (No, not food. Patience.) My understanding is that it’s a wine bar. They must easily have over 100 wines to choose from. There recommendation was perfect. I asked for a full body, robust yet not overly strong Malbec or Cab, and they made a delicious recommendation. Great quality, no acidity and not too big or buttery of a wine: Siegel. (You’re welcome.)
(All the while amazing music is playing in the background: Nat King Cole, Frank, golden oldies, etc.)
The menu read deliciously. It’s tapas style, but if there’s a dish you’d like they are more than likely to cook it for you, I have no doubt. We went with the empanadillas and Los camarones que no duermen. The empanadillas were freshly baked (FYI: empanadas=a puff pastry stuffed with heavenly goodies, this time ham and chorizo) Chunkier than most empanadas, they were not your typical bit size (a plus); nonetheless, very filling, flavorful and homemade. I typically have trouble reviewing camaron al ajillo, because there are none like my mom’s, but these were close in competition. The garlic, parsley white wine sauce the shrimp are bathed and soaking is (finger tips to lips-​pucker-​kiss) deliciosos! Pro tip: soak the toast slices that accompany the shrimp into the sauce.
Not a restaurant one would typically think lives in la pequeña Habana, but highly recommended. While my date deserves credit for the selection and while just getting to know me, knowing me pretty damn well, the standing ovation goes to Laura and Ronald, and Lekoke. Now stop reading and go check it out! Buen probecho.

Great place, good atmosphere and fantastic service. They have a great wine and beer selections to share with. It’s a great place to hang-​out together with your friends. This is a very nice bar to have a great time. I couldn’t ask for much more!

My wife planned a birthday dinner for me at this place. I was a little hesitant at first because I’m not so big into wines or wine bars so i gave her a little hard time about it. I was so proved wrong! First of, on a Thusday night we basically had the place to ourselves (a group of 10) and the undivided attention of their awesome staff! Everyone in our group checked in on Unilocal and we all received a glass of wine for free just for checking in. The house wine was really good! Then we all started ordering the Tapas which none disappointed! Basically if it sounded good in the menu, it was good when you got it. This wine bar feels really intimate and it felt great to be with great friends there.

Free red wine with check-​in! The tapas were great! We started off with some marinated olives then moved on to Chorizo Tinto (bite-​sized sausage in red wine), Empanadillas, and Kokito Toston. Everything was delicious and the atmosphere was both very intimate and nostalgic (old cameras & memorabilia everywhere).

So my Unilocal buddy Dan C. was having a birthday and his lovely wife invited me to celebrate with them. She selected a wine bar in Little Havana, which is way further than I would normally travel South but Dan and Michelle rock so I trekked down (with passport in hand) not knowing what to expect. We arrived promptly at 7:30 just after narrowly missing a shoot out when a pedestrian was nearly hit by a car and a confrontation ensued. We parked right in front on the restaurant/​bar and were the 2^nd people to arrive because we’re on «American Time» ;-)
We used our Unilocal check in offer for a glass of free house wine. It was delicious! I wish I would have remembered the name! We snacked on olives while we waited for the birthday boy and everyone else. The ambiance is super cool with a huge sparkling chandelier lighting all the cool nostalgic pieces they have. Old cameras, projectors, typewriters. It’s very vintage but cool!
Once everyone arrived we ordered a bunch of tapas. The service was excellent as literally everyone used the free wine offer and asked for separate checks. My margarita pizza was pretty amazing! A huge piece of French bread topped with cheese and tomatoes. I wish I had some now that’s how good it was. We also had cheese plates, tostones topped with shredded pork and of course more wine!
If you’re in the area or willing to venture down there, I definitely recommend. They even played a cute birthday song while they delivered Dan his dessert. Pretty awesome!

We heard Lekoke was very good tapas and wine bar near the Tower theater. WOW they were 100%
Correct! The tapas, we had, the octopus and caprese
Salad were realy good as well as the delicious toast they gave us. The wine and sangria of the house also,
And very reasonable.
The service was a little slow, BUT they had just opened.
The waitress could not have been nicer!
The décor is really cool. It is like stepping back into
A bar in the early 1900’s. All wood with antiques.
They also have a humador, with a wide variety of
Cigars.
This joint is a winner, whether you are at calle ocho
Or not!!!

So while I was in the area I got on Unilocal to see what was the nearest lounge or bar and this nice little place popped up. We walked in and it was small but nicely decorated. We grabbed a small table and our waiter brought us some menus immediately. They had a nice selection of hot and cold bites as they call it. Extensive wine menu and a few beer selections. Upon checking in to Unilocal I had no idea I would receive a free glass of wine with check in which was a sweet deal. I showed the waiter and we ordered some of their bites. I ordered the tostone with lechon and oh my goodness it was one of the best things I have ever tasted. The pork was super tender, the sweet tostone soft, and the mozzarella gave it the ultimate taste. They gave you three but they were huge! My fiancé got a meat board and he said it was delicious. I loved the ambiance of the place as well as the soft music in the background. Our waiter was very attentive and one of the owners came by and made sure everything was ok. I really enjoyed this place. We left with full bellys and enjoyed great wine and beer. Definitely will come back.

Great little place for wine. If you looking to enjoy a nice ambiance I highly recommend it. The wine selection could be probably the best prices for the area.
The tapas where Devine but make sure you are not in a rush as it took over 50 mins to get all tapas to the table. We where reminded that we are not a food establishment and the food would be ready when it’s ready.

Wine food service music and atmosphere was great. Octopus amazing, sangria was stunning.

Lekoke’s a wonderful little wine bar in Little Havana. It seems to be family run, but I’m not certain. You can tell that a lot of locals come and hang out here.
You can try a variety of wines and they have a little menu with mostly meats and cheeses. Pretty much anything you need to nosh on while you sip your wine. The place is decorated with a lot of vintage items to remind you of a simpler time. One section of the bar might have an assortment of old record players while another corner will have old reel projectors. The walls are wood paneled and adorned with velvet drapes with old school chandeliers overhead.

Awesome place! Great wine, delicious food, excellent service! Great place! They have live music some days…

Vintage wine bar, cozy décor, wonderful staff, great tapas, feel-​good atmosphere…
Food: We had the toston with lechon and mozzarella cheese, meatlover flatbread and meat & cheese tabla. All was great.
Service: Viviana, owners’ daughter, was accommodating, sweet and on point with customer service; we want to come back and meet her parents.
Décor/​ambience: perfect for date night or couples night; nice music, dim, wine bottles everywhere…
Overall: my kinda place, will come back…

I hosted a dinner at Lekoke last night for about 20 people and could not have been happier with my choice of venue. Not only was the service exceptional and the food delicious, but the venue itself is so cozy and inviting that it was hard to leave. At the risk of sounding redundant, I have to agree with my fellow Unilocalers, Lekoke really IS a hidden gem. The space is chock-​full of wine bottles and knickknacks in every nook and cranny. Everything from the music to the lighting takes one back to another time. There’s something about the originality of the space that makes it seem as if time has stood still.
Onto the food… the food! Everything I tried was so so good! I got to try the marinated olives,
the pinchito capresse, the bruschetta, and the tortilla flamenca. All were delicious. But, my favorites were the piquillo mozarella and the El Koko Sandwich. The sandwich was TO DIE FOR (and I don’t even like sandwiches). I really could not believe how good that thing was. My friends had the Camaron Que Se Duerme which I didn’t try due to my allergy, but they requested that I include in my review that they were all extremely happy with their meals (they aren’t Unilocalers). For dessert, I had the chocolate lava cake which comes topped with ice cream and chocolate chips. That thing blew me away.
I cannot wait to go back to Lekoke to try their empanadas and tostones! If you’re looking for a cozy date spot, or just a new spot to have a bottle of wine, look no further! Trust me. Thank me later.

Probably my most favorite place in Miami. My girlfriend and I were looking for a chill wine spot and we stumbled across this gem. It was calm at first for a Friday night and exactly what we needed. The décor was perfect and suitable. Our server Vivana was amazing and so informative! She told us all the good stuff on the menu and then proceeded to tell us all the places history! It’s family owned and she’s the daughter of the owners and was explaining how everything we saw in there was «junk» stuffed in their garage for so many years! By 10pm the place was packed. Vivana and the other server remained their cool and still took great care of everyone. I will 100% be back. I almost hope no one finds out about this spot because I want it to be kept a secret but it’s too good not to share!

A non-​pretentious wine bar in the heart of Little Havana, Lekoke fills a void in my vino-​loving heart.
The decoration is vintage, while the walls are lined with shelves full of wine. The staff is at the ready to give recommendations but on my last visit, I wandered the room and pulled out a bottle that sounded good to me and let them work their magic. Later on, a few friends showed up and asked our waitress to honor the Unilocal check-​in offer which she was happy to do! We also received some olives to nosh on which really made me feel like I was back in Spain.
I’ve never ordered food here (outside of the olives), so can’t comment on that. The service can be a little hit or miss but I ran into the owner once and his passion is infectious. The place has a loyal following and there’s often groups of people you can tell have made this home.
All in all, whether going out for an intimate date night or hangout with a group of friends, this is a great spot!

Me encantó el lugar y el servicio, la comida buenisima, volvere, Lekoke lo recomiendo como primera opción en little Havana

I found this place on Unilocal of course and I was super impressed by all the 5 star reviews! Gave this place a try last night with my best friend since we absolutely love to explore new wine bars.
Total hidden gem on 8^th street in little Havana. It’s a quaint little place where you are immediately taken back by the amount of wine bottles they have. The place was pretty empty considering it was 7 pm and they close at 9 pm. We were greeted by the owner who asked us what we were in the mood to try. Being a true Unilocaler, I let him know about the offer of a free house wine if I checked in. He kindly offered us sample of a Pinot Grigio that ended up being fabulous and actually ended up getting 2 bottles. We also ordered the tabla mixta which was absolutely wonderful and plentiful to share with 2 people or more.
This place is a mom and pop winebar. We totally made friends with the owner and his wife since they were very attentive and were nice enough to chit chat with us about how this place came about, the collective and antique items they have decorated the place with and how it’s a family owned establishment. The only reason I knocked off one star was simply because we were really the only customers in the place and some of their family and friends showed up for some late night wine so they checked in on us very few times. They definitely made up the service towards the end and I will def be visiting again!

I’ve been dreading having to write a review. Just because I’m afraid this will not be a «hidden gem» for much longer. This little, yet cozy tapas bar is located in little havana. From the moment u walk in, u know this place is different. It has character, is unique and is so romantic. The wood walls are full of wine bottles, antiques and right in the middle there’s a beautiful chandelier. The dim lights and soft music make for a great evening. If u check in on Unilocal,u get a free glass of white or red house wine, so use it. Now… please try the menu… the tapas are delish… we ordered the cheese platter and the scallops and omg! Both were so good and def worth the wait. Our waitress was a total delight., she even offered a complimentary plate of olives and free bread refills.
Trust me. after a hard days work… u Need this place!

Truly as good as it gets. Terrific ambiance. Located on Calle 8, an eclectic collection of businesses which in places looks a bit seedy, Lekoke is truly a hidden jewel. The interior is wonderfully decorated with racks of wine bottles and old/​antique adding machines, movie cameras and projectors.
As nice as the ambience is, the food & wine, oh my! We sampled a variety of tapas including Tabla Mixta (meat & cheese plate), Marinated Olives, grilled octopus, and Tomato & Basil Bruschetta, but the crown jewel was the El Koko Sandwich. It was so amazingly delicious we ordered a second.
I liked the approach of selecting your own bottle of wine from the many varieties decorating the walls. We selected two mid-​priced ($ 50/​) Bordeauxs and were not disappointed. The Grande Reserve Chateauneuf-​du-​Pape 2011 was delicious and a terrific value.
Overall I would not hesitate to return and bring friends looking for unique dining experiences. Take your time, enjoy the wine, and pick on delicious tapas as you talk the night away.

A little hidden gem for sure!
I’d noticed it once on a brickell run that ended on 8^th street and as everyone mentions didn’t think much of it… that is until i walked in. Its a lot larger than expected and a lot nicer too.
Dark woods, wall to wall wine bottles perfectly placed on shelves with antique items nestled carefully throughout. The owner is very proud of his collection and he tinkered with most of them throughout the night. We were quite impressed with Lekoke upon walking in, and by the end of the night we were fans.
Food was great, service was even greater and returning is definitely in the plans for the near future!

I came to the area for some ice cream and didn’t want to go home just yet. I did a quick Unilocal search for wine and this place popped up. I know weird mix … eat some ice cream then have some wine.
I thought it was closed because the hours said until nine, however they are open until midnight Saturdays.
upon walking in, it reminds me of the new york bars and a little mix of victorian feel. A large chandelier greets you with what seems to be the main lighting to this place. The low lighting and quiet vibe makes this place a great date night spot. Small intimidate tables and a gorgeous wine cellar all take part in setting the mood.
This isn’t a place to come have dinner, just tapas. The menu offers things like spanish sausages ($ 13), a slab of slices deli meats ($ 20), spanish olives ($ 4) and bruschetta among other things. The prices are average … i mean you gotta spend when you’re on a date right? I ordered the spanish chorizos (the sausages) and they were delicious. Then again they better be delicious, as the prize for what looked like Vienna sausages cooked in a spicy oil was $ 13. It was the right choice to pick though very tasty and full of flavor.
I also ordered a bottle of Albariño. I must say it’s not easy to find places that carry Albariños. I have even been to places that are wine bars and they dont have a selection. I immediately feel in love when they brought out three cold options. They allowed me to choose a bottle and the prices were not shocking. they ranged from $ 18-​$ 29. They have a great large selection of wines and if they have albariño, they most likely have whatever wine you are looking for.
The staff was very attentive and even thanked us on the way out for stopping by and asked us to return. It was quite shocking to see such a beautiful, upscale business on calle ocho (8^th street). It was refreshingly different and I will return for more wine.
They have two screen tvs, I’m sure they’ll be nice enough to play your sports game if you ask nicely. As far as parking, there is metered parking on the street.