More than 250 reasons for martini lovers to head to Brickell Key.

by Contributor

The Scene
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel may be a monument to the Eastern aesthetic, but inside its soaring lobby lies a temple to one of the greatest inventions of the Western world: the martini. Unlike its neighbor across the lobby, the grand and glamorous Azul, M-Bar is small and simple, with comfortable chairs and nice views of the downtown skyline. The crowd runs the gamut from visiting Japanese businessmen to South Beach hipsters seeking a civilized drink.

The Draw
The menu of 250 martinis arrives bound in beautiful black linen, like a sacred text. Seven categories cover every delicious martini, with names such as Antifreeze, Spanish Fly and Ruby Slipper. All are expertly prepared and look as good as they taste. Adventurous drinkers will enjoy the imaginative mixes, while purists can choose from a selection of traditional recipes.

09/17/04

What happenned?

by badservice08

I don't know what is going on with this place, but I use to go there pretty frequently, then all of a sudden they changed bartenders and management , and I don't think I will ever go back. The martini's were average, after having to wait 20 minutes for one. The quality of service was just horrible. This is not what I expected from the Mandarin Oriental. I think they should get whoever was running the bar before back or do something else to fix the problem. It is sad to see a good bar go bad.

• Pros: Good View
• Cons: , Expensive, Martini's need help