Riverfront Wine Bar Opens in Historic Brickell Building

Miami's past and present collide with the arrival of River House Wine & Bar, a new wine patio located between Brickell and Little Havana. But this isn't just another trendy bar — it's tucked within one of the city's most historic landmarks. The wine bar is located at the Miami River Inn, a pastel-hued slice of old Miami dating back to 1908.

Positioned between the high-rise energy of Brickell and the cultural heartbeat of Little Havana, River House Wine & Bar is designed as a laid-back yet sophisticated escape from the city's chaos. The space blends vintage charm with modern touches, serving international wines, craft cocktails, wood-fired pizzas, and artisanal charcuterie in a lush garden setting.

And wait, it gets better: With a walk-in-only policy and a menu of affordable bites and drinks ranging from $12 to $18, the venue offers a refreshingly unpretentious alternative to Miami's high-end cocktail bars.

A Link to Miami's Past with Affordable Eats and Pours

With its dog-friendly, walk-in-only policy and an outdoor capacity of 300, the venue is designed for both intimate gatherings and larger social events. But beyond the menu and ambiance, the real draw is its setting: a historic inn that has weathered more than a century of Miami's transformation.

The Miami River Inn is one of the city's rare remaining Victorian-style structures, originally built as a boarding house for tourists and new residents in the early 20th century. Over time, as Miami morphed into a metropolis of high-rises and luxury condos, the inn remained, offering a glimpse of the city's quieter, pre-glitz era.

Developed by the Visionaries Behind Preservation of the Vagabond Hotel

In recent years, developer Avra Jain and her team — known for local historic preservation projects like the Vagabond Hotel in MiMo and the since-shuttered Casa Florida in Little Havana — have worked to restore the property, turning it into a co-living space and event venue that keeps its historic integrity intact while adapting to contemporary tastes. River House Wine & Bar is the latest addition to this vision, merging Miami's past with a modern drinking and dining experience.

The bar's outdoor patio, lined with wooden decks and canopied by greenery and chandeliers, creates an atmosphere that feels more European countryside than Miami nightlife. You may also recognize the 1969 GM bus from Casa Florida — now parked at River House, adding a nostalgic touch to the venue's vintage-meets-modern vibe.

There are plans for live music under the stars, focusing on creating a relaxed, social environment rather than a party scene.

Menu prices range from $12 to $18, making River House Wine & Bar more accessible than many of Miami's high-end cocktail bars. It is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

River House Wine & Bar. 437 SW Second St., Miami; riverhousebar.com.