“Hey, let’s go to that sweet new bar in Coconut Gro ...,” you begin to say before you remember, Damn, yet another new place with potential has shut its doors in this pedestrian paradise. Just in boozy memory you can reel ’em off: The Hungry Sailor, Murphy’s Law, Tigertail, Firkin and Friar, that cursed spot on the fourth floor of CocoWalk that always seems to host someplace new. The unfortunately named 3484 Main Hwy. recently closed and, to the disappointment of many Grovites, so did the venerable Taurus. Well, for those of you yearning to stumble past Commodore Plaza and find a place worth pulling up a bar stool, here’s an idea: Cefalo’s Wine Cellar is the kind of plush, classy joint you’ll be proud to call your latest watering hole.

Former pro football player, sports announcer, and avowed wine enthusiast Jimmy Cefalo created the establishment, and in honor of his wine-producing ancestors, he has made the joint into a fabulous candy store -- for adults. There’s high-end booze and a lush, pleasantly dim bar decked out in leather couches and flat-screens aplenty for your sports-watching needs. There’s also a covered outdoor courtyard where tapas and other small-plate delicacies are served, as well as a tasting store featuring fancy enomatic machines that dispense plonk at the push of a button. Stop by between 5 and 7 p.m. for happy hour, which features two-for-one specials on booze and selected wines.
Starts: Jan. 16. Daily, 2008