First Coconut Grove Speakeasy Opening This Fall

Coconut Grove is about to get a bar that feels both timeless and new. Mae’s Room, set to open this fall in the courtyard behind Chug’s Diner, is designed to be an intimate space with just a few dozen seats and equal parts neighborhood hangout and classic cocktail den.

The project comes from Ariete Hospitality Group, the team behind Coconut Grove favorites like Ariete and Chug’s, along with Mae’s Group, a new hospitality group from Marc Chasin and Lee Koniver. They brought in longtime bartender Tom Lasher-Walker, a partner in Scapegoat with Ariete Hospitality and a former Bacardi Legacy champion, to run the program.

Coldest Martini in the Grove

Lasher-Walker says Miami’s bar scene is heavy on restaurants with strong drink programs but light on stand-alone cocktail spots. “The one thing that Miami doesn’t really have that many of are neighborhood bars,” he says. “And the other thing Miami doesn’t have are classic cocktail bars. We want to change that.”

By classic, he means more than aesthetics. It’s about the confidence of walking in and ordering a classic drink like a martini, Manhattan, or Old Fashioned without opening a menu. “Not stiff or old, just drinks Miami hasn’t really been subjected to,” he says. He hopes Mae’s will fill that role: “You should be able to get the coldest martini in Miami or a proper Old Fashioned on a big piece of ice.”

Getting the Details Right

Lasher-Walker spent time cutting his teeth at some of the world’s best bars including Attaboy in New York before coming to Miami, and that training shaped his philosophy for Mae’s Room. “Instead of being esoteric, my concern is making sure we get the right drink in front of the guest, not necessarily my drink,” he says.

That means a focus on details: fresh juice pressed daily, oversized cubes, and icy glassware. One of the showpiece cocktails will be the Direct Martini, a tableside service modeled after Duke’s Bar in London. A bottled martini kept in the freezer will be presented and poured tableside into a chilled glass, with the goal of reaching guests within 60 seconds and served with plenty of olives. Lasher-Walker says he is experimenting with different versions, from dry to dirty, and considering tweaks with vermouth or sherry to keep the service simple but versatile.

Lasher-Walker envisions the design as a stylish 1970s living room reimagined as a cocktail lounge. Smoked mirrors line the back bar, velvet booths add softness, and heavy chairs with a polished finish give the room weight.  “It’s like if a cocktail lounge and an upscale ’70s living room had a child in Coconut Grove,” he says. Just as important to him is the atmosphere: he wants Mae’s Room to feel like a neighborhood party where guests are welcomed immediately, served quickly, and made to feel part of the crowd.

A Courtyard Full of Openings

Mae’s Room won’t have a kitchen, but the team is finalizing plans to let guests order food from the adjacent Chuggie’s. Guests will be able to grab food like a Smashburger or chicken nuggets from Chuggie’s, bring it back, and the Mae’s Room team will provide plates and silverware, Lasher-Walker says. He likes the mix of an icy martini with salty fries or an Old Fashioned alongside nuggets. “It’s that high-low balance people want right now.”

Mae’s Room is just one of several projects planned for the courtyard at 3444 Main Highway. Chuggie’s will handle burgers, fritas, and soft serve, while Drinking Pig BBQ, the pop-up from chef Raheem Sealey and team, will open its first permanent location there by 2026. 

Mae’s Room plans to open Wednesday through Sunday, from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., with later hours on weekends. The goal is an October debut. “Our mission is to throw the best cocktail party in Coconut Grove five nights a week,” Lasher-Walker says. “If guests choose Mae’s over all the other options in Miami, that’s the biggest compliment we could get.”

Mae’s Room. 3444 Main Hwy., Coconut Grove; arietehospitality.com. Opening expected October 2025.