New Wynwood Venue El Patio Hopes to Offer Something "Latin but Funky"

"We wanted a Wynwood venue that offered something Latin but funky and not commercial," explained Nicolas Hoyos of the inspiration behind the new bar he co-owns, El Patio Wynwood. "Once we found the spot in October, it all came together quickly. We wanted it to be like a patio at your grandmother's house: laid-back and cozy with a great vibe and great drinks."

To bring this abuela patio aesthetic to life in the 3,500-square-foot space, Hoyos went to his homeland of Colombia to bring a whole set of mementos to furnish El Patio. "We got a lot of trash from Colombia: doors, windows — all kinds of things — and put it in a bin. Unfortunately, they stopped the container at customs." While the customs department prevented El Patio Wynwood from being fully finished for a soft opening during Art Basel, things eventually got straightened out, so El Patio will be in its finished form for its grand opening tonight.

The opening-night extravaganza will feature DJ Qu4tro playing a fusion of electronic dance music mixed with salsa, zouk, reggae, cumbia, dancehall, and merengue. Xperimento, a band that blends a horn section, percussion, drums, electric guitar, and bass with a bilingual singer, will also be performing on opening night.  

The owners worked with Mr. Pauer to help curate El Patio's music. Friday and Saturday nights will be inspired by the local musician's self-described genre of electropico, which Hoyos described as "vintage salsa mixed with electronic music."

Tuesday nights will feature old-school Latin. Wednesday nights belong to reggae, and Thursdays will feature salsa.

Open from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. every night but Mondays, El Patio Wynwood will feature a small menu of food with options like hamburgers and wings. Its main focus, though, will be on the drink selection. "One of the partners, Beto Perez, is one of the best mixologists in Colombia. He spent a lot of time working on the cocktail menu."

For the first two hours of opening night, from 8 to 10 p.m., you can sample some of these concoctions. There will be complimentary unlimited cocktails by Don Julio Tequila, Jack Daniels Honey, and Sam Adams Beer. RSVP to get in the door via guerramarketing.com.

Hoyos hopes tonight will be the start of a new Wynwood mainstay. "Every night, we want to open as a bar and close as a party."

El Patio, 167 NW 23rd St., Miami; 786-409-2241; facebook.com/elpatiowynwood.