Sleek and highly visual in design, travelers cannot help but notice The Bar. The design is striking, meant to attract traveler attention and draw them into this new airport food and beverage experience. Developed as part of a mid-term contractual refresh for Bongos Cuban Café, a location that was forced to close due to COVID-19, everything about The Bar creates a wow moment that inspires guests to stop, take a seat, and stay a while.
Most airport bar/restaurants are cramped, with seats pressed together tightly, barely enough room to navigate between tables and the many occupants – especially when dragging along luggage, backpacks, or large totes. Once guests do find a seat, service is stretched to the point they almost feel abandoned. Not so at The Bar.
The design started with an expanded bar surface, more than doubling its capacity to comfortably seat up to 45 guests. The structural design includes two towering stainless-steel columns topped with elements that inspire images of airplane engines, creating a sense of place that reminds guests they’re on an amazing journey. Over-sized high-definition LED television screens mounted to these columns – along with the even larger central screen topping the circular central bar itself – add continual light and motion. The overall sense of The Bar is fluid and dynamic, without being overwhelming.
Filinto Galban, Regional Director of Operations, says, “The Bar: Miami, FL is the result of a group effort among the Areas team. We all had a common goal: To design a space that was inviting to guests, easily accessible, and welcoming. We designed The Bar to be almost a food court, but with a dedicated kitchen. We also added staff to create a first-class experience for every guest.”
Bartenders are trained mixologists, skilled in creating special cocktails and explaining nuances to guests. The food menu is culinary-driven, crafted to complement the upscale ambiance and create another unforgettable travel moment for Areas’ guests.
The Bar: Miami, FL demonstrates the innovation, technology, and imagination that transforms and elevates the travel experience for guests. Behind the redesign is what remains a core value for Areas: hospitality with a human touch.