This Week in Miami: February 23-March 1

Each week, we round up what’s worth your time right now—from new menus and pop-up moments to festivals, openings, and low-key excuses to go out on a weeknight. Consider this your curated snapshot of the city as it moves through the week ahead: where to eat, what to drink, and what’s quietly (or loudly) happening around town.

Jo’s Bar Debuts at The Setai With a Luxe Lobby Glow-Up

The Setai Miami Beach has quietly refreshed one of its most recognizable spaces, unveiling Jo’s Bar, a redesigned lobby lounge that plays with warm materials, sculptural details, and that signature Setai dash of drama. Conceived by Saladino Design Studios, the new bar sits between Jaya and Japón, positioning it as a natural pre-dinner stop or late-night linger spot inside the hotel’s Art Deco landmark lobby. The menu pulls favorite bites from both restaurants—think crispy tuna rice, shrimp dumplings, and wagyu sliders—alongside vibrant cocktails like the chili passion martini. It’s the ultimate glow-up: warmer, more intimate, and designed to turn the lobby into a destination of its own.

Jo’s Bar is located at 2001 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139. For more information, visit their official website.

Wednesday, February 25

National Clam Chowder Day at The Lobster Shack

Winter, Miami-style, still calls for chowder—just preferably steps from the sand. This Wednesday, stop by The Lobster Shack for the kind of no-frills New England comfort it does best: creamy bowls loaded with those briny mollusks we all love, best paired with a stuffed naked lobster roll served warm with butter and a cold glass of craft brew. The family-run spot has always been about generous portions, buttery indulgence, and beach-day nostalgia, making this one of those low-key food holidays that’s actually worth leaving the house for.

Friday, February 27

Banana Daddy Opens in Midtown With Big Soft-Serve Energy

Miami’s dessert scene gets a cheeky new player as Banana Daddy opens its first storefront in Midtown Miami this Friday. The concept leans into banana and coconut-based soft serve made from scratch—creamy, plant-forward, and crafted to feel indulgent without the crash. Behind the menu is Tom Favorule, whose résumé includes Major Food Group and KYU, now channeling that pedigree into rotating flavors, playful sundaes, and house-baked sweets. Expect bold branding, selfie bait, and a shop built to double as a neighborhood hang. We’re especially looking forward to trying the Gimme S’more sundae and Ooey Gooey Butter Cake. The opening party runs from 5–9 p.m., and the first 100 guests get a Banana Daddy gift card. See you there.

Banana Daddy is located at 3415 NE 1st Ave., Miami, FL 33137. For more information, visit their official website.

Saturday, February 28

Calligraffiti Comes to Wynwood

Wynwood‘s art crowd, get ready: on February 28 from 7–9 p.m., Niels “SHOE” Meulman lands at Museum of Graffiti’s The Private Gallery for an intimate preview of his latest work. A pioneer of the Calligraffiti movement, Meulman built his name tagging alongside icons like Keith Haring and Dondi White before turning lettering into a gallery language all his own. Expect bold, text-driven canvases, conceptual pieces, and a room full of collectors clocking the next acquisition. It’s free with RSVP, but the real draw is seeing a graffiti legend’s work up close.

The Private Gallery is located at 2521 NW 3rd Ave., Miami, FL 33127.

STRANG’s Van der Vlugt Residence and Open House Miami

Architecture buffs get a climate-conscious lens on design as STRANG steps into Open House Miami with a pair of thoughtful appearances. The headline draw is the firm’s award-winning Van der Vlugt Residence, a Keys home lifted 10 feet to meet sea-level reality head-on, now the subject of a new docuseries premiere during the festival. The weekend also includes a design talk set within the lush grounds of The Kampong, exploring how modernist principles translate to tropical landscapes. Less flashy than a restaurant opening, sure—but for anyone curious how Miami might actually build its future, this one’s worth the detour. For more information and free tickets, visit the Open House Miami website.

Architecture Sarasota and STRANG is located at 3015 Grand Ave., Coconut Grove, FL 33133.

A Polished Pause at Sean Donaldson Hair

Between dinner reservations and gallery openings, Miami’s quieter glow-ups are happening behind salon chairs. At Sean Donaldson Hair, European technique meets Miami polish, whether at the Miami Beach flagship—home to its open Color-Lab and spa-like shampoo retreat—or the sleek outpost at Brickell City Centre. Precision cuts, transformative color, and a design-forward setting make this less a routine appointment and more a reset button for the week ahead.

Sean Donaldson Hair has locations at 701 S Miami Ave., Miami, FL 33130 and 1674 Meridian Ave. #100, Miami Beach, FL 33139. For more information, call (305) 579-1178 or visit their official website.