Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails’ upscale sibling Bar Mezzo soft opens in St. Pete

Described as an “ode to cocktails and nightlife,” the newest concept from Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktail owner Jarrett Sabatini is getting ready to soft open its doors.

Bar Mezzo makes its debut at 1049 Central Ave. in the space that formerly housed St. Pete’s Independent Bar and Cafe location, which closed in late 2022.

St. Pete’s newest cocktail lounge serves its very first customers this week, with soft opening hours running from 5 p.m. until “late” from Thursday, Nov. 7 to Sunday, Nov. 10.

Additional soft opening hours for next week will most likely be shared via Bar Mezzo’s Instagram page at @barmezzostpete.

While Sabatini’s eight year-old Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails at 1111 Central Ave. will remain a daytime cafe and laid-back lounge hybrid, the upcoming Bar Mezzo will take its siblings’s cocktail program up a notch.

Just a handful of staple Bar Mezzo cocktails include the “Cafe Mezzo” with vodka, espresso liqueur, coffee concentrate and bitters, the “Gin Basil Collins” featuring Condesa gin, fresh basil, lemon and soda, as well as its take on the classic margarita, loaded with Tequila blanco, agave, lime, orange and a bit of saline. There’s even a non-alcoholic “Phony Negroni” on the menu, too.

Bar Mezzo boasts a 1,600 square-foot lounge space and 800 square-foot outdoor patio, featuring sleek decor, low lighting and “a mid-century Italian design,” according to Sabatini.

Patrons of the new late-night lounge can also expect live music and DJs on the weekends.

ILovetheBurg says that Bar Mezzo will be the new home of Intermezzo’s beloved “Miracle at Mezzo” Christmas-themed cocktail pop-up, which typically features Instagrammable decor, entertainment and seasonal drinks in souvenir cups. The popular holiday event typically runs from Black Friday to New Year’s Eve each year.

Head to barmezzo.com or @barmezzostpete on Instagram for the latest updates on Bar Mezzo’s soft opening rollout, operating hours and more.

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This article appears in Nov 7-13, 2024.