Newest to the scene is M.Bird, perched on the second-floor rooftop above Oak & Ola.
The lounge officially debuted last week to the public.
Named after the Florida’s state bird, the mockingbird, the rooftop bar is a group effort from the founders of Boca, Ciro’s, Ichicoro and Armature Works.
Co-owner/operator Taryn Bruck says the idea was to create something new for not only Armature Works, but for Tampa as a whole.
The 6,000-square-foot space sat vacant for a year and is the last concept to fill the hall. “We put our heads together and came up with something completely different than what Tampa has ever seen. M. Bird sets itself apart from anything at Armature Works,” Bruck says.
New York’s Dutch East transformed the rooftop with a tropical, mod-deco style, full of greenery and pops of color.
Guests can look out from the bar to the Hillsborough River.
“This area is like our crown jewel. We wanted to make it uniquely different and go in a different direction,” Bruck explains.
Chef Jessica Frazier used her 15 years of cooking expertise to create Caribbean/Mediterranean-inspired dishes. “I leaned very heavy towards Latin food but it’s a little bit of everything with some tropical influences,” she says. The menu includes bites like jerk chicken egg rolls, vaca-frita tostones and classic mofongo.
The tapas-style dishes augment M.Bird’s refined traditional tiki cocktails like the Hemingway Daiquiri, constructed of Flor de Caña 4, Luxardo Maraschino, grapefruit, and lime. The full bar boasts more than 40 rums, and offers giant punch bowls for groups looking to get boozy.
Drawing inspiration from tropical cities like Havana and Miami, Beverage Director Jay Wells wanted to integrate spirits available in the American market into refreshing Caribbean-inspired cocktails that “encapsulate the vibe of tiki.”
Wanting to give guests a getaway from the outside world, the rooftop bar is a “no kids allowed” hangout. “We played around with the idea of being 21-and-up and just decided to do it because it gives the adults a different feel and way of coming out and not seeing children playing around,” Bruck explains.
Seating at the bar is first-come, first-served, so make sure you get the crew there early and lock a spot down.
VIP bottle service and live DJs will be on-site, adding to the swanky vibes.
M.Bird is open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week: Monday through Thursday 4 p.m.-1 a.m., Friday and Saturday noon-2 a.m., and Sunday noon to midnight. Brunch is in the works and is expected to debut in the coming months.
“We’re a growing community and it brings a new, fun vibe," Bruck says. "This area is growing more and more to become a destination. The goal is to just let people have fun.”
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This article appears in Apr 4-11, 2019.