Heyday is a vibe, friends.
Courtesy Heyday
Some nights call for a good cocktail and a conversation you can actually hear. In downtown Hollywood, Heyday Miami is making a case for putting both on the calendar.
Opened earlier this year at 120 S. 20th Ave., the independently owned aperitivo bar brings together lower-alcohol cocktails, art-lined walls, music and a growing community of regulars. Behind it is owner Kate B., a Hollywood resident whose route to hospitality came through advertising, media, film and video production.
Born in Ukraine and raised largely in New York, Kate moved to South Florida during the pandemic. After settling in Hollywood, she wanted to contribute something distinctive to her neighborhood.
“I come from advertising and media, film and video,” she tells Browardist. “I’m a producer and that’s where I built my career, but I wanted to create a business that is more culturally important and has a connection to people,”.
That creative background informs the space, from the artwork and open layout to the music and opportunities to strike up a conversation. “I think my major driver was the connection between people,” Kate says.
She and main bartender Jesus R. bring that same care to a menu spanning 30-plus original cocktails. Inspired by European aperitivo culture, the drinks emphasize balance, fresh ingredients and lower alcohol content.
“We create all the purees, reductions, juices and everything from fresh fruit and vegetables, hence the experience,” she says.
Her first-order recommendation is the namesake Heyday, a sake-based bestseller with coconut cream, passion fruit, house-made simple syrup and super lemon. Available with or without alcohol, it delivers a tropical introduction to the bar’s approach. “And this has been the crowd’s favorite and I highly recommend trying it,” Kate says.
Alcohol-free orders receive equal consideration, including drinks built with nonalcoholic tequila or prosecco. “We treat a mocktail the same way as any other cocktail.”
Heyday’s identity also comes through in who gathers there. As a queer woman-owned business, it has attracted LGBTQ+ guests seeking a welcoming place to meet, including women looking for an alternative to nightclub-centered socializing.
“I don’t think everybody wants to meet people in a loud nightclub,” Kate says.
That helped inspire Thursday’s PlayDay gatherings, geared toward women who love women and open to the public. Guests can come solo or with friends for games, drinks and conversation.
“And we’re a cocktail bar for everyone, but inclusivity is fundamental to our identity,” she says.
Friday music nights are returning after a summer pause, with jazz, salsa and DJs among the planned offerings. Sunday comedy nights are growing, too.
The cocktail program currently operates Thursday through Sunday, with a 5–7 p.m. happy hour offering a second drink on the house. Guests can mix cocktails, wines and nonalcoholic options.
Next up, Kate is revising the daytime coffee program with additional food options, targeting a return around the New Year. A Wednesday music night is also being considered for early 2027.
