As the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil begin (Aug. 5-21), the world will be captivated by sportsmanship and fierce athleticism.
Miami is no stranger to the Olympics. The region has been a breeding ground for an impressive amount of Olympians—speed skater Jennifer Rodriguez, runner Manny Huerta, tennis superstars Serena and Venus Williams, and several Miami Heat players to name a few.
Among this year's Olympic athletes hailing from or trained here include Miamian David Hughes and West Palm Beach windsurfer Pedro Pascual, members of the elite U.S. Sailing Team Sperry; Cuban-American gymnast Danell Leyva; Miami-native and Team USA basketball center Sylvia Fowles, and University of Miami alumni, diver Sam Dorman.
If you are not headed to Rio, we have the next best thing: Olympic parties, happy hours, exhibits and family-friendly activities, all places to root for our local athletes to bring back the gold.
Opening Ceremonies (Aug. 5)
W South Beach: Kick off the Summer Olympics with a Brazilian B-B-Q opening party at the WET Deck of the W South Beach, featuring large outdoor TV screens, a Rio-inspired specialty cocktail and traditional bites from their Brazilian-born executive chef. The hotel will also display a large projection screen inside the Livingroom Bar throughout the Olympic games. Doors open at 6:30 pm.
Conrad Miami: Join Conrad Miami's Bar at LVL 25 for an Olympic-size happy hour to launch the summer games and watch as athletes compete for some bling. Enjoy refreshing drinks and hors d'oeuvres, plus mini-games for kids of all ages. 5-9 pm. Complimentary valet parking for patrons of The Bar.
Mondrian South Beach: Let the games begin at the Mondrian South Beach. Watch the olympic ceremony from televisions inside the cool, white cabanas and order a refreshing Olympic-themed drink, get your sports on with a game of table tennis and other festivities.
Summer Olympic Viewing
Maxine's Bistro & Bar: The Maxine's Bistro & Bar inside The Catalina Hotel & Beach Club on South Beach is the place to be for a dose of Brazilian culture. Dance to the rhythms of samba music and drink caipirinhas at "Wild Wednesdays" from 3 to 7 pm.
The Lounge at The Setai: Sit back, relax and cheer on your favorite summer Olympic team at The Lounge at The Setai, Miami Beach. Starting on Friday, Aug. 5 through Aug. 21, The Lounge will transform into a Copacabana Beach setting to delight guests and visitors. The Louge will broadcast the Olympic games from their big screen TV. Get thirsty? Sip on the latest specialty cocktail, Olympic-Rings featuring vodka, lemon and lime, and champagne, paired with Life Savers or gummy rings for a unique Olympic-theme twist.
Hilton West Palm Beach: Venture north to the new Hilton West Palm Beach who invites sports enthusiasts to catch all the action at Galley, an indoor/outdoor oasis with fire pits and nautically-inspired decor. Galley will serve special Olympic-themed menu items including Usain Bolt's Wings, rubbed with Jamaican jerk seasoning and the Michael Phelps Dive, golden-fried dolphin fish sticks with dijonnaise aioli. Finish it off with Olympic torch cupcakes and gold medal cookies.
GameTime Miami: Let the games begin at GameTime in South Miami. With over 70 HDTVs, arcade games and a remodeled outdoor patio, there isn't a bad seat in the house to watch the opening ceremony and beyond.
Enjoy daily 2-for-1 drink specials on beer and wine and a mouthwatering Dine 'n Play combo for $16.99 that includes a $15 all-access game card. And for the kids, there's the new Mario and Sonic Rio 2016 game where players compete in nine Olympic-style arcade games on the road to victory.
Brazil Urbano Nights: Party like in Rio at this restaurant/bar in the MiMo neighborhood, north of downtown Miami, Boteco Miami. With classic Brazilian fare and the launch of their Brazil Urbano Nights expect to samba the night away as DJ Gus MK plays music mixes of reggaeton, hip-hop, samba reggaeton and capoeira performances. Mahou beer pitchers $15, caipirinha pitchers $30 and feijoada buffet $19.95.
Family-Friendly Camps and Exhibits
'Summer Games': Learn what it takes to be an Olympic athlete by joining the Miami Children's Museum on an unforgettable journey of teamwork and fitness. Explore the world of Olympic Sports with their latest traveling exhibit, "Summer Games," on view through Sept. 4. Test your skills in a high jump, swimming, cycling, running, badminton, golf, table tennis and much more. Tickets: $20
MODS Olympics: Calling all athletes! Put your running shoes on and join the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale for the 2016 Summer Olympics. At this mini-camp from Aug. 8-12, your little ones will learn how athletes use science to function under extreme conditions and how they condition their hearts, lungs and muscles to work to their fullest potential. MODS Olympians will compete in various games and challenges and they will even find that animals can be Olympians too. Camps are designed for children ages 6-12 years old. Five-day camps are $200 for museum members and $225 for non-members.
