IMBIBE | Flamingo Room x Havana Restaurant x Commercial Drive

Commercial Drive—(December 6, 2023) East Van's new Miami-inspired backroom cocktail lounge and performance venue, The Flamingo Room, adjoined to the Cuban-themed Havana Restaurant, has taken over the old Havana Theatre (originally "Little Mountain Theatre") space after officially opening its doors last week.



The Havana team has completely reimagined and renovated the new and former performance spot into a 900-square-foot, fifty-eight-seater of a tropical-ish oasis (think Miami Vice) with a strong emphasis on eclectic cocktails (also zero-proof mocktails) of the South Floridian variety, led behind the bar by Beverage Director Alexa Greenman.

Eats, Shoots, and Leaves (toasted rice Thoquino Cachaça, coconut liqueur, sous vide pandan syrup, and lime)

From Executive Chef Andrew Hounslow comes a menu focused on shareable bar snacks of Latin influence, including compressed watermelon and Cubano skewers, to complement the aforementioned detailed cocktail program.

Where's the Proof? (Earl Grey tea, acid-adjusted orange, lime, orgeat, passionfruit, bitters, and milk wash)

Expect an impressive selection of things to sip and savour, each with its own unique little twist. Order a "Jiminy Crickets!" cocktail and get a special sidedish of well, you guessed it—crickets, deep fried and spiced with a lime zest. FYI, they taste pretty crunchy and just a little chewy.

compressed watermelon (tajin spiced with mint and queso fresco)

The Flamingo Room seems destined for plenty of fun late night vibes, perfect to catch some casual live music in its vibrant backdoor location right on The Drive.


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