Miami named Bon Appétit’s 2023 “Food City of The Year”

MIAMI, PRNewswire -- The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) announces that Greater Miami and Miami Beach has been granted the title of “2023 Food City of the Year” by the esteemed food and beverage publication, Bon Appétit. To celebrate, the GMCVB, alongside Miami-Dade County, officially commemorated April 5th as “Food City of the Year Day” to honor the community’s success as a culinary leader and inspire the industry’s growth for years to come.

This announcement comes on the heels of additional culinary honors for Greater Miami and Miami Beach, including new stars awarded by the Michelin Guide, which arrived in Florida for the first time in 2022, as well as advancements in the 2023 James Beard Awards, which recently selected eight local restaurants, chefs and bakeries as semifinalists and one local bakery as a finalist. National news headlines have also spotlighted Miami’s dining scene in recent years, with media outlets Robb Report and Bloomberg dubbing the city as “America’s Hottest Dining Scene” and “the most exciting food city in the country,” respectively.

“These recent recognitions by leading voices in the culinary space validate Greater Miami and Miami Beach’s work and dedication to building and supporting a vibrant food and beverage com- munity,” said David Whitaker, president, and CEO of the GMCVB. “Culinary tourism is a strong motivator for travel, and we remain incredibly thankful to the chefs, restaurateurs, mixologists, and event producers who have helped make our local hospitality industry one of the best in the world.”

Today, Greater Miami and Miami Beach’s assortment of dining, enter- tainment, and cultural experiences has proven to be a primary motivator for visitors, per a recent Greater Miami and Miami Beach Visitor Industry Report. The report also shows that the destination saw a 50% increase in food and gastro-tourism alone in 2021, surpassing pre-pandemic numbers. Propelling this shift is a recent influx of new dining concepts and top-tier culinary talent, in addition to nationally recognized culinary programming that continues to put the destination on the map, such as the annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival and Miami Spice Restaurant Months.

To discover and learn more about the robust restaurant community across Greater Miami and Miami Beach, please visit miamiandbeaches.com/restaurants.

House Group Opens Villa Denver, a Tapas Bar and Refined Bottle Service Lounge with Live Music

DENVER, PRNewswire -- House Group is pleased to announce the public Grand Opening celebration of Villa Denver on Friday-Saturday, May 5th-6th. This refined hospitality concept is a live music lounge and tapas bar that features expertly crafted table-side cocktails and an imaginative bottle service experience.

Villa will be the first bottle service lounge in Denver to offer exotic mixers and craft cocktails, table-side performances and presentations, an “At Your Service” order button, an exclusive Powder Room, hot and fresh tapas upon arrival, and a dedicated hospitality team for a truly spoiled experience.

To elevate the experience for all House Guests, Villa Denver will offer tableside mixology service featuring select artisan-crafted drinks, in addition to a full-service bar. Villa will also offer a wide array of mocktails featuring fresh-squeezed juices and premium ingredients.

“Villa Denver promises an experience where every patron is a cherished House Guest,” say co-founders Andy Mora and Johnny Christmas. “People pay good money to go out, and we believe they deserve a highly personalized and welcoming experience. Villa Denver is committed to excellence in service and a premium experience for all Guests of Honor.”

Denver’s own Executive Chef Toby Prout leads the cuisine, fusing his Latin American influence with a modern eclectic twist. As a celebrated chef in the city, Toby has earned a loyal following of fans who appreciate his innovative culinary expertise.

The menu at Villa boasts a curated selection of chef-tasting tapas designed to be shared and updated seasonally with locally sourced ingredients. The tasting menu pairs tapas with craft cocktails for unique experiences.

Villa Denver’s entertainment calendar features house music DJ collaborations with live funk and jazz instrumentals and other Denver music collectives.

Featured music collaborations:

May 5th

Borham Lee (of Break Science, Pretty Lights, and BTTRFLY Quintet) and friends Will Gains (bass), Jordan Hemby (drums), and Nelli (DJ)

May 6th

Clone_B (Bordas Brothers) ft. Clark Smith (saxophone) and RichMusiq (Bass)

Grand Opening weekend hours:

4 p.m. - 2 a.m. Living Room

10 p.m. - 2 a.m. Parlor Room

For members of the media and House Guests, Villa Denver is hosting an invitation-only housewarming party on Saturday, April 29th, featuring fusion tapas, exotic cocktails, fresh mocktails, and live music by Charismafunk – DJ Charisma ft. Miles Lujan (Motet) on trumpet and Gino Moriano on percussion.

Villa Denver is a tapas bar and refined music lounge that delivers an imaginative bottle service experience for guests who desire to be spoiled. Featuring exotic table-side cocktails, fusion tapas, and dynamic live music & DJ collaborations, Villa Denver offers a welcoming house party atmosphere for an unforgettable night out.

Villa Denver’s founders, Andy Mora, Johnny Christmas, and Brandon Jundt, bring unmatched expertise in managing elite food, beverage, and entertainment concepts to the vibrant nightlife in Denver with over 20 years of combined experience. The design and building renovations for Villa Denver, which beautifully highlight this unique space in the city, were led by Chris Szafranski from ZDevelopment.

Villa Denver is located at 1416 Market St. Denver, CO 80202, and can be contacted at (720) 994-8994 for information, reservations, and bottle service.