1. The New Hotel
City: North Shore, FL
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (305) 704-7849
Address: 7337 Harding Ave.
Insider Pick:
Description: Base, deluxe, and pool suite rooms are available, all of which are equipped with free domestic phone calls and wireless Internet. Rooms are sleek, cozy white, and boast 300-thread-count cotton sheets and a climate-controlled air-conditioning system. An on-site spa and restaurant options, in addition to easy access to the beach, make this an idea spot to park yourself. The hotel’s on-site bar, Lou’s Beer Garden, is also a plus.
2. Lou’S Beer Garden
City: North Shore, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (305) 704-7879
Address: 7337 Harding Ave.
Description: Beer garden is a bit of a misnomer, as you won’t find any picnic tables or schnitzel at this sleek gastro-pub. Nestled inside the New Hotel, the scene at Lou’s is casual chic; think jeans and flip-flops. Patrons can sit in the pleasantly retro dining room, but poolside is where the action is. With 12 microbrews available on tap and 22 in bottles, the beer selection is diverse and includes interesting craft choices. The wine list is fairly priced and cocktails are also available. Every April, Chef Lou’s hosts a Micro-brew Cook-off, in which participants must create a dish using a microbrewed beer as one of the ingredients. First prize is $100 worth of beer at Lou’s and a free two-night stay in the New Hotel, which, given all that beer, the victor will probably need. Visit the website for more information.
3. Lou’S Beer Garden
City: North Shore, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (305) 704-7879
Address: 7337 Harding Ave.
Description: Chef and owner Louis “Lou” Ramirez’s menu is a mix of pub grub (wings, calamari) and more upscale offerings like squid stuffed with chorizo and chervil. The thin-crust pizzas and 8.5 oz Angus burger, topped with bacon and feta cheese, are notable standouts. Those with a sweet tooth will sadly have to look elsewhere as there are no desserts on the menu.