The Florida Room

This Seltzer-Focused Bar in Pensacola Is Florida's First

"Opened June 30, 2024 by brewers Brett Reid and Thomas Grier, this open-air, cocktail-focused lounge is centered on low-ABV seltzer and an immersive, Miami Vice–inspired '80s nostalgia. The space leans hard into pastel neon excess—checkerboard floors, teal accents, pink wallpaper, a glowing neon palm, ropes of blue neon crown molding, over 2,000 programmable lights, actual chairs from the TV set, and a curio shelf of flea-market tchotchkes—with a TV behind the bar quietly playing Bob Ross. The drinks program leans playful and unorthodox, featuring concoctions that use seltzer flavored to imitate spirits (think the frothy Power Suit: gin-seltzer, aperitif, coconut, lemon, and egg white) and the spicy, showy Golden Triangle served in a Chinese takeout container with a Szechuan shrub. The bathroom is intentionally theatrical—a neon-washed, selfie-ready room with black porcelain and a ceramic black panther—while the bar also offers jello shots, rotating menu items, better-than-bar food from the Brown Bagger truck parked outside, and hidden Miami Vice easter eggs. The vibe is deliberately communal and family-friendly at times—art nights, neighborhood regulars, and well-behaved dogs are welcome—creating a pseudo-tiki, linen-suit take on '80s excess that functions as both a cocktail lounge and a nostalgic neighborhood hangout." - Carrie Honaker