"Whether it’s the gracious owners, shuck-to-order oysters, or the welcoming escape from the Miami chaos, this unpretentious bar tucked inside the Sagamore Hotel always hits the mark. While known for its extensive wine and sake collection, the real standout is the Dirty Pickle Martini. Made with briny, in-house pickles — a recipe so beloved it inspired the former bartender to launch his own local brand, Fancy Schmancy Pickles — this savory sip features a medley of over 11 vegetables, including radish, daikon, cauliflower, okra, cucumbers, and beets, with just a dash of olive brine." - Alona Martinez
"Most hotel lobby bars in South Beach solely exist for tourists, but Water Lion is an exception. The tiny wine bar located inside the Sagamore is a lovely place to hide from the touristy mayhem that’s always happening outside on Collins. Here, there’s a nice selection of wines by the glass and sake cocktails, and some excellent bar snacks—including a variety of regional oysters, which are expertly shucked by friendly bartenders. Water Lion is a great pre-dinner drinks option, but we’d also come back here just for a glass of lambrusco and those oysters." - ryan pfeffer
"Most hotel lobby bars in South Beach solely exist for tourists, but Water Lion is an exception. The tiny wine bar located inside the Sagamore is a lovely place to hide from the mayhem that’s always happening outside on Collins. Here, there’s a nice selection of wines by the glass and sake cocktails, some excellent bar snacks, and bartenders who are actually happy to see you. It’s a great pre-dinner drinks option, but we’d also come back here just for a glass of lambrusco, perfectly shucked oysters, and prosciutto-wrapped deviled eggs." - ryan pfeffer, mariana trabanino
"Most hotel lobby bars in South Beach solely exist for tourists, but Water Lion is an exception. The tiny wine bar inside the Sagamore is a lovely place to hide from the touristy mayhem that’s always happening outside on Collins. Here, there’s a quality selection of wines by the glass and sake cocktails, some excellent bar snacks, and bartenders who are actually happy to see you. It’s a great pre-dinner drinks option, but we’d also come back here just for a glass of Lambrusco, perfectly shucked oysters, and prosciutto-wrapped deviled eggs." - mariana trabanino, ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo
"This gem inside South Beach’s Sagamore hotel beckons for those who love oysters with a chilled glass of chablis. The elegant and relaxed atmosphere happily defies the rowdy partygoers frequenting the area, offering a genuine experience wine enthusiasts will love. Beyond a well-curated wine selection, there are smart cocktails and fermented spirits, all of which can be enjoyed with dishes like the aforementioned oysters, deviled eggs, warm camembert with multigrain baguette, and fig jam." - Eater Staff