Empire Social Lounge (Downtown Dadeland)

Enrique (Kiki) was the best. This is now my favorite. Great atmosphere. Thank you

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Solid little cigar bar in downtown Dadeland. Good cigar options, decent amount of space inside, and good service with a full bar. Nice place to chill with friends and even watch a game.

Atmosphere: 4

Service: 4

First time visiting - very nice environment and service- I had a Macallan 18 neat
I wanted to have a glass of wine- either a Tempranillo (red) or a Sancerre(white)
They are limited with the wine options
They only had savignon and Pinot Grigio for white
It would be great if they could have a couple of more wine options -

Atmosphere: 4

Service: 4

I was searching for a gift for a good friend. Knowing of the reputation of this establishment (obviously an excellent one) this was a no brainer. I was greeted by the host who had the manager come over to help me with my selections. He was very knowledgeable and patient in going over all of the selections. I finally settled on two different cigars. My buddy loved the selections and more importantly he was impressed with the quality of the cigar. Needless to say I now have my “go to place” when seeking a good cigar.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

This lounge would get 5 stars however there was no food and we were hungry gotta have appetizers when you're serving

Atmosphere: 3

Service: 3

The place is amazing, the atmosphere is quite and cousi, the service is outstanding, specially Kike who is and experienced and professional cigar sommelier and excellent hostess.. I will recommend this place for cigar lovers.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

So disheartened with my experience here. I moved to the area from brickell so i was very familiar with the place and a friend being part of the cigar club. Walking in it was immediately bad the bartender had told me not to sit at the beginning of the bar with tons of seats open because she wasn’t going to make me a drink. Mind you it was just a glass of wine. So i just went to the end of the bar. I was ignored for another 5-10 mins while the manager had argued at the computer system with the other bartender. The first bartender then came and sat at the bar a chair away from me all while still waiting. The only reason i stayed was because at this time it was down pouring outside and i was kind of stuck. I work in the industry and have for 18 years as a bartender and manager, the entire experience was just mind blowingly terrible and completely understandable why on a Friday night in a small downtown area only 1 other bar seat was taken.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 1

I liked the atmosphere!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 3

Food & Drink: 4 / 5The drink selection, which is the main attraction outside of cigars for such a location, was quite extraordinary. It mainly specializes in whiskey, bourbon, scotch, and rye. However, the available selections from rum, vodka, tequila, and mezcal are also fairly well done. I ordered an Oaxaca Old Fashioned (Tequila Reposado + Mezcal). The drink was prepared very well after the staff struggled to find the bottles mentioned in the recipe on their own menu.Service: 2 / 5The service is a touchy subject. I went Saturday 5/25/24 around 6:15 PM Eastern Time (so the owner can track down who was working).There was a total of 3/4 bartenders along the manager tending the lounge. I sat at the middle of the bar, with the only other patrons being two gentleman at the tabled area near the entrance and then later a group which tucked themselves away all the way in the back. The bartenders hung out at the end of the bar (about 2 yards from me), talking constantly. The subject matter of these conversations ranged from regular banter to things which were not necessarily professional nor conducive of a lounge environment.The manager themselves engaged in this behavior. There was also one comment made by the manager toward one of the female bartenders which I find incredibly disgusting and in poor taste in front of a patron, in addition to her own peers.Of the more than hour than I was there, they checked up on me no more than 2-3 times. The rest of the time I had to call for them to get information, refill water, or order more.Atmosphere: 2 / 5The atmosphere was fair and could have been so much better had the service been improved and conversations from staff among themselves been kept to a minimum or at a much lower volume.Conclusion(s):I will not be returning here any time soon as a result of the experience I had as marked above. If I do return, I will sit far away from where staff congregates and lounges to avoid the disruption of their conversations. I would highly recommend other lounges such as Galiano's which exhibit much more professional characters and service which is highly engaged and consistent as expected from an upscale lounge.

Parking: Paid underground parking (need to hunt down the entrance a bit) as well as paid street level parking around the area.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 4

Service: 2

My experience at Empire Social Lounge was nothing short of exceptional, and it's all thanks to Kiki! From the moment I walked in, he made sure that every aspect of my visit was perfect. His attention to detail and friendly demeanor truly set the tone for an unforgettable evening.His knowledge on cigars was impressive, and every suggestion he made was spot on.Moreover, his warmth and genuine hospitality made me feel right at home. It's rare to encounter someone who is so passionate about their work and dedicated to providing top-notch service. He truly made my visit to Empire Social Lounge memorable.I can't recommend Empire Social Dadeland enough, especially with Kiki leading the way. Whether you're looking for a relaxing night out or a vibrant atmosphere to unwind, this place has it all. Thank you, Kiki, for going above and beyond to ensure that I had a fantastic experience. I'll definitely be back soon!

Parking: Parking garage was close to the location.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Arturo Fuentes Double Chateau

Fantastic service finest cigar lounge I've visited recently Everyone there was excellent, and I will definitely return when I'm in the neighborhood. Ernesto "kike" was especially helpful in selecting cigars and providing excellent service.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

You have to go yes or yes...first level experience...the variety of cigars, the attention, A LUXURY!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Came in and got a cigar and a drink (donkey kong negrito I believe it was called). When I ordered the drink the girl who was bartending told me to order when I was ready even though she only checked on me like 10 seconds after I sat down… then when she went to go make the drink she paused and went to the back. She spent about 5 minutes in the back of house where I couldn’t see her as she was no longer behind the bar… she then came back 5 minutes later with a full bottle of gin. I think her schtick was that she had to go back there to get a new bottle of gin as if she was out of gin… let me tell you the walls were scattered with countless bottles of alcohol, I seriously doubt she was out of the one specific gin that was a part of the one specific drink that I ordered. I also seriously don’t understand how she would be the one to leave the bar without any level of communication to me, when I was the only one sitting at the bar, and especially when there was three other employees standing right next to the bar that could have gotten the alcohol, not the bartender making the drink. When she finally came back and finished making the drink I politely said thank you and simply asked her her name. Her response was, “Sara, I hope you write me a great review.” Well I hope a 2 star rating with 1 star for service is a great review. 18% auto gratuity so just for the drink alone it cost me $20. I only took two small sips of the drink and left the glass full as I sat and finished my cigar. 1 star service, 3 star atmosphere. It’s a more than fair rating, it doesn’t matter how you dress it, trash is trash.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 1

From the moment I walked in the atmosphere was perfect. Very dim lights, music was polite and proper volume to enjoy as well as talk amongst friends without having to shout. I’m not an avid smoker but, nonetheless Enrique made it VERY easy to make a selection amongst the wide variety of cigars they have to offer. Enrique made us feel at Home. Very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. From the cigar selection to the drink selection. It’s as if you saw an old friend that knows exactly what you want without knowing eachother. I highly highly HIGHLY recommend this spot.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This was our first time at Empire Lounge. We were lured in by the subtle smell of tobacco that filled the surrounding outdoor air. We dropped in with the intention of picking up a cigar to go and we were helped by Enrique. I will genuinely say that Enrique is a very classy, knowledgeable gentleman who takes genuine pride in education and hospitality. He guided us through the different cigar options and explained the historical context behind each one. After purchase, he joined us to cut and light his suggestions for us. It felt as though we were sitting with our favorite uncle. He made some delicious drink suggestions and we have found our new hangout spot. People like Enrique are the rare gems that make the wavering hospitality industry. It’s refreshing to hear the guidance of someone who has a genuine passion for their craft and goes out of their way to provide sincere service based on our interaction. Enrique provided value beyond his intent and we will be forever grateful as he reminded us of the valued chivalry and attention to detail required for any successful relationship. Thank you!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5