Miami Beach, FL — April 10, 2025 - On Tuesday, April 22, Rum Room, the Miami Beach Convention Center’s on-campus restaurant, is celebrating its second anniversary in style. Guests are invited to join in the festivities, which will feature an all-day Happy Hour from 12–9 p.m., a complimentary glass of Prosecco, a special anniversary cocktail, a first look at newly launched food and beverage menus, and more festive surprises.

In honor of Earth Day, special menu items will come straight from the Rum Room garden on the outdoor terrace along Collins Park Canal — a great spot for a toast to sustainability.

Known for its tropical ambiance and inspired cocktails, Rum Room is unveiling a fully revamped beverage menu crafted by its mixologists. These new offerings spotlight flavors inspired by Miami’s unique cultural flair. The updated food menu includes:

• Tuna Ceviche – Ahi Tuna, Scallions, Pepitas, Ají Amarillo Cream, Sesame Oil, Tamari Sauce, Cucumber, Coconut Leche de Tigre, Plantain Chips
• Shrimp Mofongo – Yuca Mofongo-Sautéed Shrimp, Capers Lime Cream, Fried Capers, Broccolini
• “Crab Cake” Burger – Heart of Palm “crab cake”, Remoulade, mixed green slaw, pretzel bread (served with fries)
• Rum Room Burger – House Blend Beef, Pickles, Onions, House Sauce, American Cheese (served with fries)
• Churros – Chocolate Sauce, Caramel Sauce, Cinnamon Sugar

New craft cocktails include:

• Sunset Sky Overdrive – Mezcal, Giffard Banana Liqueur, Chinola Passion Fruit Liqueur, Super OJ Serrano-Salt Air, Orange Blossom Spray
• El Cocotazo – Coconut Cartel Rum, Lime, Simple Syrup, Angostura Bitters, Coconut Water

Driving this fresh culinary vision is Sodexo Live! Executive Chef Ismael LaSalle, now joined by two new additions to the Rum Room team: Omar Hale, Executive Sous Chef, and Anar Aubakirova, who is responsible for managing dining room operations and elevating the level of service and guest experience.

Chef Omar Hale, a fixture of the Miami food scene, brings decades of culinary expertise and a passion for Latin American and Caribbean cuisine. Born in New York to Jamaican immigrants and raised in Miami, Chef Hale’s deep connection to the city has influenced his career across renowned kitchens including 1 Hotel, Milos Restaurant, and the Shelborne. Now with Sodexo Live! at MBCC, he brings his love for bold flavors and community-driven food to the Rum Room.

Anar brings years of high-level hospitality experience from her time at Hillstone, where she earned a reputation for delivering exceptional guest experiences and leading top-tier restaurant teams. Her leadership is already shaping an elevated Rum Room experience.

“Rum Room brings something unique to the MBCC campus—it’s more than a restaurant, it’s a gathering place,” said Freddie Peterson, General Manager of the  Miami Beach Convention Center. “From convention attendees to local residents, it’s become a go-to destination that reflects the culture, hospitality, and energy of Miami Beach. We’re proud of how far it’s come in just two years and look forward to watching it continue to flourish.”

“Rum Room is a true gem—not just for the Miami Beach Convention Center campus, but for the entire neighborhood,” said Randy Morales, Sodexo Live! General Manager at the MBCC. “In just two short years, we’ve grown into a local favorite, thanks to our loyal guests and passionate team. This anniversary is a celebration of our roots, our community, and the vibrant flavors that make this place special. We’re excited to keep raising the bar in year three and beyond.”

Rum Room and Venu are the Miami Beach Convention Center’s on-campus restaurant and private event space jointly managed and operated by hospitality partner Sodexo Live! and leading full-service venue management company OVG.

Rum Room is a combined indoor and outdoor 80-seat restaurant with Old World and tropical 1920s Florida decor and an upscale menu that draws on Florida’s history and Miami’s Haitian, Latin, and Central American influences. Also drawing on history, cocktails feature classic rum cocktails with modern tastes, a large selection of local and imported rums, and many other favorite spirits.

Venu, occupying what was formerly the 1916-built Miami Beach Municipal Golf Course Clubhouse, is an intimate event space and bar designed to be a favored destination for elegant private events and upscale VIP events as part of the MBCC’s convention offerings, cocktail parties, business meetings, weddings, bat or bar mitzvahs, and more. Learn more about private events at Venu here. Erected just one year after the City of Miami Beach was incorporated, this legendary building is one of the oldest public buildings in Miami Beach. The City of Miami Beach purchased it in 1983, approved an over $3.2 million interior and exterior renovation in 2018, and has turned the historic landmark into a sophisticated event venue with custom menus.

Reservations are strongly encouraged for this special celebration. Come raise a glass, enjoy new flavors, and toast to two years of Rum Room serving up unforgettable moments in the heart of Miami Beach.

To book a reservation or learn more, visit https://www.rumroommiamibeach.com/ and follow Rum Room on social media (@rumroommiamibeach).

The MBCC is located at 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139. Rum Room is on the northeast corner of the MBCC Campus Center, where Washington Avenue meets Dade Boulevard. Venu is located in the 1916-built former Miami Beach Municipal Golf Course Clubhouse at 2100 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139. 

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About The Miami Beach Convention Center & Campus

Re-imagined following a $640-million-dollar renovation, the award-winning MBCC includes a new 60,000 square-foot Grand Ballroom, four junior ballrooms, almost 500,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, an expanded Grand Lobby, pre-function areas that are bathed in natural light, up to 84 breakout rooms, approximately 800 roof deck parking spaces, almost 2,100 miles of cabling to support all IT communications, $10.2 million dollars’ worth of art curated by the City of Miami Beach Art in Public Places program and a six-acre (Pride Park) and three-acre (Collins Canal Park) public green spaces that can serve as incremental event space. The MBCC Campus includes two new event spaces: Venu, a space for elegant private events and upscale meetings, and Rum Room, a 1920s restaurant with an enticing tapas-style menu and local South Florida rums. The MBCC is proud to have earned Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ Facility Accreditation, and LEED® Silver Certification as part of the venue’s $640-million expansion project, which includes many environmentally friendly features. A new connected headquarter hotel, a Grand Hyatt, is under development and slated to open in 2027. www.miamibeachconvention.com 

About Sodexo Live!

Sodexo Live! manages prestigious convention, cultural, and sporting venues and major events all over the world. With 40,000 employees and 500 sites, Sodexo Live! offers clients a range of bespoke catering, sales, and event management services, helping to transform the consumer experience into unforgettable memories. Sodexo Live! commits to unlocking customers’ full potential while favoring local communities. Sodexo Live! contributes to the success of prestigious events such as Royal Ascot, the Tour de France, the Rugby World Cup and the Paris 2024 Games, and showcases exceptional venues such as the Eiffel Tower Restaurants, Bateaux Parisiens, Yachts de Paris, the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the Museo del Prado in Madrid, the Hard Rock Stadium, the Scottish National Gallery, and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.