Welcome to a slice of Islamorada on Key Biscayne with the same impressive ocean views but with more orange and green. Only open from Wednesday to Friday, the Wetlab is located at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. A little hard to find but once you do, it’s well worth it.
The Wetlab is the bar part of SALT Waterfront Restaurant. The bar was voted Miami’s Best Kept Secret in 2010 by the Miami New Times and I’d have to say, it still is. It doesn’t get too overcrowded and with $4 beers, it’s worth it; it’s not even crappy beers, it’s 17 craft beers on tap.
From left to right: La Rubia, Freedom Tower, Up River
They offer live music on most Fridays, giving it that island feel. It’s an incredibly chill atmosphere, with most people wearing shorts and a t-shirt. It’s a great place to catch up with friends. I wouldn’t recommend it as a date night but that’s just because I had the worst date of my life there (but the best story I’ll ever tell).
Let’s just say never take a date to a bar if you don’t drink beer. Literally – that’s all there is to do there and you’re just gonna watch me drink?! We could’ve gone anywhere else…
SALT is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 5-8 p.m. The food is okay – nothing crazy. Bits and pieces of it were really great! The fries are well-seasoned and offer an extra kick you can’t find anywhere else. The Buffalo Chicken Dip is the better half of the dip and chips; the chips can stay in the bag, just give me the dip with the shredded chicken mixed with buffalo and ranch sauce.
The restaurant side is in an enclosed space so you and your food won’t be eaten alive by mosquitos. It has windows from the floor to the ceiling so you can still see people kayaking outside and that incredible sunset that’ll make an appearance on your Instagram story.
Overall, I’d easily come back here for a weekday happy hour. It’s beautiful, cheap, and a #GoCanes hub. What more could I ask for?
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149