Inside the Stylish Rebirth of Miami’s JohnMartin’s

JohnMartin’s Irish Pub & Eatery has been a go-to spot on Miracle Mile since 1989 — a true neighborhood pub with deep Irish roots and a whole lot of character.

JohnMartin’s Venue Photos Credit: Bigtime Design Studios

JohnMartin’s Food Selects Credit: Breakwater Hospitality Group

JohnMartin’s Whiskey Credit: Breakwater Hospitality Group

After closing during the pandemic, the beloved bar and eatery is back and better than ever, thanks to Breakwater Hospitality Group. Co-founder Emi Guerra and his team gave the space a major refresh while keeping the spirit of the original alive. We caught up with Emi to talk about the new vibe, the impressive whiskey lineup, and why JohnMartin’s is still a place where everyone feels like family.

Talk to us about the space.

Nestled on Miracle Mile in Miami, JohnMartin’s is a quintessential Irish pub and watering hole founded in 1989 by John Clarke and Martin Lynch. John and Martin were childhood friends from Killinkere parish in northwest Dublin who moved to Miami in the late 80s. The restaurant was modeled after their neighborhood pubs from their homeland and quickly became a beloved gathering place that helped revitalize Miracle Mile.

Last fall, Breakwater Hospitality Group reopened the iconic Irish eatery after it had closed its doors for three years due to the pandemic, unveiling JohnMartin’s revamped venue with the same warm and inviting feel. Redesigned by Bigtime Design Studios, the updated venue welcomes diners with a fresh, contemporary aesthetic rooted in the original founders’ heritage and a family-friendly atmosphere where everyone can feel they belong.

About the design:

The renovated venue showcases many original millwork and architectural elements of the building as well as eclectic furnishings from the era repurposed for contemporary socializing. New details like a sleek black-and-white color scheme, an airy indoor garden, and pops of lush greenery provide a modern yet timeless feel. Flooded with light and a sense of airiness a moss covered brick wall is bordered by contemporary portraits of John and Martin, keeping a watchful and approving eye over this decidedly unique concept.

Coffered ceilings throughout evoke a sense of tradition, brought into the present with fresh white paint with red trim, and the floors are made of white and green mosaic tiles, giving the space an upscale and timeless feel. Guests are greeted by a grand 43-foot-long bar boasting black-painted wainscoting and gleaming white quartz countertop, lined by brass and navy upholstered barstools.

Along the back wall, antique mirrors and a historical centerpiece from the original millwork are a fond reminder of the venue’s previous incarnation, juxtaposed with modern flat-screen TVs lining the wall for sports fans to watch their team play on game day – an essential function of any bona fide Irish pub. Next to the bar is a small stage for live performances, a new addition, made from light wood for live performances. One of the most impactful new features is the addition of a 34-seat indoor garden designed with a skylight that spans the entire ceiling, allowing sunlight to pour into the room to create a bright energizing atmosphere.

As guests continue making their way through the first floor, they’ll find a 50-seat dining room with barrel vaulting covered in a damask pattern along one wall, with gold, beige, and brown tones and oak wood paneling throughout. At the very back of the venue, a small dart room with an exposed brick wall playfully painted the colors of the Irish flag provides a safe place for fun and games. Upstairs, the revamped venue has a brand new private dining area with its own bar and restrooms.

What kind of experience can guests expect when they visit?

JohnMartin’s aims to foster the idea of community by creating an environment where all the guests feel truly welcome as an integral part of the magic. Upon entering, diners are immediately transported to an elevated Irish pub that’s imbued with nostalgia yet decidedly contemporary. The ambiance is warm and inviting, where guests can gather with one another, socialize, indulge, and relax.

Whether people want to celebrate their wins or forget their stresses, every guest is invited to revel in everything JohnMartin’s has to offer. JohnMartin’s provides the perfect atmosphere along with an expansive variety of delicious dishes, hand-crafted cocktails, live music, good times, and high-quality service to ensure every guest feels at home.

The restaurant has a capacity for over 200 guests and offers a thoughtfully curated selection of Irish whiskey, craft beer and other spirits alongside a classic menu of authentic Irish and American fare with global influences that includes flatbreads, Irish fan favorites, sandwiches, small plates, and “afters” for dessert, as well as a little lads’ menu for young patrons.

The delicious dishes offered include traditional staples like Shepherd’s pie and fish and chips to more inventive offerings including Guinness glazed meatballs and duck flatbread, as well as mouthwatering burgers and crowd-pleasing entrees like Irish whiskey chicken breast and baby back ribs.

Tell us about the cocktail program.

JohnMartin’s offers one of South Florida’s most extensive lists of whiskeys, featuring over 400 types of high-quality whiskeys, many of which are allocated and hard to find. This wide selection of rare, premium whiskeys at JohnMartin’s is available for all of the public to enjoy.

The JohnMartin’s Whiskey Club is JohnMartin’s members-only exclusive whiskey club that caters to those with a passion for quality spirits and bespoke experiences. Membership to JohnMartin’s Whiskey Club includes unique perks, including personal whiskey lockers in the restaurant with members’ nameplates on them, prioritized seating and dining services, special members-only experiences, and so much more.

JohnMartin’s also offers an expansive list of beers, wines, seltzers, champagne, and specialty cocktails such as the Shamrock Shake and the Miracle Mile Margarita, just to name a few. JohnMartin’s happy hour, known as “Lucky Hour”, includes half-priced specials on all Irish whiskeys and Irish beers Mondays through Fridays from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.

What inspires the drinks on the menu?

JohnMartin’s offers a thoughtfully curated selection of Irish whiskey, craft beers, and other spirits sourced from around the world. The drinks were inspired by the roots and heritage of the original JohnMartin’s as well as a variety of global influences. The drinks include traditional Irish staples with a unique twist from gourmet inspirations from around the world, paying homage to the iconic pub’s authentic Irish history.

The specialty cocktail menu includes Irish fan favorites and classic crowd-pleasers with a modern twist, such as the Shamrock Shake, the Miracle Mile Margarita, the JohnMartin’s Old Fashioned, Kiss Me I’m Irish, and the Luck of the Irish, to name a few.

What does it take to run a successful bar program nowadays?

This business is a labor of love, and it’s very rewarding when you’re able to put a smile on peoples’ faces. The key to running a successful beverage program is balancing fresh quality ingredients and flavors that can be combined with speed and efficiency so that customers get served quickly and their expectations are exceeded. Running a successful bar program takes a lot of hard work. It’s important to have everything prepared to maximize efficiency before the bar gets busy after it opens to the public.

The sign of a really successful bar program has customers that are locals at the bar, like in the show Cheers, where everyone knows your name! It shows that the staff is reliable, personable, and highly-efficient at their jobs, and the bar program consistently provides great service to customers as they continue to come back. We take a lot of pride in hearing that JohnMartin’s reminds people of Cheers. At JohnMartin’s, everyone is treated like family. We welcome all customers, old and new, to revel in everything JohnMartin’s has to offer.

When I started Breakwater Hospitality Group, I wanted to curate each venue with the surrounding local community in mind, and create memorable and positive experiences for the people in the communities of each venue. Our concentration on quality beverages and cuisine transcends dining into memorable spaces with unforgettable locations and community social hubs, providing people with specially curated experiences we know they will enjoy.

Any advice for bartenders? What are some trends happening now in the industry that are important to know?

My first piece of advice for bartenders is to always keep an eye out for the customers. The customers should be your number one priority. It’s your job to give them the best possible experience through excellent service with a positive attitude. Guests always remember how bartenders impacted their experience. My next piece of advice is to stay up to date with industry trends. Offering trends that consumers are seeking is one of the major keys to success. If you become known for staying on top of trends, customers will continue to come back to your bar.

As a result of the pandemic, people are seeking out unique and exciting experiences at bars. We saw certain trends gain traction in the bar industry and we wanted to offer them at JohnMartin’s to provide our customers with one-of-a-kind experiences and offerings unlike any other bar.

Examples of trends that are happening now and are offered at JohnMartin’s include

Bars with live music and performances: This is a huge trend right now as a result of people’s desire for performances and live shows after the pandemic postponed them for so long. Live music and performances in bars have become increasingly popular, creating a unique atmosphere and an intimate experience for guests. At JohnMartin’s, there is a live band that performs on the stage next to the bar, enhancing the intimate ambiance at JohnMartin’s and providing sensational tunes and special memories for guests throughout the venue.
Honoring traditions with classic cocktails: Today, bars are putting an emphasis on upholding their storied traditions as they transform from places for people to grab a quick drink after work and before a night out to hip social hubs, play spaces, and relaxation zones. At JohnMartin’s, we take pride in honoring and upholding the traditions of the storied Irish eatery. For example, we honor Irish history by serving a proper Guinness, and offering an array of drinks that are traditional Irish staples, paying homage to the iconic Irish pub’s original roots.
Whiskey clubs & whiskey trends are on the rise right now, including trendy and unique whiskey flavors and elite experiences like whiskey clubs so customers can indulge in one-of-a-kind experiences they won’t forget.

Whiskey trends and flavors that are buzzin’ right now include

Liquors from around the world: Irish whiskey is trending now more than ever, due to its approachable taste profile. Known for its smoothness and floral palate and ability to mix with other ingredients, it creates more balanced cocktails where the alcohol isn’t outshining other ingredients. This has led to a huge resurgence of Irish whiskeys and drinks like the Irish mule and the Irish Old Fashioned. Another trending whiskey is rare Japanese Whiskey, known as a softer, more fragrant liquor with a truly dulcet yet complex flavor.
Exotic flavored whiskeys: Of course, you can never go wrong with a classic old-fashioned, but there has also been a desire for more exotic flavors such as banana, chocolate, cherry vanilla, and more.
#SingleLife: Blends are out, single malt scotch is in. Single malt scotch is produced from the same distillery and offers a distinct smokey, more familiar taste, and people are loving it.
The Manhattan’s Older Brother: We will see a resurgence of the traditional “Rob Roy” cocktail, and this Scotch Manhattan pairs perfectly with vermouth and bitters resulting in a smokier drink than the original. This cocktail is perfect for those who crave something strong yet slightly sweet.

Whiskey-lovers can find these delicious whiskeys at JohnMartin’s through its whiskey flight offerings: JohnMartin’s Irish Whiskey Flight, Japanese Whiskey Flight, Rye Whiskey Flight, Single Malt Whiskey Flight, and Bourbon Whiskey Flight.

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