Medium Cool Cocktail Lounge — Restaurant in Miami Beach

Bad Experience at Medium Cool

Last night, we visited one of our favorite spots in South Beach, Medium Cool. We often go there since we live and work nearby.

When we arrived, we headed to the bar to order our drinks. There were three of us—my husband, his friend, and me. I found a seat while we were deciding on our drinks. Suddenly, a young man approached and told us he needed the chair I was sitting on because they had to remove them from the bar. However, he couldn’t explain why. I asked, Why do you need my chair when there are other people sitting around the bar? Why are you asking me specifically? He had no answer and walked away.

A few moments later, a woman approached us aggressively, demanding the chair: I need the chair. Everything at the bar will be cleared out. Give me the chair. Give me the chair now. Her tone was harsh, and we were caught off guard. My husband simply asked, Could you at least say ‘please’ to my wife? We never refused to give up the chair; we only questioned why she was being so aggressive instead of simply asking politely. She never said “please”—she just took the chair, and I had to stand.

The couple sitting next to us was treated the same way. The woman also rudely demanded their chairs, and the man next to us responded with a curse word due to her attitude. However, she seemed to be in a rush to remove the chairs and walked away.

We received our drinks, but only moments later, two security guards approached us, saying that the woman had ordered them to remove us from the bar. We were shocked and asked why. We had just taken our first sip of our drinks. They kept repeating that we had to leave. We asked if we could at least pay for our drinks before leaving because we know the bartenders and respect the staff. We paid, transferred our full drinks into plastic cups, and yet the security guards continued pressing us to leave immediately, turning the situation into an unnecessary scene.

We were forced out without any explanation. Once outside, we asked for a manager or someone responsible to clarify why we were being removed. It even made us feel discriminated against since the couple next to us—who had also reacted negatively to her rude request—was not asked to leave, but we were. Why were we singled out?

We both work in the hospitality and restaurant industry and often recommend this bar to others. We’ve always enjoyed coming here. However, last night, we were treated with extreme disrespect—for no reason—on my husband’s birthday.

There are only three valid reasons to remove someone from a venue: Being intoxicated Causing a scene Refusing to pay

When we confronted the woman outside, she claimed she removed us to explain the chair situation in private since it was too loud inside. If that were true, why involve security and forcefully kick us out? I also recorded everything, so there is proof of what truly happened. When asked to identify herself, she refused.

I will be posting the photos I took of her so that whoever manages Medium Cool can take appropriate action and ensure that customers are treated with respect. It’s disappointing to see a place we’ve enjoyed for so long treat its regular...

I’m writing this review after an incredibly upsetting experience at Medium Cool in Miami Beach last night. What was supposed to be a fun night out to celebrate my friend’s birthday turned into a shockingly disrespectful encounter, led by none other than the general manager.

Shortly after arriving (we had only been there for about 10–15 minutes), a staff member approached my friend's wife telling that he needed the chair, since other customers were next to us sitting on chairs we asked why, the staff member couldn't explained himself and walked away.

A couple of minutes later the general manager approached my friend’s wife, who was quietly sitting on a stool next to the bar area. Without any courtesy, she snapped her fingers at her and demanded she stand up immediately so she could take the stool. No explanation, no “please,” just plain disrespect.

When my friend politely stood up for his wife and asked the general manager to speak respectfully—suggesting she at least say “please”—the manager responded by mocking him before storming off. Moments later, two security guards approached our group and asked us to leave without any justification. We were all completely stunned.

It’s worth noting that we had been friendly to the staff, and even used to frequent this lounge years ago when it operated under a different name. We came back with good memories, only to be treated like we weren’t welcome.

What’s even more disturbing is that another couple next to us experienced the same rude treatment from the general manager and were equally shocked—but unlike us, they were not kicked out.

This level of unprofessionalism, especially from someone in a management position, is absolutely unacceptable. Singling out and publicly embarrassing a customer who was doing nothing wrong, then removing them for asking for basic courtesy, reflects a major issue with the venue's leadership and customer service standards.

I hope the ownership takes a serious look at how this lounge is being managed because no guest deserves to be treated this way. There are plenty of great places nearby, this place is probably the worst I have ever experienced in...

Went for my birthday, Saturday 2/1/25, honestly was having a great time. I had maybe 10 people with me, everyone spending, everyone enjoying the night. For context we arrived around 10 pm, I had friends waiting for me at an open spot. All very good until 1 am or so (after just ordering a round of 10+ shots and drinks), when a woman walks up to our area, extremely rude with an air of condescending-ness and arrogance surrounding her, sits on top of the booth with her feet on my bags and my friends bag. Confused I tell her: “I’m sorry we’re sitting here”, with that said a man tells me “this is my table”, I then ask him if he reserved the table, which would’ve been fine and we would’ve left immediately since we didn’t have a reservation. He then looks very annoyed and keeps saying this is my table you need to leave you need to get up, all the while he’s just texting and looking down at this phone, which after a minute or so I was like hey what’s going on??? everything is good we’re just trying to understand why you’re coming up to us so rude and with this energy when we haven’t done a thing to you to be so offended. He then says I’m the owner of the bar what else is there to tell you. As if we’re supposed to have his picture engrained in our brain to know who he is. Of course my group is confused, upset, and overall just flabbergasted by the whole situation. He gets pissy and kicks us out cause he was on his entitled high horse power trip. Really sucks cause we were just trying to be reasonable HUMANS trying to talk to this man as if he had some sort of understanding and conscience in his bones. Obviously not. Wish I could get all our money back because of the co-owners attitude and for souring my night but that’s that.

Update: I can’t reply to the response below on this review. While I appreciate the response and apology, I’ll kindly decline as I only wanted to share my experience as nothing like that has ever happened to...