Dining at The Elser Hotel Miami: ViceVersa and Bayview Terrace explained
ViceVersa is the lobby Italian aperitivo bar at The Elser Hotel Miami serving Italian small plates, wood-fired neo‑Neapolitan pizzas, aperitivo cocktails and a weekday happy hour from 5:00–7:00 PM; it’s open daily 5:00 PM–12:00 AM with the kitchen typically open until 10:45 PM. The Elser Bay Terrace (aka Bayview Terrace) is the rooftop bar and kitchen on the hotel’s rooftop deck serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch and cocktails with Biscayne Bay views; the terrace is for hotel guests and residents only and has morning-to-evening hours that vary by day.
In this guide
Quick overview: ViceVersa and Bayview Terrace
ViceVersa is the lobby Italian bar and restaurant focused on aperitivo cocktails, Italian small plates and wood-fired neo‑Neapolitan pizzas. The venue is described by the hotel as a stylish lobby bar that suits relaxed evening drinks and late bites.
The Elser Bay Terrace (also published as Bayview Rooftop Bar & Kitchen or The Elser Bay Terrace) sits on the rooftop pool deck ~123 feet above Biscayne Bay and offers breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and rooftop cocktails for hotel guests and residents only.
- ViceVersa: Lobby-level Italian aperitivo bar (5:00 PM–12:00 AM; kitchen often until 10:45 PM)
- Bayview Terrace / Elser Bay Terrace: Rooftop bar & kitchen with bay and skyline views (hours vary; breakfast service noted 7:00 AM–12:00 PM)
- Bayview Terrace access: exclusive to hotel guests and residents (not open to the general public)
| Venue | Primary focus | Public access |
|---|---|---|
| ViceVersa | Italian small plates, pizzas, cocktails | Lobby — open to guests and visitors |
| Bayview Terrace (Elser Bay Terrace) | Rooftop dining — breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, cocktails | Hotel guests & residents only |
Dining style and typical menu at ViceVersa
ViceVersa positions itself as an Italian aperitivo bar with a menu of small plates, wood‑fired neo‑Neapolitan pizzas and cocktails meant for relaxed evening dining and late bites. The restaurant highlights aperitivo cocktails and an aperitivo-style happy hour.
The kitchen service hours are listed to close earlier than the bar: the restaurant and kitchen generally operate with the kitchen open until about 10:45 PM while the bar runs until midnight.
- Menu focus: Italian small plates and pizzas
- Bar: Aperitivo cocktails and wine
- Happy hour: Aperitivo happy hour with $10 cocktails/wine and half-price oysters (hotel lists Mon–Thu 5–7 PM; restaurant site lists slightly different days)
| Item type | When it’s useful |
|---|---|
| Small plates / shareables | Evening social dining, pre- or post-show |
| Wood-fired pizza | Casual dinner or late bite |
| Aperitivo cocktails / wine | Happy hour and early-evening drinks |
What to expect at The Elser Bay Terrace (Rooftop)
The Bayview Terrace / Elser Bay Terrace is located on the rooftop pool deck and serves a mix of seasonal, international items plus craft cocktails with Biscayne Bay views. The terrace is part of the rooftop amenity area that includes the 132-foot pool and a swim‑spa hot tub.
Breakfast service is explicitly listed as 7:00 AM–12:00 PM, and overall rooftop terrace hours are published as Sunday–Thursday 7:30 AM–9:00 PM and Friday–Saturday 7:30 AM–10:00 PM. Food-service windows are listed variably in hotel materials, so confirm current serving times with the concierge when you arrive.
- Rooftop features: dining with bay and skyline views, pool-side seating and craft cocktails
- Hours (hotel listing): breakfast 7:00 AM–12:00 PM; terrace hours vary by day (see concierge)
- Access: terrace and rooftop dining are for The Elser guests and residents only
| Service | Typical hours (hotel listing) |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | 7:00 AM–12:00 PM |
| Rooftop terrace general hours | Sun–Thu 7:30 AM–9:00 PM; Fri–Sat 7:30 AM–10:00 PM |
| Food-service windows | Varies by day — check concierge |
Practical tips: reservations, dress, and timing
Reservations are recommended at ViceVersa for peak evenings; many seats (including the bar) are first-come, first-served and limited advance bookings are available via Resy. For Bayview Terrace, rooftop seating and poolside dining can be busy at sunset — ask the concierge about best times and any required reservations for special seating or cabanas.
ViceVersa generally keeps a relaxed policy on dress beyond basic standards. The rooftop terrace is a hotel guest/resident space, so bring your room key or ask the front desk if you plan to use the Bayview Terrace but are meeting someone.
- Reserve ViceVersa for weekend dinner or peak evenings; bar seating often available without reservation
- Bayview Terrace: check-in at front desk or concierge for rooftop access and current seating rules
- If you want a sunset table on the rooftop, plan to arrive earlier in the evening or ask concierge about deck reservations/cabana availability
| Need | Suggested action |
|---|---|
| Peak dinner at ViceVersa | Make a reservation or arrive early |
| Sunset rooftop seating | Ask concierge about timing or cabana/table bookings |
| Happy hour drinks | Arrive 5:00–7:00 PM for aperitivo offers |
Family, accessibility and guest rules for dining areas
The Elser Hotel Miami is family-inclusive; children of all ages are welcome in the hotel’s dining venues. The rooftop pool deck and terrace have a shallow, gradient entry intended to be family-friendly, but the Bayview Terrace itself is limited to hotel guests and residents.
The property notes accessible paths of travel, and public areas including elevators and the registration desk are accessible. If you require specific accessible seating or have mobility needs, contact the front desk or concierge ahead of arrival so the team can advise on best seating options.
- Children: welcome in dining venues; confirm any kids’ menu availability at each venue with staff
- Accessibility: hotel public spaces and registration desk are wheelchair-accessible; request accessible seating if needed
- Pets: the hotel is pet-friendly in rooms but pets are not permitted on the amenity deck or at the partner beach club
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Children | Welcome; rooftop is family-friendly but terrace access limited to guests/residents |
| Accessible seating | Contact concierge/front desk to arrange |
| Pets | Not allowed on Amenity Deck; service animals accommodated per ADA |
What the hotel’s dining policies mean for your bill
Meals and drinks are not included in standard room rates — The Elser is not an all‑inclusive property. Food and beverage charges at ViceVersa and Bayview Terrace will appear on your folio; if you use valet or in-room services these may be combined with an incidental hold at check-in.
At check-in the hotel places a daily incidental hold (the dossier lists the policy details on amounts and card types). If you plan a big dinner or rooftop bar tab, be aware the hotel retains an incidental authorization to cover charges.
- Meals and drinks: not included in room rate
- Incidental hold: the hotel requires a daily incidental authorization at check-in (amounts and policies are provided in hotel materials)
- Payment: the credit card used to book must be presented at check-in with matching photo ID
| Charge type | How it’s handled |
|---|---|
| Food & beverage | Billed to room or paid directly at venue |
| Poolside cabanas / rooftop extras | May require additional payment or deposit — check concierge |
| Incidental authorization | Collected at check-in and used to cover bar, dining and other incidental charges |
