Executive Overview
The convergence of global mixology prestige and South Florida’s burgeoning luxury hospitality landscape has reached a striking new milestone. The Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale has officially unveiled its latest gastronomic and social attraction: an exclusive, multi-year residency featuring ViceVersa, the James Beard-nominated and critically acclaimed Italian aperitivo bar hailing from Miami.
Running through May 2026, "ViceVersa, A Fort Lauderdale Residency" represents a deliberate evolution in coastal hospitality. By injecting the refined, unhurried rituals of Milanese aperitivo culture directly into the heart of a sun-drenched South Florida hotel lobby, the collaboration seeks to redefine how transient travelers and local connoisseurs experience luxury hospitality after dark.
For the Four Seasons brand, this partnership is far more than a temporary pop-up; it is a strategic repositioning of public spaces. Traditionally viewed as passive transit zones, the hotel’s expansive lobby has been re-engineered to serve as the vibrant "social heart" of the property. Beginning daily at 5:00 PM, the space undergoes a sensory metamorphosis—shifting from a bright, coastal sanctuary into a sophisticated, dimly lit lounge pulsating with eclectic European-American soundscapes, high-end design elements, and world-class mixology.
At the helm of this liquid artistry is Valentino Longo, co-owner of ViceVersa, whose illustrious career comes full circle with this residency. Longo’s return to the Four Seasons brand—having previously honed his craft within its celebrated ecosystem—adds an emotional and professional gravity to the venture. Ranked No. 56 on North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025 and backed by a prestigious James Beard nomination, Longo, alongside Head Bartender Rosy Vilanova, brings a meticulous, ingredient-driven philosophy to Fort Lauderdale.
Supported by the hotel’s existing Michelin-awarded culinary anchors, including Evelyn’s Fort Lauderdale and MAASS, the ViceVersa residency firmly cements Fort Lauderdale’s transition from a regional beach escape into an internationally recognized destination for world-class food and beverage innovation.
Detailed Chronology & Concept Evolution
The Genesis of a Cross-County Collaboration
The partnership between the Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale and Miami’s ViceVersa did not happen overnight. It was born out of a shared ambition to bridge two distinct Florida markets: Miami’s fast-paced, trend-setting nightlife and Fort Lauderdale’s emerging, sophisticated coastal luxury scene.
Planning for the residency began quietly behind the scenes as both entities sought a way to capture the modern traveler’s desire for authenticity, storytelling, and experiential luxury. For ViceVersa, the invitation provided an organic mechanism to scale its footprint without diluting its core identity. For the Four Seasons, bringing a nationally recognized bar program directly into the lobby answered a growing consumer demand for dynamic, accessible, yet ultra-premium evening programming.
The Daily Metamorphosis: Transforming the Lobby
The spatial transformation of the Four Seasons lobby is executed with theatrical precision. As daylight fades over the Atlantic Ocean, the architectural lighting dims, casting warm, amber glows across the polished stone and bespoke furnishings.
- 5:00 PM – The Aperitivo Hour: The doors open to the residency, welcoming guests with the classic Italian tradition of pre-dinner drinking designed to stimulate the appetite. The atmosphere is relaxed yet undeniably chic.
- Evening Transition: As the evening deepens, the auditory landscape shifts. A curated playlist of eclectic Italian lounge tracks and contemporary American beats sets an effortlessly cool tone.
- The Weekend Peak: On Friday and Saturday nights, the residency reaches its crescendo. Live DJ performances inject high-energy rhythms into the space, turning the lobby into an energetic epicenter where hotel guests and local tastemakers mingle seamlessly.
The "Vacanza" Menu: Liquid Escapism
At the core of the residency is a beverage program explicitly designed around the Italian concept of vacanza (vacation). The menu serves as a sensory map of leisure, utilizing imported Italian spirits, boutique amaros, and hyper-local South Florida produce to craft drinks that are simultaneously nostalgic and avant-garde.
Among the standout offerings anchoring the menu are:
- The Martini Doppio: A sophisticated, reimagined twist on the classic Gibson, featuring crisp botanical notes elevated by house-pickled onions that provide a savory, saline counterpunch.
- The Rita: A tropical, boundary-pushing creation that marries the earthy depth of high-end tequila with the lush sweetness of ripe mango, ultimately finished with an unexpected, aromatic float of Barolo wine.
In addition to these established ViceVersa signatures, the mixology team has engineered a trio of exclusive cocktails crafted strictly for the Fort Lauderdale residency, ensuring that even Miami regulars find entirely new dimensions of flavor upon visiting the property.
Supporting Context & Metrics
The Rise of Fort Lauderdale’s Culinary Identity
For decades, South Florida’s high-end culinary spotlight remained heavily concentrated in Miami and Palm Beach. However, over the past five years, Fort Lauderdale has undergone a dramatic renaissance. Fueled by an influx of affluent permanent residents, luxury high-rise developments, and a wave of culinary investment, the city has transformed into a serious gastronomic contender.
The inclusion of the ViceVersa residency at the Four Seasons builds directly upon this momentum. It complements the hotel’s existing dining crown jewels:
- Evelyn’s Fort Lauderdale: Known for its coastal cuisine infused with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern spices, offering sweeping ocean views.
- MAASS: A high-end dining destination that has earned critical acclaim and Michelin recognition for its meticulous approach to modern American fine dining executed with European precision.
By integrating a James Beard-nominated bar program into the lobby, the property has constructed a complete, 360-degree hospitality ecosystem. Guests can now embark on a multi-tiered culinary journey—beginning with aperitivos in the lobby, progressing to a Michelin-pedigreed dinner at MAASS or Evelyn’s, and returning to the bar for a late-night digestif.
Bar Culture Metrics: North America’s 50 Best and Beyond
The pedigree behind ViceVersa is quantifiable. Securing the No. 56 spot on North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list places the establishment in an elite global tier. The evaluation criteria for these rankings are notoriously rigorous, assessing factors such as:
- Consistency of drink quality and execution.
- Service standards and hospitality intuition.
- Atmosphere, design, and overall guest experience.
- Sustainability and innovation within the craft.
By translating these rigorous standards to a hotel lobby residency running through May 2026, the Four Seasons has effectively guaranteed its patrons an award-winning drinking experience without the necessity of traveling south to Miami.
Official Statements
The significance of the partnership is underscored by the leadership driving both brands forward.
Valentino Longo, Co-Owner of ViceVersa and Acclaimed Mixologist:
"Bringing ViceVersa to Fort Lauderdale allows us to expand on our original intention and share the joyful act of aperitivo with even more guests. Our focus has always been on honoring my Italian heritage while aggressively playing with the vibrant, fresh ingredients we find here in South Florida. To do this within the Four Seasons ecosystem—a brand that shaped my foundational years as a bartender—feels remarkably like coming home."
Mali Carow, General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale:
"Fort Lauderdale continues to emerge as a destination for world-class food and beverage experiences, and this residency adds a dynamic new layer to that story. ViceVersa brings an elevated yet playful spirit that aligns perfectly with the lifestyle of our hotel. We’re thrilled to offer this new lobby experience to our community and visitors, and we welcome Valentino back to Four Seasons with open arms."
Future Outlook
As the hospitality industry moves deeper into an era dominated by experiential travel, traditional hotel models are facing mounting pressure to reinvent their public spaces. The modern luxury consumer does not merely seek a comfortable bed and a functional room; they demand cultural relevance, immersive storytelling, and immediate access to local creative currents.
The ViceVersa residency at the Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale—scheduled to run uninterrupted through May 2026—serves as a compelling blueprint for the future of luxury hotel activations. By partnering with independent culinary leaders rather than relying solely on internal food and beverage teams, luxury properties can inject authentic, cutting-edge energy into their spaces while simultaneously supporting regional talent.
Looking ahead, the success of this multi-year residency is expected to catalyze further high-profile collaborations across the Gold Coast. As Fort Lauderdale continues to shed its historical identity as a purely seasonal spring-break haven and solidify its status as a year-round hub for sophisticated cosmopolitan living, partnerships of this caliber will become the gold standard.
For now, the invitation remains open to all who wander through the doors of the Four Seasons at 5:00 PM daily: step past the ocean breeze, take a seat in the newly transformed social heart of the lobby, and raise a Martini Doppio to a new era of coastal Italian sophistication.
Visitor Information At-A-Glance
- Location: Lobby Level, Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale
- Operating Hours: Daily, 5:00 PM to Midnight
- Programming: Resident DJ performances every Friday and Saturday night
- Reservations: Walk-ins only; no reservations required.
- Duration: Now through May 2026
- Official Website: Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale
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