By Destinee A. Hughes
Photography by Eduardo Schneider
Rhythm & Vine, Fort Lauderdale’s newest beer garden, has been turning heads with its eclectic, artsy vibe since opening in March 2015. And founders David Cardaci and Derek Young couldn’t have asked for a better start.
“We’re trying to create an environment where people can come and drink, but the experience of being here is something that they can’t find anywhere in town,” Young says.
The name Rhythm & Vine stems from the artistic design elements of the garden. Think Urban Outfitters meets American Social. Design pieces include 4,600 square feet of Kelly green faux grass, vividly painted murals alongside the walls, wooden picnic tables, a repurposed Airstream, and an inside area with dimmed lighting and a wooden bar staffed with sociable bartenders. But beyond all these design elements, there was another piece that separates Rhythm & Vine from a basic bar.
“I’m a huge proponent of music,” says Young, who employs a playlist ranging from ’90s hip-hop classics to obscure indie records. “I wanted to expose Fort Lauderdale to the types of music that generally don’t exist here. That was the rhythm aspect of it. The vine aspect is the beer garden; it’s garden-oriented. We kind of just blended the two.”
The owners felt Flagler Village was the ideal place for Rhythm & Vine to take off. Nestled between an antique car shop and newly built condos that primarily house young professionals, Rhythm & Vine fills the entire neighborhood with an eclectic vibe from its tiny corner lot. But Young, 39, and Cardaci, 38 (who also owns The Whole Enchilada Fresh Mexican Food), were surprised when they saw their new spot was attracting more than young professionals.
“Frankly, we thought it was going to be a young hipster crowd, but we’ve certainly seen a mixture of millennials, hipsters, middle-aged professionals and an older community,” admits Young, who is also a partner at Kaplan Young & Moll Parrón.
HOME BREW: Located in Flagler Village, Rhythm &Vine has quickly been gained a reputation for its low-key yet eclectic vibe since opening in March.
Rhythm & Vine is an “eclectic, chill, unpretentious” environment, as Young describes it, with a detailed attention to art and music. The owners are even working to dedicate a night to live music with local and national acts. Plans are also in the works to bring DJs from New York and Los Angeles to the beer garden.
It’s not just beer and music lovers who have taken notice to Rhythm & Vine. The unique atmosphere and creative landscaping has already won Young and Cardaci the enviable City of Fort Lauderdale Urban Design Award. Just another reason that this beer garden isn’t your average bar.
Originally appeared in the Summer 2015 issue.
