Garden of Ono: Not only does this ostentatious hotel’s Plunge rooftop manage to be overpriced, overrated, and under cool, but its backyard space is pretty vibe-less, too. Garden at Ono looks nice, particularly the row of tents lining the east wall, where groups can even watch mini-TVs while enjoying the summer air. Opposite the tents on the other side of a passageway is a deck with more public seating. However, the WASPy crowd always ends up at the bar in the back of the space where fun DJs including the Scissor Sisters’ Paddy Boom play at rather quiet levels, probably due to hotel-related noise issues. Outdoor spaces are a lot like pizza, though—even when disappointing, they’re not all that bad. This place was a collaboration between Jeffrey Chodorow, who runs Ono restaurant upstairs, and the folks who designed Miami’s SkyBar. Though there’s not really a door per se, the entry policy is tough. |
