Medium Cool, the award-winning cocktail bar tucked in the basement of the Gale Hotel on Collins Avenue, will pour its last drinks on Saturday, Aug. 22, ending a nearly four-year run that earned the venue national recognition and a loyal South Beach following.

The closure stems from what co-founders described as an unexpected change in the hotel's plans for the space. No replacement tenant has been announced.

"Proud to be a part of this crew, proud of this layer, and proud Miami accepted us," co-founder Joshua Wagner told World Red Eye in July.

Fellow co-founder Dan Binkiewicz called the closure "quite a bit" painful, thanking staff for their work over the years.

Medium Cool opened in 2023 at 1690 Collins Ave. in the subterranean space previously occupied by Rec Room. Founded by Binkiewicz, Wagner, David Martinez and Naren Young, the bar built its identity around live jazz, craft cocktails, vinyl DJ sets and a no-cover policy. Resident DJs Mike Deuce and Pazmal held regular slots, and the venue became a fixture during Miami Music Week each March.

The accolades followed quickly. Medium Cool landed on Miami New Times' Top 50 Bars list, won the publication's 2024 Best Jazz Night award and was named one of the top 10 best new bars in the United States by Tales of the Cocktail in 2024. The team also launched Medium Cool Records, its own record label, according to Miami New Times.

The bar announced its departure in a July 18 Instagram post that drew 635 likes and 60 comments. The team said it is hosting farewell jazz nights, DJ sets and special events throughout August before the final evening on the 22nd.

The brand is not disappearing. Wagner and Binkiewicz confirmed they are actively searching for a new Miami location, though no timeline or neighborhood has been announced.

The closure comes the same month another South Beach cocktail bar reversed course. Miami New Times reported that Stormy Monday, at 820 Alton Road, reopened Thursday, Aug. 6, with a refreshed menu and lower cocktail prices after announcing its own closure earlier this year.

No details have emerged about what the Gale Hotel plans for the basement space. Medium Cool's phone line remains active at 305-704-3600, and the bar's website, mediumcool.miami, lists remaining August events.