18 South, a new premium lounge and bar that will offer exclusive hours to members, has officially opened for business in downtown Ocala.
The organization hosted a soft opening earlier this week for its new lounge, which is located at 18 South Magnolia Avenue, on Ocala’s Historic Downtown Square.
According to the business, 18 South provides an “elegant experience” for dining, lounging, and socializing with other members. The organization sells private memberships that afford members access to private rooms and exclusive hours of operation.
According to the organization, although members will have exclusive access during late nights and on Sundays, 18 South is open to the general public Wednesday through Saturday. According to its website, the business is open Wednesday and Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The website shows that members have exclusive access to 18 South on Wednesday and Thursday, from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m., Friday from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. 18 South is also open on Sunday for members only.
18 South’s menu features a collection of specialty drink offerings and members will have additional access to climate-controlled lockers, according to the organization.
In addition to its drinks, the lounge also features a selection of premium appetizers like escargot gratine, yellowfin crudo, Maine lobster, and Norweigan king crab.
The lounge’s raw bar boasts options like crab lump cocktail, chilled prawns, East and West coast oysters, and scallop ceviche. Among the entrees offered at the restaurant are dry-aged steaks and Chilean sea bass.
Even the a la carte sides at 18 South are a step above normal side dishes. They include lobster macaroni, hand-cut truffle steak fries, and habanero creamed corn.
18 South is one of at least five restaurants that have opened new locations or relocated within downtown Ocala over the past year, including Mellow Mushroom, District Bar and Kitchen, Symmetry Coffee, and Katya Vineyards.
For more information on the new premium lounge and bar, or to sign up to become a member, visit 18 South online.