Off the MRKT Favorites: Must-Have Picks for August 2025

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August is all about living in the moment—whether it’s sipping a perfectly chilled spritz before a match at the US Open, discovering the city’s next great bar, or savoring chef-driven menus worth breaking your diet for. This month’s Off the MRKT Favorites serves up a little bit of everything: glittering tennis packages, rooftop happy hours, sun tea cocktails, and late-summer escapes that keep the season going strong. From Midtown elegance to Miami’s culinary heat, here’s how to close out summer in style.

As the US Open takes over New York, Lotte New York Palace is serving up an ace with its ultra-glam Game, Set, Sparkle package, available August 19–25. Starting at $3,395 per night, this indulgent two-night stay pairs a sumptuous suite with two VIP tickets to the Palace Invitational on August 21, where tennis greats like Carlos Alcaraz, Madison Keys, Taylor Fritz, and Sloane Stephens will battle it out under the gaze of host Craig Melvin. Guests will leave with more than just match-day memories—a diamond tennis bracelet by Laurenti and a chilled bottle of Moët & Chandon ensure this US Open experience is as sparkling as it is unforgettable.

When the August heat calls for something cool, Owl’s Brew answers with its new Sun Tea & Vodka Variety Pack—a trio of bubble-free, tea-infused cocktails made with premium vodka and real organic ingredients. Female-founded and brewed with fresh tea, each 110-calorie can is vegan, gluten-free, and naturally refreshing. The lineup includes Strawberry Basil, Half Tea & Half Lemonade, and Blueberry Lemon, delivering crisp, clean flavor without the fizz. Whether it’s a rooftop happy hour or a beach day, this is effortless summer sipping done right.

Photo Credit Evan Sung

For Chef Michael White, Miami Spice isn’t just a seasonal special—it’s a culinary playground. At MIKA Coral Gables, the six-Michelin-starred chef transforms his signature pastas and fresh creations into an accessible three-course experience that captures his artistry. From shrimp gratinati bathed in Calabrian scampi butter to ricotta gnocchi with basil pesto and a Basque cheesecake crowned with pistachio and raspberry coulis, the menu is a study in refined simplicity. Available for a limited time, it’s the rare chance to savor world-class technique without the world-class price tag.

At InterContinental New York Barclay, happy hour gets a seasonal glow-up with the Shuck & Spritz special, running daily from 4–6 PM through September 30. For $30, guests at The Parlour can indulge in six freshly shucked oysters alongside their spritz of choice—be it the floral Hugo, vibrant Hibiscus, or classic Aperol. Just steps from Grand Central, it’s the perfect way to toast the end of summer, pairing briny perfection with bubbly refreshment in one of Midtown’s most elegant settings.

Part neighborhood bar, part coffee-fueled cocktail lab, Hello Hello has landed in Chelsea with the perfect blend of laid-back charm and serious drinks cred. By day, the café pours standout sips like a Guava & Olive Oil Latte alongside Colson Patisserie pastries; by night, it transforms into a high-energy bar anchored by its house-distilled coffee liqueur and an all-day Espresso Martini. The team—alums of Bathtub Gin and Seamstress—keeps the menu approachable yet inventive, from a refined Vodka Red Bull on draft to the matcha-tinged Talented Mr. Banner. With 1970s-inspired design, a custom DJ booth, and a sound program as intentional as the cocktails, Hello Hello is Chelsea’s new go-to for mornings that ease into unforgettable nights.

With the final weeks of summer slipping away, August is your cue to lean in—toast the night away, indulge in something decadent, and make time for those can’t-miss experiences. Whether you’re courtside at the Palace Invitational, spritz in hand at The Barclay, or discovering your new local haunt in Chelsea, this month’s edit proves there’s no shortage of ways to end the season on a high note. Stay tuned—September is coming in hot, but for now, play it cool, live it luxe, and stay Off the MRKT.

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