Chalk: SoBe's New Ping-Pong Hang
The British pastime of ping-pong has made a viral comeback in the past few years, and not since Rob Pattinson crossed the pond has something from the UK gone so big so fast. In New York, there’s SPiN and the New York Table Tennis Club, where celebs and haute athletes head to flex their wrists. Months after the boom, Miami has finally been inducted into the club with its very own Chalk Ping Pong & Billiards Lounge.
Adding a new dimension to hidden pool halls and dive bars nestled on South Beach, Chalk invites as classier crowd into its quarters. The retro-funk interior of the lounge includes everything from featured local art to a private vault hang, the remnants of an old bank’s actual back room.
Seven International Table Tennis Federation-approved stations stand ready and waiting for some topspin action. Leave the beer pong antics at your college frat house, Chalk takes its table tennis seriously. If you get sucked deep into the madness, there's a membership with your name on it. Early birds play on the cheap ($10 for non-members, $8 for members) and night owls shell out a few extra bucks ($15 for non-members, $10 for members), so place your bets and get a friendly tourney going. For pongers interested in the long-term action, Chalk’s got its own tournaments and leagues for couples’ face-offs or worker match-ups.
It’s the first stacked adult game room of its kind, which means if ping-pong ain’t your game, Chalk’ll keep you occupado with other fixtures – for both the active and the idle. If you prefer a cue over a paddle, reserve one of five Diamond Pro-AM billiard tables and get ready to rack ‘em up. Still, there’s a heap of board games (anyone up for a Connect 4 drinking game?) if you’re feeling a wave of nostalgia.
But, all of this leisurely fun comes with the best adult twist of all – the twist of a lime into your gin and tonic. Chalk’s got a fully stocked bar with international beers and top shelf liquor, including a list of its very own cocktail creations. Grab a buzz with a refreshing Honky Tonkitini – a mix of vodka, cucumber and mint, or make the loser grab a round of Blue Balls – fruity servings of coconut vodka with sweet blueberries and tart lemon.
A one-stop rec room for the SoBe crowd, Chalk is a soon-to-be Washington Avenue staple. That hip bowling alley down the street is so five years ago. So, grab your posse and head into Miami’s new pastime haven. Rent a private room for party time, or mingle with like-minded competitors. Sync up your best shot with beats by a resident DJ, or control the soundtrack via the digital jukebox.
Chalk isn’t just for the guys, ladies are always welcome. Ping-pong in heels, you say? With a martini in one hand, and a paddle in the other, the games are just beginning.
