empire daybreak: new event series kicks off
Introducing Empire Daybreak
Same Empire. Different Frequency. The daytime series you did not know you were missing is here, and it kicks off this Saturday.
A New Chapter for Las Olas
Empire After Dark has built something real in Fort Lauderdale. If you have not been, it is our monthly nightlife series at Las Olas: live DJ sets, bottle specials, dancing, and an atmosphere that manages to be high energy and sophisticated at the same time. Loud enough to move, intimate enough for a real conversation. It is the right balance, and Las Olas has responded to it.
Now we are bringing that same standard to the daytime. Same lounge. Same attention to detail. Same crowd that appreciates the difference between a good time and a great one. Just a completely different energy.
Empire Daybreak is our new monthly daytime series at Las Olas, and it is built around something that does not really exist in this market yet: a South Florida coffeehouse atmosphere with a live DJ, a curated cocktail menu, specialty coffee creations, and the kind of laid-back cool energy you only find in a proper cigar social lounge, where the music, the drinks, and the company all earn their place in the room. This is what makes a Saturday afternoon feel like exactly where you are supposed to be.
What Empire Daybreak Actually Is
Think of it as the antidote to the weekend rush. No dress code pressure. No late-night crowd noise. No standing in line. Just walk in, find your seat, order something worth drinking, and let the music set the tone.
The format is simple: once a month, we open the doors in the afternoon with a live DJ set, a room full of people who know how to enjoy themselves, and a menu built for the moment. Whether you want a specialty espresso drink, a crafted cocktail, a thoughtfully made mocktail, or all three across the afternoon, we have you covered.
It is open to the public. 21 and up. And every session is filmed as a live recorded set for our YouTube channel, so the experience lives beyond the afternoon and reaches an audience well outside Fort Lauderdale.
Why Fort Lauderdale Needs This
The Las Olas corridor has no shortage of places to go at night. But the daytime social scene, especially on weekends, tends to fall into two categories: brunch spots with hour-long waits, or bars that have not quite figured out the afternoon energy yet.
Empire Daybreak fills a gap that has been sitting wide open. There is a whole community of people in South Florida, professionals, creatives, members, lifestyle-forward individuals, who want something to do on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon that does not involve a crowded restaurant or a pool party. They want good music, good drinks, good company, and a room that actually feels curated.
That is exactly what this is. And because it is filmed for YouTube, every session adds to a growing body of content that puts Empire Social Lounge on the map for an audience that extends far beyond Las Olas Boulevard.
Two Series, One Standard
It helps to understand where Daybreak sits alongside what we already offer. These are two distinct experiences built for different moments, but both carry the same DNA.
High energy nightlife done right. Live DJ sets, bottle specials, dancing, and an atmosphere built for celebrating. Loud enough to move, sophisticated enough to stay all night.
Laid-back, cool, and curated. Live DJ sets in a coffeehouse atmosphere with specialty coffee and crafted cocktails. The social afternoon experience Fort Lauderdale has been missing.
The Kickoff: Saturday, May 23
The first Empire Daybreak session is this Saturday, May 23, from 12PM to 3PM at Empire Social Lounge Las Olas. And we could not have picked a better weekend to launch. Memorial Day weekend kicks off that Friday, which means the energy in Fort Lauderdale is already elevated heading into Saturday.
DJ Breznik is on the decks for the first Daybreak session. If you have seen Breznik at Empire After Dark, you already know what he brings to a room. The daytime format will showcase a different side of his set, still tight, still intentional, but tuned for the afternoon energy we are building.
The session will be fully filmed and produced as a live recorded set for our YouTube channel. So if you are in that room on May 23, you are part of the first chapter of something we plan to grow into one of the more distinct content properties coming out of South Florida.
What to Expect on May 23
- Live DJ set by Breznik from 12PM to 3PM
- Curated cocktail menu and specialty coffee creations
- Cigars available with curated pairings, because this is still Empire. Our team will help you find the right smoke for the moment.
- Open to the public, 21 and up, no cover
- Filmed live for the Empire Social Lounge YouTube channel
- Laid-back atmosphere built for conversation, connection, and good music
- Empire Social Lounge Las Olas, 350 SE Second St, Fort Lauderdale
Who This Is For
If you have been to Empire After Dark and wondered what a daytime version of that energy would look like, this is your answer. If you have never been to Empire at all, this is one of the best possible introductions to what we are building here.
Daybreak is for the person who wants their Saturday or Sunday afternoon to feel intentional. The professional who wants to decompress without going full nightlife mode. The couple looking for a midday date that does not start at 8PM. The group of friends who want great music and great drinks while the sun is still up. The influencer and content creator who wants to be in the room when something new is happening in South Florida.
It is for anyone who appreciates the craft behind a good experience, and who knows the difference between showing up somewhere and actually arriving.
This Saturday is the first one. We would love to have you there. Come pull up a seat, order something you enjoy, let Breznik set the tone, and just be present for a few hours. No agenda. No rush. Just a really good afternoon at Empire. That is the whole point.
See What's Happening This Week at Empire
Empire Daybreak kicks off this Saturday. Come for the music, stay for the atmosphere. No cover. Open to the public. See the full calendar for everything happening this week at both locations.
See What's Happening This Week at Empire