By Marissa Jacabacci, Nova Southeastern University

Apt. 9F is a neighborhood restaurant and local hangout where the vibe is just as important as the food. Inspired by owners Nancy Goldwin and Carol Moran’s New York apartment, which overlooks the Verrazano Bridge, the space is designed to feel like a home. Items from their old living room and personal artwork on the walls bring a relaxed, welcoming, and eclectic vibe to the restaurant.

 “It feels like home, like guests in our house,” Goldwin said.

Nancy Goldwin and Carol Moran are life and business partners who met 25 years ago in line at a bank. They are now on their fifth venture together. With a marketing background, Nancy handles branding, creative direction, social media, and all the baking, which is always from scratch.  Moran oversees operations and keeps everything running smoothly.

Apt. 9F opened in August 2019, just before the pandemic, and expectations were high. Goldwin had already opened two restaurants and two lesbian bars in South Florida, and the pressure was on.

“But in the end,” she said, “it exceeded even my dreams.”

Some fan favorites on the menu include the jalapeño corn muffins, three warm, fluffy muffins served with whipped honey butter and house-made blueberry preserves. The turkey meatballs are bite-sized, oven-baked, and paired with a bright salsa verde. The pork belly tacos are another top pick. Served as a trio, each crispy taco is topped with mango salsa and a crunchy veggie slaw. Due to their popularity, an extra taco can be added.

The drinks at Apt. 9F are unique and creative, including the Paper Tiger. For gin lovers, this drink is the perfect choice. It consists of Monkey 47 Gin, Becherovka, layers of fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and house-made citrus bitters. Moran’s favorite drink, despite the One Night Stand drink being named after her, is the Monkey 47 Gin.

“One-night stand—you can only stand to have one,” she joked. “I had two, and it wasn’t pretty.”

Then there’s the Peanut Butter Old Fashioned, made with Skrewball peanut butter whiskey, Angostura bitters, muddled cherries, and oranges, often leaving guests asking where they can find the whiskey. The Espresso Martini, made with Fifty States vodka, freshly brewed espresso, Kahlúa, and Irish cream, is a regular favorite among returning customers.

Apt. 9F launched its new summer menu in June, bringing fresh flavors to match the season. But the restaurant isn’t just about food and drinks. It’s about connection. Carol once officiated a wedding there. She loves seeing people come in for first dates, or even better, watching someone walk in after a rough day and leave feeling good.

“My favorite thing is hearing, ‘I had a crappy day; I needed to come here,’” she said. “It always makes me feel good.”

Goldwin and Moran have created a welcoming and genuine team culture. They encourage input from the whole team, including longtime team members like Nathalie Robinson and Allison Causey, who helped make the drink list and food specials.

“Every New York neighborhood’s got a bodega, a deli, a bar,” Goldwin said. “I want Apt. 9F to be that bar. When someone from New York walks in, they should feel at home.” 

Even after years of long nights and hands-on ownership, Moran says she doesn’t mind the hours.

“It took five years to get a night off,” she laughed. “But I don’t mind. I love it.”

What people often don’t see is the work that goes on behind the scenes.

“It’s not just food and cocktails,” Moran said. “That stuff doesn’t just jump on the shelf. You must have systems, shop, control costs, and plan labor—it’s your life. You’re in it to win it. It’s your baby.”

At Apt. 9F, the love is in the details, on the walls, in the cocktails, and in every carefully crafted moment. It’s not just a restaurant. It’s a vibe. It’s groovy. And whether it’s the first visit or the 50th, stepping inside feels less like going out and more like coming home, with better lighting and way cooler people.