Restaurateur Stephen Starr has opened Le Zoo, his fourth restaurant in South Florida, located in the Bal Harbour Shops.
Starr enlisted London-based firm Shawn Hausman Design—which has designed several of his other eateries, including Dandelion, Parc, and Continental Miami—to craft the vibrant interiors of the 200-seat French brasserie, reinventing Paris’ iconic sidewalk cafés. The name Le Zoo is a playful reference to a fictional location on the French Riviera.
Bright tones enliven the neutral cream wainscoted walls, while woven rattan chairs are arranged in varying patterns. French midcentury lighting highlights vintage decorative items, and handmade tiles made from wine corks line the ceiling. A collage assembled from 1950s and ’60s French magazines adorns the bathroom walls.
Outside, overhanging striped awnings shade the clusters of seats, which are surrounded by lush greenery, creating the feeling of a sanctuary.
