The culinary scene in Miami is booming, offering a unique twist on global and local flavors. From Coral Gables to South Beach and everywhere in between, we round up new restaurants that celebrate the city’s vibrant food culture.
Chateau ZZ’s
Château Petit Douy was built in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood in 1931 and designated a historic site in 1983. Now, Major Food Group (MFG) has reconfigured part of the formerly private estate into the two-story Chateau ZZ’s. The Mexican restaurant honors the building’s legacy with indoor-outdoor dining areas, lush gardens, a bar and lounge, and a verdigris-colored solarium with aged black and white marble floors.
The second level, however, is reserved for members of MFG’s recently launched ZZ’s Club, where they find a covered terrace, fireplace lounge, and vaulted ceilings.
Because Chateau ZZ’s marks the first time the manor has ever been open to the public, the design team from San Francisco-based Ken Fulk wanted to preserve the original aesthetic wherever possible. “[The new look] is such a classic combination of colors, styles, and patterns,” says principal Ken Fulk, “that it feels like it truly could have been there since 1931 or longer.”
Elastika
Situated inside the Moore, a recently reimagined 1920s Neoclassical-style landmark, Elastika was designed by hospitality firm WoodHouse, which helmed the renovation in collaboration with ICRAVE.
The restaurant, named after the Zaha Hadid sculpture suspended above its dining room, marries the building’s original elements with a modern, sophisticated design. A newly installed skylight floods the space with natural light, while much of the furniture was crafted by Brazil-based furniture maker Sossego using sustainably harvested wood.
“Our vision for Elastika extends beyond the menu,” says WoodHouse founder and CEO Brady Wood. “We’ve transformed the first floor of the Moore into the lobby of the Miami Design District—an inviting destination where people can gather, dine, and enjoy the landmark building and Zaha Hadid’s iconic sculpture.”
Kissaki
Locally based designers and friends Genevieve Lake and Lauren Williams, principals of their respective design firms Love Lake Studio and Lauren Jayne Design, jumped at the chance to work together. Enter Kissaki, an upscale sushi bar found in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood.
“We were inspired by the surrounding palm trees, fashion, saturated colors, and vibrant patterns of the location, all imbued with a sexy glow,” says Williams. The wood used throughout references Japanese craftsmanship and its cut and shape resembles a sushi roll, complementing a palette resplendent in jewel tones and striped velvets. “The mood is playful and decadent,” says Lake. “It’s fun to watch others experience our design and bring the atmosphere to life.”
JRK! + Mangrove
Casual Jamaican restaurant JRK! and speakeasy-style bar Mangrove are two distinct concepts expertly integrated under one roof. Fusing both flavors and ambiance, the 2,518-square-foot multifunctional space marries laid-back dining and sophisticated lounging in a nod to the richness and vibrancy of Jamaican culture. Patinaed materials and exposed concrete walls create a lived-in feel, while yellow and green tones—the restaurant’s brand colors—mingle with orange accents. “The space exudes an eclectic charm, seamlessly blending midcentury-modern elements that evoke the nostalgic allure of the 1960s and ‘70s,” says Andreas De Camps and Olivia King, the cofounders of hospitality firm FictionWorks, which collaborated with Studio Andreas De Camps on the project.
Erba
Italian restaurant Erba “nods to Florence, but with the local cultures, colors, and energy of Miami,” says Sean Saladino, principal at locally based Saladino Design Studios. As a result, floral fabrics are found both in classic patterns and more playful, modern ones, blending the Old World with the new. Red and pink hues cover the walls of the main and private dining rooms, elevated bar, and chef’s table, while custom lighting was hand-forged by Saladino’s team. Notably, Erba deliberately has no visibility to the outside. It was “ designed with the intent for guests to be fully immersed in their experience from the moment they walk in,” he adds.
Zaytinya South Beach
The third Zaytinya outpost—nestled within the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach hotel—marks chef and restaurateur José Andrés’ return to Miami. The restaurant’s bustling, airy atmosphere captures the essence of the Eastern Mediterranean, complete with warm bronze metals, white oak woods, and playful pops of blue that recall the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. “We could not be happier to return to South Beach with this concept,” says Sam Bakhshandehpour, José Andrés Group’s newly appointed global CEO. “What you are about to experience is a journey between two worlds, navigated with imagination and wonder by our team.”
The Bloom + Shade
Rendering by Elephant Skin
A 5,000-square-foot retail space at the 100 Biscayne skyscraper in Miami’s Central Business District has been unveiled as the Bloom and Shade, two F&B destinations in one. The Bloom operates as a fast-casual food hall with four restaurants by day, while Shade is a bar and lounge emerges in the evening hours.
“Fueled by our passion for our city, we endeavored to design a space that would highlight the uniqueness of Miami, its ever-evolving culinary expressions and burgeoning artistic inspirations,” says Giancarlo Pietri, principal and creative director of Miami Beach-based Urban Robot Associates, which designed the project.
Rao’s Miami Beach
Novato, California-based firm EDG was challenged with marrying the spirit of Rao’s original one-room East Harlem restaurant, which dates back to 1896, with the historic 1930s-era St. Moritz tower, part of Loews Miami Beach Hotel. “Our solution was to riff on the hallmarks of Rao’s New York signature red awnings, year-round Christmas lights, and classic celebrity-signed photographs,” says EDG partner Patrick O’Hare.
To that end, Rao’s Miami Beach boasts grasscloth wallcoverings, cane screens, brass finishes, crystal chandeliers, and a leather-wrapped bar that “amp up the Miami feel while integrating with the historic Deco details,” he says. Meanwhile, red velvet upholstery and drapes, striped awnings, and Pullman booths in rich olive green mohair speak to the soul of Rao’s. “The [space] is so comfortable and magical,” O’Hare adds. “Time and the outside world melt away here.”
