The most ruthless bidding war during Art Basel Miami Beach may not be over a painting or a $6.2 million duct tape banana installation. The toughest battle may be scoring the hottest board in town.
Luckily, we’ve rounded up the best new restaurants in the Magic City for 2024. These landscaped restaurants are sure to attract icy lists, foodies, and airplane glitter as they converge on Miami this week.
Here are the best places to taste, sip, see and be seen – and maybe even make some art. (Super sticky Wagyu carpaccio setup, anyone?)
In May, Miami Beach got big with the return of seafood stalwarts Catch (above). And that’s no small feat: The new 23,000-square-foot outpost—other locations include NYC, LA, Las Vegas, and Aspen—glitters and shines with Deco-inspired splendor thanks to a vibrant Rockwell Group design. Now, partners Tilman J. Fertitta, Mark Birnbaum and Eugene Remm are adding extra bait to the hook with a new rooftop terrace. Carved into three courtyard-style dining areas and spread over 5,500 square feet, the festive atmosphere is set with tropical flora, ocean views and the South of Fifth skyline. Is that Kendall Jenner? Could it be Derek Jeter? Maybe. They’re just a few dedicated Catch regulars, addicted to the Catch roll, truffle sashimi and Wagyu Hot Rock (prepared tableside, of course). Talk about net worth.
Mexican-sex hot spot Tulum RosaNegra has arrived in Miami. Located in the Dua Miami hotel (formerly the SLS Brickell), this is founder Eduardo Beaven and his eponymous group’s first restaurant in the US (other outposts include Cancún, Cabo and Mexico City). To spice up the party, he’s tapped executive chef Omar Martinez to create a theatrical menu of elevated and eclectic Latin dishes sure to please the restaurant’s well-heeled clientele. Here, tacos come layered with lobster, shrimp or short ribs. Ceviche is prepared in the Peruvian style. Seafood staples are fried, seasoned, or pan-fried. Juicy steaks are pulled from Nebraska, and exclusive flavors include “super colossal octopus” from Mexico, U2 tiger shrimp from Africa, Ora king salmon from New Zealand, and Alaskan king crab from you-know-where. Start with a margarita (above) at the artfully framed bar counter—a signature in all RosaNegra cases—and join the party with bongo percussionists, the resident DJ and sparklers.
Since 2022, famous names have flocked to Sparrow Italia restaurant in London – Alicia Keys, Adele, Serena Williams, Elon Musk, Novak Djokovic … the list goes on. Don’t be surprised if you spot equally familiar faces during Art Basel at its new Wynwood location. Opened in October by Noble 33 host team Tosh Berman and Mikey Tanha, the restaurant has 232 seats spread across a massive 8,700 square foot floor created by vaulted booths, hanging wooden arches and a sunken dining room. Helmed by executive chef Martin Heierling, Sparrow (it’s Italy’s national bird, you know?) serves refined Mediterranean Italian dishes like wagyu carpaccio (above) with pickled mushrooms and shaved black truffle, lobster-filled oregano, marrow caps of bones and, of course, osetra caviar. But cool kids should head straight to the bar, which serves pizza by the slice (my mom!), as well as spritzes and nuovo takes the negroni. The wine list is pure Italian-American with a special emphasis on growers who pay attention to responsible agricultural practices. This is the grape news.
Setai was already a powerhouse of South Asian culinary greatness thanks to Jaya’s delicious Indian-meets-Chinese-meets-Balinese menu. Japanese fare now rounds out the mix with the arrival of its latest in-house restaurant, Japón. Led by the hotel’s executive chef Vijayudu Veena and executive chef Iván Monzón, this sexy-luxe getaway has what many Miami restaurants sorely lack: a dress code. So put on a blazer guys; and ladies, please, just this once, avoid the “too revealing outfits.” Your reward will be tantalizing tartares, rare rolls, delectable grills and delicious signatures like the truffle pot, chicken karaage, teriyaki salmon and the $92 Japanese wagyu sandwich (above). If that’s not rich enough, head to the caviar menu, where ounces of golden otter arrive at your table straight from the Caspian Sea. Each dish can be paired with a bottle or glass of exceptional sake – not to mention a selection of cocktails that nod to Nippon. Come to the camp.
The party can’t stop, it won’t stop at Marion Miami. After closing this summer, Hospitality founder Mathieu Massa’s Asian-Mediterranean-inspired Brickell club has reopened — with $4 million worth of new reasons to make a rez. Carlos Rodriguez’s redesign of Escala Forma adds a sparkling Dom Pérignon Champagne display and Tequila room with over 300 bottles; 15 custom Murano floral chandeliers (imported from Italy, of course); a ceiling with LED panels to make things pop; and a renovated outdoor dining area. Executive chef Kylian Goussot and wine director Higor Valle are serving up a refreshed menu of disco-friendly flavors, including a new sushi program (think Instagram presentations of rolls loaded with A5 wagyu marrow, yuzu kosho lobster and their salmon popular with asparagus, avocado and eel sauce). Cocktails are mixed with Hollywood sex. Try a Boogie Nights with Macallan 12-year-old Scotch; a dirty dance (above) with Codigo blanco tequila; a Cruel Intentions with Patron silver tequila or a Lolita with Ketel One vodka, St-Germain, raspberry and pineapple. It’s too much to drink.
Coconut Grove is welcoming the arrival of Carbone Vino (above), Major Food Group’s 50th restaurant — and ninth in Miami. Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi and Jeff Zalaznick’s near-impossible-to-stock Carbone brand is famous for making stars and CEOs salivate over $12,000 DRC bottles and decadent pastas. This enoteca-style restaurant, brimming with nostalgia and art curated by Vito Schnabel, presents new carbon dishes such as pumpkin agnolotti, truffle tortellini and bambini spaghettini (an “ode to the buttered noodles Italian children grow up with eating”). Pair those pastas with a choice from Vino’s 600 bottle list. The wines were carefully selected by beverage manager Patrick Wert and MFG’s corporate wine director John Slover, who took special care to curate rarities for their menu by the glass. Hate change? Good. The menu is still loaded with comforting Carbone classics like Caesar alla ZZ, spicy rigatoni and beef parmesan (offered three ways). If you’re good, you’ll get a sweet treat.
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Image Source : nypost.com