Juvia’s Strategic Pivot-a Testament to Miami’s Flourishing Landscape
In the dynamic world of investment, adaptability is paramount. Similarly, in the realm of Miami’s culinary scene, Juvia, the illustrious rooftop restaurant and bar that once held sway over Lincoln Road’s nightlife, has demonstrated this principle. After an impressive 11-year run in Miami Beach, Juvia is set to transition to the Miami Worldcenter—a staggering $6 billion, 27-acre development poised at the epicenter of downtown.
Jonas Millán, the visionary behind Juvia Group alongside his partner Alexandra, remarked on the city’s transformation, “Over the past decade, Miami has transcended its identity as merely a beach destination. Its metamorphosis into a burgeoning metropolis necessitated our evolution.” After meticulous scouting, the Miami Worldcenter emerged as the unequivocal choice for Juvia’s next chapter. Millán envisions the new establishment, slated for a late 2024 launch, to surpass its predecessor in grandeur, boasting expansive outdoor spaces and a more lavish terrace bar.
The Miami Worldcenter, located at 1010 NE Second Ave., is not just a real estate marvel but a culinary hub. It already houses three ventures from the esteemed Chef Michael Beltran’s Ariete Hospitality Group. Furthermore, 2024 will witness the inauguration of several more dining establishments, including New York’s Serafina and Dallas’s Sixty Vines, among others. Beyond gastronomy, the development is set to feature retail giants like Sephora and Lululemon, as well as avant-garde entertainment venues.
Juvia’s culinary direction remains rooted in its legacy—French cuisine infused with Latin nuances. However, with Miami’s dining scene witnessing a renaissance and the city earning Michelin accolades, Millán acknowledges the heightened benchmarks. “The culinary landscape is evolving rapidly. While some perceive market competition as daunting, I view it as a catalyst—an impetus to innovate and elevate our offerings.”
Nitin Motwani, the strategic mind behind Miami Worldcenter Associates, always envisioned Juvia as the crown jewel of the development’s rooftop. Familiar with Millán’s prowess through Bonito St. Barth, Motwani recognized Juvia’s transformative impact on Miami Beach. “Their influence was palpable. Our initial blueprints often echoed the sentiment, ‘Imagine having an establishment akin to Juvia here.’ Their relocation is serendipitous—a confluence of an expiring lease and the allure of what’s poised to become Miami’s nexus.” Motwani envisions the Worldcenter as a tapestry of diverse experiences, with Juvia serving as both a haven for celebratory occasions and a regular dining fixture.
In the high-stakes world of real estate, we understand the significance of strategic shifts and seizing emerging opportunities. Juvia’s transition is emblematic of this ethos—a testament to the vision, adaptability, and promise of Miami’s burgeoning landscape.
New Restaurants to Open at Miami Worldcenter in 2024
The long list of tenants at Miami Worldcenter, a $6 billion, 27-acre mixed-use complex remaking the center of Downtown Miami, will grow by four national food and beverage concepts.
A dual-concept location for BurgerFi and Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings has been signed by the development’s ownership group, as well as leases with Serafina, an internationally renowned Italian restaurant group founded in New York City; Sixty Vines, a sustainable restaurant with an exciting wine-on-tap program and food inspired by vineyards.
The development’s exceptional lineup of recently opened food and beverage outlets, which already includes three concepts from Michelin-starred Chef Michael Beltran of Ariete Hospitality Group’s Brasserie Laurel, Chug’s Express, and El Vecino Cigar & Cocktail Bar, as well as two more eateries anticipated to open soon, Earls Kitchen & Bar and Chicago’s Maple & Ash, will be strengthened by the development’s newest restaurants, which are anticipated to open in 2024.
The 300,000 square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment space at Miami Worldcenter, one of the largest privately owned and developed urban real estate developments in Florida, complement the diverse mix of residential, commercial, and hospitality uses that it offers. Approximately 84% of the retail space in the property is leased. In collaboration with CIM Group, Miami Worldcenter is being built by master developers Miami Worldcenter Associates, headed by Managing Partners Art Falcone and Nitin Motwani.
Ten city blocks make up Miami Worldcenter, which is next to Museum Park, home to the Frost Museum of Science and Pérez Art Museum Miami, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and Wolfson Campus of Miami Dade College. Miami Worldcenter is the largest and best-connected transit-oriented development in Florida thanks to its proximity to Brightline’s MiamiCentral station, which provides direct train service to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando and access to Tri-Rail, the Metromover, and the Metrorail.
Niu Wine Miami Named One of the Best Bars in America for 2023
One of the top bars in the nation, according to Esquire magazine’s annual top Bars in America for 2023, is a small, intimate wine bar in downtown Miami with seven tables, two bar stools, a tiny bit of outdoor space, and some of the most intriguing natural wine you’ll find in Miami.
Consider Niu Wine an extension of Niu Kitchen, a bustling tapas restaurant and wine bar located a few doors down on Second Avenue. One of the Catalan restaurant’s proprietors, Karina Iglesias, promotes natural wine, a movement that advocates organic grapes and approaches agriculture ethically, as one of Miami’s earliest proponents.
According to the Esquire editor, “Niu Wine is a place I find myself wanting to visit more than any other in Miami at the moment. Warm, tiny, confident, its walls are lined with bottles that reflect an understanding of good wine-making and the pleasures it can bring.”
However, you don’t need to be an expert to have fun at Niu Wine. Wines by the glass are frequently changed, so check the chalkboard and discuss your preferences with the staff. They can suggest a wine for you to take home or consume at the bar. It might even be a Californian mass-produced liquid butter bomb called chardonnay, the white nectar of the gods that has a poor reputation.
A modest, regularly updated tapas menu is also offered at Niu Wine; if it’s available, Esquire suggests the thinly sliced, melting Iberico ham on a warm platter. Anchoa del Cantabrico (anchovies), tomato salad, oysters, patatas bravas, and charcuterie plates are typical small plates. However, the wine steals the show. All-natural wines from South America, Europe, and even eastern Europe are the main focus of Niu Wine.
Niu Wine is located at 134 NE Second Avenue in downtown Miami and ope Tuesday through Saturday.
Our Pick for Miami’s Most Romantic Valentine’s Restaurants 2023
Valentine’s Day is next week and if you haven’t made plans yet, now’s the time. Whether you want to impress a romantic interest for the first time or finally confess your feelings, Miami has a restaurant — and special Valentine’s Day menu — to match your intentions on the most romantic holiday of the year.
Here are our top restaurants to visit in Miami on Valentine’s Day, ranging from lounge-like restaurants to waterfront dining establishments. Reservations are highly advised.
Carbone
Carbone’s retro glam and universally acclaimed Italian-American cuisine have made their way to Miami. If you get a table, you can expect one of the best veal parmesans in the world, dapper servers who can practically read minds, and tons of vibe in a legendary Ken Fulk-designed space. To make reservations, click here.
The Queen Miami Beach
Tucked inside the meticulously restored Paris Theater on Washington Avenue in South Beach, Queen breathes new life into the storied Art Deco landmark, embodying a wildly lavish and extravagant 21st-century Japanese-style grill that pays homage to its history of opulence and theatricality. Click here for reservations.
Contessa Ristorante Miami
Contessa, a glamorous dining destination by Major Food Group that transports guests to Lake Como, is inspired by the old-world sophistication of Northern Italy’s iconic resorts and estates. Antipasti include a Carpaccio of Chianina Beef and the most coveted Italian prosciutto; signature pizzas and perfectly crafted pastas such as Tortellini en Brodo and Garganelli Verdi Bolognese; and celebratory secondi that highlight the world’s best meat, poultry, and fish. For reservations, click here.
COTE Miami
COTE is Simon Kim’s vision for the Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-nominated KOREAN STEAKHOUSETM. The restaurant is known for combining the excitement and fervor of Korean barbeque with the hallmarks of a classic, regal American steakhouse. The end result is a one-of-a-kind and convivial environment that infuses a fine dining experience with world-class ingredients and service, complemented by a show-stopping beverage program. Click here to reserve a table.
Klaw
Klaw provides a beef and king crab selection that focuses on raw product preservation, sustainability, and environmental concerns. Executive Chef Michael Paley and his team carefully select the best suppliers and believe that treating the product with respect and cooking it properly can greatly enhance the flavor. Martin Brudnizki Design Studio created our main dining room, which honors its Spanish Renaissance roots with a large dining room decorated in deep colors and dark woods, massive colonial arched windows, a private dining room, and a theater kitchen. The roof top bar has an amazing view and a great selection of cocktails created by beverage manager James Macinnes. We are close to the Opera Tower, Margaret Pace Park, and the DoubleTree by Hilton.
Avra Estiatorio
You’d almost think you were in the Greek islands, with the salt stone sculptures and bougainvillea-filled pergola, not to mention the sound of crashing waves in the background. This New York mainstay is large, opulent, and glam, with a menu full of seafood specialties that transport you to the Mediterranean with every bite. For more information or reservations, click here.]
Komodo Miami
Komodo is a three-story indoor/outdoor eatery and lounge in Miami’s booming Brickell neighborhood that combines contemporary Southeast Asian cuisine with a South Florida vibe to elevate the dining and nightlife experience. Signature dishes on the menu include Peking Duck, Tuna & Toro Roll, and Lobster Dynamite. The 300-seat restaurant and lounge features several unique multi-level dining options, including three bars with handcrafted cocktail menus and the signature outdoor floating “birds nests” seating, which creates a playful treehouse feel perfect for any occasion day or night. Komodo serves dinner seven days a week. Reservations can be made here.
Chug’s Express at Miami Worldcenter Opening Monday, January 16, 2023
Chug’s Express will officially open on Monday, January 16th at Miami Worldcenter! For your morning coffee and some items to-go, stop by Chug’s Express, which is open from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Caoba building at 698 NE 1st Ave in Miami, Florida 33132. Favorites from Chug’s Diner including croquetas, pastelitos, and coffee will be available at the Chug’s Express “ventanita.”
Breakfast Sandwiches
Sausage, egg & cheese house-made pork sausage, American cheese, scrambled egg, mayo
Chug’s Express is owned and operated by the Ariete Hospitality Group. Ariete Hospitality Group extends beyond excellence in cuisine, drink, and hospitality. They are dedicated to elevating the bar for dining in Miami and demonstrating to the world that the city is capable of providing top-notch dining experiences with every concept.
The staff is led by Executive Chef and Owner Michael Beltrán, a native of Little Havana who later trained with Miami’s greatest chefs before launching AHG’s flagship restaurant, Ariete. AHG’s Ariete has been recognized with a 2022 MICHELIN guide star for Chef Beltran’s, who has twice been nominated as a semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: South and a 2021 StarChefs Rising Star.
Chef Beltran’s interpretation of a Cuban-American diner, Chug’s Diner, has also been recognized with a 2022 MICHELIN guide Bib Gourmand. This enterprise is personal for Chef Beltran and the staff who have embraced the vision for Miami.
Michelin Star and Miami Born Chef Officially Opens Brasserie Laurel at Miami Worldcenter
In the recently constructed Miami Worldcenter Caoba apartment tower in Downtown Miami, chef and restaurateur Michael Beltran has officially opened Brasserie Laurel, a French-focused eatery.
Escargot, frog legs, foie gras, deer tartare, beef Wellington, chicory salad, turbot in tomato beurre blanc, and Maine lobster with veal sweetbreads are just a few of the French classics on the menu at Laurel, which was devised by executive chef Ashley Moncada, a former chef de cuisine at Ariete.
Ashley Moncada, the new chef employed by Beltran at the establishment, trained at Ariete during the pandemic that has been going on for the past two years. Her first substantial project is this eatery.
“We see Laurel as Ariete’s younger sister. It’s a new approach to French brasserie food. Think Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie, La Tour d’Argent in Paris,” states Chef Beltran.
Tom Lasher-Walker, the restaurant’s beverage director, provides modernized versions of classic cocktails such the Beneath the Sheets, which is created with aged rum and pineapple, and the Corpse Reviver Royal, a late 19th-century concoction made with gin, bubbles, and absinthe. Speaking of absinthe, there is a fountain behind the bar at Laurel where it is readily available. A sizable selection of champagnes and wines in the French and Old World styles completes the menu.
The restaurant’s interior, which is housed inside the flashy Miami Worldcenter, maintains the French concept throughout with its use of deep blue, gold, and dark wood. Two additional Ariete Hospitality eateries, Chug’s Express and El Vecino, will also make their Miami Worldcenter debuts in the upcoming months next to Laurel.
Favorites from Chug’s Diner including croquetas, pastelitos, and coffee will be available at the Chug’s Express “ventanita.” El Vecino, on the other hand, will be an upscale cigar bar that offers a full alcohol menu along with light meals including mussels, a variety of meat and cheese, a greek burger, foie torchon, and a variety of snacks.
The Scapegoat in Miami Beach, the Taurus in Coconut Grove, Ariete, Nave, Chug’s, and most recently, the Gibson Room on Coral Way make up the Ariete Hospitality Group’s fast-expanding restaurant portfolio.
Downtown Miami’s Brasserie Laural can be found at 698 NE 1st Avenue. They are open from 5 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday and from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday.
