Food & Wine Magazine Name Niven Patel’s Mamey in Coral Gables as the Editor’s Pick for Best Restaurant Ambiance
Miami is one of the top food cities in the nation, according to Food & Wine readers, which is no surprise that Miami was selected as one of the top 10 culinary cities in the United States in Culinary & Wine’s first Global Tastemaker Awards, which asked readers about their favorite eateries, pubs, cities, hotels, and other establishments.
The magazine’s May issue also includes a section on the outcomes. Miami was ranked eighth, ahead of Austin and San Diego.
One Miami eatery caught the editors’ attention: Niven Patel’s Mamey at the Thesis Hotel in Coral Gables was chosen as the editors’ pick for the nation’s top eateries for ambiance. The restaurant’s “food and decor both give you the impression that you’re in a lush, tropical paradise,” according to the magazine.
At this Coral Gables hotspot, Patel creates recipes using products from his own ranch that are influenced by his travels throughout Asia, Polynesia, and the Caribbean. Inside the meticulously planned interior, painted botanicals cover the walls and foliage seems to sprout up on every surface. Warm, ambient lighting and plants that dangle from the ceiling combine to give the impression that you are outside while maintaining a cozy ambiance.
Mamey is located 1350 S Dixie Hwy, Coral Gables at the Thesis Hotel Miami. To make a reservation to see what the hype is about, click here.
Cigar Bar El Vecino Set to Open May 5th at Miami Worldcenter
A distinguished cigar bar with expertly chosen wine and beverage menus, award-winning service, and a relentless passion for bringing people together at the table will open at Miami Worldcenter May 5th, 2023, El Vecino.
Courtesy of Ariete Hospitality Group (AHG) and Chef Michael Beltran, El Vecino wants to be among the best cigar shops in Miami and a top cigar destination nationwide.
Modern air filtration and humidification technologies were used to build the exquisitely constructed area, which provides a luxurious environment with soft furnishings and amenities. This ensures that visitors are comfortable. The interior of El Vecino is 1,600 square feet and features historical furnishings, premium wood, booths, velvet and leather furniture, a 10-seat bar, and a specially made walk-in humidor for cigars.
The ScapeGoat in Miami Beach, The Gibson Room on Coral Way, and most recently Brasserie Laurel (Michelin Guide mention) and Chug’s Express at Miami Worldcenter in Downtown are just a few of AHG’s expanding family of eateries and bars. Ariete (Michelin Star), Navé (Michelin Guide mention), Chug’s (Bib Gourmand recipient), and The Taurus are all located in Coconut Grove.
A large variety of quality cigars, as well as a variety of whiskey, bourbon, wine, beer, and seasonal creative cocktails, will be available at the upmarket cigar lounge. Customers will also be able to place orders for snacks and light cuisine from the nearby Brasserie Laurel restaurant.
El Vecino is situated along the 7th Street pedestrian promenade of Miami Worldcenter at 698 NE 1st Avenue Suite G-172, near the base of the Caoba residential tower. In the core of Downtown Miami, the $4 billion mixed-use attraction called Miami Worldcenter, which spans ten city blocks and 27 acres and is one of the largest private urban real estate developments now under construction in the United States, offers top-notch residential, commercial, hospitality, and retail applications. Three residential buildings and a sizable amount of the retail component of the project have already been finished and are occupied, while a hotel construction is scheduled to open in Q4 of 2022.
The Standard Residences Midtown Breaks Ground
The Standard Residences Midtown Miami has officially broken ground. Standard Residences is being built by real estate and hospitality pioneers Standard International, Rosso Development, and Midtown Development.
Along with Miami District 2 Commissioner Sabina Covo, Jay Phillip Parker, CEO of Douglas Elliman Florida, President of Douglas Elliman Development Marketing Florida, Raymond Fort of Arquitectonica, Giancarlo Pietri of Urban Robot Associates, William J. Real of Civic Construction, and the South Florida broker community, Standard International’s Amar Lalvani and Rosso Development’s Carlos Rosso celebrated the groundbreaking.
The 12-story building is a collaboration between the highly regarded architecture firm Arquitectonica, renowned interior designers Urban Robot Associates, The Standard’s in-house design team, landscape architect Naturalficial, and Civic Construction acting as general contractor.
The project’s ground breaking speaker was Lalvani, Executive Chairman of Standard International, who emphasized the company’s longstanding ties to Miami and praised their collaboration with Carlos Rosso. The project’s lively environment and the need for such a lifestyle-driven building in a good location were stressed by Rosso, the founder of Rosso Development.
Standard is located at 3100 Northeast 1st Avenue in Midtown, tucked between the Design District and Wynwood. The development offers 34,000 square feet of carefully chosen amenity space and 228 residential units.
Upon completion, residents will have the chance to enjoy the distinctive style, amenities, and service of the renowned hotel brand. The building will be the first to provide flexible living, allowing owners to lease their units for periods as little as one month.
Between 432 square feet and 965 square feet in size, the units, which range from studios to two-bedroom homes, strike a balance between design and usability.
A 60-foot resort-style sunset pool on the rooftop, a renowned restaurant and bar, and wellness amenities like a cutting-edge fitness facility, an infrared sauna, yoga, and stretch studios are just a few of the amenities available. A karaoke bar, a screening room, co-working areas, Zoom rooms, and a private boardroom can be found on the social floor.
A small number of homes, starting at $499,900, are still available at The Standard Residences, which is anticipated to be finished by the end of 2024.
If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at the Standard Residences Miami, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at 786-247-6332.
Vita Residences at Grove Isle Breaks Ground
Ugo Colombo of the CMC Group, one of Miami’s most well-known luxury developers, has started construction on Vita Residences at Grove Isle. The opulent boutique condominium is situated on the gated 20-acre private island of Grove Isle, which is close to the city’s fashionable Coconut Grove neighborhood.
The 65 exquisitely designed houses in the seven-story building, which is being constructed on the island’s final remaining beachfront parcel, will showcase unhindered panoramic bay views, exquisite detailing, and the finest materials and craftsmanship. The project is now under construction, and completion is anticipated in 24 to 28 months.
The majority of Vita at Grove Isle’s customers are from America, and more than 40% of the units there have already been pre-sold. The homes will range in size from 2,500 to 6,500 square feet and feature three-, four-, and four-bedroom units with dens. A group of twelve upscale penthouse houses will have private rooftop terraces with full-size swimming pools, full bathrooms, and summer kitchens that are each 3,400 to 6,600 square feet in size. Penthouses start at $12 million, with units starting at $5.5 million.
In order to create one-of-a-kind interior and amenity spaces for Vita at Grove Isle, Ugo Colombo collaborated with international architecture and design firm CallisonRTKL, regional architectural firm S & E Architects, and Italian designers Carlo and Paolo Colombo of A++ Architecture. The three buildings—Mare, Luce, and Sole—are designed to exhibit a singular architectural design and will provide a boutique living environment surrounded by beautiful, local vegetation. The graceful, curving shape of the structure, which was inspired by the island’s natural contours and maximizes views of the glittering Biscayne Bay, is a reflection of its distinctive Grove Isle position.
The waterfront retreat will offer a wide range of carefully chosen interior and outdoor amenities, including a private bayfront pool for residents exclusively, a poolside bar and lounge, a cutting-edge fitness facility, spa, and kids’ play area. Residents of Vita will also be given a house membership to the “Vita at Grove Isle Club,” which has lighted tennis, padel, and pickleball courts in addition to a club pool and a bar nearby. Additionally, residents will have access to the island’s private marina as well as a gourmet restaurant and bar offering lunch, supper, and cocktails that will be open to the general public.
Only the attention to detail in its design matches the level of preparation put into Vita at Grove Isle’s location and facilities. Each home will have a private elevator, a private foyer, modern open concept kitchens with hidden top-of-the-line appliances, elegant bathrooms with hand-selected book matched marble, masterfully crafted Italian stonework, custom Italian cabinetry, and pre-installed smart home technology like lighting, climate control, and water/air filtration systems, as well as at least 10-foot-high ceilings.
In addition to 24/7 valet service, private, individually covered garages with EV charging stations, accessible bike storage, and the most cutting-edge technology and WiFi capabilities installed throughout the building, residents also enjoy additional amenities.
Residents will also profit from Vita at Grove Isle’s personal concierge service, which will be available to help with a variety of arrangements and services, including home provisioning, housekeeping, child and pet care, personal shopping, private events, private drivers and transportation, car detailing, mail collection and forwarding, package deliveries, and more. This service is in addition to Vita at Grove Isle’s restaurant.
Additionally, Vita at Grove Isle residents will have access to the ‘Vita Linc’ app, a digital concierge service, which will enable them to register visitors and give them electronic keys, get in touch with the building’s management, send each other private messages, check on pending and delivered packages, access appliance manuals and condo documents, and request vehicles from valet.
If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at Vita Residence at Grove Isle, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at 786-247-6332.
Shakira is On the Move to Miami
Shakira has recently relocated to Miami with her children after leaving Barcelona, the hometown of her ex-boyfriend, Gerard Piqué.
The Colombian singer, who lived in Barcelona for eight years, explained in a farewell Instagram post that she was leaving following her breakup with Pique, 36, so she could begin “a new chapter.”
Shakira and Piqué first became acquainted while working on the music video for her song “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” which served as the FIFA World Cup 2010’s anthem. In March 2011, the pair announced their relationship for the first time. Last June, they made their breakup public.
Piqué, who was born in Barcelona, had a fruitful career with FC Barcelona, the illustrious team representing the city. Before the defender announced his retirement from the game in November 2022, his teams won eight La Liga championships and three Champions League trophies.
With the recent news of her departure, Shakira has been seen looking at homes across Miami and plans to spend up to $50 million for a mega-mansion.
Pictures of the glam pop diva and her brother visiting more than six potential properties in Florida’s wealthy neighborhoods were captured.
The 46-year-old is apparently renting a $15 million waterfront mansion while searching for a larger place to settle down with her kids Milan and Sasha, ages ten and eight.
‘Supper Club on the Sand’ Returns to Formula 1 This Year May 4th-7th
Miami will once again host Carbone Beach at Formula 1, a restaurant pop-up that is as extravagant as pop-ups come, from May 4–7. The Miami Beach “supper club on the sand” was developed by Major Food Group in collaboration with American Express. Meals prepared by Mario Carbone and a star-studded attendance will all be taking place during Miami Race Week.
Each of the four nights, location TBD, costs $3,000 per participant. Visitors can now request a table (for eight to 14 people) or a place on the waiting list by visiting CarboneBeach.com. Individual tickets will be made available on Resy on April 6, with AMEX Platinum and Centurion cards receiving first access.
More caviar, extravagant seafood towers, enormous dry-aged steaks, unique new dishes, and crowd-pleasing classics can all be found at this year’s Carbone Beach, which may bring back memories of dining at Carbone in South Beach, New York City, Las Vegas, Dallas, Hong Kong, or Doha. Cocktail hour will be the first part of each evening, followed by a seated dinner.
Last year, notables including David Beckham, Serena and Venus Williams, LeBron James, Hailee Steinfeld, Jamie Foxx, and many more were among the throng that were wowed by performers Andrea Bocelli, Wyclef Jean, Kygo, and Chloe Flower. Additionally, previous year’s evenings featured intricate ice sculptures, race vehicles, and extremely upscale fare like enormous caviar cones.
Jeff Zalaznick, a co-owner of Major Food Group, received a key to the city from Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber at Carbone Beach last year. “We’re always trying to push the limits of what we can do,” he adds. “Last year was a spectacular success that astounded and delighted everyone. The evening genuinely straddled the line between a Great Gatsby-style dinner party and a fantastic show. The cuisine and everything else we did last year will thus be improved upon. The craziness will increase this year. It will be more luxurious and exclusive. American Express is a fantastic partner, and we are excited to work with them once more.”
Elite Villa Collection Launched in Bay Harbor Islands-La Maré
La Maré, an elite collection of two light-filled modern contemporary boutique condo towers, have launched in Bay Harbor Islands by Chicago-based Regency Development Group. Kobi Karp, a renowned international architect, created the vertically stacked tropical luxury villas with Debora Aguiar Arquietetos, a Brazilian designer best known for creating the interiors of 1 Hotel South Beach among other projects, is in charge of the exterior design.
La Maré is the first venture for Regency Development Group in the South Florida region. The construction is anticipated to begin later this year and be finished in 2025. The price of the villas will be between $1.375 million and $8 million.
Thirty-three units can be found in the eight-story Regency Collection glass-clad contemporary boutique building. Nine to ten foot floor-to-ceiling windows open out to large wraparound outdoor living spaces. The homes units will feature direct private elevator access with 1,600 to 4,000 square feet of living space, two to four bedrooms, and two to four and a half bathrooms.
The north and south corners of the second floor are adorned by two opulent 4,200 square foot Bay Villas, each with a spiral staircase leading to a ground deck with a private pool and a summer kitchen. Two of the building’s four penthouses, which have access to their own private rooftop pools and summer kitchens, are flow-through corner residences.
Nine units in an eight-story structure from the Signature Collection will be meticulously created for families with seclusion at the forefront and will range in size from 2,100 to more than 4,200 square feet.
The Signature and Regency Collections will feature bayfront verandas and outdoor spaces with landscaping, boat slips, lounge areas, and a resort-style rooftop pool deck with a pool, jacuzzi, and lounge chairs.
Low impact, all-glass buildings that are LEED certified and blend in with Bay Harbor’s community will be built on elevated piles to allow them to be independent of high and low tides and adapt to South Florida’s constantly changing weather.
A modern fitness center, a wine cellar, and an outdoor kitchen and bar lounge are just a few of the exclusive Signature Collection building features. The price range for these villas will start at $2.875 million to $6.3 million. Later this year, construction is slated to begin, and it will likely be finished by the end of 2024.
Construction for Alana Bay Harbor Islands Set to Top Off in 2024
A multi-million dollar residential development called Alana Bay Harbor Islands is planned to top-off and complete construction in 2024.
Alana Bay Harbor Islands is sited at 9901 W Bay Harbor Drive, Bay Harbor Islands, Florida 33154. The developer was required to demolish a low-rise apartment prior to development.
There will be 30 units in the seven-story residential tower, with one- to three-bedroom floor plans. Homes range in size from 1,229 square feet to 1,662 square feet. Units will start at $761,000.
A fitness center, kids’ play area, residents’ gathering room, and rooftop sanctuary are among the communal features. A pool with an infinite view is also present. Alta Developers is listed as both the developer and the general contractor.
The architect is Revuelta Architecture International. In its conceptual representations, a posh mid-rise structure with an art deco exterior made of glass is seen. In addition, the project has David J. Odishoo-designed lush gardens and high-speed wi-fi throughout all of the common areas.
Interior designer Bea Interior Design is responsible. The project was created using soft natural materials, custom millwork, and finishes that express a one-of-a-kind perspective on island life.
Miami Marlins, Avisail Garcia Purchases a $9 Million Mansion in Miami
Avisail Garcia, an outfielder with the Miami Marlins, just paid $9.06 million for a mansion in a prestigious Snapper Creek Lakes neighborhood in Coral Gables, Florida.
The 1.1-acre property was purchased by the baseball player from Venezuela, known as Uncle Avi, 31, and his wife, Anakarina Garcia, at the end of March. The deal was made two years after Mr. Garcia committed to the Miami Marlins for a four-year, $53 million contract.
The two-story house is sited on a corner lot and was originally listed in July 2022 for $10.495 million. Public records show that it was last sold in 2021 for $7.35 million.
The home’s total square footage, including terraces, outdoor spaces, and basement levels, is 11,476. Additionally, the listing describes it as “a strong bunker” with a poured-concrete roof and hurricane-resistant windows.
The 3-car garage is located at the home’s entry, which is surrounded by a large iron security gate. French doors across the rear of the house lead into a columned terrace with a pool and spa, which is also visible from the row of balconies on the second story. The house is built for indoor-outdoor living. The grill and a fire sprinkler system are additional outside elements.
The residence’s top rooms, including the private principal suite in a separate wing, are accessed through a grand staircase. The mezzanine gives the architectural drama and depth.
The home contains a formal dining room, a cinema room, a breakfast area, and a chef’s kitchen with a big island in addition to seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms.
Mr. Garcia played for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and Milwaukee Brewers before making his main league debut in 2012. The Garcias, who are parents of two small kids, were married in 2013.
