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.
Miami Worldcenter Welcomes New Lucid Motors Location
Lucid Motors, a producer of high-end electric vehicles, has unveiled the opening of its newest plant at Miami Worldcenter, a revolutionary $6 billion, 27-acre mixed-use development in Downtown Miami.
Lucid Motors has joined the list of freshly launched restaurants and bars, well-known national retailers, and the citizenM Miami Worldcenter hotel as concepts. Earls Kitchen & Bar, Maple & Ash, Sports & Social, Bowlero, and the renowned Museum of Ice Cream are just a few of the exciting new attractions that will soon be opening. Miami Worldcenter, one of the biggest privately owned and constructed urban real estate projects in Florida, provides a vibrant mix of residential, business, and hospitality facilities as well as a staggering selection of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.
The almost 23,000 square foot space includes a Lucid Studio where clients may test-drive the company’s upscale electric cars, including the lauded Lucid Air sedan. The building also functions as a service and delivery center for Lucid Air, open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on weekends with modified hours.
The project is overseen by Managing Partners Art Falcone and Nitin Motwani and is managed by Miami Worldcenter Associates in collaboration with CIM Group. Nitin Motwani expressed delight about the inclusion of Lucid Motors, highlighting the brand’s cutting-edge premium appeal and its commitment to the goal of Miami Worldcenter as a lively live, work, and play destination in the center of the city.
In addition to its amenities, Miami Worldcenter has World Square, a lively 20,000 square foot public plaza and park intended to serve as a hub for gatherings. With alternatives for dining, entertainment, and shopping, the plaza provides open space, shaded places, and sidewalks that are favorable to pedestrians.
The $5 million public art project at Miami Worldcenter, organized by the Miami-based curatorial collective PRIMARY and renowned art dealer Jeffrey Deitch, turns the building into a permanent outdoor gallery. Large-scale murals, paintings, and sculptures, as well as other contemporary and modern works by internationally renowned artists, are on display as part of the effort.
42 Pine Tops Off Construction in Miami Beach
42 Pine, the much-awaited boutique residential building at the intersection of famous Pine Tree Drive and 42nd Street, has reached a significant milestone on the road to completion, which is scheduled in the first quarter of 2024.
The eight-story structure will be a landmark for the neighborhood and exhibit classic sophistication. Last year, BridgeCity Capital provided the project with $35.5 million in finance, allowing construction to start. With prices ranging from $700,000 to $3,000,000, there are only a few houses left.
CEO of BridgeCity Capital Allan Lebovits, “The pace of construction is impressive, and we are proud to be involved in a project that brings a new level of luxury to the area. This is a unique opportunity in a highly coveted pocket of Miami Beach, and the sales velocity to date is a testament to the strong demand for new luxury residences.”
50 turnkey units with one to four bedrooms and eight penthouses are available at the first full-service boutique condominium in the neighborhood. Each residence has been painstakingly designed to offer a unique lifestyle based on convenience and community. Each tastefully presented home, ranging in size from 700 square feet to 2,700 square feet for combined units, is delivered fully furnished and ready to occupy. The interiors were designed by Arquitectonica to make the most of available space and foster a sense of connection with the outside. Private terraces with glass railings offer a seamless indoor/outdoor living experience, while expansive floor-to-ceiling windows and doors let in an abundance of natural light.
Amenities
Amenity deck
52-foot pool
Relaxation spa
Cabanas
Poolside service
Yoga
Meditation lawn
State-of-the-art fitness center
Club
Game room
Media lounge
Large outdoor terrace
Children’s playroom
At 340 W. 42nd Street, in one of Miami Beach’s most coveted residential areas, residents may enjoy easy access to the ocean, top-rated schools, excellent restaurants, places of worship, and boutique shopping experiences.
If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at 42 Pine, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at (786)247-6332.
Museum of Ice Cream to Open at Miami Worldcenter
In 2024, Miami Worldcenter will welcome the permanent opening of the Museum of Ice Cream. The new facility will be more than 14,000 square feet on two levels, with an entrance on the pedestrian promenade of Worldcenter.
The Museum of Ice Cream will feature 10 interactive installations that are inspired by Miami including, MOIC’s sprinkle pool, the Hall of Freezers, Mary-E’s Diner, and the Cream Liner.
There will also be 5 stations where guests can taste sweets during the 60-90 interactive tour
The art installation was originally open in 2017 at Faena Miami Beach for as a temporary location for 2 months but was so popular, they kept the installation up for 6 months.
Museum of Ice Cream is located at Miami Worldcenter at 851 NE 1st Avenue, Unit 134, Miami.
Miami Worldcenter is a $6 billion mixed-use complex in downtown Miami, which is spread across 27 acres and ten city blocks and includes retail, hospitality, business, and residential areas, is one of the biggest private urban real estate developments in the United States. Three residential buildings, a sizable chunk of the retail area, and a recently built CitizenM hotel are among the project’s phases that have already been finished and are occupied.
Exclusive Private Terminal Coming to Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport has been chosen by the exclusive private terminal service PS for expansion from its original location at LAX. The historic former PanAm headquarters will house the airport’s first private, opulent terminal for commercial flights, which is scheduled to open in 2025.
From hubs like Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth, PS is a first-of-its-kind, premium travel service. When it opens, PS MIA will provide members and visitors with improved privacy, security, efficiency, and luxury amenities in a quiet haven.
In addition to Private Suites with private balconies and a landscaped courtyard for soaking up a few last moments of Miami sunshine, the terminal will feature an elevated lounge experience called The Salon.
PS MIA members and guests will be escorted through on-site TSA screening after unwinding at the posh new terminal before being chauffeured to their commercial flights at any of MIA’s concourses. They will use the jet bridge stairs to ascend the plane directly from the tarmac. The entire experience, from tarmac pickup to airport departure, will be offered to MIA arrivals.
Other benefits include complimentary parking, spa showers and services, car washes, and amenities for kids and pets. These benefits vary depending on your membership level.
Similar to mid-century terminal rehabs like the recently finished TWA Hotel at New York’s JFK Airport, PS MIA will breathe new life into Miami’s former Pan American Regional Headquarters, located at Building 874 across the airfield off 36th Street. Richard Heisenbottle, a renowned architect and Florida preservationist, will oversee the restoration while keeping Art Deco accents and 1960s nods throughout.
The cost of membership has not yet been disclosed for PS MIA, although rates for the LAX location’s Salon and Private Suites begin at $1,250 annually and $4,650 for up to four guests. The PS experience is available to non-members for $4,650 for up to four guests (Private Suite) or $995 per person (Salon).
It is reported that PS MIA would bring in $16 million for the County over the course of the initial 20-year contract.
700 N. Miami Avenue Site at Miami Worldcenter Construction Update
New York-based developer, the Witkoff Group, is steadily working to change the Miami Arena’s former location. The thriving Miami Worldcenter’s premium real estate is getting ready to welcome three towers rising 57 stories tall.
Recently, Witkoff signed the utilities deal for the site at 700 N. Miami Avenue at Miami Worldcenter. The expected total for the connection fees for utilities and the Biscayne Basin Sanitary Sewer Special Connection fee is $2,085,466.50 and $1,265,004. Alex Witkoff signed the contract on behalf of the construction company, WG 700 North Miami LLC.
The signing of the utility deal and obtaining FAA height approvals for the towers are significant steps in the development process, even though Miami’s Building Department has yet to get construction licenses for the project.
On this large-scale undertaking, Monroe Capital, based in Chicago, is working with Witkoff Group. The location, which is within the confines of Northwest 8th Street, Northwest 1st Avenue, and North Miami Avenue, was previously slated to become the Marriott Marquis Miami Worldcenter Hotel & Expo Center, but is now in line for a dramatic overhaul. This includes the development of three imposing structures that could rise as high as 685 feet. Nichols Architects created the design.
The proposal promises a diverse mix of apartment buildings, shops, and dining establishments. With the utility agreement signed the 700 North Miami Avenue project is preparing for its vertical construction phase, marking an important step in the redevelopment of the former Miami Arena site.
This mixed-use project will undoubtedly become a landmark addition to Miami’s skyline due to its massive scale, prominent location, and reputation of its development and design team. It will also undoubtedly play a significant role in future developments at Miami Worldcenter.
CEO of Terra Group Sells Grove at Grand Bay Penthouse for $17.9 Million
CEO of Terra Group David Martin recently sold his penthouse at Grove at Grand Bay for $17.8 million.
The 9,541-square-foot, five-bedroom apartment at 2675 South Bayshore Drive was sold under the name GBPH Investments LLC.
Records show that a trust run by James Zubok and Leon Medzhibovsky purchased the penthouse. Medzhibovsky is a partner at DLA Piper and Zubok is a private equity investor.
David Martin’s penthouse had been advertised on and off for years, with a $28 million asking price at one point while the tower was still being built. Eloy Carmenate, Mick Duchon, John Gomes, and Fredrik Eklund brought it back to the market for $25 million in 2018 then for $19.8 million in late 2019. Summer of 2022, the unit was listed at $26 million.
The penthouse unit features 12-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows all around it, a rooftop pool, and 12-foot doors. Although Martin’s purchase price for the penthouse is unknown, developers frequently receive a sizable discount on their apartments. The price per square foot of the unit was roughly $1,900.
The Bjarke Ingels-designed project, a pair of 20-story twisted towers overlooking Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove, was constructed by Martin’s Terra. The construction was finished in 2016. Billionaire Mike Fernandez, former baseball star and real estate investor Alex Rodriguez, and Martin’s father, Pedro Martin, have all purchased properties.
Since finishing Grove at Grand Bay, he has collaborated with Jorge Pérez’s Related Group to construct the three Park Grove towers in Coconut Grove and is currently constructing the Mr. C Residences condo towers close by. On the north side of U.S. 1 and 27th Avenue, a mixed-use apartment building with retail space called His Grove Central is also being built.
Outside of Coconut Grove, Terra is involved in a number of projects. The 15.5-acre land owned by Genting Group in downtown Miami is scheduled to be purchased for more than $1.2 billion by a group led by the company and Martin. The transaction, where Martin most likely intends to build a sizable mixed-use community, is anticipated to finalize later this year.
Two Miami Restaurants Added to the Michelin Guide 2023
Two additional Miami restaurants have recently been included in the Michelin Guide’s 2023 edition including Rosie’s in Little River and Jaguar Sun in downtown Miami. The two restaurants were chosen as “Bib Gourmand” restaurants.
The certification indicates that the restaurants are “approachable in terms of price and atmosphere,” according to Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guides.
Rosie’s, a restaurant that serves Southern food and prime brunch favorites includes fluffy banana pancakes with vanilla custard, deviled eggs with chicharrones, and biscuits in guanciale sauce. Larger appetites can be satisfied with heartier dishes like fried hot chicken and waffles or a hearty serving of fried fish and grits with collard greens.
Jaguar Sun is a popular restaurant noted for its homemade pasta and drinks and is situated in the downtown Miami Alea building. Warm Parker House buns and towering Caesar salads serve as the prelude to dishes like spicy strozzapreti with plump mussels, ‘nduja, and breadcrumbs or umami-packed mushroom tagliatelle.
Other Miami restaurants are on the list and include Brasserie Laurel, Fiola Miami, Lido, Lion & the Rambler, Tambourine Room by Tristan Brandt, The Gibson Room, and Walrus Rodeo.
The news was released ahead of the Michelin Guide Ceremony for 2023, which will be held on May 11 at LoanDepot Park in Miami. When the Michelin Guide Ceremony was first in Miami in 2022, 19 local eateries were named Bib Gourmands, and 11 Miami restaurants received Michelin stars.
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.
Three Story Food Hall to Open in Brickell April 28th
The popularity of food halls in Miami is still growing. Okeydokey, the newest multi-concept dining spot in the city, is scheduled to open in Brickell on Friday, April 28.
Okeydokey bills itself as a food-driven dining and entertainment hub and occupies three floors in a gleaming standalone structure close to Brickell City Centre. Six full-service kitchens, three bars, and a 3,000-square-foot outdoor patio with seating for more than 300 people are all included in the 15,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor area.
The Doce Provisions team’s rotisserie chicken and burgers at Little Bird, Yoso Ramen’s Japanese cuisine, MAC’s Asian fusion cuisine, Dal Plin’s Italian cuisine, and JAFFA’s Israeli cuisine are among the first-floor eateries. Coffee Break, located on the second level, offers fresh-pressed juices, croissants, pies, empanadas, and artisanal coffee.
In addition to beer, wine, and sake, Okeydokey’s three bars will provide a selection of specialty drinks crafted with premium liquors, freshly squeezed juices, handmade syrups, and unique garnishes. The Bye Fe-Lychee! is a tiki-style drink made with reposado tequila, sake, lychee puree, mint, and grapefruit. The Freshly Squeezed is a refreshing combination of vodka, St. Germain, and fresh strawberries. Sun’s Out, Buns Out is an Old Fashioned spiced with ginger, cinnamon, and orange bitters.
The third, adult-only floor of Okeydokey will debut in the second phase. Although an opening date has not yet been set, guests can anticipate an enlarged beverage menu and nightly entertainment options like live music and DJs.
Stephane Benkemoun, a French businessman and co-founder of Okeydokey, created it with the intention of turning a fast-casual dining idea into a classy, immersive location. Okeydokey will be open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 268 SW 8th St. in Miami. Coffee Break will be accessible every day at 8 a.m.
