Tropical Distillers, a liqueur manufacturer, has opened Miami’s first distillery. A fully automated distillery with an on-site cannery, a 30-seat bar, and tasting room, and a gift shop with items only available at the distillery are all included in the area.
The facility creates JF Haden’s Craft Liqueurs line, which includes flavors including mango, lemon, and coffee. Also being developed are several additional goods.
Buzzy Sklar, the CEO and founding brand partner of Tropical Distillers, together with Mike and Maurkice Pouncey, two former NFL players, and real estate agent Kim Rodstein are partners in the distillery.
According to Sklar, “doesn’t fit any mold; we are one-of-a-kind in Miami, offering locals and visitors alike a unique beverage destination that is not only entertaining and aesthetically pleasing, but also informative.”
Visitors will be able to sample cocktails including the Cafecito Martini, Floridian Martini, and a variety of frozen drinks on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 pm until midnight.
A 1,500-square-foot outside deck at Tropical Distillers offers more seats and access to nearby food trucks. The neighborhood of Allapattah’s 8,000-square-foot location was scheduled to debut in December 2021 but was held back.
From Thursday through Sunday, at 1 pm, 3 pm, and 5 pm, there are guided tours available for $25. The event includes pick-ups from places in Miami and tastings of five different concoctions.
Let’s Take a Moment for Miami’s First Vermouth Bar-Victoria’s Vinos y Vermuteria
The team behind LoKal, Kush, and Spillover, Matt Kuscher and Kush Hospitality will debut their newest concept, Victoria’s Vinos y Vermuteria, a Spanish vermouth, and natural wine bar located in Coconut Grove. Victoria’s Vinos y Vermuteria will be located at Vicky’s House, a former milkshake stand and beer store for Kush.
The first woman in the industry to design and open a vermouth bar in the United States, Corporate Beverage Director Cristina Suarez, helped launch the establishment. The bar itself has a strong emphasis on Spanish wines and ciders, large-format craft beers, and a variety of unique house-made vermouths.
Suarez has fallen in love with vermouth thanks to her research and education to the point where mezcal is no longer her preferred libation. Suarez states, “We want them to have a special, instructive, and private experience and leave here feeling they have learned something new in a stylish, sexy atmosphere. We’re not expecting them to discover the enthusiasm we might have for vermouths.”
The bar itself is designed to serve as both a “waiting room” for LoKal patrons and a stand-alone attraction, making it ideal for couples out on a date. Along with fantastic pours, it will serve small foods in the tapas manner, charcuterie boards, Chicken Skins, and Sandwich de Mescla, Caviar, Pan con Tomate, and more. Vermouths will be offered in a variety of designs and flavor profiles, with options that are both common and uncommon.
The highlight of Victoria’s menu is vermouth, a bittersweet fortified wine that has been spiked with alcohol and laced with herbs. Kuscher’s signature blend, which is described as “Christmasy and warm on the palate,” as well as a second, lighter variety by Suarez called Titi Marie vermouth are just two of the house-made vermouths served in the new establishment, which was launched in collaboration with Kush’s corporate beverage director Cristina Suarez.
Many natural wines, Spanish ciders (poured in the Asturian manner of extended pouring), large format craft beers, tapas-style small meals, charcuterie boards, “not-so-fancy” tea sandwiches, caviar, and other items are also available.
Victoria’s is officially open today and their hours include Wednesday through Sunday, 5 pm to close.
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.
Take a Look Inside the Design District’s Newest Italian Restaurant with a Pink Flair – Sofia
With the opening of Sofia in Miami’s Design District, the team behind Miami favorites Byblos and Amal has continued to grow throughout South Florida. The chic, predominantly pink restaurant is a Toronto import that offers fine Italian cuisine.
In close proximity to the recently Michelin-recognized Itamae, Sofia debuts a menu of both contemporary and classic Italian meals that are produced with a refined technique and seasonal ingredients to honor the true flavors of Italy. A variety of antipasti will be available, including Crudo, grilled octopus, citrus salads, and ricotta-stuffed zucchini.
For entrées, Sofia serves traditional handmade pasta dishes like rigatoni alla vodka and cacio e pepe al tartufo. Among the standouts from the carne mains are wagyu filets, breaded veal, and prime striploin, among others. The pesce area also includes branzino, aragosta (butter-poached crab), and gamberetti (wild king prawn).
Sofia’s Italy-inspired cocktails stress execution and graceful presentation, and its wine list includes a variety of vintages and difficult-to-find Italian wines, which are garnished with locally grown herbs. The restaurant’s flamingo-pink, Italian-glam indoor-outdoor settings was created by award-winning group Studio Munge, and they will be brought to life every night with DJs and live performances.
Sofia hopes to become Palm Court’s newest signature restaurant, according to INK founder and CEO Charles Khabouth, despite the fact that the Design District is already home to a number of upscale eateries, including well-known Italian restaurants like MC Kitchen and Palat and Pharrell’s ultra-trendy pastel wonderland Swan.
The Sofia restaurant will be open every day of the week starting at 5 p.m. breakfast and lunch service will start soon following the supper service, which will start now.
Miami Worldcenter Welcomes Sports & Social-New Bar by Live! Hospitality and Entertainment
Miami Worldcenter and Live! Hospitality & Entertainment has a deal to bring its widely regarded Sports & Social concept to the $4 billion, 27-acre mixed-use development that is reshaping Downtown Miami.
Live! Entertainment’s premier dining, entertainment, sports viewing, and social concept is called Sports & Social. One of the biggest restaurant and entertainment concept creators and operators in the US is Hospitality & Entertainment. The company’s main goal is to build iconic venues near prestigious sports arenas, world-class resort casinos, and popular entertainment and lifestyle areas around the nation.
The Sports & Social Miami Worldcenter location will occupy about 20,000 square feet in the development’s glass-encased “Jewel Box” retail building and will feature an open-air third level and a rooftop restaurant overlooking the World Square public park and plaza. It will be situated just steps from Miami’s FTX Arena.
The establishment will provide sophisticated food and drink options, including made-from-scratch gameday favorites, handmade cocktails, and specialty drinks, like its iconic Crush selection, and a variety of beers from popular local and national beers. A number of special food-related events will be held at Sports & Social, including a brunch experience you won’t want to miss on Saturdays and Sundays that will feature its renowned #brunchtails table drinks and menu favorites like avocado toast, savory breakfast skillets, and its signature Chicken & Bliss.
Sports & Social in addition to offering some of the top sporting events in the area, Miami will host a range of live music performances and unique events throughout the week. With cutting-edge technology throughout, the venue will include a striking 53-foot LED display as its focal point, which will simultaneously stream different athletic events and games.
Additionally, visitors can take part in a variety of games like shuffleboard, Beirut, skeeball, foosball, pop-a-shot, and arcade games. Each location of Sports & Social is uniquely designed with careful attention to every detail by some of the highest profile firms in the world including ICRAVE, Jeffrey Beers International, and Knauer Incorporated. ICRAVE, a highly regarded and award-winning strategy, design, and development company, is creating Sports & Social at Miami Worldcenter. ICRAVE, a Miami- and New York-based company, has been in charge of designing Sports & Social’s nationwide expansion.
Three residential towers, Paramount Miami Worldcenter, Caoba, and Bezel Miami, as well as about 175,000 square feet of retail space, were among the phases of the project that were already finished. A 351-room citizenM hotel and an additional 125,000 square feet of retail space are slated to debut at Miami Worldcenter before the end of the year.
The Legacy Hotel & Residences, a 50-story mixed-use tower with 310 branded residences atop a hotel and 50,000 square feet of medical office space, as well as the second phase of Caoba, which will encompass an adjacent 40-story tower with 420 apartments, are also under construction. The 52-story Miami World Towers, which will have 550 apartment units, is also under construction.
The Witkoff Group’s three-tower mixed-use project, which will include up to 2,000 residential units as well as 550,000 square feet of office space and an additional 50,000 square feet of retail, is one of the planned developments. The Crosby, a 450-unit turn-key condominium by Related Group and Merrimac Ventures, two “supertall” residential towers by New York-based Naftali Group, and The Crosby are a few other projects that are in the works
‘Sports & Social’ will add to Miami Worldcenter’s alluring list of recently revealed tenants, which also includes Sephora, Bowlero, and Lucid Motors as well as two food and beverage concepts, Brasserie Laurel and El Vecino, that will soon open under the direction of Michelin-starred Chef Michael Beltran. Around 110,000 square feet of leased retail space are shared by these seven businesses and the newest tenant of the property in Downtown Miami.
Bad Bunny and David Grutman Unveil Gekkō at Grand Opening in Brickell
Thanks to Bad Bunny, David Grutman, and Groot Hospitality, the bustling Brickell district of Miami has new eating alternatives. The world’s most streamed music artist and the restauranteur have officially debuted Gekkō, their new joint venture.
Although the official opening is tonight for the most talked about restaurant in Miami, the exclusive unveiling was last night which included many notables and so much delectable food!
Attendance included David Grutman and Bad Bunny themselves, with special guest Joe Jonas, Sophie Turner, David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Timbaland, Lil Wayne, Future, Lele Pons, Jake Paul, and Candice Swanepoel. The turntables were taken over by Zack Bia, who played music for the partygoers to dance to.
The Japanese-inspired steakhouse offers the best Wagyu beef in the world along with creative and enhanced sushi options, opulent takes on classic chophouse dishes, brand-new handcrafted drinks, and much more.
In addition to being the name of a dedicated lounge, Gekkō—which translates from Japanese to English as “moonlight”—brings a creative, small nightlife venue to the center of the city’s social scene.
According to Bad Bunny, “Sitting down with friends to enjoy a good meal is one of the moments I value the most. I am thrilled that now I will have a hand in creating this experience for others.”
Gekkō’s menu combines the convivial and well-liked food of a steakhouse with the accuracy and modernism of Japanese cooking. Before moving on to starters, seafood, and steak, this starts with shared dishes, featuring traditional Japanese milk bread and a Kumamoto oyster with “Lava and Ice.”
Lobster dumplings and a creatively updated version of a wedge salad with yuzu buttermilk ranch dressing are two appetizer standouts. Highlights for raw dishes, sushi, and sashimi include Hokkaido Scallops and the novel 24k Otoro, a creation exclusive to Groot Hospitality.
The menu is anchored by a number of exquisite steaks, such as a Tomahawk cut, an olive-fed filet mignon from Kagawa, Japan, and a snow beef strip from Hokkaido, Japan. There are specialty dishes like Wagyu Skirt Steak and a Bone-In Ribeye. A variety of main meals are available, including Daring plant-based chicken, Creamy and Spicy Lobster, and more in typical Groot Hospitality fashion.
Up to 185 diners can be accommodated at Gekkō throughout a lavishly designed, flawlessly integrated indoor-outdoor flow. Rockwell Group, an architecture and design firm with offices in New York City, created the interior.
Gekkō’s charisma and nocturnal ambiance are enhanced by stylistic elements, such as a unique gold and red dip-dyed rope installation, graphic wall coverings, and velvet drapes. At the same time, the air is charged by lighted cuts and bars. Gekkō is located in Miami, Florida, 33131 at 8 SE 8th Street.
Famous NYC Restaurant Rao’s Opening Soon in Miami Beach
The iconic New York City eatery Rao’s, noted for both its exclusivity and its red-sauce cuisine, is establishing a presence in Miami Beach and we can’t be more excited to try it!
The Pellegrino family’s Italian restaurant is slated to launch at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel at 1601 Collins Avenue in the first few months of 2023. Rao’s will be replacing the ground-floor restaurant Lure Fishbar.
The original Rao’s is located in Harlem, New York, and is known for turning away notables due to the difficulty of reserving tables. Rao’s also has a location in Los Angeles and their location in Las Vegas was closed last year. Rao’s is run by Frank Pellegrino Jr. and Ron Straci
Frank Jr. is the 4th generation owner of Rao’s and since his undertaking of the restaurant, he has created a family brand of sauces, pasta noodles, and soups that can be found in your local groceries.
The restaurant recently ran a pop-up at David Edelstein’s W South Beach hotel while shopping for a location to set up shop.
The 790-key hotel is owned by the Tisch family, which is headed by Loews chairman Jonathan Tisch and had housed renowned chef Emeril Lagasse’s eatery.
The most recent New York restaurant chain to open a location in Miami is Major Food Group’s Carbone in South Beach. Since then, the company has had fast growth throughout Miami and in Boca Raton. Additionally, Pastis is anticipated to debut at an Edelstein property in Wynwood.
Locally, other restaurants and hospitality chains like Casa Tua and Cipriani are also growing. The NoMad Residences in Wynwood, developed by Edelstein, Related Group, and Alex Karakhanian, will soon welcome Casa Tua.
New Japanese Steakhouse Coming to Brickell by Bad Bunny and David Grutman
Bad Bunny is partnering with David Grutman and his hospitality group, Groot Hospitality, to open a new Japanese steakhouse known as Gekko. Coming this July to Miami’s Brickell, Gekko will be located under the SLS Lux tower at 801 S. Miami Avenue where Katsuya is currently located.
Its menu will feature prime cuts and various Wagyu beef dishes with dashes of Korean BBQ spices. Guests may also expect sophisticated table-side culinary displays, such as flame-seared steak courses, as well as traditional Japanese fare including a full sushi menu and a six-seat omakase bar.
Gekko’s design will be created by The Rockwell Group, and will have “luxurious-yet-contemporary” graphic wall coverings, jewel tones, light and natural wood accents, and seating for 185 guests. On the very colorful and Instagrammable South Miami Avenue area, the location is located on the northwestern ground floor portion of the SLS Lux Brickell tower.
Gekko will join Grutman and Groot Hospitality’s ever-expanding Miami restaurant portfolio, which already includes Papi Steak, Komodo, and Key Club, as well as Swan and Strawberry Moon, his two restaurants with Pharrell Williams.
The Japanese word “Gekko” means “moonlight,” which is appropriate for a city known for its nightlife. It’s also a double entendre reference to Michael Douglas’ famous Wall Street character Gordon Gekko. “On the day we were deciding on a name, Bunny was smitten with ‘Gekko. That night, I watched a Carl Icahn documentary,” Grutman says. “It all came together, and we had it.”
Dirty French Steakhouse Officially Opens in Miami
Thanks to Major Food Group, they are bring another one of their successful New York restaurants to Miami. Located in the heart of Brickell, Dirty French Restaurant will bring culinary sophistication through this Parisian Fare steakhouse to further add to the ever-expanding Miami scene. Oh, and did we mention…the decor is 80’s era themed?
From the high-quality meat and fish to the comprehensive 700-bottle wine list, Major Food Group co-founders Zalaznick, Mario Carbone, and Rich Torrisi have brought this innovative menu to life with a menu full raw bar items, seafood dinners, aged steaks, and your favorite classic side dishes.
The menu itself ranges from prime aged steaks, including Filet Mignon, Ribeye, and New York Strip, all of which are presented with a variety of sauces ranging from Au Poivre to Cajun. Forty-ounce Porterhouses and a Wagyu Tomahawks, are the chef’s favorites and Diners will be surprised by a range of off-menu cuts offered weekly at the restaurant as well. The menu also includes a savory Dover Sole Meunière served table-side, a Duck à l’Orange, and an excellent soufflé program, all of which pay homage to the restaurant’s Parisian roots.
The design of the interior can only be described as French elegance. Designed by Ken Fluk, Dirty French Steakhouse mixes the early 80’s French era with contemporary tropical designs. Throughout, you’ll notice the golf-leaf ceiling, Jungle Bar, onyx bar, glass leaf chandelier, leopard bar stools and banana pendants. The pieces blend elegantly and really make the steakhouse inviting.
According to Co-Owner of Major Food Group, “After making this paradise home, we realized that there was a tremendous opportunity to bring a sensational steakhouse to Brickell in true MFG fashion—a sophisticated, contemporary, high-energy culinary blockbuster fit for the most exciting city in the world today. It simply does not get any more major than Dirty French Steakhouse, which is the beginning of a series of big projects in the neighborhood.”
French Dirty Steakhouse has officially opened and if it’s like Major Food Group’s other Miami restaurants, Carbone, ZZ’s Club, and Sadelle’s, you may want to book your reservations now. Make your reservations through DirtyFrench.com.
Most Romantic and Unique Miami Restaurants to Book this Valentines Day
With Valentine’s Day falling on a Monday this year, you’re probably trying to decide what day to celebrate this year’s romantic occasion. While we can’t help you choose the day, we can help with dinner!
This year we have compiled some of the most unique and romantic restaurants that we love and that we think you’ll love too.
Sexy Fish
Sexy Fish’s menu is a work of art, featuring classics influenced by Asia and Japan. Bjoern Weissgerber, the Chef Director, has produced delectable dishes such as Duck Salad, Smoked Tuna Belly, Black Cod, King Crab, Bone Marrow, and crispy Eringi Mushroom. Don’t miss the Sexy Gold Fish or Crispy Caviar with gold-flake sea bass marinade. There is also a large wine and champagne selection, as well as unique cocktails such as Chocolate and Wine, Yuzu, and Elderflower.
Sexy Fish, designed by SeaVisions, exudes an aquatic ambiance with a big-lit fish tank that spans the wall of the private dining room and serves as the restaurant’s focus. Throughout, you’ll find stunning artwork by Damien Hirst as well as 26 bespoke fish lights designed by Frank Gehry. Click here to make reservations or browse the menu.
ZZ’s Sushi Bar
ZZ’s Sushi Bar menu includes classic tuna and salmon selections, as well as unique salads and Wagyu meat. ZZ’s also has the greatest assortment of Wagyu beef in the country. Don’t miss out on one of their most well-known specialty dishes, the Caviar Temaki.
The first level is bursting at the seams with bentwood banquettes, sculptural, handpainted finishes, and animal print rugs. Every surface is adorned with antique furniture and brass lights. The terrace is dubbed a “tiki bar on acid,” with wicker furniture and banana prints complementing the futuristic building.
Although ZZ’s is advertised as a member-only restaurant, there is an optional invite-only membership available, so as long as you can secure a reservation, you may enjoy all of the amenities that a member does! Click here to make reservations or browse the menu.
Carbone
Carbone has become a South Beach neighborhood mainstay in such a short time, thanks to its exceptional food, retro-style French décor, and landmark location. Raw-bar platters with stone crab claws, crab knuckle sandwiches, spicy rigatoni, or veal parmigiana are some of our favorite menu items.
The sumptuous Ken Fulk design, as well as the Captains dressed in Zac Posen tuxedos, guide clients through menu selections, and salads are produced tableside for the entire Carbone experience. The atmosphere continues with intimate tables, low lighting, and classic French and Italian music playing. Did we forget to say it’s Michelin-stared? To make a reservation or to browse the menu, click here.
Elcielo
Located in Brickell, Elcielo features modern yet classic Colombian dishes. Chef Juan Manual Barrientos uses an avant-garde approach to cooking the signature Latin dishes. Barrientos utilizes small and medium plates that feature avocado tempura, Colombian Arepas, Tuna Tartare, and Yuca Gnocchi.
The delectable food is served with breathtaking river views and stylish décor enhanced with flora, leather, and wood. Private dining experiences for couples or groups are provided in VIP lounges. The Experience menu will have more than 22 moments.
The Waterfront Terrace is great for special occasions and gatherings. Enjoy our a la carte food and beverages while listening to upbeat music, surrounded by palm trees and flora, the breeze, and river views. Check out the menu or make a reservation here.
Cote Miami
Executive Chef David Shim, a native of Seoul, South Korea, is responsible for the one-of-a-kind masterpieces at Cote Miami. Shim acquired expertise and recognition in New York City at Gramercy Tavern, Veritas, and L’Atelier de Jol Robuchon. Chef Shim’s specialty dishes include 45-day USDA dry-aged beef, delectable side dishes, stunning slices of Korean beef, and a Steak OmakaseTM experience. Other menu items include East/West Coast Oysters, Maine Lobster, caviar service, steak tartare, and Korean bacon.
COTE Miami has a 100-seat dining room with interactive smokeless state-of-the-art tabletop grills at each dining table, a dry-aging room, and two private dining rooms. The setting is intimate and pleasant, and the meals are incredibly innovative and awe-inspiring! Click here for their full menu or to make reservations.
