Bar none
The Shelborne, Itamae AO, best hotel bars, Coral Gables listings, Sugar at East, Bar Centro, Panthers parade, MORE
RESTAURANTS • Intel
TITLE TOWN: Florida hockey fans aren’t the only locals celebrating back-to-back titles this week: Nando Chang of Itamae AO was named Best Chef South by the James Beard Foundation, following his sister Valerie Chang’s win last year in the same category for Maty's. Both restaurants operate under the same roof in midtown where Itamae AO is an intimate 10-seat chef’s counter dedicated to a creative Nikkei-inspired tasting menu, while Maty's occupies the dining room, focusing on Peruvian cooking as comfort food passed down through generations.
The siblings first opened Itamae in 2018 inside a food hall in the Design District where it swiftly gained a cult following. Right now, Itamae a la carte has taken over the entire midtown restaurant, so there's never been a better time to grab a reservation and order the conchitas a la parmesana. –Shayne Benowitz
GETAWAYS • Staycation
Proper deco
The Shelborne returned to Collins Avenue last month, reopening after a 22-month, $100 million makeover by Proper Hotels. With so many of its contemporaries currently closed and in various states of redevelopment — The Raleigh, Delano, Shore Club, and most recently SLS — The Shelborne now stands as the paragon of the iconic 1940s-era Art Deco glamour that’s come to define South Beach.
It’s a big responsibility. After all, what’s South Beach without its Art Deco hotels, exemplars of effortless style, shrugging excess, and a touch of depravity? I’m happy to report that the newly reimagined Shelborne by Proper is more than up to the task.
Beyond the familiar white concrete facade and port-cochère, with its massive, space-age disc swirling with neon lights, the expansive flow-through lobby retains its terrazzo and marble tile floors in shades of pink, coral, and cream. It sets the stage for interior designer ADC Atelier’s voluminous, playful furnishings, sculptural decorative art, and enormous terra cotta planters bursting with flora. Originally designed by Igor Polevitzky and Thomas Triplett Russell in 1941, MiMo master Morris Lapidus made updates in the 1950s, including his signature “stairway to nowhere” (more typically associated with the Fontainebleau) at the rear of the lobby that I’ve always loved.
The spacious lobby bar acts as a central gathering place with understated glamour, and a sophisticated menu of cocktails and light bites. I stopped in with a friend before dinner one night and sampled their two signature martinis: one Vesper-style with avocado oil-washed vodka and dry gin, the other, an espresso martini with reposado tequila and Cherry Heering, both excellent. The menu includes artfully plated crudités, a selection of ceviches, caviar service, and heartier “con pan” selections, like zucchini and chorizo on flatbread with egg yolk and cotija. (The hotel’s main restaurant Pauline and speakeasy bar Little Torch haven’t opened yet. Judging by the quality and attention to detail in the bar, I have high hopes they’ll be excellent.)
Stellar hospitality was a throughline throughout my two-night stay. From front desk to pool and waitstaff, service was anticipatory, smart, and genuinely friendly. They’ve tapped Miami Beach hospitality vet Crispy (formerly of The Standard) as director of guest services and her presence in the lobby gives the whole place the feeling of a homecoming.
The hotel is home to one of Miami Beach’s great classic Art Deco pool decks, with an original diving platform and an oasis of a deep end, framed by a chic turquoise, green, and blue color scheme covering dramatic double plush lounge chairs, towels, and umbrellas around the pool.
While rooms are somewhat tight due to the historic preservation of the hotel’s original footprint, they’re beautifully decorated in a neutral color palette of taupe and what could fairly be noted as seaworthy green, featuring low-slung, mod, built-in furnishings with natural wood and stone finishes. (For more space, consider a suite or multi-room villa along the pool.) With an oceanfront room on a high floor, I found the original long, narrow windows — which might otherwise feel dated and claustrophobic — charming. They perfectly frame ocean views as if you’re on a ship, a hallmark of Miami Beach’s deco design aesthetic.
With the Proper touch, The Shelborne has catapulted from tired Art Deco relic to one of Miami Beach’s premier luxury stays. –Shayne Benowitz
→ The Shelborne by Proper (South Beach) • 1801 Collins Ave • Rates from $489.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Checking out the $80M renovation at San Juan’s La Concha Resort • At MIA, Global Entry debuts Enrollment on Departure program • Tropic Ocean Airways adding flights on FXE-NSB (South Bimini) route • Belmond’s storied Splendito reopens in Portofino following elaborate makeover • Next big thing in luxury travel: family therapists.
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale properties in Coral Gables that came to market in the last 14 days.
→ 322 Sarto Ave (Coral Gables) • 4BR/4BA, 2904 SF house • Ask: $3.995M • Key West-inspired new construction near downtown • Days on market: 7 • Annual taxes: $13,110 • Agent: Barbara Estela, Elliman.
→ 7120 Mira Flores Ave (Coral Gables) • 5BR/6.1BA, 5176 SF house • Ask: $8.2M • in Cocoplum with 3-car garage • Days on market: 27 • Annual taxes: $63,878 • Agents: Saddy Delgado & Darius Brodesser, One Sotheby's.
→ 435 Marquesa Dr (Coral Gables, above) • 6BR/6BA, 4,085 SF house • Ask: $12.75M • in Old Cutler Bay with 146’ of frontage • Days on market: 12 • Annual taxes: $50,907 • Agent: Dennis Carvajal, One Sotheby's.
MIAMI WORK AND PLAY LINKS: In Ft Lauderdale, Panthers parade to roll Sunday at noon • The real picture of South Florida’s housing market: declining sales, rising inventory • Sales launch for The Cloud One Hotel & Residences in Wynwood • Plans announced for KPF-designed residential tower Seven Broadway in Brickell • With Amex Platinum revamp coming, is the $1k annual fee upon us? • The interior designer bringing Arts and Crafts to the tech bros.
WORK • Thursday Routine
Wedding szn
KAT SAENZ • founder • Kat Saenz Productions
Neighborhood you live in: Edgewater
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Thursdays are my “let’s make magic happen” days. I’m visiting clients for site checks or setting up for an event, making sure every little detail is just right.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Today, we’re chatting with two brides: one from New York planning her wedding in Miami, the other from California planning a dreamy destination wedding in Italy. We’re also finalizing details for an exciting event with Sephora x LTK, and gearing up for a crypto conference in Denver.
Any bar or restaurant plans today, tonight, or this weekend?
We’re heading to dinner at Cote in the Design District. As for my go-to spots? I’m obsessed with any Groot Hospitality restaurant — Casadonna is absolutely stunning. Lately, I’ve also been loving Sunny’s. And when it comes to bars, Sugar at East is always a vibe.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I’m all about concerts, Heat games, Dolphins games, and a good old-fashioned tailgate. And when Sunday rolls around, there’s nothing better than a family barbecue, especially when my husband's parents are on the grill. They seriously make the best barbecue! I’m also looking forward to the Coldplay concert in July.
Any weekend getaways?
After a recent work trip to Denver, I decided to extend my trip in Aspen. I booked the ski-in and ski-out restaurant Cloud 9, and checked out Casa Tua. I hit Ajax Tavern for après-ski (their truffle fries are a must!), Matsuhisa for sushi, drinks at The Little Nell, and Betula for a cool rooftop vibe.
What was your last great vacation?
I did a couple of girls’ trips to NYC. Our go-to spots are Employees Only for amazing cocktails and Little Sister Lounge for a cool vibe. We love staying at Fouquet’s New York. A new restaurant we tried and loved was Mēdüzā Mediterrania in the Meatpacking District.
Last month, my husband and I went to Washington, D.C. and stayed at The St. Regis. One of the best meals we had was at Filomena Ristorante, where you literally see a nonna making fresh pasta through the window as you walk in. Another great spot was Maydan, with the most flavorful Middle Eastern food cooked over an open fire.
CULTURE & LEISURE • It’s a Cup
Marlon Wayans • Coral Springs Center for the Arts (Coral Springs) • Fri @ 730p, orchestra L, $126 per
Avril Lavigne • Hard Rock Live (Davie) • Sat @ 7p • section 115, $349 per
Inter Miami v Palmeiras • Club World Cup • Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens) • Mon @ 9p • section 118, $391 per ($122 lowest avail)
BARS • First Round
José 2.0
The Skinny: The debut of Andaz Miami Beach (formerly The Confidante) in May means the return of some of José Andrés’s greatest hits to Miami Beach. First up: Bar Centro, a lobby lounge for cocktails and light bites. The concept originally debuted in Miami at the recently shuttered SLS South Beach alongside the upscale Bazaar, which is slated to open at the Andaz early next year.
The Vibe: An airy, light-filled space near the hotel’s second-floor “arrivals lounge,” Bar Centro is an intimate, modern take on the classic Art Deco hotel lobby bar. Wave-like recessed lighting crowns a curvaceous, narrow space where sand-toned sofas and coral-pink club chairs line wood-paneled walls punctuated by potted palms and birds of paradise.
The Drink: The best of the cocktails highlight Andrés’s playful spirit, often incorporating molecular techniques with liquid nitrogen. The Ancient Olive, for instance, is a deconstructed olive oil-washed dry gin martini, which arrives with a sidecar of olive juice. The Reverse Carajillo is made with Spanish brandy topped with a decadent tres leches espuma. Global wines and local beer are also on the menu.
The Food: Given Andres’s presence in Miami for over a decade, much of the Bar Centro menu will feel familiar. Caviar cones and oysters aguachile are the stars of the show, while “little snacks” include olives a la El Bulli legend Ferran Adria, and a decadent grilled cheese made with Basque Idiazabal, manchego, mozzarella, and brie, which pairs beautifully with a thimble-sized shot of gazpacho. And, of course, no one does croquetas de pollo better.
The Verdict: A chic, low-key lobby bar. Consider it an amuse-bouche before The Bazaar returns. –Rebecca Wallwork
→ Bar Centro (Mid-Beach) • 4041 Collins Ave • Daily 6-11a, Sun-Thu 4-11p, Fri-Sat 4p–12a.
MIAMI RESTAURANT LINKS: Sunset Harbour staple Sardinia served its last plate of orecchiette on Father’s Day after 20 years • Is this the end of scalped restaurant reservations in Florida? • Bar Bucce hosting pop-up tonight with New Orleans chef Nina Compton • Uchi invasion continues with forthcoming izakaya-inspired cocktail bar Uchibā • Screw it, give me the martini with four straws.
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BARS • The Nines
Bars, hotel
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The Bar at The Shelborne By Proper (South Beach, above), sophisticated cocktails, light fare at newly reopened Art Deco grand dame