Beaches for miles
Kojin 2.0, Ponce Davis listings, Rosewood Exuma, Palm Heights, Reserve Padel, best steaks, Panthers tix, MORE
GETAWAYS • Grand Cayman
Paradise interrupted
On the second evening of our long-weekend stay at Palm Heights in March, the hotel called the room to say that there would be some noise later that night from “Mambo Italiano” night at the onsite restaurant, Paradise Pizza, whose outdoor-only dining space we could peer into from the window of our bedroom. Just in case, they had another room for us. It would’ve been a tight squeeze for our crew, and they said the music would stop by 11p, so we stayed put.
Wrong choice! “Mambo Italiano,” so close we could taste the sauce, dialed up very enthusiastic karaoke until closer to midnight. Honestly, it sounded fun, except for us.
I bring up the party (and the ringing in our ears), only because it was so far from the rest of our experience at Palm Heights, a very chill, effortlessly luxurious five-year-old boutique resort on Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman.
Having learned of our impending trip, a FOUND colleague said, “Palm Heights is as excellent as all the influencers want you to think it is.” And the much-loved-on-the-Internet spot does have its share of made-for-the-gram nooks in the hotel’s signature yellow, and some of the loungers are reserved earlier than you’d like. But beneath the glossy set pieces and place-saver towels, there is uniformly gracious service, very good food, and an enveloping air of calm.
The impossibly blue Caribbean certainly helps. So does the adults-only spa, across the street over a foot bridge, down into an even deeper level of chill. You could easily get lost there, in the saunas and plunge pools and lush passageways, for an entire stay.
Besides Paradise Pizza, the excellent set of dining options includes Tillie’s for breakfast through dinner (ask to sit in the sand) and the smaller beach bar, Coconut Club, which serves lunch from Tillie’s and Paradise before turning into sushi spot Yashinoki in the evenings.
The bar at Coconut Club closes at 10p. On Saturdays, you could close your tab and walk across the property to Paradise for a nightcap and a few bars of “Sweet Caroline.” They’d hear you in room 201, but they’d almost definitely forgive you by morning. –Josh Albertson
→ Palm Heights (Grand Cayman) • Seven Mile Beach • Rates from $700/wknd night.
GETAWAYS LINKS: After landmark Miami gallery closure, Emerson Dorsch featuring Miami artists in Asheville • Behind the design inspiration for St. Regis Cap Cana • First Class is back, but sometimes in disguise.
RESTAURANTS • FOUND Table
Straight fire
The Backstory: Serving Japanese-influenced modern American cuisine, Kojin 2.0 opened last summer in Coral Gables as an intimate dining experience centered on curated tasting menus. It’s the reincarnation of a Little River pop-up from husband-and-wife chefs Pedro and Katherine Mederos.
The Experience: In a cozy waiting area at the front of the restaurant, diners are greeted with a glass of prosecco. The Mederoses also bring a personal touch to the proceedings, often with one or both stopping by tables to share insights about their latest tasting menus. Fresh flowers adorn each table, and an inlaid bookshelf atop the open kitchen window adds charm to the chef’s bar.
Highlights from recent visits include maitake mushrooms with farro risotto on a bed of parmesan foam with pickled apricots and chive oil; the Kojin Caesar Salad with katsumirin, kizami nori, and smoked trout roe; and braised short rib paired with grilled pattypan squash and celery root purée. And for dessert, the matcha tiramisu is a thing of beauty.
Why It’s FOUND: Kojin 2.0 is a restaurant that rewards return visits with its variety, creativity, and hospitality. –Katelin Stecz
→ Kojin 2.0 (Coral Gables) • 804 Ponce de Leon • Tue-Fri 530-1030p, Sat 11a-2:30p & 530-1030p • Reserve.
MIAMI RESTAURANT LINKS: Closing season: Fiola Miami in Coral Gables to shutter 06/22… South of Fifth, Red the Steakhouse is finished after 17-year run • Rescuing the lemon drop.
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale properties in Ponce Davis that came to market in the last 30 days.
→ 7700 SW 50th Ct (Ponce Davis, above) • 6BR/6.1BA, 5775 SF house • Ask: $7.25M • new build, ‘tropical modern’ • Days on market: 9 • Annual taxes: $23,372 • Agent: Audrey Ross, Compass.
→ 7710 Erwin Rd (Ponce Davis) • 6BR/7.1BA, 4662 SF condo • Ask: $8.5M • new in 2013, wet bar over the pool • Days on market: 2 • Annual taxes: NA • Agent: Ashley Cusack, BHHS EWM.
→ 7400 SW 47th St (Ponce Davis) • 5BR/4BA, 3919 SF house • Ask: $8.25M • Cape Cod on lush acre • Days on market: 7 • Annual taxes: $81,024 • Agent: Nancy Sanabria, Compass.
MIAMI WORK AND PLAY LINKS: With 50% sold at Mandarin Oriental Brickell, new renderings released • Construction defect will delay Bulgari hotel in Miami Beach • Eataly opens at Aventura Mall • ‘Lawyers who use AI will replace lawyers who don’t’ • Skincare for when you’re too beaten down to apply lotion.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Island in the Sun
Weezer • Mizner Park Amphitheater (Boca Raton) • Sat @ 730p, section B, $247 per
Hurricanes v Panthers • Conference Finals, Game 3 • Amerant Bank Arena (Ft Lauderdale) • Sat @ 8p • section 118, $681 per
Jay Shetty • Hard Rock Live (Davie) • Fri @ 8p • section 102, $175 per
WORK • Thursday Routine
Bahama papa
FELIPE MACLEAN • president and CEO • Yntegra Group
Neighborhood you live in: Ponce Davis
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
My day starts bright and early with a 545a yoga session, followed by dropping the kids off at school at 7a. After, I head back home for a quick tennis match with my coach, finishing with a refreshing 10-minute cold plunge to kickstart my morning. By 945a, I’m at the office, ready to dive into work.
Yntegra Group is currently focused on transformative developments in the Exumas, in the Bahamas. Our flagship project is the Rosewood Exuma, a luxury resort being built on a private island. We’ve been nurturing this project for the past four years, and we were thrilled to officially announce it last August. We’re dedicated to ensuring our projects create a positive socio-economic impact on the community and the region.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Today, we’re kicking things off with a strategy meeting that brings together our design, marketing, and sales teams on the next phase of Rosewood Exuma. The office is very busy. We have architects, engineers, project managers, and our sales and marketing teams — all ready to ensure everyone is on the same page and inspired for the upcoming months. For me, it’s a day filled with back-to-back discussions and brainstorming sessions. I’ll be wrapping up by heading to the airport for a flight to the Monaco Boat Show, where I’ll be evaluating potential vessels to acquire for the resort.
Any bar or restaurant plans today, tonight, or this weekend?
Last night we went for drinks at the members club at Chateau ZZ’s and then for dinner at Cipriani. Those two are definitely my favorite spots on Brickell.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I have a passion for motorcycle racing and spent last Sunday at the Homestead Speedway track. I used to race professionally, but now I do it for fun and as a bonding activity with my kids. I have always been an adrenaline junkie, and believe it or not, that’s where I release the stress from work. These days, I just ride with my kids once a month at the track — it’s our special boys’ day out that we all look forward to.
Any weekend getaways?
My go-to weekend getaway is the Exumas, without a doubt. I’ve traveled the world and can confidently say that no beach compares. It’s a slice of paradise where I can completely disconnect and enjoy quality time with my family, just the water toys and us. It’s our collective happy place, and it never takes much convincing to get everyone on board.
What was your last great vacation?
We spent last summer between Spain and the South of France. I would highly recommend Marbella Club on the Mediterranean Sea in Andalucia for a family vacation with kids and St. Tropez for a couple’s getaway — we stayed at La Reserve and had an amazing time. The hotel is exquisitely designed and curated, and just 15 minutes from the port.
CULTURE & LEISURE • FOUND Fitness
Padel, please
Reserve Padel’s new mega-complex in North Miami brings together sport, socializing, and networking with a hint of luxury (and also, an onsite Pura Vida). The place is massive, spanning over 100,000 square feet inside SoLé Mia. There are six indoor and four outdoor padel courts, plus two pickleball courts. And that’s just on the ground floor.
Upstairs, find a fitness center with ellipticals, treadmills, dumbbells, and physio balls, all overlooking the indoor padel courts. (The gym’s not as extensive as what you’d find at, say, Equinox — it’s more like a well-stocked hotel gym.) Upstairs, the wellness center is home to luxe locker rooms that lead out into cold plunge pools and saunas. There’s also treatment rooms for physical therapy and other recovery services.
But the reason you’re here is padel. The Juan Martin Diaz Academy provides private coaching and clinics onsite. Reserve also hosts pro tournaments, complete with stadium seating. The club can be accessed simply by paying the court fees, but membership has its privileges — special events, reduced court fees, priority bookings, and a private members’ lounge and bar. Individual memberships run $350/ month or $3500/year ($500/mo and $5000/year for families). –Matt Meltzer
→ Reserve Padel (North Miami) • 2251 NE 146th St • Daily 7a-11p.
ASK FOUND
Today, one FOUND subscriber PROMPT for which we seek intel:
What’s your go-to Miami weekday breakfast spot?
Got answers or more questions? Hit reply or email found@itsfoundmiami.com.
RESTAURANTS • The Nines
Steaks
Nine recent notable restaurant openings for your booking pleasure. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@itsfoundmiami.com.
Los Fuegos by Francis Mallman (Mid Beach), decadent open flame preparations by Argentine asado grillmaster and Chef’s Table star