Drive-thrus
Best F1 dining, Pastis, Belle Isle, Pao at Faena, Mac’s Club Deuce and La Sandwicherie, The Perry Hotel & Marina, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Person
A familiar glow
Arriving at the hostess stand at Pastis in Wynwood, one can be forgiven for feeling nostalgic, if not disoriented. Might you be standing inside New York City’s legendary Meatpacking District restaurant? There are the familiar dove gray mosaic floors, glistening subway tile columns, and those trademark distressed mirrors angled to reflect the dining room, with its red leather banquettes, and the fabulous diners they hold. Even those forever-lunging rugby players immortalized in faux-vintage posters made the trip south.
Then again, even the Pastis in New York City today is a reincarnation of the original NYC outpost, which itself was restaurateur Keith McNally’s facsimile of an idealized Parisian bistro. So this hall of mirrors effect feels downright appropriate. The restaurant reopened in NYC in 2019 after a five-year hiatus, just a block from the original and in partnership with restaurateur Stephen Starr (Le Zoo, Steak 954, et al). Miami’s Pastis, which arrived last spring, is the first outside those cobblestoned Manhattan blocks (DC followed, Dallas is rumored next).
C’est la vie, might as well follow the hostess to one of those banquettes to bathe in the soft, amber-tinged light that McNally long ago perfected. Of course, to the young and uninitiated — and perhaps the Miamian — a meal here need not be loaded with such heavy freight. The menu, nearly identical to the original, features beautifully prepared French fare, from oysters and escargots to the classical ooey-gooey delight of onion soup gratinee and a tender filet au poivre with a perfect crusty sear. And frites! One mustn’t forget about the frites.
It all prompts the question: What, if anything, is different about this one? A large outdoor patio, covered in rattan chairs, red scallop-edged umbrellas, and a wood-flanked bar, adding a dash of Saint-Tropez to the winning Parisian formula. It begs you, on a balmy night, to linger longer over one last cocktail and soak up an entirely new experience of the wonderfully familiar. –Shayne Benowitz
→ Pastis (Wynwood) • 380 NW 26th St • Mon-Wed 1130a-11p, Thurs-Fri 1130a-12a, Sat 10a-12a, Sun 10a-11p • Reserve.
RESTAURANTS • The Nines
F1 dining
Can't snag a reservation at Carbone Beach for F1? Nine more dining options while at the Miami International Autodrome:
Amara at Pariso (Start/Finish Suites, VIP only), chef Michael Schwartz’s eclectic mix of Brazilian fish stew, pork belly sliders, more
Harry’s Pizzeria (West Campus), pizzas, salads, and cocktails, also from Schwartz
Sweet Liberty (MIA Marina), outpost of South Beach bar serving signature menu items, also grab-and-go
The Concours Club Lounge (Turn 3), 30-minute omakase, a buffet, more from chef Brad Kilgore
Pubbelly Sushi (West Lawn Food Hall), chef José Mendín’s gastropub with sushi rolls, Japanese and Latin-inspired dishes
Fuku (The Beach), chicken sandwiches, tenders, wings, nuggets, fries from chef David Chang’s microchain
Bodega Tequila y Taqueria (The Fountains), Mexican favorites alongside inventive cocktails
Havana 1957 (The Beach), for the Cuban sandwich
Ella’s Oyster Bar (The Promenade), seafood with New England simplicity and a Miami twist
Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@itsfoundmiami.com.
MIAMI RESTAURANT LINKS: Little Havana’s Cafe La Trova named 13th best bar in the world by World’s 50 Best • The Canvas Bar finally brings a real cocktail bar to Edgewater • Palm Beach favorite Buccan plotting Coral Gables outpost next year • Rounding up all the F1 viewing parties and dinners • How crackers went from survival food to gourmet restaurant treat.
REAL ESTATE • On the Market
Belle Isle bliss
Traffic on I-195 or the MacArthur Causeway periodically redirects us all to the Venetian Causeway. It’s a comparatively tranquil commute, through the luxe residence-dotted Venetian Islands.
Today’s listings are a pit stop on one of those man-made islands, of which there are six of in total: Biscayne, San Marco, Rivo Alto, Di Lido, San Marino and Belle. Belle, the easternmost isle — and closest to Miami Beach — is a 2.4-square mile mass. While neighboring Rivo Alto and Di Lido islands are lined with custom estates, Belle Isle is all about that condo life, prioritizing bay to ocean vistas, and amenities like infinity pools, sun decks, and on-site parking. The bulk of its towers are centered on the circular Island Avenue.
The median Belle Isle home sells for $1.095M per Rocket Homes, a 25% jump over last year. Currently, there are 50 residences on the market, with the bulk being 1- and 2-bedroom condos. Here, for your perusal, three recent listings on Island Ave.:
→ 11 Island Ave. #PH8 (Belle Isle) • 3BR/3.1BA, 2649 SF condo • Ask: $3.5M • Listed on 4/19/24 • Monthly common charges: $3,904; Monthly taxes: $2,014 • Agent: Ashley Alvarez, Sterling One Realty.
→ 9 Island Ave. #2004 (Belle Isle, above) • 3BR/3.1BA, 2880 SF condo • Ask: $2.99M • Listed on 3/1/24 • Monthly common charges: $3,664; Monthly taxes: $2,283 • Agent: Scott Diffenderfer, Compass.
→ 16 Island Ave. #4D (Belle Isle) • 2BR/2.1BA, 1570 SF condo • Ask: $2.2M • Listed on 12/12/23 • Monthly common charges: $2,037; Monthly taxes: $1,330 • Agent Bill Hahne, Coldwell Banker.
WORK • Thursday Routine
Brickell Key to Bora Bora
CAMILA AIME • founder • Escapadez
Neighborhood you live in: Brickell Key
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I founded Escapadez, a travel company focused on luxury travel, just under two years ago. As our team continues to expand, I’m in search of an office, but for the moment, work from home. After I turn the coffee machine on, I begin my 12-minute Tony Robbins morning priming to set me up for the day. I find it helps me with the patience that work often requires. I’m reading emails and checking the status of any departures I have on today before getting to client calls, finishing up some itineraries, and getting started on some referral marketing.
What’s on the agenda for today?
I like to get in a quick morning workout since I have a full day ahead. I’ll speak to the personal assistant of my most VIP client, along with their security detail, to finalize everything on an upcoming departure. Later, I’m finishing up a honeymoon itinerary I have in New Zealand and Australia, along with one in Puerto Rico, and finalizing a trip for my best client in Asia, departing this week.
Any bar or restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Tomorrow, I have a hotel meeting with the Airelles Group at Pao at Faena, and later this week my husband (the managing partner at Escapadez) and I are going to try Pasta e Basta in Midtown.
Any weekend getaways?
We enjoy going to the Dominican Republic to Casa de Campo (above) or Eden Roc. I’m also a huge fan of St. Barths for a 3-4 day getaway. There are so many hotels in St. Barths that I love — Cheval Blanc, Le Barthelemy, and Le Toiny to name three. My favorite restaurant on the island is Tamarin.
What was your last great vacation?
I just got back from a great trip: first, two nights in LA at Hotel Bel-Air, one of my favorite hotels ever, with hands down the best breakfast. Then, on to Tokyo, for three nights at The Peninsula. Tokyo was incredible — I highly recommend waking up early and going to Senzo-ji Temple before the crowds and seeing the Shibuya Crossing from Ce La Vi.
From there, we took a flight to Tahiti and directly onwards to Bora Bora where we stayed for five nights at the Four Seasons. Could not recommend this beautiful island in the middle of the Pacific more. My favorite experience was swimming with the sharks and rays, and I really loved the on-site Asian restaurant Vaimiti. On the way back we stopped over in Los Angeles again, this time staying at The Maybourne Beverly Hills, another fantastic option in LA (best butterscotch pancakes ever, for breakfast). We spent the day at the Getty Museum before a late lunch at Polo Lounge, and cocktails at martini hour at Dante. I wish I could do it all again.
MIAMI WORK AND PLAY LINKS: Downtown’s new Aston Martin Residences cuts the ribbon as only one unit remains unsold • First standalone Four Seasons condo planned for Bayshore Drive • New development amenity watch: guest suites for the in-laws • Grove Island residents rage against view-blocking Vita development • New renderings revealed for ‘curved tulip’ Okan Tower in Downtown Miami • May is closing month for Miami’s classical music season • The case for ‘slow productivity’ at work.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Race Day
Miami F1 GP 2024, Miami International Autodrome (Miami Gardens), Sun @ 1030a, section campus pass, $250 per
Ed Sheeran, Hard Rock Live (Davie), Fri @ 8p, section 115, $549 per
Red Bulls at Inter Miami, Chase Stadium (Ft Lauderdale), Sat @ 730p, section 101, $375 per
GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Shop
A classic combo
Transformation is palpable on South Beach. Two exceptions: Mac’s Club Deuce and La Sandwicherie, across the street from each other on the 200 block of 14th Street. Taken together, the venerable institutions offer a one-two punch of cocktails, mood, and food, amid a classic, after-dark scene near the beach.
All-cash Mac’s serves no food, but you can enjoy one of La Sandwicherie's paper-wrapped sandwiches in the 98-year-old saloon. An eclectic mix of locals, travelers, and pool sharks hang out at the classic M-shaped bar. Friendly barkeeps hustle to mix you a drink, but take heed, they don't have any patience for your impatience.
La Sandwicherie (above) faces a nameless alley, where a spontaneous beach crowd often gathers. The Italian, the Turkey, and the Frenchie are the featured sandwiches, but pick from a dozen options. Top it off with the house’s French Vinaigrette dressing; buy a bottle or two to take home, it goes with everything.
Ask them to cut your oversized French hoagie or croissant in half, so you can share it with the bartender — or another deserving character at Mac’s. –Brad Inman
→ Mac’s Club Deuce (South Beach) • 222 14th St.
→ La Sandwicherie (South Beach) • 229 14th St.
GETAWAYS • The Keys
Modern pilgrimage
When The Perry Hotel & Marina opened on Stock Island, it gave travelers unprecedented access to a distinctly local piece of the Florida Keys. Separated from Key West by the narrow Cow Key Channel, Stock Island is an extension of its famed neighboring island, and also, a destination unto itself. Just five miles from the heart of Key West’s Old Town, and about a 20-minute drive, it’s long been considered to be a holdout of old Key West, before tourism became the island’s largest economic force. Stock Island is where you’ll find the area’s last shipyards and working waterfronts for shrimpers, lobstermen, and commercial fishermen — it’s also home to artists, boat builders, and multigenerational Keys families.
In 2017, both The Perry and nearby Ocean’s Edge Resort & Marina opened, within months of one another, as Stock Island’s first hotels. They’re both modern, escapist retreats offering exemplary service on boat-dotted marinas, where fishing charters and off-beat haunts like Hogfish Bar & Grill and Cuban luncheonette El Mocho have long lured visitors. Between the two, I’d pick The Perry every time, for its hip, industrial design and excellent dining offerings.
Outfitted in raw concrete, steel, and natural wood, spacious guest rooms come with oversized balconies, rainfall showers, and local art. During my stay, I was more than content to while away an afternoon by the pool, hypnotized by ship masts swaying in the breeze. Come nightfall, fire pits along the waterfront grounds are a perfect spot for pre-dinner margaritas.
And while the onsite Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen & Bar has been a worthy restaurant companion since the hotel opened, the recent return of Bad Boy Burrito — a dormant Key West cult classic, now grown up as Bad Boy Taqueria & Tequila with an expanded menu and full bar in a breezy waterfront setting, and also, on property — is cause alone for a pilgrimage. –Shayne Benowitz
→ The Perry Hotel & Marina (Stock Island) • 7001 Shrimp Rd.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Michelin releases first class of hotel ‘Key’ ratings, four Miami hotels score two keys • Here’s the complete North America’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list • Is American Airlines losing the premium battle?
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