Party bus
Carbone Vino, Belle Meade listings, LA editors, The Rider, Walt Grace Vintage, River House Wine & Bar, best Cinco de Mayo eats, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Word
Lowkey wine
The Skinny: Opened late last year in Coconut Grove, Major Food Group’s Carbone Vino suits its inland locale, with a softer take on the maximalist vibe of its sister restaurant, Carbone proper. A few months in, it’s an easier reservation, too.
The Vibe: The expansive dining room features a black-and-red checkered floor, a high coffered ceiling, walnut and mahogany accents, burgundy velvet drapes, and candlelit white-cloth tables. The walls are adorned with art, the anchoring piece being an Italian flag with splotches of purple reminiscent of spilled red wine. The atmosphere is less heavy-handed than Carbone, with a relaxed neighborhood bistro charm that fits nicely beneath lush, tree-lined Grand Avenue. Reservations are still necessary, but you could also wait for a seat in the lounge, which serves drinks and limited bar bites.
The Food: Many Carbone favorites carry over, including the spicy rigatoni vodka, Caesar salad, and several starters, like the baked clams. The artichoke hearts are everything an artichoke heart should aspire to be, while the pumpkin agnolotti manage a predictably perfect balance of savory and subtle sweetness. For secondi, the lamb chops giudia are tender and flavorful.
The Drinks: A 3,000 bottle wine list spans the globe. The cocktail program executes classics with precision, from whiskey sours to Negronis and Manhattans. I especially enjoyed a sbagliato spritz, mixed with a dash of strawberry.
The Verdict: A perfectly enjoyable — and more grounded — alternative to its glitzy South Beach counterpart, in a less-hectic, leafy Coconut Grove. –Katelin Stecz
→ Carbone Vino (Coconut Grove) • 2911 Grand Ave • Daily 4-11p • Reserve.
RESTAURANTS • Intel
LAS’ CHANCE: The news that acclaimed chef Kwame Onwuachi plans to open a new West Indian restaurant and rum bar called Las’ Lap Miami next month in South Beach is exciting, but its location shocked me. The Daydrift, the latest iteration of the historic Park Avenue Hotel — tucked away on Collins Park, and overlooking the canal — has so much potential, but somehow has never had a good custodian. Case in point: it’s currently operating as a ghost hotel with no staff (you check into your room with a code). It’s a hidden gem that could shine so much brighter — and maybe Onwuachi is the ticket. Let’s see how this pans out. –Shayne Benowitz
MIAMI RESTAURANT LINKS: Buenos Aires Asian-fusion restaurant Niño Gordo opening soon in Wynwood • Are Alinea and SingleThread’s roadtrips creating the restaurant of the future? • North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list revealed, Cafe La Trova no. 13 • Anatomy of a modern ‘it’ bar.
WORK • Help Wanted
Tell your LA friends
We’re looking for a freelance editor to help us create each issue of FOUND LA. The ideal candidate will have impeccable taste and a deep understanding of the LA restaurant scene (and other LA scenes of FOUND interest). Here are the responsibilities:
Edit contributor copy in the weekly LA issue
Write FOUND items regularly across some or all of our categories (restaurants, real estate, shopping, getaway travel, culture & leisure, work)
Help shape and preserve FOUND’s voice
Build weekly link blocks of LA news, intel, and events
Help manage the editorial calendar
Last week, FOUND hit 100K subscribers across the network, and FOUND LA is a key piece in our plans to build the next great global lifestyle media brand. Interested parties should drop us a line at found@itsfoundla.com.
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale properties on Belle Meade that came to market in the last 30 days.
→ 881 NE 71st St (Belle Meade) • 4BR/2BA, 2124 SF house • Ask: $1.995M • updated with new roof, AC, windows & doors • Days on market: 18 • Annual taxes: $25,027 • Agents: Stefan Segall & Li Bensimon, Compass.
→ 776 NE 73rd St (Belle Meade, above) • 4BR/3BA, 2162 SF house • Ask: $2.498M • renovated by co-founder of Mandolin Bistro • Days on market: 10 • Annual taxes: $24,171 • Agent: Geane Brito, Compass.
→ 736 NE 77th St (Belle Meade, above) • 4BR/4.1BA, 3774 SF house • Ask: $4.5M • new construction with rooftop A/C deck and summer kitchen gazebo • Days on market: 22 • Annual taxes: $8308 • Agents: Juan Zuluaga & Sergio Giraldo, Coldwell Banker.
MIAMI WORK AND PLAY LINKS: First direct wallet-to-wallet crypto real estate sale completed at new development The Rider • Exterior work progresses at 45-story Viceroy Brickell in Financial District • New private club Beach Club by Proper debuts today on South Beach • Office reports: Gen Z is leading charge back to office… but the office as we know it is never coming back… so turn out the fluorescent lights • Does a wine’s vintage actually matter?
CULTURE & LEISURE • True Skate
Street League Skateboarding • Championship Tour • Watsco Center (Coral Gables) • Sat @ 12p, section 113, $105 per
Red Bulls v Inter Miami • Chase Stadium (Ft Lauderdale) • Sat @ 730p • section 101, $153 per
Air Supply • Magic City Casino (Little Havana) • Sat @ 8p • section 107, $205 per
WORK • Thursday Routine
Ride or die
DIEGO OJEDA • president • Rilea Group
Neighborhood you work in: Brickell and Wynwood
Neighborhood you live in: Key Biscayne
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Thursday mornings at Rilea Group are all about momentum. Our team is in the office early, diving into a mix of project updates, design sessions, and strategic discussions. As the president, I often move between meetings with architects, engineers, and project managers to ensure everything aligns with our vision. Our new project The Rider — a 12-story, 146 turnkey-unit boutique condo in Wynwood — has been an especially exciting focus. We’re constantly evolving the concept, making sure every detail reflects the unique, creative energy of the neighborhood.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Following strong recent sales momentum, we’re in the process of converting reservation agreements for The Rider into hard contracts, and we’re excited to see progress into the next phase.
Any bar or restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
No weekend would be complete without a trip to Midtown and Wynwood. Soho Pool House is awesome. I love Pastis in Wynwood.
How about a little leisure or culture?
Walt Grace Vintage is a favorite for both guitars and cars. We truly enjoy live music and enjoyed the Country Bay Music Festival last fall at Miami Marine Stadium. We got to experience an incredible lineup, with headliners like Zac Brown Band and Carrie Underwood performing right off the shores of Virginia Key. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy the music scene along with the natural beauty of Miami’s coastline.
Any weekend getaways?
Boating in Key Biscayne is one of our favorites. Being on the water there, with the views of the Miami skyline on one side and the open ocean on the other, is an experience like no other. It’s a chance for us to disconnect and enjoy the beauty of South Florida from a different perspective, whether we’re anchored at a sandbar or just cruising. For a little more adventure, we love going to the Bahamas for some spearfishing and relaxing with a nice cold Kalik Bahamian beer.
What was your last great vacation?
We went to The Cliffs in North Carolina for Thanksgiving with the Blue Ridge Mountains as our backdrop. This area offers a great balance of outdoor activities and relaxation, with hiking trails, scenic drives, and cozy family meals together.
BARS • First Round
Bus this table
The Skinny: Situated on the tropical back patio of the historic Miami River Inn, River House Wine & Bar is a new wine shop and cocktail bar that opened in March, with a wood-burning pizza oven and cooler full of DIY charcuterie — making it Little Havana’s instant go-to for laid-back outdoor good times.
The Vibe: Originally built in 1908, the pastel-yellow clapboard home evokes Key West vernacular architecture on a compound featuring century-old buildings and a palm tree-filled patio. River House is set on the Inn’s back patio, beneath outdoor chandeliers draped amidst the foliage. But perhaps its most distinct feature is an old Canyon City Lines bus, retrofitted with chairs and cocktail tables. You can grab a bottle of wine from the racks in the original lobby, then pop it open and relax in the bus or one of the outdoor tables. The outdoor pizza kitchen sits just off the tables, and there’s live music on Friday nights.
The Drinks: The bar trades heavily in wine, organized by country and region. If you're overwhelmed, the staff is happy to point you in the right direction. There are also craft beers from Doral brewery Prison Pals. The cocktail menu is short, made up of drinks with clever names like the Bonny and Clyde, with mezcal and tropical fruit.
The Verdict: River House Wine & Bar is a winner, fusing history with a touch of in-the-know cool that offers a relaxing, off-the-beaten-path experience. –Matt Meltzer
→ River House Wine & Bar (Little Havana) • 437 SW 2nd St • Wed-Sun 6p-1a.
GETAWAYS LINKS: In the Keys, a classic tiki bar gets a glow-up • New W Punta Cana set to start welcoming guests starting in June • Beachside villas opening soon at Jamaica’s Half Moon • The perils of Kyoto, a perfect city • Inside the country’s saddest airport lounge.
RESTAURANTS • The Nines
Eats, Cinco de Mayo
The Nines are FOUND's distilled lists of the best in Miami and surrounds. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@itsfoundmiami.com.
Coyo Taco (Wynwood & various locations, above), tacos, DJs, mariachi, outdoor games; $5 margaritas across the board, May 2-5