Still got it
Zaytinya, Symphonie Fantastique, Vinya Table, Daily Habits, FOUND LDN, sales hiring, South Coconut Grove listings, best Marlins dining, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Person
Mediterranean bazaar
When The Bazaar by José Andrés shuttered in March 2023 after more than a decade at SLS South Beach, Miami didn’t have to wait long for another restaurant from the beloved celebrity chef. Zaytinya promptly opened at the end of 2023, serving Mediterranean mezzes just a block south at The Ritz-Carlton South Beach. With the impending return of The Bazaar this fall at the soon-to-open Andaz Miami Beach (accepting reservations starting April 25 and where Andrés will oversee the entire food and beverage program), I recently checked in on Zaytinya.
I’ll admit, I’d previously dined at Zaytinya at The Ritz-Carlton Nomad in Manhattan and was deeply underwhelmed by the experience — too brightly lit, sterile design, hospitality off, food just okay. All I kept thinking was: we should be upstairs, at The Bazaar.
Still, I’ve long been a fan of Andrés, as well as the indoor-outdoor dining room by the pool at The Ritz-Carlton South Beach where the subtly sophisticated space had been undermined by a series of uninspired restaurants before Zaytinya arrived. I sat down curious to see if Andrés was bridging the gap.
The space is canopied by a wooden trellis with string lighting and lush plantings, and modern Spanish tile floors anchor baby blue cushioned benches, basket-woven chairs, and polished teak tables. We started out with a variety of mezzes and spreads: creamy hummus with plenty of garlic and tahini, pungent labneh sprinkled with za’atar, a halloumi pide flatbread, and jewel-like smoked beet salata with clementines, roasted pistachio, pomegranate, and feta. That perfectly cued up the family-style kebab platter with juicy lamb, chicken, kofte, and adana with garlic toum and pillowy pita — a beautifully orchestrated, delicious feast.
Zaytinya is a great opportunity to sample Greek and Turkish wines, like the Kir-Yianni Akakies brut rosé I started with, from Northern Greece. The cocktail menu also highlights spices, citrus, and spirits from the Mediterranean, like Greek gin and Mastiha, a Greek liqueur. Andrés knows his way around a margarita, so I went for his za’atar variety, a Mediterranean riff on his signature salt air margarita. It didn’t disappoint.
With Zaytinya in South Beach, I’m happy to report that both cuisine and service finally match the Ritz’s lovely atmosphere. Swing by for an elegant, relaxed Mediterranean snack or feast, and bide your time until The Bazaar is back on the beach. –Shayne Benowitz
→ Zaytinya (South Beach) • 1 Lincoln Rd • Sun-Thu 7a-10p, Fri-Sat 7a-11p • Reserve.
MIAMI RESTAURANT LINKS: Tâm Tâm team secretly opens new Chinese pop-up Double Luck in Shorecrest • Moody new sushi spot Matsuyoi opens above Nori Nori • Stephen Starr’s Le Zoo shuttering at Bal Harbour Shops, new concept planned • How to save a dive bar without ruining it.
CULTURE & LEISURE • FOUNDLISTING
Cello royalty and a psychedelic symphony
TRAVEL INTO BERLIOZ’S PSYCHEDELIC DREAMS: For one night only, Stéphane Denève returns to New World Symphony this month to conduct Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, a wild, opium-fueled journey of unrequited love.
Also on this program, 25-year-old star cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason (above), whose performance at the Royal Wedding in 2018 was watched by two billion people around the world, makes his New World Symphony debut with Shostakovich’s most challenging cello concerto.
The evening begins with John Williams’ Grammy-winning score for the Book Thief. Reserve your tickets today. [spon]
→ Denève: Symphonie Fantastique (Miami Beach) • 500 17th St • Sat, 4/19, 8p.
WORK • Help Wanted
Sales pitch
Big month here at FOUND HQ: We just passed 10K subscribers in Miami and are about to hit 100K across the FOUND network (more on this situation as it develops). One of the ways we’re marking the occasion is by adding to our sales team. Here’s what we’re looking for:
Creative sellers who know how to connect brands with valuable audiences
A passion for building the next generation of lifestyle media
Category expertise in Miami (and/or NYC) real estate a plus
Category expertise in national (& global) luxury, spirits, financial services a plus
Experience selling newsletter sponsorships a plus
Open to full-time and part-time candidates
We have experience building and scaling sales operations and are excited to be doing it again with FOUND, which is now delivering recommendations and intel on dining, real estate, shopping, travel, culture & leisure, and work across six markets — NY, LA, SF, Miami, London & Paris. Interested? Drop us a line at sales@itsfoundmiami.com.
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale properties in South Coconut Grove that came to market in the last 30 days.
→ 4050 Ventura Ave (South Coconut Grove, above) • 4BR/4BA, 3176 SF house • Ask: $2.99M • lush garden and courtyard, not in flood zone • Days on market: 6 • Annual taxes: $16,394 • Agents: Carole Smith & Cristina Formosa, Compass.
→ 4038 Ventura Ave (South Coconut Grove) • 4BR/3.1BA, 2868 SF house • Ask: $3.35M • renovated Mediterranean with preserved Dade County slash pine ceiling • Days on market: 27 • Annual taxes: $28,979 • Agents: Johnny Schiliro & Pietro Belmonte, Elliman.
→ 3976 Little Ave (South Coconut Grove) • 6BR/6BA, 6144 SF condo • Ask: $13.695M • restored 1920s Spanish Colonial in gated Ye Little Wood community • Days on market: 9 • Annual taxes: $52,747 • Agents: Judith Zeder & Nathan Zeder, Coldwell Banker.
MIAMI WORK AND PLAY LINKS: 700 buildings in South Florida on secret mortgage blacklist • Crypto firm Gemini opening office in Wynwood • Supreme’s first Miami store opens today in Design District • The curious case of Coconut Grove’s Miami Fine Art Gallery • Trying on all the ‘compromise pants.’
CULTURE & LEISURE • Out of My Head
Chicago • Hard Rock Live (Davie) • Sat @ 8p • section 115, $146 per
Wizards v Heat • Kaseya Center (Downtown) • Sun @ 1p, section 107, $140 per
Kylie Minogue • Kaseya Center (Downtown) • Mon @ 8p • section 107, $132 per
WORK • Thursday Routine
Breathing deep
LOLA OLIVERO • holistic esthetician & founder • Daily Habits & Daily Habits Wellness Club
Neighborhood you work in: Coral Way
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
The scent of fresh tea, eucalyptus, and lavender fills the air as my team and I prepare treatment rooms. I’m hands-on today, delivering facials and consulting with clients. Thursdays are always a good day because, for some people, the weekend is already starting. We get a great mix of clients, some preparing for an important event and others looking to relax and prep for a quiet, self-care weekend.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Today’s agenda is all about love and glow. We’re curating special treatments and self-care packages designed to pamper and uplift. I’m also finalizing details for a limited-edition facial featuring rose-infused products and crafting sweet extras for our clients — like personalized skincare samples and treats from our Tea + Snack Bar.
Any bar or restaurant plans today, tonight, or this weekend?
Thursdays are sacred for me and my friends. It’s our official Wine & Unwind Ladies’ Night. No matter how busy the week gets, we prioritize meeting up to recharge and connect: no filters, no judgment, just pure, honest connection. We rotate between cozy wine bars and restaurants around Miami, like Vinya Table in Key Biscayne and Coral Gables. It has an incredible wine selection, and we always go for an albariño or sauvignon blanc. The menu is small but consistently delicious. Lagniappe is also a classic. It gets busy, so we like to go early, grab a good table, and stay all night.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I’m a Miami Heat girl. My boyfriend has season tickets, so we go to all the games. I always learn something new, and now I’m low-key obsessed. Our section (121) is right next to all my guilty pleasures, like Skinny Louie’s burgers. I always order a double cheeseburger with bacon. Another favorite is Oakberry. I have an obsession with their acai. I’m manifesting that Bam Adebayo will come to Daily Habits for a facial because I’m a true fan.
Any weekend getaways?
I recently visited Pensacola, and it was absolutely dreamy. We took a road trip back to Miami, stopping at Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach, and along 30A. I visited so many cute coffee spots — I may have had one too many matcha lattes. One of my favorite stops was at Black Bear Bread Co. at Seaside. I also visited Raw & Juicy at Alys Beach after watching a TikTok and deciding to give it a try. I ordered the green juice, acai bowl, and almost all of their snacks. The space has such a beautiful vibe — it's like you’re in Europe.
What was your last great vacation?
I make a point to go on a retreat every year to unplug, reset, and reconnect with myself. My most recent was with Wylder Retreats in Formentera, one of the Balearic Islands, and it was nothing short of magical. For five days, I left my phone behind and immersed myself in simplicity: just me, a few good books, nourishing meals, and the calm of the island. I stayed at Villa Etosoto, the most dreamy guesthouse on the island — the decor is whitewashed walls with soft shades of blue. The views are breathtaking. And the beach was right next to us, so I was able to do sunrise and sunset yoga at the docks. Wylder curates such incredible retreats. Everyone I met was inspiring, and I loved learning about different cultures and connecting with successful women.
My next retreat is yoga and Pilates in Tuscany. All it took was one reel showing the food and landscapes to convince me. I can’t wait!
GETAWAYS • London
Happily married
This post originally appeared in FOUND LDN. Looking for a little more from across the pond? Subscribe to FOUND London, with new issues dropping each Wednesday.
The Skinny: Almost a decade after their first AngloThai pop-up, John and Desiree Chantarasak finally opened their long-delayed, hotly anticipated restaurant at the end of 2024. As the name suggests, the restaurant melds Thai fine dining with British ingredients, all sustainably and responsibly sourced. It feels like the Thai cousin of Kol, Santiago Lastra’s Mexican-British tasting menu hit (both are backed by MJMK, the genius restaurant group also behind Nuno Mendes’ Lisboeta). If you like those establishments, you’ll likely love AngloThai.
The Vibe: Off bustling Seymour Place, sweetly fragrant aromas emit from the open kitchen. Thai details dot the elegant wood interiors, which are reminiscent of Thai favourites Nahm and BoLan: the furniture was built in Chiang Mai from native wood, there’s artwork and textiles from all over Thailand, and the brass cast lighting reflects an ancient Thai craft tradition.
The Food: Expect punchy Thai flavors and plenty of spice in elegant presentations. While it launched with an à la carte offer, AngloThai has now settled into a single tasting menu of 11 courses at dinner or eight at lunch. It showcases John Chantarasak’s Thai-British heritage with highlights like beef cheek with Makrut lime curry and brioche, and wok-fired aubergine with holy basil and soy-cured egg yolk.
The Drink: Sommelier Desiree Chantarasak has curated a selection of refreshing cocktails and a wine list emphasising cooler climates, particularly Austria, to match the bold flavours of the food.
The Verdict: Years in the making but well worth the wait, AngloThai feels like a new classic. –Laura Price
→ AngloThai (Marylebone) • 22-24 Seymour Pl • Wed-Sat 12-230p, 530-10p, Tues 12-230p • Book.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Coconut Grove sushi spot Midorie expanding to West Palm Beach this fall • Brightline unveils loyalty program • Best deal for Epic Pass 25-26 expires Sunday, Icon Pass next Thurs.
ASK FOUND
First, a quick primer on how this works: You send us the pressing questions of the day (on dining, services, living in Miami and surrounds). We all put our heads together (us at FOUND, + you, FOUND subscribers, who are also FOUND) in search of truth and beauty.
Today, one FOUND subscriber PROMPT for which we seek intel:
What restaurant should we take our picky kids to that’s also somewhere I actually want to eat?
Got answers or more questions? Hit reply or email found@itsfoundmiami.com.
CULTURE & LEISURE • The Nines
Dining, loanDepot Park
The Nines are FOUND's distilled lists of the best in Miami and surrounds. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@itsfoundmiami.com.
Beisbowl (Lineup Food Hall, Section 28), quinoa, chicken, greens, black beans