The Collab at THesis Hotel Miami
While Miami’s South Beach and the Florida Keys may be home to some notoriously excellent restaurants, there are also dozens and dozens of other fabulous food finds making waves in between.
Just south of Miami, the tony neighborhoods stretching through Coral Gables have become a hotbed of culinary creativity. Some of the world’s top chefs are laying down roots in the “Beautiful City” in areas that include the famed “Miracle Mile,” the reinvented Geralda Plaza, and many other “Downtown Streetscapes.”
There are currently eight James Beard or Michelin-Awarded Chefs who are creating inventive, global-infused cuisines that span the borders of Italy, Spain, and Asia to Latin America, the Caribbean, and beyond.
Michelin award-winner Chef Donatella Arpaia has transformed the former Redfish Grill into Noma Beach at Redfish. As Coral Gables’ only waterfront restaurant, her latest digs are unrivaled for Italian-infused, seafood-centric dishes that are even more stunning than the views.
Noma Beach at Redfish, Coral Gables
At the THesis Hotel, Celebrity Chef Nicolas “Nico” Mazier is the headliner at both of the hotel’s highly acclaimed restaurants. With a lineup of full-fusion dishes, his vibrant global cuisine at Mamey Miami is one of the reasons his star continues to rise. It’s also where you can immerse yourself in an unexpected tsunami of flavors that shine in both his shareable and main plates.
Often referred to as a “Culinary Maestro,” Mazier’s innovative approach to gastronomy continues to go full throttle at The Collab. Also located at the THesis Hotel, Mazier’s cutting-edge Mediterranean and Asian venue heralds his innovative approach to gastronomy. With an eclectic mix of light fare and shareable plates, all created with seasonal ingredients, his menu is both traditional and contemporary.
At Luca Osteria on Giralda Plaza, you can revel in creative Italian classics and indulgent, house-made pasta that is absolutely out of this world. Celebrity Chef/Owner Giorgio Rapicavoli, also renowned for Coral Gables’ wildly popular “Eating House,” is at the top of his game here.
Chef/Owner Khoa Duong is the ninja of everything sushi at his fun Mai Sushi Tapas & Bar on Miracle Mile. Pull up a kimono-draped seat at the bar and watch the magic unfold as Duong whips up his signature rolls and imaginative sushi and sashimi specials.
Michelin-starred chef Michael White’s new coastal Mediterranean restaurant, MIKA, at The Plaza, is also buzz-worthy. A James Beard Award winner and the brainchild of Central Park’s celebrated Marea restaurant, White’s newest venue is terrific with show-stopping starters, adventurous pasta creations, and masterful main plates.
At Shingo, a classic Omakase den on Alhambra Circle, Michelin-starred Chef Shingo Akikuni masters the art of “Omakase-style” dining. This elaborate and ritualized experience includes a unique selection of chef-chosen dishes designed around seasonal ingredients. The sleek 14-seat Hinoki wood counter provides a ringside seat to all the action. It’s where you’ll see Chef Akikuni, a fourth-generation sushi chef from Osaka, create his signature handcrafted sushi platters, seasonal sashimi, traditional Japanese nigiri, and Yakimono dishes. Put this one on your Bucket List.