A First Look at Miami Beach’s New Serene Stunner, Forte dei Marmi

Part restaurant, part arts club, Forte dei Marmi is Miami’s latest Italian hotspot. Setting up shop at 150 Ocean Drive in a 1938 Mediterranean-revival building, it’s a “salon-style restaurant “and arts club under the direction of a two Michelin-starred chef Antonio Mellino and his son, Raffaele.

Antonio is known for his restaurant Quattro Passi on Italy’s Amalfi coast and in London’s Mayfair neighborhood. On the Forte dei Marmi expect classic Italian dishes like beef carpaccio, linguini, lobster risotto, and branzino.

The 120 seat, two-story space, which was most recently Cavalli, was renovated by Miami-based architect Chad Oppenheim who also collaborated on the design interiors with Milan-based designer Henry Timi, with imported hand made materials from Italy. The restaurant space is inspired by the “Tuscan seaside” with a variety of light natural colors, wood and marble decorating the space. The upstairs arts lounge plans to feature a variety of performances, talks, screenings and musical performances by artist-in-residence and composer Ricardo Romaneiro.

The restaurant is now open daily from 6 to 11 p.m. Call 786-276-3095 for more information.