Miami’s Most Anticipated Restaurants and Bars, Fall 2018

As Miami’s “quiet season” — or this year, not-so-quiet season — comes to an end, it’s time to put the restaurant openings in full force again. Plenty of heavy hitters are coming to the Magic City this fall including new restaurants from celebrities like Pitbul and Pharrell, award-winning chefs like Brad Kilgore, and newcomers like Mexican chef Javier Plascencia. Here are the 20 bars and restaurants to look forward to the most this fall.

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Abi Maria

Key Players: Jorgie Ramos and the Barley Team

Address: 8880 SW 72 Place

A new bar from the team behind Kendall’s Barley, it’ll be inspired by pre-Castro Havana featuring classic Latin cocktails, frozen drinks like Daiquiris, an oyster program and light bites.

Projected Opening: Late September 2018

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Central Fare

Key Players: Florida East Coast Industries, MiamiCentral and Brightline

Address: 550 NW MiamiCentral AvenueMiami, Downtown Miami

The food hall planned for inside MiamiCentral — the home of the new Brightline’s Miami Station — will feature more than 20 different vendors from groceries, quick grab-and-go food to more formal sit down options from places like Rosetta Bakery, 800 Degrees, Kuenko and more.

Projected Opening: November 2018

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iLov305 Steakhouse & Nightlife

Key Players: Pitbull, Sugar Factory American Brasserie

Address: 1060 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach

Mister 305 himself, Pitbull, together with team behind Sugar Factory American Brasserie will unveil iLov305 Steakhouse and Nightlife with a “Havana-club aesthetic” featuring three VIP rooms, a private lounge and four bars featuring specialty cocktails, plus Latin-meets-American comfort food.

Projected Opening: November 2018

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Pink Pie

Key Players: Michael McGowan, Paloma Machado-McGowan

Address: 170 NW 26th Street, Wynwood

South Florida-based pie shop, Pink Pie, will open its first brick-and-mortart shop offering both sweet and savory mini pies, “pies’cream sandwiches” and pie milkshakes with the available flavors of the day, plus an extensive coffee program.

Projected Opening: Late September 2018

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Swan & Bar Bevy

Key Players: David Grutman, Pharrell Williams, Jean Imbert

Address: 90 NE 39th Street, Miami Design District

David Grutman and Pharrell Williams are partnering up for the first time restaurant and bar in the Miami Design District. On the first floor will be the swanky and “Instagramable” Swan, led by Top Chef Europe’s season three winner chef Jean Imbert, while the second floor will house Bar Bevy, a bohemian-meets-chic bar and lounge.

Projected Opening: November 2018

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Kaido

Key Players: Brad Kilgore, Nico de Soto

Address: 151 NE 41st Street, Miami Design District

This Asian and Japanese-inspired cocktail lounge will be the first of two spots Brad Kilgore will debut in the next few months. The Tokyo-style drinking den will feature cocktails by in-house mixologist Nico de Soto and Asian dishes developed by Kilgore.

Projected Opening: November 2018

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Donna Mare Tratorria & Bungalow by the Sea

Key Players: Hersha Hospitality, Chef-Partner Manuel Mattei

Address: 3925 Collins Avenue

Both eateries, located within the soon-to-be open Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, are spearheaded by Mattei but will feature very different cuisine. Donna Mare will pay homage to Mattei’s Italian roots with traditional Italian fare and seafood, wood-fired pizzas, meats and house-made pastas. Bungalow by the Sea on the other hand will be an ocean-view venue surrounded by tropical palms and will offer a raw bar complimented by the largest assortment of rosé on the beach.

Projected Opening: September 10, 2018

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Gold of Naples and Passione Napoletana

Key Players: Raffaele Tramma, Ciro Adamo, and Luigi Esposito

Address: 2621 NW 2nd Avenue, Unit 28, Wynwood

These two eateries will open at the same time and be joined together by a shared patio. Gold of Naples will offer more casual, street food fare, while Passione Napoletana will serve more than 30 different types of pizzas along with pastas and other Neapolitan dishes.

Projected Opening: Late-September/Early October 2018

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800° Woodfired Kitchen

Key Players: Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem, Anthony Carron

Address: 956 Aventura Boulevard, Suite C-3, Aventura

Heat players Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem are bringing 800° Woodfired Kitchen to the East Coast. The mini-chain offers up dishes like pizzas, rotisserie meats, salads and bowls, appetizers and more.

Projected Opening: Early Fall 2018

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PEZ Cocina de Mariscos Estilo Tijuana

Key Players: Javier Plascencia

Address: 20 W Flagler Street, Downtown Miami

This Baja-Med seafood concept by Javier Plascencia, will offer up dishes from city of Tijuana with flavors from Mexico, the Mediterranean and Japan.

Projected Opening: October 2018

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Taquiza South Beach

Key Players: Steve Santana

Taquiza’s “Casa de Masa” is heading back to its South Beach roots after the sudden closure of its original Miami Beach location earlier this year. Its new location will feature the same menu that made the original location so popular, plus a full liquor license that will keep the cocktails flowing into the wee hours of the night.

Projected Opening: November 2018

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CVLTVRA Cocina de Mercado

Key Players: CGI Merchant Group, Sebastian La Rocca.

Address: 1100 Biscayne Boulevard, Downtown Miami

CVLTVRA located in the ME Miami Hotel will feature a menu of dishes showcasing chef Sebastian La Rocca’s studies around the world and his Latin American roots with 30 different small and medium size plates intended for sharing.

Projected Opening: October 2018

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Guy & the Bird

Key Players: Roy Starobinsky, Ilan Sitt & Pablo Melgarejo

Address: 13408 Biscayne Blvd, North Miami

Guy & The Bird will offer yakitori cuisine “with a twist” paired with rotisserie offerings in North Miami, along with a sake program and a variety of wine and beer choices.

Projected Opening: Late October/Early November 2018

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La Cerveceria de Barrio

Key Players: V&E Restaurant Group

Address: 836 Lincoln Road

La Cerveceria de Barrio is bringing its first U.S. location to Lincoln Road. With more than 35 restaurants in Mexico, La Cerveceria serves up classic Mexican cuisine like fish tacos, tuna steaks and beef burritos, plus a large variety of beers and margaritas.

Projected Opening: August 31, 2018

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El Santo

Key Players: Roman Jones

Address: 1620 SW 8th Street, Miami

A self-described “kitschy” church-inspired Mexican restaurant and late night spot featuring eclectic, religious Tarantino-inspired decor, plus live music, Mariachis and immersive ambiance. The menu features Mexican tapas, shared plates and an extensive tequila and mezcal menu. Next door, there will be housed a street-food stye taco shop named Santo, dedicated to one of lucha libre’s most famous luchadores and folk heroes.

Projected Opening: Late November 2018

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Mandrake

Key Players: Roman Jones, Aris Nanos and Mark Lehmkuhl

Address: 210 23rd Street, Miami Beach

An Asian restaurant and cocktail bar featuring high-end sushi and Asian fare prepared by Nobu alums served in a colorful, French-Indochine style dining room. Mandrake will feature an illuminated sushi bar and floral banquets, and a lively dinner scene. Upstairs, visit the cocktail bar for French-Asian inspired Crazy Horse-style cabaret shows and live music on select evenings.

Projected Opening: Late November 2018

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dōma

Key Players: Luca Lomonaco, Giacomo Riorda and Maurizio Farinelli

Address: 35 NE 26th Street, Wynwood

A casual Italian restaurant with an emphasis on seafood, Dōma will serve up a menu divided into bites, appetizers, pasta/risottos and mains that are meant to be an individual dish. Dōma also will also feature a wine fridge, private dining room area and outdoor dining area.

Projected Opening: Late September/Early October 2018