Where To Eat In Miami Beach During Art Basel 2015
Oh Art Basel, a.k.a Miami Art Week. How we love your world-class exhibits big and small; your hundreds of celebrities, artists, and tastemakers descending upon the city; and your myriad of parties that run from dusk till dawn. But most of all, of course, we love that every year around this time, new restaurants and pop-ups open just in time to feed the world's artistic elite. If you're lucky enough to be coming to the Magic City (or are already here), we've outlined the hottest stops and newest openings for food, drink, and more during this enchanted time, from fine dining to late night snacks.
Alter
Smack in the middle of the "non-official Basel" Basel scene (galleries, street performances, etc.) of Miami's artsy Wynwood/Design District comes Alter, from local chef/wunderkind Brad Kilgore. Opened in June 2015, Alter's inventive and complex dishes such as soft egg with sea scallop espuma, chive, truffle pearls, and gruyere have been greatly pleasing to the sophisticated, in-the-know foodie crowd. For the five nights of Art Week (December 1 through 5), Alter is partnering with renowned reservation service Table8 to host a series of ticketed dinners, featuring a special tasting menu from Kilgore. Expect dishes like carnaroli risotto with escargot, parsley butter, chicken skin, and Boursin; prime strip with cubeb pepper, salsify bone marrow, first growth bordelaise, and onion roots; and a dessert of chocolate and mint: dark Araguani chocolate mousse, black mint ice cream, hibiscus, and chartreuse. Two seatings per night (7:00 and 9:30 p.m.) will be offered, and guests can choose between a five or seven course menu ($80/$110 with wine). Advanced tickets are required and can be purchased.
BH Burger Bar, St. Regis Bal Harbour
A bit removed from the hustle and bustle of South Beach is the St. Regis Bal Harbour — a refined hotel directly on the white sands of Miami Beach. While the scene at the St. Regis is decidedly chic, their newest food offerings extremely un-snobby. The recently opened (and honestly adorable) Burger Bar is reminiscent of the numerous high-end, gourmet burger joints spread around Manhattan. Red leather banquettes and a bar with hanging flat screen TV's set the scene of the relaxed space. The menu features customizable burgers (traditional or Wagyu) with a myriad of customizable options (bun, toppings, sauces, extras) as well as gourmet franks, sides (duck fat fries or tater tots), and indulgent shakes (there's even a very impressive vegan burger made of chickpeas and oats). The drinks were well-chosen here — local craft beer and wines perfectly quenches the thirsts of hungry beefeaters.
Driftwood Room
There's an important new opening in South Beach, as it's the first from Jason Pomeranc's SIXTY hotel group, Nautilus Hotel. The outpost includes a 200-seat restaurant from Food Network star Alex Guarnaschelli; the Driftwood Room, which is "inspired by the casual grace and energy of European beach clubs." The menu at the elegant indoor-outdoor dining spot features Miami-meets-Europe dishes like cobia crudo with piquillo peppers, tomatoes and basil; Florida head-on shrimp finished with a green apple chimichurri; and roasted whole cauliflower with hazelnuts, rock salt and lemon (seriously, order the cauliflower). The sophisticated yet comfortable mid-century modern design sets a pleasing scene. Operated by China Grill Management, the menu is accompanied by a well-edited wine from Master Sommelier Laura Maniec. Next door to the restaurant is the super cool Bridge Room, a cozy mini-library type of room that is perfect for private events.
Fooq's
While not brand new, Fooq's —opened nine months ago — has had a serious impact on the Miami food scene, and this will be its first year serving the Basel crowd. Located in the heart of Downtown Miami's Arts and Entertainment District, Fooq's, from restaurateur David Foulquier ("unofficially" trained by close family friend Daniel Boulud) serves "feel good food" in an "urban, yet distinctly cozy setting." The kitchen is a mélange of culinary backgrounds — Foulquier is Persian and French while new executive chef Bryan Rojas (who recently left Michael Schwartz's Cypress Room) is Colombian. The fare is high-end comfort food, with an ever-changing menu that offers mainstays like deliciously light meatballs, the trio of jars (fillings change daily, but look for various tapenades and spreads), a Persian lamb shank for two, and the Bouillabaisse of seafood stew, blue mussels, clams, saffron, fennel, potatoes, and aioli. While the food has made its mark on the city, the décor is a buzzed about element as well — particularly the bathroom decorated by Grateful Dead paraphernalia.
Izzys's Fish & Oyster
Not only is Izzy's (from beloved Miami chef, Jamie DeRosa, formerly of Tongue & Cheek)one of the hottest new openings in town, but the restaurant is doing a special happy hour during Miami Art Week from 11 p.m. to midnight. This "last call" will include half-off oysters, drink specials, and late night bites. During normal business hours, check out DeRosa's tribute to his summers in Narragansett with dishes like the lobster roll that can be ordered warm or cold, depending on your allegiance; fried clam bellies; and fish and chips.
Le Zoo
While shopping for Balenciaga, McQueen, and Chanel outfits for Art Basel at Bal Harbour shops, one must dine at Stephen Starr's new French restaurant, Le Zoo. The restaurateur, one of the country's most renowned, recently opened his second post at the extravagant mall (his Makoto restaurant next door is already a mainstay). Le Zoo is "inspired by a fictional location on the French Riviera." The casual French fair is helmed by executive chef Craig Wallen, who joins Le Zoo after three years at the helm of Cesca in New York City. Menu highlights of the brasserie include classics like mushroom tart, escargots, steak frites, and trout amandine; while the chicken paillard is an excellent and light mid-day dish. The wine carafe program is a great way to try some new pourings as well.
Michy's Pop-Up
For the third year in a row, celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein will host two concepts within a pop-up in the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens, just across the street from the Convention Center, where the "real" Art Basel is held. During the day, The Garden Café is the perfect spot for breakfast, lunch or grab-n'-go gourmet fare. For night time, Michy's Pop-Up signals a limited engagement return of her celebrated restaurant Michy's, which she recently closed, renovated and reopened on the mainland as CENA by Michy. Housed in the Banyan Room and on its terrace, Michy's serves a sophisticated dinner menu of Bernstein signatures and new favorites. They're in operation from November 30 through December 6.
Momo Sushi Pop-Up
For those who still need a dose of New York City even when they're away, stop by the Mondrian South Beach and grab a bit at the limited-time popup from Brooklyn-based Momo Sushi Shack. Located in the Sunset Lounge (look for the large bar), Momo is a great option for a quick and light bite before heading out to the parties (or between events). Momo Sushi Shack is a Michelin Guide-recommended Bushwick, Brooklyn-based Japanese restaurant — known for exceptional sushi as well as extensive vegetarian and vegan options (check out the mushroom roll). The Mondrian's executive chef, Dustin Atoigue, is just the right person to helm the Japanese pop-up (here through January), as he was previously the executive chef of Katsuya. And because the Mondrian is situated on the west side of South Beach (i.e. a breath away from the "scene"), the terrace offers a breathtaking sunset view, as well as a brightly lit glimpse of downtown Miami.
Palmeiras Beach Club
One of Miami's most famed and secluded locations, Grove Isle (Pitbull is a big fan), has recently redone its hotel, spa, and restaurant, and is set to open Palmeiras Beach Club in the midst of Basel week on December 2. The new resort, located on the lush island just a quarter mile off the mainland, will offer a myriad of dining experiences from celebrated chef Alfredo Alvarez (who opened the hot spot Seasalt & Pepper on the Miami River last year). The breathtaking main dining room will feature indoor and outdoor seating as well as a 20-seat private dining room, and will present a Mediterranean menu with dishes evocative of the Spanish, French, Italian and Greek coasts. The restaurant will also offer a Perrier-Jouët Chef's Table and private dining room that seats up to 20 guests. On the generously sized outdoor patio, Palmeiras will feature a large area known as the Taittinger Lounge where guests can sip cocktails by day or night as they enjoy music, a magnificent ambiance and delicious bites from either the main dining room or a special pool menu. The opening is so new, this stop will certainly be an adventurous "look and see" for the most curious.
Sunny's At The Hall/The Surf Lodge
There's room for two Top Chef contestants in this town (even if they did compete on the exact same season), and Spike Mendelsohn is proving just that at Sunny's at The Hall (Joie de Vivre's first‐ever East Coast hotel). The relaxed restaurant, situated in the newly renovated hotel, is located in the heart of South Beach — offering a great option for a mid-day art break or a late night meal. The poolside juice bar with fresh drinks (which you can "Spike" of course) is a fitting pick-me-up for afternoon exhaustion. The food is inspired by Mendelsohn's travels around the world, particularly the seaside cafes and beach bars he so enjoys. The breakfast, all-day and dinner menus feature dishes like Gulf Coast grilled grouper "Reuben" made with Swiss cheese & sauerkraut; the light and flavorful lifeguard focaccia Myrtos beach-style made with ripe cherry tomatoes, feta, dried oregano, and Greek olive oil on sea-soaked bread; and the Jersey Shore pork roll breakfast sandwich created with ham, American cheese, a sunny-side up egg and root vegetables on a bulky roll.
Additionally, during Art Basel week, famed Montauk, New York hot spot The Surf Lodge will do a partial takeover of Sunny's featuring private dinners and parties (if you can get in) as well as a public pop-up shop with brands like Studio 189 from Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah, and free Equinox wellness classes Wednesday through Friday at 10 a.m.
Talde Miami Beach
Dale Talde isn't just a two-time Top Chef competitor, he also worked under names like Jean Georges Vongerichten and Masaharu Morimoto, before going on to spearhead one of Brooklyn's most beloved restaurants, TALDE. Now, the chef and his team have brought their creative take on Asian American fare to the Thompson Miami Beach. Dig into signature items like pretzel pork and chive dumplings with tahini mustard, the (seriously finger licking) Korean fried chicken with spicy kimchee yogurt sauce, and a truly flavorful whole roasted Branzino, all while surrounded by graffitied walls and contemporary artwork. TALDE also appeals to a unique and cool dining audience who like to eat and drink late into the night, as the kitchen is open until 2 a.m. on weekends.
Wynwood Diner
Art hopping in gallery central can get tiring, so when the need arises for a casual but fun bite, check out the new Wynwood Diner. A visually pleasing venue located in Miami's most artsy neighborhood, Wynwood Diner offers a cool new take on the classic American diner. Casual but lively, the restaurant provides a comfortable escape in the midst of the craziness. The multifunctional venue includes three distinct spaces — an indoor diner, a café, and an outdoor patio with music, each featuring a somewhat different vibe. Don't plan on any eating any overly greasy or bland food here — dishes range from truffled cheese fries to kale and quinoa salad to chicken & waffles to a daily frittatas. And the cocktails (from Broken Shaker veteran Vanessa Hulsey) are not to be missed. Added bonus for night-hoppers: it's open late!