As Formula One fever takes over South Florida from May 2–4, the action isn’t just on the track — it’s also at the most in-demand restaurants, rooftop lounges, and supper club scenes. Whether you’re in the mood for a Michelin-starred meal, waterfront cocktails, or a spot to see and be seen, these are the reservations worth racing to.
Boia De: A beloved neighborhood restaurant and one of Miami’s toughest reservations, Boia De is a labor of love from talented chef couple and James Beard Award nominees Luciana Giangrandi and Alex Meyer. The restaurant was recently honored by the Michelin Guide as one of the first restaurants in Florida to receive a star. Located in Miami’s up and coming Little Haiti neighborhood, the funky, intimate eatery boasts a retro-modern style, comfortably chic furnishings and a modern American menu with Italian influences. The straightforward menu embraces sharing, with a focus on local, seasonal ingredients and quality proteins, while the wine list offers 75 selections of both Old and New World vintages with a focus on low intervention wines. Boia De, located at 5205 NE Second Avenue, is open for dinner nightly. For more information, please visit www.boiaderestaurant.com or call (305) 967-8866. Instagram and Facebook: @boiderestaurant.
Walrus Rodeo: The newest concept from Luciana Giangrandi and Alex Meyer, the team behind Miami’s Michelin-starred Boia De, along with chef/partner Jeff Maxfield, revolves around a central wood-fire oven, offering seriously good food in a buzzy, bright and vibrant setting. Located just steps from Boia De, in an unassuming Little Haiti shopping center the restaurant’s name was selected for its ambiguity and connotations of fun. No ambiguity exists about the stand out menu, with dishes served up straight from the wood oven, like Lasagna with lamb ragu, mustard greens and stracchino and Béchamel Charbroiled Island Creek Oyster with Franciacorta cream, jalapeño hot sauce, and brown butter brioche crumble; and the Spicy OG pizza with boquerones, melted shallots, oregano and maple brown butter. Chef Maxfield, a Miami restaurant veteran who honed his skills overseeing Toscana Divino, Ironside Pizza and LTD Café, as well as serving as corporate chef for Chef Brad Kilgore’s award-winning concepts is the perfect complement to Giangrandi and Meyer’s culinary skills and impressive work ethic. Walrus Rodeo is located at 5431 NE Second Avenue. Open for dinner every night but Wednesdays. For additional information visit, www.walrusrodeo.com.
Bourbon Steak: James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Mina’s, modern, American steakhouse at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa, Bourbon Steak offers a timeless dining experience that encompasses all the traditions expected of a steakhouse with whimsical twists. The restaurant celebrates over ten years of wowing diners with its all-natural, organic, and hormone free cuts of beef tempered in herb-infused butter, then grilled over wood to order. Guests can have their choice of prime cuts ranging from Japanese A5 and American Wagyu beef or a selection of dry-age meats. A Wine Spectator Award-winning cellar offers more than 850 select wines, while the bar highlights classic American cocktails. Imagined by designer Tony Chi, the restaurant offers refined, private dining rooms and the stylish Tasting Room for parties of up to 30 guests. BOURBON STEAK is located at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa at 19999 West Country Club Drive in Aventura. For reservations, please call (786) 279-6600; Instagram: @BOURBONSTEAKMIA; For more information please visit the website HERE.
La Fuga, the Kimpton Shorebreak Fort Lauderdale Beach Resorts signature restaurant on the lobby level, showcases coastal Italian cuisine from Executive Chef Michael Mayer. The restaurant welcomes guests with comfortable booths and a buzzy central bar complimented perfectly by live jazz entertainment Thursday through Saturday evenings. The menu offers a bevy of Italian favorites including salads, pastas, and entrees including plenty of seafood options. Highlights include Polpette di Vitello, Risotto Cacio e Pepe all’Osso Buco, Pesce Spada alla Siciliana and Lasagne al Forno. La Fuga also has a stellar bar program featuring classic and innovative cocktails, exquisite wine selections, and beer. For those who want to get an early start to their day, La Fuga offers breakfast daily as well from 7AM to 11AM. Happy Hour is available daily at La Fuga from 5PM to 7PM with specially priced bites and drinks. La Fuga is located at 2900 Riomar Street. For more information, visit www.shorebreakfortlauderdale.com; Telephone: (954) 908-7301.
SEE + BE SEEN – THE HAUTE TABLE
Anthony’s Runway 84 is one of South Florida’s most legendary dining institutions and is forty years fabulous! The celebrity magnet and predecessor to the likes of Café Martorano and Carbone, known for its Italian-American cookery, Goodfellas glam and dinner party vibe, reopened in January 2023 after a $4 million makeover. For its new incarnation, partners Anthony Bruno, Marc Falsetto and Pat Marzano created a cool, contemporary supper club with nods to its storied past, from its famous rigatoni cauliflower and meatballs and Sunday gravy to classic artwork and celebrity wall of fame. Taking cues from the restaurant’s rich 40-year history and the storied lives of its owners, Bigtime Design Studios reimagined the space with a live music lounge featuring a gorgeous new grand piano and dramatic crystal chandelier; a tony new bar complete with an elevated cocktail program and a dramatic dining room that evokes the spirit of the old-school supper clubs. The menu for Runway 84 is a tempting mix of classics, favorites and new offerings sure to wow longtime fans as well as the uninitiated. Runway 84 is located at 330 West State Road 84 in Fort Lauderdale. Telephone: (954) 467-8484; website: www.runway-84.com.
POWER LUNCH
Sixty Vines: Recently opened at Miami World Center and on Fort Lauderdale’s bustling Las Olas Boulevard, Sixty Vines is a globally inspired and seasonally sourced restaurant that is taking South Florida by storm. With a mandate to demystify wine and a pinkies down attitude, Sixty Vines is bringing wine country to Florida via its innovative and eco-friendly wine on tap program. With menus to match, the dining experience – perfect for sharing – offers a lively and delicious addition to the South Florida dining scene. Guests can enjoy signature dishes including charcuterie boards, hand tossed pizzas, pastas, burgers and main plates. In addition to the wine offerings by the glass, half glass, carafe, flight and more, there are creative specialty cocktails, beers and non-alcoholic options. Open daily for lunch and dinner and weekend Brunch and a daily Happy Hour, more information including menus, reservations, hours and more at www. Sixtyvines.com. Sixty Vines Fort Lauderdale is located at 800 E Las Olas Blvd, and Sixty Vines Miami is located at 150 NE 8th St #135.
WATERFRONT DINING
Lona Cocina & Tequileria: Celebrated chef Pablo Salas’ chic Mexican eatery opened in January 2018 in Fort Lauderdale on a stunning strip of beachfront real estate. Lona offers Salas’ eclectic, soulful Mexican cuisine with a modern twist in a chic, yet funky environment, complete with a gorgeous indoor/outdoor bar, casually elegant interior dining room, a special tequila tasting room and multiple private dining spaces. A tattoo devotee, Salas’ body is a living canvas and the restaurant – a clean slate – the canvas for his authentic culinary creations. The menu is diverse, affordably priced and a definitive step above what passes for “Mexican food” in South Florida. Seating both indoor and outdoor, the bar offers a selection of craft cocktails, freshly-made margaritas (no premade mixes here), and Micheladas, all perfect for the beachfront vibe. With daily Happy Hour specials, live DJ’s and expansive ocean views of the Atlantic, Lona is one of the most sought-after dining and imbibing destinations in Fort Lauderdale. Lona Cocina & Tequileria is located at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort at 321 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. For further information, phone (954) 245-3069; lonarestaurant.com.
ROOFTOP VIBES
Escape Rooftop Bar: Located at the Kimpton Shorebreak Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, Escape Rooftop Bar offers one of the best intracoastal views in the entire city. Serving sunsets daily, the west-facing rooftop is an imbibers paradise and the ideal location for stellar libations while watching the sunset. Guests can enjoy the creative new slate of craft cocktails, rosé by the glass and bottle as well as local craft beer, and canned cocktails. Lunch options include Prosciutto Bruschetta; Mussels Escabeche and Croquettes, as well as fresh salads such as a classic Caesar, Greek Quinoa,and Shrimp & Avocado. Handhelds include Falafel, Fennel Crusted Ahi Tuna, Porchetta Panini, and an Escape Burger among others. Later on, the menu shifts to just tapas, perfect for a pre-dinner snack. Among Escape’s offerings are specialty signature cocktails named for their flavor profile that offer a relaxed, balanced taste of the tropics. Sunset Hour is available daily with select additional items on offer, a special Sunset Hour signature cocktail in addition to rosé by the glass and bottle for the 30 minutes prior to and after sunset. Escape Rooftop Bar is located at 2900 Riomar Street. For more information, please visit www.shorebreakfortlauderdale.com; Telephone: (954) 908-7301. Images: Escape Rooftop Bar
STAY
JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa: Tucked away on 300 acres between Miami and Fort Lauderdale this iconic Miami resort recently made its debut as JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa in December 2018 with a brand new 16-story Orchid Tower comprised of 325 rooms, doubling the current capacity of the resort to 685 rooms and suites. In Summer 2019, they introduced Tidal Cove, a five-acre poolscape with a lazy river, water slides and 25 luxury cabanas and two restaurants. A tropical oasis with a culture of accessible luxury and enriching experiences, the resort is renowned for its two championship golf courses redesigned by Raymond Floyd, the state-of-the-art âme Spa & Wellness Collective, Celebrity Chef Michael Mina’s award-winning BOURBON STEAK restaurant, dining destination CORSAIR kitchen & bar, 121,000 square feet of meetings space, and the engaging Turnberry Kids camp. JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa is a part of Marriott’s exclusive JW Marriott portfolio and a recent US News & World Report Best Hotel in Miami. It is located at 19999 West Country Club Drive in Aventura, FL. For more information, please visit the website HERE.
Kimpton Shorebreak Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort is a hidden gem – a hip 96-room boutique hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach tucked away from A1A. Boasting mid-century design, two pools, lush foliage throughout the grounds, and plenty of spots to kick back and relax, the three-story resortcombines laid-back ambiance with attentive service and unparalleled dining, imbibing, and entertainment options. Originally opened in 1949, the property was the first hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach to have a swimming pool so close to the ocean and first to stay open year-round. In sharp contrast to the multi-storied hotels on AIA, the retro three-story property’s architecture and inimitable design evokes the casual elegance of Palm Springs in an elevated yet accessible setting while providing a respite for those who appreciate its grown-up milieu in a location just steps from the action. The same things that make the Shorebreak a great hotel destination for travelers are also a draw for locals looking for a neighborhood destination offering a great bar, restaurant and atmosphere to call their own. The Kimpton Shorebreak Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort is located at 2900 Riomar Street. For more information, visit www.shorebreakfortlauderdale.com; Telephone: (954) 908-7301.
