Quick Hits: Haute Spots Blue Ribbon Sushi, Forte dei Marmi and more Enter Miami Scene

Miami is flooded with new haute dining and drinking spots, hotels and more this season, opening all over from Miami Beach, Brickell and beyond. We’ve rounded up a few new stars of the scene that have received our seal of approval this season. Here’s a closer look:

PLYMOUTH HOTEL / BLUE RIBBON SUSHI BAR & GRILL

Photo Credit: Plymouth Hotel

The Art Deco landmark from the 1940s has been revamped into one of South Beach’s newest haute destinations, evoking the glamour and beauty of its iconic history with a modern and refined vibe, popping with colors of blush pink, white and gold adorning the decor on the inside. While the hotel isn’t completely finished, it’s destined to be one of the city’s most coveted boutique hotels.

Photo Credit: Steve Hill

Additionally, it houses one of the most anticipated restaurants, Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar and Grill, the first Miami outpost from the famed New York restaurant. The food lives up to the hype, as the restaurant serves up some of the freshest fish around with extravagantly beautiful platters of sushi and sashimi, and of course the spot’s signature fried chicken.

EMPLOYEES ONLY

Photo Credit: Employees Only

Employees Only is one of Miami’s newest gems, marking the famed brand’s second location at the Washington Park Hotel. The trendy spot keeps with the ethos of the flagship location in New York, branded with its signature “Psychic” sign on the outside and prohibition-era speakeasy vibes on the inside. They even have an on-site psychic and a palm reader present all night. While it is known for its serious mixology program offering up an extensive menu of inventive libations with a fully-packed bar scene, the food is also something to be noted. One of the best-sellers is the steak tartare, authentically prepared right in front of you at the table, expertly mixed with a quail egg, shallots, sea salt and black pepper and Worcestershire sauce served with crostini and a bed of mixed greens.

FORTE DEI MARMI 

Photo Credit: Illona Oppenheim

This new chic SoFi Italian restaurant is destined to be one of Miami’s greatest, from its authentic Italian cuisine to its stunning decor. The design can be credited to renowned designer Chad Oppenheim who worked in collaboration with Milan-based craftsman and designer Henry Timi. Together, they created a contemporary aesthetic that conjures up the allure of Italian beach culture with particular inspiration drawn from the Forte dei Marmi seaside resort located in Northern Tuscany. Haute 100-lister Riccardo Silva and wife Tatyana–who is the owner– are some of the main forces behind the project, bringing their own personal expertise to complete the five-star dining experience. The food is exceptional, prepared by two Michelin-starred father and son chefs Antonio and Raffaele Mellino, who have created a menu that is as authentic as it gets. Standout dishes include the prawn carpaccio, tuna tartare, spaghetti and clams and the black cod–however, the whole menu gets five-stars in our book.

JACK’S HOME COOKING & CATERING MIAMI

Photo Credit: Jack’s Miami

Alan Roth‘s quaint new Edgewater restaurant is the homey locale that we’ve all been looking for, serving unpretentious Italian food that will keep you coming back for more, as well as a wonderful drinks program. The restaurant is perfect for any occasion, whether it be for a cozy date night or a large group birthday celebration. The warm and dark vibe is the perfect setting to dine on some of the spot’s delectable dishes, such as the San Gennaro Sausage, the Eggplant Rollatini, Penne a la vodka, and of course you can’t pass up on the addictively crisp and delicious garlic bread. Leave room for your sweet tooth, because the desserts are a hit–we recommend the cannoli or the pistachio chocolate cake.