2200 Brickell Launches Exclusive Private Nofar Method Pilates Studio
2200 Brickell has partnered with Nofar Hagag to bring private Nofar Method Pilates instruction to its Vitality Club, with two Reformers and two Cadillac tables.
2200 Brickell is bringing Nofar Method Pilates instruction directly into its residential amenity program through a partnership with founder Nofar Hagag. Announced October 7, the agreement covers the programming, branding and design of a private studio within the condominium’s Vitality Club fitness center.
The studio gives residents access to two Reformers and two Cadillac tables, with a Nofar-trained instructor on site whenever the equipment is in use. The program combines in-person sessions with on-demand and live-streamed content.
It is Nofar Method’s first partnership in Brickell, according to the announcement. Hagag founded the Pilates brand in 2019 and operates studios in Flatiron, Tribeca and Miami Beach.
“Residents get the benefit of world-class fitness where they already live, on a schedule that complements their life,” said Hagag, founder of Nofar Method.
The partnership arrives as residents move into the five-story, 103-home condominium at 2200 Brickell Avenue. Aria Development Group, Largo and Place Projects developed the building, with architecture by Revuelta Architecture International and interiors by ODA.
“Wellness has been a core component of the 2200 Brickell vision from the outset,” said David Arditi, founding partner of Aria. The studio is part of a broader fitness and recovery offering that includes the Homage Fitness-designed Vitality Club, a treatment suite, infrared sauna and fitness lawn.
Rather than requiring residents to travel to a separate studio, the arrangement places instructor-led Reformer and Cadillac sessions within the building’s daily amenity program. The developers have positioned the lower-rise property around wellness and everyday livability.
2200 Brickell includes one- to four-bedroom residences and a limited collection of private garden villas. OneWorld Properties, led by president and CEO Peggy Olin, is handling exclusive sales and marketing for the final collection of homes.
Images courtesy of 2200 Brickell / Levy Public Relations.
Past PROFILEmiami articles about 2200 Brickell:
For more information about 2200 Brickell, fill out the form below:
Wilder Neighborhood Market Set To Open in Midtown Backed By Major Food Group And Grassfed Culture Hospitality
Wilder, a new neighborhood market where ingredient integrity, culinary excellence, and community come together, will open in Midtown Miami at 3250 NE 1st Avenue in fall 2026. Wilder reimagines the neighborhood market by bringing together thoughtfully sourced groceries, a café, and chef-driven prepared foods under one roof, with Major Food Group as a founding investor and strategic advisor and a culinary and beverage program developed by Grassfed Culture.
Wilder, a new neighborhood market where ingredient integrity, culinary excellence, and community come together, will open in Midtown Miami at 3250 NE 1st Avenue in fall 2026. Wilder reimagines the neighborhood market by bringing together thoughtfully sourced groceries, a café, and chef-driven prepared foods under one roof, with Major Food Group as a founding investor and strategic advisor and a culinary and beverage program developed by Grassfed Culture, the Michelin-starred team behind Los Félix and Krüs Kitchen
Founded by entrepreneur and Miami local Danielle Axman, Wilder brings thoughtfully sourced groceries, chef-driven prepared foods, a café, and everyday essentials under one roof. Guided by The Wilder Standard — a rigorous sourcing and ingredient framework developed alongside independent experts — every product carried and every meal prepared is evaluated to prioritize ingredient quality, responsible production and labor practices, environmental health, and great taste, setting a higher bar for everyday food. Wilder combines the freshness of a farmers market, the convenience of a grocery store, and the culinary excellence of Michelin-awarded kitchens to create a place where the neighborhood comes to eat well.
“When I became a mother, everything about how I fed my family changed. Suddenly I was reading every label, researching where our food came from, and driving out to meet the farmers myself. I wished there was one place I could shop without having to do all that homework every week. That's why I built Wilder. My goal is to create a market where the standards are real, the food is genuinely delicious, and eating well feels like a pleasure, not a project.” Said Danielle Axman, Founder & CEO of Wilder.
The culinary and beverage program — spanning everything from hot and cold prepared foods and sandwiches to smoothies and coffee — was developed by Grassfed Culture Hospitality, the Michelin-starred Miami-based group behind Los Félix, recognized with both a Michelin Star and Green Star for sustainability, and Krüs Kitchen, also recognized with a Green Star. Grassfed Culture brings the same standards they apply at their restaurants to every element of the culinary and beverage program: high-quality ingredients sourced locally and seasonally, and a beverage offering rooted in their reputation for pioneering Miami’s natural wine scene, featuring organic, natural, and biodynamic wines, craft beer, and non-alcoholic options.
“A healthy family and community have always been our North Star – and we’ve built everything at Grassfed Culture around that belief. When we understood what Wilder was trying to be, it was an easy yes. This is exactly the kind of place we wish existed in every neighborhood – somewhere you can trust the food, know where it came from, and feed your family well without having to think twice. Said Josh Hackler, CEO & Co-Founder, Grassfed Culture.
Alongside staples like grass-fed beef, pasture-raised poultry, and responsibly sourced seafood, Wilder also brings a made-to-order sandwich program built around high-quality and simply prepared ingredients. A rotating selection of salads, vegetables, and protein-forward dishes reflects a consistent focus on balance and freshness, complemented by a café program featuring coffee, breads, fresh juices, smoothies, and other daily offerings designed to support a seamless morning-to-evening experience.
The Wilder Standard guides every decision about Wilder’s offering, from what is sold and served to how it's sourced. The framework prioritizes great-tasting food that meets a higher bar for ingredient integrity, responsible production and labor practices, animal welfare, environmental health, and thoughtful sourcing — including prioritizing direct relationships with regional farmers and producers throughout Florida and the surrounding region. Partners include Paradise Farms, Glaser Organic Farms, and White Oak Pastures, among many others.
The Wilder Standard was developed alongside a multidisciplinary network of independent experts spanning nutrition, food science, epidemiology, regenerative agriculture, environmental health, and food systems. Among them is the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the leading independent research and advocacy organization in food and agriculture, led by Founder and President Ken Cook. As a founding advisor to Wilder, the nonprofit's first partnership with a retailer on health standards, EWG shares Wilder's commitment to improving our food system and public health through smarter, healthier grocery options, and will continue to support Wilder's vision. It's a living framework, built to evolve as science does and serves as Wilder’s ongoing commitment to food that is both delicious and deeply considered.
Designed as a community gathering place, Wilder is a destination to connect, discover, and return often enough to feel like a regular. Spanning nearly 8,000 square feet — including a patio and outdoor pick-up window — Wilder will carry roughly 4,000 carefully selected products across a full grocery assortment, alongside a café and an extensive chef-driven prepared foods program.
Designed by Miami-based Love Lake Studio, Wilder draws inspiration from old-world markets, the English countryside, and vintage Americana. The space embraces Miami's indoor-outdoor lifestyle, abundant natural light, and a mix of vintage furnishings and one-of-a-kind pieces to create an inviting environment that encourages discovery, fosters connection, and makes grocery shopping feel like an experience worth savoring.
Major Food Group, the hospitality group behind some of the most recognized restaurant brands in the world, joins Wilder as a founding investor and strategic advisor. Wilder represents an unprecedented investment for MFG. It is the hospitality group’s first in a business outside its own operations, as well as its first investment into the retail grocery category, underscoring its strong belief in Wilder and the opportunity it represents. MFG will advise on Wilder's long-term growth, providing operational depth, hospitality expertise, and a roadmap for thoughtful expansion as the concept evolves beyond its first location.
“We’ve spent our careers building places people return to — and the neighborhood market is one of the oldest, most enduring versions of that idea. Danielle has brought high standards to the concept and real hospitality to the experience. We don’t put our name behind things lightly, but we believe in this team and in what they’re building with Wilder. Making Wilder our first investment in a grocery retailer was an easy decision.” Said Mario Carbone, Co-Founder of Major Food Group.
Major Food Group (MFG) is a globally celebrated hospitality company that has redefined luxury for the modern era. Founded in 2011 by Mario Carbone, Jeff Zalaznick, and Rich Torrisi, MFG has built a dynamic empire of over fifty restaurants, private clubs, bars, and hotels across fifteen cities worldwide — and growing. The group is behind some of the most iconic brands in dining and hospitality, including CARBONE, CARBONE VINO, The Grill, Dirty French, ZZ’s Club, Chateau ZZ’s, Sadelle’s, Contessa, Parm, and Torrisi. While each concept is distinct, together they exemplify an unmistakably Major blend of storytelling, elegance, and bold creativity — a signature approach that continues to shape the global hospitality landscape.
Grassfed Culture is a Miami-based hospitality group reshaping the way people experience food, culture, and community in urban environments. Through their Michelin-starred concepts — including Los Félix, recognized with both a Michelin Star and a Michelin Green Star for sustainability, and Krüs Kitchen — Grassfed Culture has built a reputation for culinary excellence rooted in ingredient integrity, seasonality, and a deep commitment to the local ecosystems that make great food possible. Their work is guided by a belief that restaurants and markets can be genuine engines of change — strengthening relationships with local farmers, supporting independent producers, and demonstrating that sustainability and exceptional food are not competing values, but the same one.
Allen Morris Company Spearheads Private / Public Partnership with City of Coral Gables To Upgrade Ponce Circle Park
Allen Morris Co., a diversified Southeast real estate development firm developing Ponce Park Coral Gables and Ziggurat Coconut Grove, has revealed a public-private partnership with the City of Coral Gables and Agave Holdings, owner of The Plaza Coral Gables, for the redesign and cultural reactivation of Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park.
Allen Morris Co., a diversified Southeast real estate development firm developing Ponce Park Coral Gables and Ziggurat Coconut Grove, has revealed a public-private partnership with the City of Coral Gables and Agave Holdings, owner of The Plaza Coral Gables, for the redesign and cultural reactivation of Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park.
The $10+ million project is funded through a three-way public/private partnership among the Allen Morris Company, the City of Coral Gables and Agave Holdings. Allen Morris Company is also guaranteeing any cost overruns beyond the committed amounts, underscoring its commitment to delivering the project as designed.
“World-class cities are defined by their parks and public spaces,” said Mayor Vince Lago. “The transformation of Ponce Circle Park is another step in our commitment to creating exceptional open spaces that strengthen our downtown and enhance the quality of life for generations to come.”
"Every great city is remembered by its public spaces. They become the places where people gather, celebrate, reflect, and create memories across generations. Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park sits at the heart of Coral Gables, surrounded by many of the city's most important destinations, and we have a rare opportunity to help create a park that truly belongs to the community. Working alongside the City of Coral Gables and Agave Holdings, our goal is to create a place of lasting beauty—one that enriches daily life, reflects the character of Coral Gables, and serves as a source of pride for generations to come," said W.A. Spencer Morris, President of Allen Morris Co.
The initiative reflects Coral Gables’ long-standing tradition of public-private collaboration, where civic ambition and private investment combine to shape enduring public spaces.
"I am incredibly proud that Allen Morris Co. and the City of Coral Gables shared the transformative vision to reimagine Ponce Circle as a functional, timeless, and elegant public park. Chic, sophisticated, inviting, and European in spirit, the park reflects the magic that happens when great minds, thoughtful planning, and exceptional design come together to create a lasting legacy for residents, visitors, and everyone who lives, works, and gathers in our city," said Maricris Longo, Coral Gables resident, real estate investor, and community advocate.
Public art centerpiece
A defining feature of the renewed park will be Puffed and Inverted Star II, a monumental polished aluminum sculpture by Frank Stella, installed in a reflecting pool at the north end of the park. The sculpture was acquired by the City of Coral Gables following the recommendation of the Cultural Development Board. Stella passed away in May 2024 at the age of 87, making this a posthumous public installation of one of his final large-scale works. The sculpture will become an instant landmark, a defining visual element of downtown Coral Gables, and a destination.
A historic civic space reimagined
Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park, located at 2810 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, has been a civic gathering place since the early development of Coral Gables in the 1920s under founder George Merrick. Originally designed by landscape architect William Lyman Phillips, the park has long served as a central point within the city’s historic urban fabric. This project marks the most comprehensive reimagining of the park in its history, positioning it for its next century as a civic and cultural anchor for the community.
Design team and ecological approach
The architectural and landscape vision for the park is led by Maria de la Guardia of de la Guardia Victoria Architects & Urbanists, a Coral Gables-based firm known for its context-sensitive approach rooted in classical architecture and urbanism, in collaboration with Andres Arcila of Naturalficial. Planting design is developed in coordination with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, ensuring a resilient, biodiverse, and regionally appropriate landscape strategy.
Integrated public realm improvements
In addition to the park redesign, the project includes a coordinated set of streetscape and infrastructure upgrades along Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Almeria Avenue to University Drive. Improvements include enhanced pedestrian crossings, raised crosswalks, speed tables, and a new stormwater drainage system, all designed to improve safety, connectivity, and walkability. Together, the park and streetscape interventions will create a more unified and accessible civic corridor.
The Odeon: a new cultural venue
At the center of the redesigned park will be the Odeon, an open-air performance structure designed to host year-round programming including concerts, theatrical performances, civic events, fitness classes, and cultural gatherings. When not programmed, the Odeon will function as flexible public seating, ensuring continuous activation of the space throughout the day and evening.
Project leadership and timeline
Allen Morris Company is serving as Development Manager for the project, overseeing design, permitting, and construction through completion. The Coral Gables City Commission has unanimously approved the project, and a Development Management Agreement has been executed between all parties. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027, with completion anticipated in the first quarter of 2028.
Past PROFILEmiami articles about Ponce Park Coral Gables:
For more information about Ponce Park Coral Gables fill out the form below:
PROFILEmiami's Curated Guide to Dining in Coconut Grove
Coconut Grove’s appeal has always extended beyond its waterfront and leafy streets. The neighborhood’s restaurants are part of the way people live here: a terrace breakfast before a walk, a casual lunch between appointments, or a dinner worth making an evening of.
Coconut Grove’s appeal has always extended beyond its waterfront and leafy streets. The neighborhood’s restaurants are part of the way people live here: a terrace breakfast before a walk, a casual lunch between appointments, or a dinner worth making an evening of. As new residential and mixed-use projects join the village, its dining scene offers another lens on the Grove’s evolution, pairing established hospitality names with homegrown concepts.
In this curated guide, PROFILEmiami explores four destinations that capture that range: CARBONE VINO for Italian-American dining and wine, Sadelle’s for breakfast and brunch, Pura Vida Miami for an everyday café stop, and Chèvre x Ziggurat for artisan sandwiches, cheese and wine. Each brings a distinct experience to the neighborhood, with options for both a quick visit and a table worth lingering over.
CARBONE VINO
CARBONE VINO - CARBONE VINO brings Major Food Group’s Italian-American dining to Grand Avenue, with chef Mario Carbone’s familiar signatures and dishes developed for the VINO concept. Bishop Design’s moody interiors give the restaurant the atmosphere for a special evening, while a bar welcoming walk-ins makes it an approachable choice for a spontaneous meal.
The menu pairs Spicy Rigatoni Vodka, Caesar alla ZZ and Veal Parmigiana with Calabrian Calamari, Tortellini Tartufo Nero and Chicken Cacciatore. Wine is central to the experience: a 3,000-bottle cellar spans more than 600 selections, with a changing by-the-glass program that opens the door to fine and rare pours.
Its appeal in the Grove lies in that balance of occasion and familiarity. Guests can settle into a full dinner or enjoy the complete menu at the bar, making the restaurant a useful neighborhood address as well as a destination.
Address: 2911 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove, FL 33133.
Best for: Date nights, celebratory dinners, wine enthusiasts and weekend lunch. Dinner is served nightly; lunch runs Friday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
SADELLE’S COCONUT GROVE
Sadelle’s Coconut Grove - Sadelle’s brings Major Food Group’s take on the New York breakfast and lunch institution to Mary Street. Its bright dining room and generous terrace make it an inviting place to gather, whether the plan is a quick morning meet-up or a leisurely meal with friends.
Bagel towers with smoked fish anchor a menu of chopped salads, triple-decker sandwiches, French toast and the house cheeseburger. Next door, Sadelle’s Cafe adds a separate reason to stop in: a collaboration with Bonberi founder Nicole Berrie featuring Montauk General matcha lattes, artisanal smoothies and frozen yogurt. The café offerings complement the restaurant’s more indulgent classics with options for a lighter break.
The terrace is particularly well suited to the Grove’s outdoor, unhurried rhythm. It is an easy setting for a neighborhood breakfast or a long lunch, while the adjacent café works for coffee and a treat on the go.
Address: 3321 Mary Street, Miami, FL 33133.
Best for: Breakfast, brunch, terrace lunches and afternoon café stops. The dining room serves daily from 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; the café opens at 7:30 a.m.
PURA VIDA MIAMI Coconut Grove
Pura Vida Miami’s Coconut Grove flagship brings the all-day café brand led by Omer and Jennifer Horev to Grand Avenue. Part of their Horev Hospitality portfolio, the concept combines casual service with a polished setting and a menu built around everyday breakfast, lunch and snack routines.
Options range from açaí bowls, smoothies and avocado toast to salads, wraps and substantial bowls, with 100% grass-fed and grass-finished steak among the protein choices. The location also houses Gelato by Pura Vida Miami, adding soft serve with customizable toppings, sauces and drizzles to the visit.
That variety makes it a natural fit for the Grove’s active, walkable lifestyle. It can be a morning coffee stop, a convenient lunch between errands or a place to pause with family over something sweet, giving the flagship a role beyond a single meal.
Address: 3034 Grand Avenue, Studio A, Miami, FL 33133.
Best for: Casual breakfast, quick lunches, post-workout smoothies and afternoon gelato.
CHÈVRE X ZIGGURAT
Chèvre x Ziggurat brings founder Mario Naar’s Miami cheese, wine and sandwich concept into the Ziggurat Coconut Grove Sales Center on Fuller Street. An affiliate of Think Hospitality, Chèvre has partnered with Allen Morris Co.’s ultra-luxury mixed-use development to combine a gourmet market and café experience with a preview of the project’s residential vision.
Artisan sandwiches, cheeses, charcuterie, caviar and curated wines shape the offering. La Italiana layers mortadella with whipped ricotta and truffled honey, while El Padron pairs Ibérico ham with Manchego. Basque cheesecake provides a sweet finish, and the market’s specialty pantry goods give guests something to take home. Wine and shared boards make this as appealing for a relaxed catch-up as for lunch.
The brand also drew attention with the Golden Glizzy, a $100 collaboration with Golden Goat Caviar and Ficelle Bakery. Rick Ross stopped by to sample the gold-and-caviar-topped hot dog. The creation combined Australian Wagyu with a croissant bun, crème fraîche, mascarpone, a 30-gram tin of caviar and edible gold flakes. Offered around the 2026 Miami Open and Miami Grand Prix, it was a limited-time special; check with Chèvre about any return.
For Coconut Grove, the draw is the meeting of neighborhood hospitality and new development in a setting that invites a casual visit. Fuller Street’s village atmosphere suits sandwiches, wine and conversation, giving diners a reason to explore the sales center beyond real estate.
Address: 3065 Fuller Street, Miami, FL 33133.
Best for: Artisan sandwich lunches, cheese and charcuterie, afternoon wine and casual early-evening gatherings.
Past PROFILEmiami restaurant coverage:
Royale Pizza Napoletana Set To Bring Tokyo-Style Neapolitan Pizza To Miami Beach This October
Come Fall 2026, Miami Beach might soon be pilgrimage-worthy for diehard pizza enthusiasts with the opening of Royale Pizza Napoletana, the first Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza restaurant in South Florida. It will also signal the stateside arrival of none other than iconoclastic Japanese pizzaiolo Chef Bun of the genre-defining Japanese Neapolitan pizza concept, Savoy.
Come Fall 2026, Miami Beach might soon be pilgrimage-worthy for diehard pizza enthusiasts with the opening of Royale Pizza Napoletana, the first Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza restaurant in South Florida. It will also signal the stateside arrival of none other than iconoclastic Japanese pizzaiolo Chef Bun of the genre-defining Japanese Neapolitan pizza concept, Savoy.
The brainchild of banking entrepreneur and restaurateur Jess Varughese – the innovator behind Miami’s ultra-exclusive and secretive members-only restaurant Haiku – Royale Pizza will deliver the ethereal, fresh, technically-precise and deceptively-complex pies that have made Bun a legend and Savoy an international must-try for foodies, celebs, and jetsetters.
For the culinary intelligentsia, Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza has been “a thing” since exploding in the early 2000s, capturing the hearts and minds of chefs and savvy travelers; so much so that the science-driven, palate-pleasing pies ventured west to Los Angeles, New York City, and even Nashville. Now, with Royale Pizza, this game-changing approach to pizza-making will find its furthermost home, fueled by Bun and an unparalleled A-Team assembled by Varughese.
“Fundamental to the Royale Pizza concept was the team that would be necessary to make it authentic and true to the science and spirit behind Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza,” noted Varughese, who conceived of the Royale concept two years ago after a Haiku member, and Savoy devotee, hipped Varughese to arguably one of the most perfect pizzas in the world.
With Haiku Executive Chef Albert Diaz (former executive chef of Zuma London and Zuma Miami) in tow, Varughese traveled to Japan, and, after an eye-opening, mind-blowing experience at Savoy, the intrepid entrepreneur knew there was a need (and a home) for Tokyo-style pizza in sunny South Florida. Fast forward to spring 2026, and the restaurant space in the heart of Miami Beach (1680 Meridian Avenue) is under construction, the pizza oven is cranking, and the team is preparing.
Joining Bun, Varughese, and Diaz in this endeavor is Chef Dalila Sabatino, a wildly talented young pizzaiola whom Bun called “one of the most talented pizzaiolas I have ever worked with.” In addition to her time with Chef Bun, Sabatino also served under pizzaiola William Joo at L.A.’s Pizzeria Sei, one of the leading talents in the Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza movement. Operations will be led by Oscar Coll, who has spent more than 20 years in hospitality operations, bringing to the team his extensive experience in every restaurant station there is, as well as scalability with a focus on process, training and technology.
Front-of-the-house hospitality veteran Audrey Armada, Royale’s Head of Customer Experience, clocks in close to 15 years’ experience in the industry and is blessed with the know-how for crafting unforgettable moments as Head of Membership Experiences at Haiku, Varughese’s acclaimed, members-only dining concept in Wynwood.
In a polished, fast casual-style setting, Royale will seat 65 throughout its dining room, which includes a large community table at its center. No reservations; walk-ins only with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Takeout and delivery will also be on offer at opening. Ordering takes place at the main counter from a carefully curated menu of antipasti, pizzas (four traditional, three specials), two pastas, and two mains. Guests choose their table and await 30+ hour-fermented, lighter-than-air, crusty deliciousness.
“For something so elemental and seemingly so ‘basic,’ properly executed Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza is exhaustingly difficult to get right,” muses Varughese, who says landing Bun’s partnership in the endeavor was key to creating a version of Neapolitan pizza worthy of the Tokyo greats. “He’s the maestro behind the music. His skill, insights, creativity, and scientific know-how gained from 20+ years of innovation are unparalleled. It’s like having Jack Nicklaus join your foursome or Miles Davis your quartet. He elevates the game.”
So what of the dough, the basis for Royale’s promise of Neapolitan supremacy in The 305?
“The dough is everything,” Varughese points out and can happily expound on its fundamentals, explaining that it took 20 years of experimentation in Tokyo and hundreds of hours in Miami to get it right and was only successful with a combination of selecting the perfect mix of artisan flours, compensating for particle size differences in the flour utilizing the Autolyse technique, altering the softness of water to exactly mimic the beautifully soft water in Japan, dialing in the timing applied to bulk and cold fermentation.
Royale Pizza Napoletana will be located at 1680 Meridian Avenue on Miami Beach right off of Lincoln Road.
Culinary Images via Miami Chef
Past PROFILEmiami articles about Business, Culture and Hospitality:
For more information about Royale Pizza Napoletana fill out the form below:
Gioia Hospitality Group Set To Open La Sponda on September 19 in Coconut Grove at Vita at Grove Isle
Building on the success of Daniel's Miami, recently named the highest-ranked Florida steakhouse on the World's Best 101 Steak Restaurants list, and Daniel's, A Florida Steakhouse, which has earned Michelin Guide recognition, Gioia Hospitality Group founders Thomas Angelo and Kassidy Angelo will open La Sponda, an elegant waterfront Italian restaurant inspired by their family's heritage, this September at CMC Group’s recently delivered luxury condominium Vita at Grove Isle.
Building on the success of Daniel's Miami, recently named the highest-ranked Florida steakhouse on the World's Best 101 Steak Restaurants list, and Daniel's, A Florida Steakhouse, which has earned Michelin Guide recognition, Gioia Hospitality Group founders Thomas Angelo and Kassidy Angelo will open La Sponda, an elegant waterfront Italian restaurant inspired by their family's heritage, this September at CMC Group’s recently delivered luxury condominium Vita at Grove Isle.
Marking the hospitality group's first Italian concept, La Sponda represents a natural evolution for Gioia Hospitality, whose reputation has been built on exceptional cuisine, warm hospitality, and thoughtfully designed destinations. More than a restaurant, La Sponda is a deeply personal expression of Thomas Angelo's lifelong connection to Italy, drawing from his family's roots in Puglia and decades spent exploring the country's regional cuisine, artisans, wineries, and traditions.
"I grew up in a family deeply rooted in southern Italy, where some of my favorite memories were made in the kitchen and my travels with my children to Puglia,” said Thomas Angelo, Co-Founder of Gioia Hospitality Group. "Those memories became the foundation for La Sponda, and our hope is that every guest who walks through our doors feels that same sense of warmth, connection, and hospitality."
"This restaurant is incredibly personal to us because it brings together our family's traditions with everything we've learned while building Gioia Hospitality. We can't wait to welcome guests into a place that feels as warm and memorable as the homes and restaurants that inspired it,” said Kassidy Angelo, Co-Founder of Gioia Hospitality Group.
“Grove Isle has long held a special place in Miami, with a history as one of the city’s most celebrated waterfront destinations,” said Ugo Colombo, Founder of CMC Group. “With Vita, our vision has been to honor that legacy while introducing a new expression of luxury and waterfront living. La Sponda is a natural extension of that vision bringing exceptional dining, hospitality and design together to create a destination that enhances the lifestyle at Vita and once again establishes Grove Isle as a place for the broader Miami community to experience and enjoy.”
While Daniel's introduced guests to one of the country's most celebrated steak programs, La Sponda continues Gioia Hospitality's culinary legacy, complementing that steak-driven foundation with handmade pasta, pristine seafood, exceptional wines, and genuine hospitality that come together around the table. Leading the culinary program is Chef Danny Ganem, who has worked alongside Thomas and Kassidy to bring the family's vision to life. Fresh pasta is made in-house daily, alongside an evolving selection of crudo, antipasti, and seafood, with signature specialties inspired by the founders' favorite dishes and family traditions, alongside dishes drawn from different regions across Italy. Highlights include Spaghetti alla Chitarra al Tartufo with Burgundy truffles, cultured butter, and Parmigiano espuma; Paccheri al Campagnolo with Aquanaria Branzino, Datterini Tomatoes, Capers, Olives; Branzino alla Vernaccia with Taggiasca olives, potatoes, tomatoes, and basil; and an Australian L'Grow Ranch Wagyu Bistecca Fiorentina, a Wagyu porterhouse finished with rosemary, Balsamico di Modena, and Gioia olive oil.
Complementing the culinary program, Wine & Beverage Director Daniel Bishop will curate a globally influenced wine collection anchored by Italy’s most celebrated regions and inspired by the Angelo family’s Italian heritage. The list will showcase benchmark reds, including Barolo and Barbaresco from Piemonte, celebrated Tuscan selections, lighter-style Etna reds from Sicily, and wines from Puglia that pay homage to the Angelo family’s roots. Bright, mineral-driven coastal whites of Italy will complement the collection, evoking the seaside regions and destinations of the Amalfi Coast, Taormina, and Cinque Terre. French, Spanish, and California wines will further round out the program, alongside select vintages spanning up to 20 to 25 years. The collection will continue to evolve over time, shaped by seasonality and guest preferences.
Signature cocktails include the refreshing Summer in Amalfi Spritz with Martini & Rossi Prosecco, St-Germain, Italicus Aperitivo, Condesa Gin Clásica, and cucumber; Zio Tony, a tropical riff on the Paper Plane, with Angel’s Envy Daniel’s Cask Bourbon, Sarti Aperitivo, Amaro Nonino Riserva, passion fruit, and lemon; and Garibaldi Fresca, a playful take on the Italian classic with Campari and fluffy pineapple and orange juices.
Over the past several years, Thomas, Kassidy, Danny Ganem, and Daniel Bishop have traveled extensively throughout Italy, immersing themselves in regional culinary traditions while building relationships with producers, winemakers, artisans, and suppliers. Every journey helped shape La Sponda, from discovering family-run wineries and sourcing exceptional ingredients to selecting handcrafted materials and finding inspiration in the timeless hospitality that defines Italy's most beloved destinations.
Designed by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, the restaurant blends timeless European elegance with the relaxed sophistication of Coconut Grove. Nearly every element throughout the space was thoughtfully sourced from Italy, including handcrafted furnishings, imported stone, custom tables, and artisan finishes. Guests are welcomed into an intimate dining room anchored by crisp white tablecloths, hand-painted architectural details, a baby grand piano, and a private dining room tucked away for special occasions. While the restaurant is rooted in Italian craftsmanship, subtle nods to Coconut Grove can be found throughout the interiors, including custom lamps individually hand-painted by a local artist with illustrations inspired by the neighborhood's iconic peacocks and tropical surroundings. With seating for approximately 120 guests, La Sponda was designed to feel both grand and welcoming, bringing together refined luxury and the warmth of an Italian home.
True to Gioia Hospitality Group's philosophy, service will remain at the heart of the La Sponda experience. Led by an experienced front-of-house team, guests can expect warm, attentive hospitality inspired by the traditions of Italy, where every meal is treated as an occasion and every guest is welcomed like family.
La Sponda will initially open for dinner on Wednesday – Sunday. Reservations will be available on Resy.
Images via The Louis Collection
Past PROFILEmiami articles about Vita at Grove Isle and Gioia Hospitality Group:
For more information about Vita at Grove Isle please fill out the form below:
NOAH Hospitality Group Unveils UKIYO, Bringing Japan's Iconic Conveyor Belt Sushi Culture to Lincoln Road
This fall, NOAH Hospitality Group will open UKIYO at 818 Lincoln Road, featuring a custom-designed kaiten belt, Japan's tradition of circulating sushi on a rotating conveyor. UKIYO reimagines the format through exceptional Japanese craftsmanship and live culinary theatre, bringing Tokyo's tradition to Lincoln Road for the first time.
This fall, NOAH Hospitality Group will open UKIYO at 818 Lincoln Road, featuring a custom-designed kaiten belt, Japan's tradition of circulating sushi on a rotating conveyor. UKIYO reimagines the format through exceptional Japanese craftsmanship and live culinary theatre, bringing Tokyo's tradition to Lincoln Road for the first time.
Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of "ukiyo," or "the floating world," the restaurant transforms movement into the centerpiece of the guest experience. Rather than functioning simply as a method of service, the custom-designed conveyor belt becomes a stage where craftsmanship, architecture and culinary artistry continuously unfold before every guest.
At UKIYO, dining is never static. Every passing plate, every newly introduced creation and every interaction has been choreographed to create an experience that evolves throughout the evening. "For me, hospitality has never been about simply serving food. It's about creating emotion," said NOAH Hospitality Group Founder Philippe Kalifa. "We wanted to build a restaurant people would continue talking about long after they left, not only because of what they ate, but because of how the evening made them feel. Every detail was designed to transform a familiar dining tradition into something immersive, elegant and unforgettable."
That intention carries through to the kitchen. Led by Executive Chef Nono Shigetomi, UKIYO sources premium seafood directly from carefully selected fisheries across Japan. Essential pantry ingredients are imported from Japan, while seasonal South Florida produce provides regional freshness. "Freshness isn't our goal, it's our starting point," Shigetomi said. "Every ingredient is selected with intention because great sushi begins long before the fish reaches the plate."
Guests will discover handcrafted nigiri, sashimi and specialty rolls circulating on the belt, highlighted by the signature Ukiyo roll, a combination of tuna, salmon, hiramasa and Hokkaido scallop topped with soy glazed wagyu and umami crunch. Every fish is sourced from Tokyo's Toyosu and Tsukiji markets. The menu also features fire-charred robata skewers, including cumin-soy glazed wagyu with braised onion and yakitori-glazed chicken, alongside tempura, crudo and carpaccio prepared daily.
Signature dishes include a paitan ramen built on a chicken bone broth simmered until rich and creamy, topped with braised duck, sous vide chicken, pork chashu and pork wonton; a crispy yakisoba fried until golden and finished with a starch-thickened ankake sauce; and seafood fried rice made with takikomi gohan, a seasoned Japanese rice, in place of steamed white rice. The traditional kamameshi is cooked fresh tableside in individual kama pots with dashi, soy, sake, mirin, hijiki, carrot and mushroom, finished with grilled marinated skirt steak and a Jidori egg. A signature House Dumpling Cart will circulate throughout the dining room, featuring an evolving selection of freshly handcrafted dumplings in beef, pork, chicken, shrimp and vegetarian varieties, served pan-fried, steamed or deep-fried.
Throughout dinner service, live culinary performances bring moments of Japanese culture and entertainment into the restaurant, and as new dishes leave the sushi counter, their arrival onto the conveyor belt becomes a choreographed presentation.
That same sense of movement extends into the design of the 7,431-square-foot space. Indoors, Casa Medina Design Studio blended traditional Japanese design with contemporary luxury, pairing Rosso Lepanto stone, emerald-toned marble finished with a leathered surface, a matte, subtly textured treatment that softens the stone's natural sheen, handcrafted millwork, aged brass detailing and warm Japanese-inspired lantern lighting with a flowing water feature that reinforces the "floating world" concept. At the center of the room sits the custom conveyor belt itself, serving as the architectural heartbeat of the space. Outdoors, an immersive dining environment brings architecture, landscape and water together, with layered lighting and natural materials transforming every table into its own intimate setting.
UKIYO was envisioned as the meeting point between the timeless traditions of Japanese hospitality and the vibrant energy of Miami Beach. It respects centuries of Japanese craftsmanship while embracing the city's creativity, nightlife and international spirit, creating an experience that feels both authentically Japanese and unmistakably Miami, not simply a sushi restaurant, but a destination where craftsmanship, movement, culture and entertainment come together as one of the city's most distinctive dining experiences.
UKIYO is set to open mid-October and will serve dinner nightly except Mondays, from 6 p.m. to midnight Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, and until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Renderings via CM Design Studio
Past PROFILEmiami restaurant coverage:
For more information about UKIYO please fill out the form below:
Inter Miami CF and Pura Vida Miami Renew Partnership and Launch Exclusive Smoothie Collaboration
Inter Miami CF and Pura Vida Miami, the Miami-born all-day café and lifestyle brand, have renewed their partnership, continuing a collaboration that has brought the two South Florida organizations together across player nutrition, Academy programming and the fan experience since 2025.
Inter Miami CF and Pura Vida Miami, the Miami-born all-day café and lifestyle brand, have renewed their partnership, continuing a collaboration that has brought the two South Florida organizations together across player nutrition, Academy programming and the fan experience since 2025. Pura Vida Miami will continue as the Club’s first ever Official Health Foods Partner, supporting athletes across every level of the organization, from the Academy to the First Team.
As part of the renewed partnership, Pura Vida Miami and Inter Miami CF will introduce a co-branded smoothie, available from September 2 through December 1 at select Pura Vida locations across South Florida. The limited-time creation blends strawberry, banana, collagen protein, coconut water, coconut yogurt, date, chia seeds and maple syrup, finished with a stripe of black sesame paste. Bringing the partnership beyond matchday and into Pura Vida Miami cafés, Miami Vice offers supporters a new way to experience the collaboration firsthand. The offering will provide supporters with a new way to experience the partnership beyond matchday while bringing together the identities of two Miami-born brands.
The renewed agreement continues a partnership that reaches across multiple levels of the Inter Miami CF organization. Since first joining forces in 2025 as the Club’s inaugural Official Health Foods Partner, Pura Vida Miami has supported athletes from the Academy to the First Team, providing player meals for the First and Second Teams and supporting the Club’s youth-focused Academy Nutrition and Healthy Nutrition Workshops. The partnership also extends to the matchday experience through suite catering, bringing Pura Vida Miami’s fresh, vibrant offerings directly to guests at Inter Miami CF home matches.
“Since joining forces in 2025, Pura Vida Miami has played a meaningful role across our Club, supporting player nutrition from the First Team and MLS NEXT Pro team to our Academy athletes,” said Euan Warren, Senior Vice President of Partnerships at Inter Miami CF. “It’s that connection across the Club and our shared commitment to creating unique experiences for our fans that makes this partnership so special. As two organizations born in South Florida, the next chapter of this partnership reflects our shared ambition to take the vibrant spirit of Miami to audiences and fans everywhere.”
“From the beginning, our partnership with Inter Miami CF has been about creating something meaningful that extends well beyond the field,” said Omer Horev, Co-Founder and CEO of Pura Vida Miami. “Over the past two years, we’ve become deeply engaged across the organization, from supporting First Team players to connecting with Academy athletes at an important stage in their development. This renewal gives us the opportunity to build on that foundation while bringing the relationship even closer to our guests through new experiences, including the launch of Miami Vice in our South Florida cafés. As two brands born in Miami and growing far beyond it, we share a strong sense of place, community and ambition, and we’re excited about everything we can continue to build together.”
The renewal comes during a period of significant national growth for Pura Vida Miami. When the partnership with Inter Miami CF was first announced in 2025, Pura Vida Miami had more than 30 locations across Florida and New York. Today, the brand has grown to more than 50 locations across Florida, New York, California, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, and New Jersey, evolving from a single Miami Beach café into a multi-state lifestyle brand while remaining deeply rooted in the community where it was founded in 2012.
As Pura Vida Miami continues to grow beyond South Florida, its renewed partnership with Inter Miami CF reinforces the connection between two homegrown brands that share deep ties to the city and continue to bring Miami’s influence to audiences well beyond it.
Images via Pura Vida
Past PROFILEmiami articles about Pura Vida and Inter Miami CF:
For more information about Pura Vida please fill out the form below:
Gibson Garage Miami Opens September 10 in Wynwood With 500+ Guitars, Live Music and First U.S. Gibson Gallery
One of the world's most recognizable names in music is planting its next global flag in Wynwood. Gibson Garage Miami will officially open to the public on September 10, 2026, bringing an immersive new guitar, music and cultural destination to the ground floor of the Wynwood Garage at 2660 NW 3rd Avenue.
One of the world's most recognizable names in music is planting its next global flag in Wynwood. Gibson Garage Miami will officially open to the public on September 10, 2026, bringing an immersive new guitar, music and cultural destination to the ground floor of the Wynwood Garage at 2660 NW 3rd Avenue.
Spanning more than 8,000 square feet, the new location becomes Gibson's third Garage worldwide, joining the company's flagship in Nashville and its London outpost. Miami will offer more than 500 guitars and instruments alongside live performances, custom guitar design, exclusive apparel, memorabilia, local collaborations and the first stateside Gibson Gallery art installation.
The opening adds another major experiential destination to Wynwood at a pivotal point in the neighborhood's evolution. Long established as one of Miami's leading arts, nightlife and cultural districts, Wynwood is increasingly becoming a residential neighborhood as new condominium and multifamily developments bring a growing population into the district.
That transition is creating demand for the restaurants, retail, entertainment and cultural experiences that make a neighborhood active beyond traditional business and nightlife hours. Gibson Garage fits naturally into that next chapter, building upon Wynwood's creative identity while introducing a destination capable of attracting musicians, residents and visitors alike.
The concept also brings a new platform for live music to the neighborhood. A dedicated performance stage inside Gibson Garage Miami will host artist performances, intimate showcases, album releases, community programming and appearances by established and emerging musicians.
"Retail is no longer just about what people buy—it's about what they feel, discover, and become part of. Gibson Garage Miami represents the next evolution of that idea: an immersive music destination in one of the world's most vibrant cultural cities. The Garage works because it goes far beyond the transaction; it invites people in to play, explore, create, connect, and experience Gibson heritage in the real world. Whether you're a lifelong Gibson player, an emerging artist, or someone picking up a guitar for the first time, this is a place where music feels welcoming, inspiring, and real. Miami is a city with music in its DNA—defined by energy, creativity, and global rhythm—making it the perfect home for the next chapter of the Gibson Garage experience," said Anne Rohosy, Interim CEO of Gibson.
Throughout the space, visitors will be able to explore more than 500 instruments from Gibson's family of brands, including Gibson, Epiphone, Kramer, MESA/Boogie, Maestro, KRK and Gibson Amplifiers. Rather than operating solely as a traditional guitar store, the Garage is designed to encourage guests to pick up and play the instruments.
One of the space's signature visual elements will be a moving overhead conveyor carrying guitars through the Garage, referencing the finishing process used in Gibson's manufacturing facilities and creating a centerpiece above the retail floor.
Miami's own cultural identity will also be incorporated throughout the concept. Gibson plans to introduce elements inspired by Latin culture, exclusive apparel collaborations with local designers, lifestyle merchandise, celebrity and film memorabilia and rare instruments.
The Wynwood location will also introduce the first U.S. Gibson Gallery art installation, combining photography, street art and imagery from music history. The concept creates another connection with Wynwood's longstanding relationship with visual art and street culture.
For musicians seeking a one-of-one instrument, the Miami Garage will offer Gibson Custom's Made to Measure program. Customers will be able to work with Gibson Garage specialists to configure individual elements of a guitar, including wood tops, neck profiles, pickups, hardware, finishes and aging treatments from the Gibson Custom Murphy Lab. The resulting instruments are then handcrafted by Gibson Custom artisans in Nashville.
Gibson Garage Miami is located on the ground floor of the Wynwood Garage, with the space leased by Goldman Properties, whose involvement in the neighborhood has helped shape Wynwood's evolution as an arts and cultural district.
The arrival of Gibson also comes as Wynwood's broader transformation accelerates. As more residents move into the neighborhood, the district's next phase will increasingly depend on creating a diverse mix of uses and experiences within walking distance of new housing. Cultural concepts like Gibson Garage can help preserve the creative character that made Wynwood distinctive while adding another amenity for the neighborhood's expanding residential population.
For Miami more broadly, Gibson Garage introduces a new permanent gathering place centered specifically around musicians and guitar culture. In a city whose musical identity spans Latin, Caribbean, rock, hip-hop, pop and electronic influences, the combination of retail, live performances, artist programming and community events gives the Garage the potential to become more than a store.
With Nashville, London and now Miami forming Gibson's global Garage network, Wynwood becomes the newest destination for the 130-plus-year-old instrument brand—and gains a major new cultural anchor as the neighborhood continues its evolution into one of Miami's most dynamic mixed-use communities.
Gibson Garage Miami opens to the public September 10, 2026, at 2660 NW 3rd Avenue on the ground floor of the Wynwood Garage. Additional opening-week performances and artist appearances are expected to be announced.
Images via Gibson USA
Past PROFILEmiami articles about Gibson Garage Miami:
For more information about Gibson Garage Miami please fill out the form below:
New Luxury Wellness Destination Sensa Set To Open in Wynwood This Fall
Sensa, a nearly 20,000-square-foot luxury wellness destination, will open this fall at 2830 NW 5th Ave. in Wynwood, introducing a new approach to wellness that brings an expansive thermal bathhouse, massage and body treatments, medical aesthetics, health and longevity services, and a blow dry style bar together in one destination.
Sensa, a nearly 20,000-square-foot luxury wellness destination, will open this fall at 2830 NW 5th Ave. in Wynwood, introducing a new approach to wellness that brings an expansive thermal bathhouse, massage and body treatments, medical aesthetics, health and longevity services, and a blow dry style bar together in one destination.
At the heart of Sensa is an immersive bathhouse centered around the restorative effects of water, heat, cold, movement and stillness. Inspired by European thermal bathing traditions, Sensa will offer a 120-minute thermal circuit featuring a freshwater pool, two hot hydrotherapy pools and two cold plunges maintained at different temperatures. The experience will also include a traditional sauna, infrared sauna with red light therapy, steam room and frigidarium. Pools will utilize UV and ozone sanitation technology.
Sensa will extend the traditional bathhouse experience through a series of immersive environments. A flooded Storm Room will host Sensa's signature Storm Experience, surrounding guests with rainfall, lightning and thunder effects. A grotto pool will connect to an outdoor pool through a swim-through tunnel, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor bathing experience. At select times throughout the week, Sensa will also host Wellness Hours featuring guided sauna experiences, wellness classes and other curated programming.
Beyond the thermal circuit, Sensa will offer private solo and couples massages alongside specialty body treatments. The second floor will house a full-service med spa focused on medical aesthetics, health and longevity, offering expert medical aesthetic care for smoother skin, softer lines and fuller hair. Services will include wrinkle relaxers, facial fillers, filler dissolving, skin-enhancing biostimulators, customized facials, dermaplaning, microneedling, VI Peels and hair-restoration treatments, including scalp-focused HydraFacial and PRP microneedling, alongside IV therapy and wellness shots, plus health and longevity programs incorporating GLP-1 medications, peptide therapy and bioidentical hormone support, so guests can feel as good as they look.
Also located on the second floor, the Sensa Blow Dry Style Bar will offer wash-and-style blowouts, extension-ready styling and deep-conditioning treatments, allowing guests to seamlessly add beauty services before or after their bathhouse or med spa experience.
Sensa's founder describes the concept as something beyond a traditional spa.
“When we designed Sensa, we weren’t trying to build another spa. We wanted to create a place for couples to reconnect, for friends to spend meaningful time together, and for individuals to invest in their long-term health and well-being,” said Martin Hogue, Founder of Sensa. “By bringing all of these experiences together under one roof, our goal is to make wellness something people can enjoy, share and make part of their regular lifestyle.”
Sensa will offer membership options across the bathhouse and med spa, with tiered levels of access and benefits. Bathhouse memberships will include recurring access to thermal experiences, massages, IV therapy and wellness shots, along with guest passes, while med spa memberships will provide preferred pricing and benefits across select treatments. Additional membership details, including founding-member opportunities, will be announced ahead of opening.
Past PROFILEmiami articles about Sensa:
For more information about Sensa please fill out the form below:
2200 Brickell has partnered with Nofar Hagag to bring private Nofar Method Pilates instruction to its Vitality Club, with two Reformers and two Cadillac tables.