Inside Miami Worldcenter's Newest Bistro & Raw Bar from Maple & Ash, Eight Bar by Chef Danny Grant

Chef Danny Grant, known for award-winning restaurants Maple & Ash, Monarch, Kessaku, Marisella, and Eight Bar, has brought his next chapter to Miami. Eight Bar recently opened on the first floor of Maple & Ash at Miami Worldcenter, offering a vibrant indoor-outdoor setting and Maple Hospitality Group’s signature hospitality, which is warm, attentive, and centered on making every guest feel at home.

Eight Bar was designed with the city’s energy in mind. While the Chicago location is a favorite, this isn’t a carbon copy; it has been thoughtfully reimagined for Miami as a neighborhood gathering place in a stylish setting that blends polished with playful charm. From lush greenery to leopard wallpaper adorning the back bar, the design layers playful, unexpected details with a sense of warmth that makes the space as inviting as the menu. Whether stopping in for a quick bite, a celebratory dinner, or a glass of wine with friends, Eight Bar Miami is meant to feel like part of the neighborhood; casual yet elevated, approachable yet unforgettable.

“Eight Bar has always been about serving incredible food and drinks with equally genuine service without the pretense,” says Chef Danny Grant. “With Miami, we wanted to create a place that fits the way this city eats and gathers - somewhere you can swing by for sushi after work, a burger with friends, or a bottle of wine late at night and feel like it’s your spot.”

At Eight Bar Miami, the menu is crafted around dishes that are both comforting and refined, designed for sharing, celebrating, and returning to time and again. With approachable price points and a spirit that reflects the city’s love of fresh seafood and vibrant flavors, the highlights range from local staples to modern bistro favorites, each with its own playful twist.

Menu offerings include the Crispy Fried Whole Red Snapper, a Miami essential reimagined, served sizzling with Szechuan-spiced sauce and bouquet garnish, perfect for the table. The celebrated Plateau Del Mar is an abundant centerpiece for sharing, featuring lobster, prawns, scallops, oysters, and fettuccine in a Calabrian chili sugo. The Eight Bar Burger is a juicy Wagyu beef patty with classic fixings on a toasted milk bread bun. The Hand-Cut French Fries are Kennebec potatoes brined, double-blanched, and fried golden, offered classic, with truffle, or “Get ’Em Dirty” with blue cheese dust and a dirty martini. Other standouts include the Skewers, a choice of miso-butter chicken or glazed Wagyu beef, grilled over flame and ideal for passing around the table; the Hamachi “Pizza,” nori layered with wasabi aioli and pickled chili, bringing a playful, zesty note to the menu; and signature sushi rolls like the King Crab Roll served with Truffle and warm drawn butter, and the Spicy Tuna Roll with yuzu kosho aioli and crunchy shallot. The table can also indulge in Chef’s Golden Nigiri selection and delicacies such as Toro & Caviar or Spot Prawn with garlic butter and lemon oil.

The cocktail program at Eight Bar is designed to be as dynamic and welcoming as the space itself, striking a balance between inventive signatures and timeless favorites. Highlights include house creations like Vice City, which is tropical yet smoky, featuring 400 Conejos mezcal, papaya, hot honey, mango limonada, caged heat, and mint, and Electric Flamingo - a whimsical, citrusy sip made with Grey Goose, Lillet Rosé, and bubble gum. For those craving bolder profiles, options like Good Trouble made with ghost tequila and spiced watermelon. Alongside these, guests can enjoy refined takes on classics, such as the Aperol Spritz, Lemon Drop, Gimlet, and Martini, all crafted with the same attention to detail. Rounded out by a thoughtful selection of beers, wines, sake, and spirit-free offerings, Eight Bar’s cocktail program delivers something for every mood and moment.

Happy Hour is offered daily from 4-6 pm, when guests can enjoy a curated selection of bites and cocktails for just $8. Guests are also able to enjoy Eight Bar Miami beyond the restaurant, with delivery available exclusively through DoorDash. From craveable shared plates to signature dishes, the neighborhood bistro experience will be a tap away.

Designed by Studio K, Eight Bar Miami sets the stage with a dramatic blend of elegance and energy. By day, the space offers an airy, garden-inspired retreat flooded with natural light; by night, it transforms into a sultry, dimly lit lounge under a trimmed lattice dome. The 97-seat venue features bold architectural elements, including black-and-white patterned marble floors and a sculptural stone host stand, with lush greenery that weaves throughout the space, from plush banquettes to up-lit palms, blurring the line between indoor and outdoor dining to create a refined hideaway. Eight Bar is a seamless extension of the brand’s signature steakhouse sophistication, connected by a custom art-lined elevator corridor that welcomes guests to Eight Bar’s tropical oasis downstairs and the glamour of Maple & Ash’s dining room upstairs.

Eight Bar Miami is located in Miami Worldcenter at 699 NE 1st Ave, 1st Floor, Miami, FL 33132.

Restaurant photos by Filipe Cuevas, Culinary photos by The Louis Collection & Cocktail photos by James Livingston

Recent PROFILEmiami articles about Miami Worldcenter:

America's Top-Grossing Steakhouse, Maple & Ash, Now Open in Miami Worldcenter

Maple Hospitality Group, the visionary team behind acclaimed restaurants Maple & Ash, Eight Bar, Monarch, and Kessaku, has opened the Miami location of its flagship award-winning concept, Maple & Ash, in Downtown Miami’s Miami Worldcenter. The two-story, 22,000-square-foot venture - which will see Eight Bar and The Studio open at a later date - represents the group’s largest and boldest project yet blending culinary mastery, unparalleled hospitality, and unrestrained luxury. Led by two MICHELIN-star chef Danny Grant, Maple & Ash brings its modern Wood-Fired steakhouse flair and vibrant, approachable energy to Miami’s dynamic dining scene. Maple & Ash’s first location opened in 2015 in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, followed by Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2019.

“We are thrilled to join the Miami community, where diners appreciate refinement alongside a sense of fun and spontaneity,” said Chef Danny Grant, Chef/Partner of Maple Hospitality Group. “Building on the incredible success of our Chicago and Scottsdale locations, this expansion marks an exciting time for Maple & Ash as Miami’s culinary landscape has evolved significantly over the past decade, now emphasizing quality and sophistication across all facets of dining.”

From the moment guests step into Maple & Ash, they’re embraced by an atmosphere of warmth and hospitality. The menu seamlessly marries elevated classics with locally inspired creations, offering something for every palate. Standout experiences include the “I Don’t Give a F*@k” tasting menu, which invites guests to surrender to the chef’s imagination, and the Fire-Roasted Seafood Tower, a bold reimagining of the traditional seafood display, where hearth-roasted shellfish are finished with a tantalizing mix of garlic butter and chili oil.

For meat lovers, the Wagyu Experience features premium Kobe beef sourced directly from Japanese auctions. The Ricotta Agnolotti, affectionately known as "Pillows of Love," delights with its decadent, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. For the grand finale, try the Sundae Service, a playful and extravagant take on a childhood favorite guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. At Maple & Ash, every detail is crafted to surprise, delight, and make every guest feel like the evening’s most cherished guest.

A celebrated part of the Maple & Ash experience is its extensive wine and cocktail programs. Named ‘one of the most outstanding (wine programs) in the world’ by Wine Spectator, the restaurant boasts a 2,500 wine list featuring bottles from around the world, including steakhouse classics and little-known producers. The bar program is a top-flight collection of custom-crafted cocktails and rare spirits from around the world. The cocktail menu offers classic and modern creations crafted with house-made syrups and compressed sodas. Signature cocktails include the IDGAF Old Fashioned (Glenfiddich 21yr, pedro ximenez, and maple reduction, amaro, chocolate truffle bitters, 24k gold), the Wild Jorge (Patrón Silver, aloe, kumquat aperitif, coconut, lime, habanero bitters), and the famous Espresso Martini tower.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring Maple & Ash to Miami, a city that has truly emerged as one of the most dynamic and flourishing culinary markets in the country,” said Jim Lasky, Managing Partner of Maple Hospitality Group. “Miami’s energy, cultural diversity, and appetite for extraordinary dining experiences make it the perfect home for us. Maple & Ash is a beating heart - a living, breathing creature - that guests will feel and understand the moment they walk into the dining space; it’s a place where locals and visitors alike can come together to celebrate life in a way that’s uniquely Maple & Ash.”

Designed by longtime collaborator Studio K, Maple & Ash’s Miami location blends bold luxury with playful touches that redefine the classic steakhouse. The space features distinct areas like the Bar Lounge, Dining Room, The Salon, and the Atrium, crowned by the “Upside Palm,” an artistic centerpiece reimagining Miami’s iconic palm tree that elevates the design with its 10,464 crystal beads.Maple & Ash’s open kitchen energizes the room, offering a full view of the chefs working with the wood-burning hearth. Unique to Miami is inviting “nooks” that deliver personalized experiences, such as Bar Bocuse, a cozy space that brings culinary dreams to life, allowing guests to indulge in champagne, caviar, and Jamon Iberico, and Petit Bocuse, where guests can interact with chefs in the kitchen over rare cuts and culinary surprises for an intimate dining adventure. Unique to the Miami location is the introduction of a private space called Studio at Maple & Ash. At the Studio, guests are welcomed to an intimate, multi-functional hideaway that features the laid-back comfort of a sophisticated lounge and the hidden allure of a speakeasy with its exclusive, clandestine vibe. It's a sanctuary where cozy seating, ambient lighting, and a touch of mystery invite meaningful conversations and unforgettable nights out in a stylish, immersive atmosphere. With its signature blend of culinary & design artistry, playful sophistication, impeccable service, and immersive dining experiences, Maple & Ash Miami is set to make a memorable impact on the city’s dining scene and establish itself as an essential destination for residents and visitors alike.

Maple & Ash is open daily for dinner, and the Studio will be open Thursday - Sunday.

Images via World Red Eye

Miami Worldcenter Delivers 80,000 SF 'Jewel Box' Retail Building In Downtown Miami

The developers of Miami Worldcenter have completed another 80,000 square feet of lifestyle-driven retail space. The stand-alone building, known as Block F-East, marks one of the final retail components of the 27-acre project to be delivered as active vertical development continues at the $4 billion mixed-use development in the heart of Downtown Miami. Featuring a modern design enclosed with floor-to-ceiling glass, Miami Worldcenter’s ‘Jewel Box’ is located at the confluence of the 7th Street Promenade and World Paseo open-air retail pedestrian streets, directly west of the development’s upcoming citizenM boutique hotel and north of the completed luxury apartment tower Bezel Miami.

With the completion of F-East, approximately 255,000 square feet of retail space has now been completed at Miami Worldcenter as tenants actively build out their spaces. Miami Worldcenter’s stellar lineup of recently opened and upcoming tenants includes Sephora (now open), lululemon, Savage x Fenty, Ray-Ban, Posman Books and Lucid Motors, as well as dining and entertainment concepts such as Bowlero, Sports & Social, Michelin-star-rated Chef Michael Beltran’s Brasserie Laurel (now open) and El Vecino eateries, and Chicago’s Maple & Ash and etta restaurants.

As one of the largest private urban real estate developments in Florida, Miami Worldcenter, which is currently coming alive in phases, will feature a diverse mix of residential, commercial and hospitality uses complemented by a total of 300,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and entertainment space. The project is being developed by master developers Miami Worldcenter Associates, led by Principal Art Falcone and Managing Partner Nitin Motwani, in partnership with CIM Group.

“Curating the right mix of diverse retail, dining, and entertainment options is key to creating a vibrant destination that is attractive to Miami locals and visitors,” said Nitin Motwani, Managing Partner of Miami Worldcenter Associates. “Miami Worldcenter’s ‘Jewel Box’ was designed to become a marquee entertainment venue and we have delivered just that with exciting tenants opening soon such as Bowlero, Sports & Social, and more to come.”

“We believe Miami Worldcenter is poised to deliver a captivating infill mixed-use development that weaves together a host of new buildings and businesses with public plazas and gathering spaces in a pedestrian-scaled environment,” said Shaul Kuba, Co-Founder and Principal, CIM Group, which is leading retail leasing at Miami Worldcenter in conjunction with Miami-based The Comras Company.

Miami Worldcenter is now home to three completed residential towers – PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter, Caoba, and Bezel Miami. Development of a 351-room citizenM hotel is now complete and expected to open at Miami Worldcenter in early 2023. Additionally, construction is underway at phase one of the 52-story Miami World Towers, which will comprise 550 apartment units; at Legacy Hotel & Residences, a 50-story mixed-use tower with 310 branded residences atop a hotel and 50,000 square feet of medical office space; and at the second phase of Caoba, which will encompass an adjacent 40-story tower with 420 apartments.

Planned developments include 600 Miami Worldcenter, a 579-unit fully furnished condominium by Aria Development Group and Merrimac Ventures; The Crosby, a 450-unit turn-key condominium by Related Group and Merrimac Ventures; a mixed-use residential and commercial development by Abbhi Captial; a residential development by New York-based Naftali Group; and a three-tower mixed-use project by The Witkoff Group, which will include up to 2,000 residential units as well as 550,000 square feet of office space and another 50,000 square feet of retail.

Complementing Miami Worldcenter’s retail streets will be World Square, a 20,000-square-foot outdoor public plaza and park. Designed as a central gathering place, World Square will serve as the heartbeat of the development featuring an abundance of open space, shade trees, and oversized, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks lined with dining, entertainment, and retail concepts.

Miami Worldcenter’s $5 million public art initiative – curated by international art dealer Jeffrey Deitch and Miami-based curatorial collective PRIMARY – will transform the streets and buildings of the 27-acre ‘city within a city’ into a permanent outdoor art museum. Once complete, the program will feature a variety of contemporary and modern art works – in the form of large-scale murals, paintings, and sculptures – created by globally acclaimed artists including Nina Chanel Abney, Woody De Othello, Viktor El-Saieh, Nick Cave, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Hernan Bas, Serge Toussaint, Zadok Ben-David and Franz Ackermann.

Miami Worldcenter occupies 10 city blocks within walking distance of Museum Park, home to Pérez Art Museum Miami and the Frost Museum of Science; FTX Arena; the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts; and Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus. It is also adjacent to Brightline’s MiamiCentral station, which offers direct train service to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and will soon reach Orlando, together with access to Tri-Rail, the Metromover, and the Metrorail – making Miami Worldcenter the largest and most connected transit-oriented development in Florida.

Construction Goes Vertical at Miami Worldcenter’s 78,000 SF Jewel Box Retail Building

As development continues throughout Miami Worldcenter’s 27 acres, vertical construction is now underway and progressing quickly at one of the last remaining retail components in the $4 billion, master-planned mixed-use project. Slated for completion in the second quarter of 2022, the iconic ‘Jewel Box’ building will feature two levels with approximately 78,000 SF of retail space including an expansive rooftop overlooking the development’s World Square plaza. Featuring a modern design enclosed with floor-to-ceiling glass, the Jewel Box is located at the confluence of 7th Street Promenade and World Paseo open-air retail pedestrian streets, directly west of the upcoming citizenM boutique hotel and north of luxury apartment tower Bezel at Miami Worldcenter. 

More than 150,000 sSF of retail space at Miami Worldcenter has already been completed, with another 130,000 SF currently under construction and nearing delivery. Newly announced restaurant tenants set to open in 2022 include Chicago’s Maple & Ash and etta, and Miami chef Michael Beltran’s Brasserie Laurel and El Vecino. 

“The final elements of this world-class retail development plan are coming together, and the design and concept for the signature ‘Jewel Box’ element reflects the strong feedback we’ve received from brands from around the world and across South Florida,” said developer Nitin Motwani, Managing Partner of Miami Worldcenter Associates. “Traditional retailers, food and beverage, and entertainment concepts see value in having a presence in a well-located, well-connected site combining residential, hotel, office and retail uses within a single master-planned development.” 

As the largest private development underway in Florida, Miami Worldcenter features a diverse mix of residential, commercial and hospitality properties complemented by a total of 300,000 SF of  retail, restaurant, and entertainment businesses. These include two completed residential buildings: the 60-story Paramount Miami Worldcenter condominium and the 43-story Caoba luxury apartment tower. Construction is nearing completion at ZOM Living’s 43-story Bezel at Miami Worldcenter residential tower and at the 351-room citizenM hotel, both of which are expected to open later this year.  

Complementing Miami Worldcenter’s open-air retail will be World Square, a 20,000 SF public plaza and park. Designed as a central gathering place and outdoor event space, World Square will serve as the heartbeat of the city-within-a-city featuring an abundance of shade trees, works of art by local and international artists, and oversized, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks lined with dining, entertainment, and retail concepts. 

Miami Worldcenter occupies 10 city blocks within walking distance of Museum Park, home to Pérez Art Museum Miami and the Frost Museum of Science; FTX Arena; the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts; and Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus. It is also adjacent to Brightline’s MiamiCentral station, which will soon offer direct train service to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando, together with access to Tri-Rail, the Metromover, and the Metrorail, making Miami Worldcenter the largest and most connected transit-oriented development in Florida.  

The First Restaurants Opening In Downtown Miami's $4 Billion Miami WorldCenter Megaproject Are Announced

The first four restaurants coming to Miami Worldcenter, the $4 billion, 27-acre mixed-use development transforming the heart of Downtown Miami, have been announced. The development’s ownership has completed leases with Chicago-based steakhouse Maple & Ash, set to open its first location in Florida; etta, a neighborhood restaurant centered around a wood-fired hearth; Laurel Brasserie and El Vecino, both concepts by Miami chef Michael Beltran. The leases combine to over 30,400 SF of indoor and outdoor space along Miami Worldcenter’s open-air entertainment promenades and mark the first tenants to lease space in Miami Worldcenter. All four concepts are expected to open in 2022.

“Our team is thrilled to unveil a stellar lineup of restaurants opening at Miami Worldcenter, with Maple & Ash, etta, Laurel Brasserie and El Vecino setting the tone for what’s to come. These restaurants exemplify the quality of the tenants and the experience we are curating for Miami Worldcenter’s residents and visitors,” said Nitin Motwani, Managing Partner of Miami Worldcenter Associates. “Bringing to life the retail components of Miami Worldcenter’s master plan is critical to transforming our 27-acre site into a thriving open-air destination, and we look forward to announcing additional retail concepts in the coming weeks and months.

The lavish Maple & Ash offers a modern take on a traditional steakhouse. Two-time Michelin-star Chef Danny Grant presents classic wood-fired dishes while offering diners an elegantly seductive experience. At Maple & Ash’s original Chicago location, the restaurant’s wine list has been named “one of the most outstanding in the world” by Wine Spectator. Maple & Ash will be located along World Square at the corner of Miami Worldcenter’s 7th Street promenade and NE 1st Avenue, and will occupy 15,000 SF of indoor and outdoor space, with ground floor and second floor seating.

Developed by the creative team behind Maple & Ash, etta is a neighborhood restaurant that serves delicious wood-fired dishes, from gourmet pizzas and warm focaccia to crisp seasonal salads and family-style shared pig and lobster picnics. Just as the kitchen is the focal point of interaction within a home, etta’s open kitchen design gives guests the same intimate experience. With two existing locations in Chicago, each etta location features a wood-burning brick oven and a giant wood-fired hearth for spit roasting and grilling. Located along the eastern side of the 7th Street Promenade, etta will feature approximately 11,000 SF of indoor and outdoor space across two levels.

Local Miami Chef Michael Beltran, a 2020 James Beard Foundation Awards “Best Chef: South” semifinalist, will bring his new dining concept, Laurel, to Miami Worldcenter. Laurel will offer diners a novel take on a French brasserie with hints of Chef Beltran’s Cuban influence, which is evident across his multiple concepts, including his revered Ariete. In addition to Beltran’s inventive French-Cuban fare, guests will be able to enjoy a limited selection of Cuban treats from popular Coconut Grove diner Chug’s. The casually chic restaurant will occupy 2,800 SF of indoor and outdoor space on the ground floor of Caoba, Miami Worldcenter’s apartment tower, at the corner of the 7th Street promenade and NE 1st Avenue.

Also developed by the Ariete Hospitality Group, El Vecino will be a high-end first-class cigar bar serving a full liquor bar and light fare such as head cheese croquetas, an assortment of meat and cheese, and pastelitos by Pastelito Papi. The venue will occupy approximately 1,600 SF of indoor and outdoor space joining Laurel on the ground floor of Miami Worldcenter’s Caoba apartment tower.

Retail leasing at Miami Worldcenter is led by The Comras Company, a leading, boutique real estate firm providing retail leasing, asset sales, consulting and development advisory services throughout South Florida. The leasing team is comprised of Michael Comras, Jeff Evans and Michael Silverman.

“Projects of this size, scale and caliber don’t happen often, not in Miami and not anywhere else in the country,” said Michael Comras, president of The Comras Company. “Miami Worldcenter sits just off the intersection of the two busiest highways, surrounded by various modes of public transit, steps from the most prominent cultural institutions in the city, and the FTX arena. That, coupled with downtown Miami’s exponential growth and the influx of domestic and international residents moving in the last year, makes Miami Worldcenter the most appealing location for businesses to invest in.”

As the largest private development underway in Florida, Miami Worldcenter will feature a diverse mix of residential, commercial and hospitality uses complemented by approximately 300,000 SF of retail, restaurant and entertainment space. These include two completed residential buildings: the 60-story Paramount Miami Worldcenter condominium and the 43-story Caoba luxury apartment tower. Approximately 150,000 SF of retail has been completed with tenant build-out work set to commence in 2021, and another 130,000 SF is currently under construction and nearing delivery. Construction is nearing completion at ZOM’s 43-story Bezel Miami Worldcenter residential tower and at the 351-room citizenM hotel, both of which are expected to open later this year.

Miami Worldcenter occupies 10 city blocks within walking distance of Museum Park, home to Perez Art Museum Miami and the Frost Museum of Science; FTX Arena; the Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center; and Miami-Dade College’s Downtown Miami campus. It is also adjacent to Brightline’s MiamiCentral station, which will soon offer direct train service to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando, together with access to TriRail, the Metromover and the Metrorail, making Miami Worldcenter one of the largest and most-connected transit-oriented development in Florida.

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