Sant Ambroeus to Open Second Planned Miami Location at MIRAI Design District, Bringing Milanese Café Culture to Miami’s Design District

MIRAI Design District has signed Sant Ambroeus as a signature hospitality tenant, marking the heritage Italian brand’s second planned Miami location and further reinforcing the project’s position as a design-, hospitality-, and culture-driven destination within the evolving Miami Design District.

Sant Ambroeus will occupy approximately 5,000 square feet at MIRAI Design District, where the concept will include a full-service restaurant, coffee bar, and outdoor dining experience slated to open in 2028. The space will be designed by internationally acclaimed architect and designer Fabrizio Casiraghi, whose work is known for blending timeless European elegance with contemporary sensibility. More than a traditional restaurant outpost, the space is envisioned as an all-day gathering place woven into the daily life of the neighborhood, extending MIRAI’s broader vision of hospitality, design, and community. The addition reflects the continued evolution of the Design District into one of the country’s most globally recognized luxury and cultural destinations, where fashion, art, architecture, hospitality, and daily life increasingly intersect.

Developed by WellDuo, Leviathan Development, Lionheart Capital and The Lane Organization, MIRAI Design District is the first mixed-use development in the United States by internationally acclaimed architect Kengo Kuma and Associates (KKAA). The project marks a significant milestone for the influential Japanese architect, whose work has become synonymous with blending architecture, nature, and cultural experience.

Positioned along Northeast Second Avenue, MIRAI has emerged as part of the next phase of growth at the Miami Design District, emphasizing boutique retail, hospitality, architecture, and pedestrian-oriented experiences over traditional large-scale commercial development. Conceived as a more intimate and design-forward extension of the district, the project aims to create a curated environment where luxury retail, hospitality, and community life coexist more seamlessly.

“At Sant Ambroeus, we’ve always looked for locations that already possess a strong sense of identity, culture, and creative energy,” said Gaetano Guarducci, managing partner of SA Hospitality Group. “MIRAI immediately felt aligned with that philosophy. The architecture, the emphasis on thoughtful design, and the evolving energy of this part of the Design District made it feel like a natural fit for our next chapter in Miami. As Miami continues to evolve into a truly global city, we’re excited to deepen our roots here in a neighborhood that already speaks so

Founded in Milan in 1936, Sant Ambroeus has become internationally recognized for blending Milanese sophistication with contemporary New York energy, cultivating a loyal following across fashion, art, design, and hospitality circles. With locations spanning Milan, New York, Palm Beach, Aspen, Paris, and now expanding further into Miami, the brand has long positioned itself within neighborhoods where culture, creativity, and lifestyle naturally converge. The brand’s arrival at MIRAI further reinforces the project as a curated cultural destination where hospitality, architecture, fashion, and daily life intersect.

“Sant Ambroeus represents exactly the kind of thoughtful, design-conscious hospitality we envisioned for MIRAI,” said Eduardo Pelaez, principal of WellDuo. “The brand has a rare ability to create spaces that feel simultaneously international and deeply personal, rooted in elegance, culture, and everyday experience. Their presence helps define the type of environment we’re building at MIRAI: curated, design-driven, and centered around how people actually want to gather, linger, and experience Miami beautifully.”

MIRAI Design District is designed as a “floating lantern,” with a transparent ground floor, lush central garden, boutique retail spaces, and hospitality-driven public areas intended to create a more intimate and experiential extension of the Design District. The project also includes approximately 41,000 square feet of boutique class A office space tailored toward family offices, and design-oriented businesses seeking highly curated environments.

The addition of Sant Ambroeus marks a significant milestone in MIRAI’s leasing strategy, which has focused on securing tenants aligned with the project’s emphasis on architecture, culture, hospitality, and long-term neighborhood placemaking.

Past PROFILEmiami articles about MIRAI Design District:

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MIRAI Design District Secures $85 Million Construction Loan and Breaks Ground on Kengo Kuma’s First U.S. Mixed-Use Development

MIRAI Design District has secured an $85 million construction loan from Monroe Capital LLC, and has officially broken ground on the highly anticipated mixed-use development in Miami’s Design District.

Developed by Leviathan Development, Lionheart Capital, Well Duo, and The Lane Organization, MIRAI Design District will introduce approximately 41,000 square feet of Class A boutique office space and 16,000 square feet of luxury high street retail and hospitality space to the neighborhood, with completion anticipated in 2028. The project represents architect Kengo Kuma’s first mixed-use development in the United States, marking a significant milestone for the internationally acclaimed architect whose work is known for blending architecture, nature, and cultural experience.

“We’ve spent years building our position along Northeast Second Avenue because we believed in what this corridor could become, and MIRAI is the clearest expression of that conviction. Securing this financing and breaking ground is the moment the vision becomes real — and bringing Kengo Kuma’s first U.S. mixed-use project to the Design District reflects exactly the kind of opportunity Lionheart is built to identify and execute,” said Ophir Sternberg, founder and CEO of Lionheart Capital.

Located along Northeast Second Avenue, MIRAI reflects the next phase of growth in the Miami Design District, emphasizing architecture, hospitality, walkability, and curated commercial experiences. Designed as a “floating lantern,” the building features a transparent ground floor, layered façade screening system, lush central garden, and hospitality-driven public spaces intended to create a more intimate and experiential extension to the neighborhood.

The project’s boutique office component has been positioned to attract family offices, small and mid-sized funds, and design-led businesses seeking highly curated spaces that function as extensions of their identity. Due to strong demand and the project’s highly curated vision, leasing has remained in-house.

“MIRAI was conceived as something far more experiential than a traditional mixed-use project,” said Allison Greenfield, founder and managing partner of Leviathan Development. “The goal was to create an environment where architecture, hospitality, retail, and workplace culture feel fully integrated, reflecting how people increasingly want to work, gather, and spend time in Miami. More importantly, we wanted MIRAI to contribute something meaningful to the ongoing evolution of the Design District, creating a project that enhances the neighborhood culturally, architecturally and socially for both visitors and the local community.”

Designed by internationally acclaimed architect Kengo Kuma and Associates (KKAA), MIRAI continues the broader transformation of the Miami Design District into one of the country’s most architecturally significant luxury and cultural corridors. The project joins a growing concentration of globally recognized architects, hospitality concepts, and design-led commercial experiences reshaping the neighborhood, while helping position Northeast Second Avenue as the district’s next boutique luxury corridor. Future tenants are being curated around a shared emphasis on design, culture, hospitality, and lifestyle, with a focus on brands and businesses aligned with MIRAI’s highly experiential vision. Additional tenant announcements, hospitality partnerships, and cultural programming initiatives are expected to be unveiled in the coming months as construction progresses and leasing momentum continues.

“One of the most exciting aspects of MIRAI is the opportunity to curate a community of tenants that share a common appreciation for design, culture, and hospitality,” said Eduardo Pelaez, principal of Well Duo. “Rather than simply filling space, our focus has always been on bringing together businesses and brands that contribute to the character of the building and the broader neighborhood. That level of curation is what sets MIRAI apart.”

The project’s public-facing design and future experiential programming are expected to play a central role in MIRAI’s identity, including plans for a dynamic façade lighting program in collaboration with Viabizzuno, cultural activations, and hospitality-driven gathering spaces integrated throughout the development.

Past PROFILEmiami articles about MIRAI Design District:

For more information about MIRAI Design District or to inquire about commercial leasing please fill out the form below:

Japanese Architect Kengo Kuma Unveils Design For Mixed-Use MIRAI Design District

A consortium of three visionary developers, Lionheart Capital, Leviathan Development, and Well Duo, is set to further transform the Miami Design District with the introduction of MIRAI Design District at 4200 NE 2nd Avenue designed by Kengo Kuma and Associates (KKAA). This groundbreaking mixed-use development, which will be super-star Architect Kengo Kuma first mixed-use project in the United States. promises to redefine elegance and simplicity in architectural design and become another world-class draw for Miami.

MIRAI, the Japanese word that signifies “the distant future,” emphasizes the forward-thinking and innovative nature of this project. MIRAI is set to create a luxurious and uncluttered lifestyle in the heart of the city, where refined design and prime positioning come together to offer a sophisticated shopping retreat.

The project will break ground in Summer 2024 with completion by the end of 2025. Critically acclaimed landscape architecture firm Island Planning Corporation, led by Nathan Browning, has been enlisted to envision complementary greenscapes, along with celebrated Italian lighting company, Viabizzuno, who will oversee lightscapes. This all-star design team has been recruited to ensure a harmonious fusion of natural elements and cutting-edge technology.

“MIRAI Design District will be an architectural masterpiece with world-class allure, offering a distinctive fusion of boutique luxury retail and exceptional workplace environments,” said Allison Greenfield, Principal of Leviathan Development and Chief Development Officer at Lionheart Capital. “We aim to re-awaken a sense of discovery in the retail experience; emphasizing a unique, curated shopping experience housed in a structure with the same philosophy. MIRAI Design District is more than just a building; it's an invitation to immerse yourself in meaningful design that connects seamlessly with the vibrant future-forward energy of the Miami Design District and the City itself. It will be another distinctive stamp on the future of architecture in this electrifying city.”

Looking to attract bespoke and high-street retail brands with design excellence, the mixed-use development will have a ground floor with 17 modular retail units, totaling approximately 15,500 rentable square feet. Modular units can be combined with ease for larger footprints or remain singular for an individual brand experience. Almost all retail bays have “corner” conditions. The developers are aligning with the global trend favoring boutique-like spaces in the retail landscape. The second and third floor will feature four commercial units, offering approximately 41,000 square feet, and will be geared towards businesses looking for trophy office locations in a highly designed building.

"For me, architecture is a canvas, a medium to create liberating spaces with essential walls and columns, inviting people to traverse and dream. Inspired by the energy and natural beauty of Miami, MIRAI embodies the harmonious blend of Japanese traditions and the intricate tapestry of old-world architecture,” said Kengo Kuma. “The purpose of MIRAI is to fashion a space that not only frames the natural tropical elements of Miami but also harmonizes seamlessly with its surroundings. It's about providing a haven that exudes tranquility and comfort, inviting all who visit and inhabit to partake in the essence of the vibrant city—a sanctuary where dreams can take flight amid the lush beauty of Miami.”

Kuma's designs, known for merging architecture and nature, extend beyond the physical structure, incorporating greenery, pedestrian passages, and a living rooftop. The building integrates tech-savvy and sustainable features, offering high-tech lobbies, operable windows, VRS systems, and a living green roof adorned with solar panels.

Inspired by Japanese aesthetics and local Floridian landscapes, a lush central garden invites tenants and visitors to engage in an al-fresco cultural experience, creating a vibrant social scene. Situated at the north-east corner of the Design District, MIRAI Design District bridges commercial and residential areas, embracing the pedestrian-oriented nature of the District. With convenient access to the major highway I-95, easy commute to Miami International Airport and private jet charters leaving Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, the development offers a seamless connection to the city's pulse in Downtown, Brickell and Miami Beach.

MIRAI Design District will not just be a building; it will be a destination within Miami’s cultural core and an extension of Miami’s Design District (MDD). Tenants will be a part of ultra-luxury retail, captivating architecture, art galleries, and Michelin-starred restaurants.

“Our vision for the Miami Design District has always been to create a destination that would inspire architects and developers who share our passion for thoughtful design and celebrate our city’s tropical identity," said Craig Robins, CEO of DACRA. “MIRAI Design District brings the depth and modernity that is a signature of Japanese design. We are pleased to welcome this brilliant team to the Miami Design District.”