Here's a look at the best new Miami/South Florida restaurants, corporate event venues, hotels, conference centers, and private and party rooms to open for events this winter. These new and renovated Miami/South Florida venues can accommodate groups large or small for private and corporate events, conferences, meetings, weddings, business dinners, teambuilding activities, cocktail parties, and more.
The Continental is the first Florida outpost of the Continental concept from Starr Restaurants. Located adjacent to the Aloft South Beach hotel, the restaurant serves a global menu with items such as a build-your-own-sushi bento box; foie gras and pancakes; and, in a nod to the original Continental in Philadelphia, a cheesesteak egg roll. The mid-century modern decor from Shawn Hausman Design incorporates vintage and custom-designed furniture and fixtures as well as lush greenery that references Miami’s tropical location. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating for 225 with two bar areas. It opened in August.
The first phase of a $425 million renovation of Sun Life Stadium—home to the N.F.L.’s Miami Dolphins—finished this summer. In addition to overall upgrades like replacing every seat in the stadium, the renovation added five luxury clubs that will be open during games in addition to being available for private event rental. They range from the North Club, which holds 2,640 in a reception-style set-up, to the higher-end Nine space, which holds 180 for receptions. The spaces are furnished but can be cleared for events such as trade shows, fashion shows, banquets, and corporate receptions. All spaces include access to the warning track from which guests can take photos with the football field in the background. The second phase of the renovation will begin in early 2016.
Opening later this winter is East, Miami, the first United States property in the brand from Swire Hotels following the debut of East, Hong Kong in 2010 and East, Beijing in 2013. Designed by Arquitectonica with interiors by New York-based Clodagh Design, the 352-room luxury hotel in Brickell City Centre has a number of spaces for events. The sixth floor has rooms intended for small meetings and breakout rooms that range in size from 640 square feet to 840 square feet. The 38th floor will contain two 1,400-square-foot prefunction spaces, dubbed Rise and Set, and a 400-square-foot boardroom called High Noon. The hotel’s ballroom, called the Crush, will occupy 3,400 square feet on the 39th floor. It will offer 270 degrees of ocean and city views. Other spaces on property include a 20,000-square-foot outdoor pool deck and a rooftop bar. The bar and the hotel’s signature restaurant, Quinto La Huella, are designed by Los Angeles-based Studio Collective. The restaurant will offer traditional Uruguayan parrilla dining and have indoor and outdoor seating, a stone hearth oven, and a sushi bar.
Inspired by the lifestyle of the classic Jimmy Buffett song, Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort opened in late September. The 349-room resort has a tropical feel, from its tiki bars to meeting rooms with cheeky names such as Continental Drifter, Fins Left, and Fins Right. The property has 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, with the majority of the interior space concentrated on the ninth floor. The largest space, the 10,000-square-foot Compass Rose Ballroom, seats 850 at banquet rounds or 650 classroom-style. Other resort amenities include the 11,000-square-foot St. Somewhere Spa and the FlowRider pool, where guests can body surf and paddleboard.
Pelican Grand Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale finished a multimillion-dollar renovation in September that doubled the property’s meeting and event space to 10,150 square feet. The largest indoor meeting space is the new Oceanview Ballroom, a 2,055-square-foot room that seats 100 theater-style or 45 classroom-style. The property also boasts several outdoor meeting spaces, including the Oceanview Terrace, which holds 120 for receptions or seats 100 for banquets, and the pool deck, which holds 100 for receptions or seats 80 for banquets. The renovation also added two penthouse suites that can be used for events, including one with an attached 75-foot terrace and a private dining room.
Positioned atop the Suntrust International Center, Bayview Sky Terrace offers views of downtown Miami from the 31-story tower. The 4,000-square-foot terrace opened following a $15 million renovation to the high-rise. It holds 200 for reception-style events.
Tantalize Miami offers both dining and entertainment at the two-story space with a large stage. Opened earlier this year on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, the venue has lavish decor with plush tufted red booths overlooking the stage, ornate chandeliers, and gilded accents. The menu offers international cuisine with Latin influences in dishes such as filet mignon churrasco and green coconut salad. The restaurant seats 150 and has two private dining rooms: the State Room seats 20 and the Crystal Chandelier room seats 60. Both come with sound and lighting technology. The venue’s performers may be booked for private events.
Opened earlier this month in Brickell is Blume Nightclub, a 5,000 square-feet high-end club from V&E Restaurant Group. The centerpiece of the interior is a 16-foot LED chandelier that hangs above the dance floor. Another element of the eye-catching design from Linus Design includes diamond-shaped patterns of LED lights framing the DJ booth. The venue also includes the Garden Bar Terrace. Its total indoor and outdoor capacity is about 400 people.
Izzy's Fish & Oyster from chef Jamie DeRosa opened in Miami Beach in late September. The concept is inspired by DeRosa’s childhood summers on Narragansett, Rhode Island, and offers a menu with Maine lobster rolls, New England clam chowder, fried clam bellies, and a crab salad B.L.T. The decor is influenced by a beach shack vibe, with accents of teal, chartreuse, coral, and navy blue. The space has a 40-seat dining room, a 15-seat raw bar, and a 20-seat outdoor café.
Located at the Silverspot at Coconut Creek theater is Trilogy, a contemporary American restaurant from David Burke Group that opened in June. The eatery, which includes a bar, seats 80 in the dining room and 40 on the patio. It is available for private event rental, including for holiday parties.
