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North

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THE HENDERSON

Destin

Steep gabled rooflines rise above sugar-white sands at the Emerald Coast’s newest luxury outpost. The Henderson, which opened mid-November, conjures a grand seaside manor from the early twentieth century, with reclaimed wood used throughout its interior. Decorated in a calming palette of sea foam and beige, the 170 guest rooms have pillow top mattresses, French toiletries, and arresting views of the Gulf of Mexico, a state park or a garden. The resort also features five restaurants, including, most notably, Primrose, which focuses on Gulf-to-table cuisine; a nature-inspired spa; two outdoor swimming pools; and private beach access. hendersonbeachresort.com

MIDTOWN READER

Tallahassee

While working on Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign, Sally Bradshaw came across an article that ranked Tallahassee as Florida’s smartest city. The compliment got the political strategist thinking about the dearth of independent bookstores in the community and persuaded her to fill the void. Midtown Reader opened on November 12. The 1,000-square-foot shop features more than 10,000 titles, many of them dedicated to Florida topics—and penned by Flamingo authors, including Diane Roberts, Craig Pittman and Tim Dorsey. The bright shop, which hosts regular events, “is meant to be a safe haven for critical thinking and a place for the community to gather,” says Bradshaw. midtownreader.com

URBAN FOOD MARKET

Tallahassee

On October 1, The Centre of Tallahassee gained a distinguished alternative to the mall food court. Encompassing five stations (pasta, pizza, meats, wine and gelato), Urban Food Market offers authentic Italian delicacies in an upscale cafeteria setting. Overseeing each program is a manager with ties to the old country. Among them: Rudi Sacchet, a third-generation gelato maker from the mountains of northeastern Italy. A butcher-block hostess stand and a rolling ladder lend rustic touches to an otherwise industrial aesthetic. There are also secluded fine dining areas for a more romantic experience as well as groceries that foodies can prepare at home. ufoodm.com

RESTAURANT DORO

Neptune Beach

White-washed pecky cypress and Venetian plaster walls set a coastal tone (casual, yet chic) at Restaurant Doro, the brainchild of Chris Polidoro, which opened in late August. The CIA grad, acclaimed for his work at two Hamptons hotspots, Nick and Toni’s and 95 School Street, spent 12 years as Matt Lauer’s personal chef before moving south in December 2015. On a family vacation to Northeast Florida, he became enchanted with the region’s natural beauty and affection for independent businesses. He creates simple dishes that marry gastronomy with nutrition, such as duck breast with apple brown butter, green onions and butternut squash. restaurantdoro.com

LITTLE JILL AND CO.

Newberry

When Dana Sherrill became a mother in 2009, she “fell in love with the innocence of children’s fashion.” Turning to social media to sell her daughter’s outgrown clothes and shoes, she amassed a large following and made a pretty profit, emboldening her to bite the retail bullet. On September 3, she debuted Little Jill and Co. in the Tioga Town Center. The shabby-chic boutique carries diaper bags, blankets, toys, accessories and apparel sized for newborns to tweens and available at various price points. Among its 40-plus brands: Persnickety, Mud Pie and Petunia Pickle Bottom. littlejillco.com

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Central

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ASHLE GRYRE

Tampa

Last July, Tampa’s SoHo district welcomed a posh new neighbor. With black velvet chairs, plush Mongolian fur benches and gold pipes displaying designer apparel, AshleGryre exudes Beverly Hills glamour. “We liked the vibrant culture of South Tampa and the location’s proximity to popular eateries and bars,” says owner Ashley Bruce, who oversees the flagship store in Atlantic Beach with her mother, Robin Spence. Inventory runs the gamut from cotton tanks by The Lady and The Sailor to lacy frocks by Rachel Zoe. “We carry a range of styles, with an emphasis on Australian and Los Angeles-based designers because their collections suit our tropical climate,” Bruce explains. ashlegryre.com

ON SWANN

Tampa

Memorial Day introduced serious culinary cred to Hyde Park Village. On Swann serves up a streamlined, sophisticated menu by Chef Chris Ponte, an alumnus of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. “We don’t have 18 different steaks; we have one amazing ribeye,” says manager Carrie Cipriani. The bar is also a point of pride. Mixologists create all cordials and flavor profiles by hand and spend upwards of two weeks perfecting each batch of the house Old Fashioned. The ambiance is bright and airy with French doors, Spanish tile floors and farm tables constructed of reclaimed wood from the Belleview-Biltmore Hotel. The owners purchased silverware from a local antique store, “so diners might spot a familiar Tampa monogram or family crest,” Cipriani says. onswann.com

URBAN CREAMERY

St. Petersburg

Urban Brands expanded its culinary empire in April 2016 with Urban Creamery, a dessert shop specializing in homemade ice cream, waffles and handspun milkshakes.  “We aspire to make everything from scratch,” says owner Andy Salyards, who started the new concept, in part, to source ice cream for his three other restaurants and catering company. (It’s also an inviting spot to enjoy a cool treat while out perusing St. Pete’s arts district.) Choose from a slew of sauces, sprinkles, candies, nuts and fruits to create a customized bowl of joy—or consult the shop’s social media channels to discover the pastry chef’s latest concoction. urbancreamerystpete.com

PLAYALINDA BREWING COMPANY—BRIX PROJECT

Titusville

Spurred by the Space Coast’s enthusiastic community of beer lovers, Playalinda Brewing Company opened a second location in late September, dubbed Brix Project. Formerly a lumberyard, the 16,000-square-foot space has high ceilings and a sprawling, open layout. “We wanted to share our passion in a bigger way,” says marketing director Michelle Mulak of the expansion. “This allows us to pursue things like statewide distribution, a full kitchen to prepare a menu that complements craft beer and, coming soon, a distillery.” The brewpub has about 22 beers on tap, including Bottomless Blonde (a crisp blonde ale named after a nearby clothing-optional beach). playalindabrewingcompany.com

CREATE YOUR NATURE

Winter Park

On vacation, Kim and Dan Dill tasted their first acai bowl—a creamy, antioxidant-rich berry-based dish—and had a vision for a new business. “It was fantastic, and I’d never had anything like it in the Orlando area,” says Kim Dill. On October 20, the couple launched Create Your Nature, a café that specializes in the fruity treat, along with oatmeal and salads, and uses honey, oils, vinegars and preserves from local purveyors. It’s housed in the State Auto Body Building, an Orange Avenue landmark since 1946, and incorporates wood from the original structure throughout its interior design. createyournature.com

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SOUTH

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BLU HOME

Sarasota

On September 26, childhood friends Chelsea Dunbar and Nicole Dolan debuted their retail furniture and accessories showroom in Southside Village. Staged to resemble an actual abode (an immaculate and expertly curated one, that is), Blu Home features cool and contemporary items, such as Kelly Wearstler light fixtures and case goods by the eco-friendly Cisco Brothers. “They’re pieces you can really live with—that are comfortable, durable and unique,” says Dolan. “We have a lot of custom options and a designer on staff to help clients pull ideas together.” Additionally, the shop carries giftware, including candles and picture frames. shopbluhome.com

THE FRENCH

NAPLES

Vincenzo Betulia, at the helm of the award-winning flagship Naples eatery Osteria Tulia, introduced a brasserie to Fifth Avenue on January 20. The French transports diners to 19th century Paris with high-tinned ceilings, oversized antiqued mirrors, red leather banquettes, and black and white patterned mosaic floors. Outside, marble tables and bistro chairs surround a live oak illuminated by twinkling white lights. Inspired by pastoral and coastal France, the menu highlights classic dishes, such as moules frites and tartare de bouef. thefrenchnaples.com

ONE DOOR EAST

Ft. Lauderdale

In early August, Giovanni Rocchio, the mastermind behind Valentino Cucina, opened a global tapas restaurant around the corner from his original place. The aptly-named One Door East invites guests to explore the world via their taste buds. Among customer favorites: corn and blueberry salad, eggplant fries served with honey, crackling shrimp with sweet chili sauce, crispy duck salad, wood-fired Peruvian chicken and Galician-style octopus. At the spacious bar, mixologists prepare specialty drinks with foreign influences. Edison light bulbs brighten the primarily wooden interior that features an open kitchen, allowing patrons to watch the chefs in action. onedooreast.com

NINA’S HOUSE

Miami Beach

Nina’s House, which
opened November 10 behind the Confidante Hotel, offers the antidote to the thumping bass and technicolor lights of the Miami club scene with sumptuous cocktails (made with fresh-pressed juices), street tacos and other light bites by Chef Richard Hales (of Bird & Bone, Sakaya Kitchen and Blackbrick fame), and tunes played at a non-deafening decibel. Gypset details (think: painted tile floors, framed collections of butterflies and feathers, aged antique leather furniture and rustic surf boards) greet the eclectic crowd inside the laid-back yet luxurious poolside bungalow. theconfidantemiamibeach.hyatt.com

QUINTO LA HUELLA

Miami

The first outpost of Uruguay’s beachfront hot spot, Parador La Huella, landed at Brickell City Centre’s EAST Hotel in May 2016. The 9,700-square-foot Quinto La Huella includes a sweeping outdoor terrace with lounge furniture, lanterns, and lush trees and plants creating a tropical oasis. Inside, a massive bar encircles the restaurant’s main attraction: the parrilla. Carnivores will clamor for the blackened steel grill, which yields meats with a crisp finish and tender center. (It toasts fish and veggies nicely, too.) Just be sure to save room for pastry chef Florencia Courreges’s signature dessert: a warm cake that oozes dulce de leche when cracked open. quintolahuella.com