by The Editors | November 13, 2024
12 New Places to Dine and Unwind in Florida this Season
The Sunshine State's latest openings, from retro ice cream bars to chic boutiques and eateries serving up team spirit.
North
Cookiebird Ice Cream Bar
St. Augustine
Husband-and-wife team Mike and Kate Alfieri never lost touch with that eternal childhood astonishment—the simple, yet somehow miraculous wonder of ice cream. Specifically the classic soft-serve variety, whether dispensed with a jingle from a neighborhood-roving truck or swirled atop a sugar cone in a vintage soda shop. The couple went back to the future, launching Cookiebird Ice Cream Bar as their contemporary take on an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, renovating a historic 1930 storefront on San Marco Avenue as an art-deco cremerie. Their artisanal soft-serve ice cream may be the main attraction but there’s also an enticing variety of accompaniments including waffle cones in birthday cake, orange creamsicle and matcha flavors, exciting toppings (including Oreo and Biscoff cookies!) and sauces like pistachio and marshmallow. And don’t miss their innovative milk bun: soft serve inside a warm brioche bun. cookiebird.co
Chancho King
Jacksonville
Inspired by the flavors and traditions of Ecuador, where the chancho—pig in Spanish—reigns supreme, Chancho King first hit the city streets in 2019, when partners Chason Spencer and his wife, Maria Delia La Mota Guerra, started a successful pop-up shortly after their honeymoon. Their specialty, a roasted pork sandwich with meat marinated for 36 hours, now lends its name to their new restaurant—a diner with daytime and late-night menus and a Sunday ceviche bar. Each bite, from the signature pork sammy (dressed with lime-pickled red onions, pork crackling and more) to platters like the encocado de camaron (shrimp and coconut stew), is infused with generations of culinary magic from Guerra’s family. And never fear, there are vegetarian options as well. chanchoking.square.site
The Social Society
Ponte Vedra Beach
Welcome to the latest chapter in the career of fashion, design and party entrepreneur Seri Kertzner, who gained some buzz with her event-planning and styling companies, Little Miss Party Planner and REV New York, as she executed a lively transition away from the corporate runways. Now she’s bringing her unique flair for the festive to her new home on the southern Atlantic Coast. The Social Society is the nightlife maven’s first brick-and-mortar boutique, stocked with fanciful party supplies, gifts and more—with multiple fun themes to choose from. Looking for disco ball paper plates? Lightning bolt balloons for a superhero party? A robot pinata? The Social Society has it all, and if you’re in need of inspiration, opt for a custom-made “party in a box,” curated by expert stylists to suit any occasion. thesocialsociety.com
The Salty Butcher
Santa Rosa Beach
Inspired by the Old World traditions of Italy and France, beverage specialists and good friends Harrison Holditch and Aubrey Craig have brought the spirit of the European sandwich to the 30A beachfront with their boutique butcher shop and wine bar, located in Greenway Station. Hungry patrons can find cuts of high-quality meats and cheeses, sourced both locally and much further afield, perfect for charcuterie boards, and sandwiches made with bread from South Walton County’s Black Bear Bread Co. thesaltybutcher30a.com
Central
Chayote Barrio Kitchen
Winter Park
With famed Puerto Rican chef Mario Pagán at the helm (it’s his first venture stateside), Chayote Barrio Kitchen is out to introduce Winter Park residents to the concept of Nueva Mesa Latina, Spanish for New Latin Table, where traditional Hispanic flavors merge with contemporary ones. Think: Chilean sea bass with truffled yuca mousse and port foie gras; adobo lamb confit with apio gnocchi; chevre crema and lingonberry; and a tamal appetizer that’s (almost) too pretty to eat. Don’t miss out on their bar offerings either. Their artisanal cocktails, along with an impressive rum selection, are the perfect addition to start—or end—an evening. Salud to that! chayotewinterpark.com
Authentic Books
Orlando
Love getting swept up in a novel? Walk into fictional worlds supplied by Authentic Books, an Orlando-based company that puts a unique spin on their monthly book subscription service. Not only do readers choose the title they want to receive, but they’re also treated to a curated box, filled with goodies from candles to cocktail mixes, to create an immersive, at-home experience for the five senses. Now, Authentic Books is bringing their concept of multisensory reading to the next level with a brick-and-mortar bookstore in Orlando’s Ivanhoe Village. Once a title is selected, grab a bag and shop for three other items that capture the essence of the narrative, like themed candles or drink mixes. They also hold events inspired by popular novels, like their recent candle-pouring workshop based on the series, “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” authenticbooks.com
Moxy St. Pete
St. Petersburg
In the heart of St. Petersburg’s Edge District near Tropicana Field stands the neighborhood’s first lifestyle hotel, Moxy St. Pete. As soon as you enter its urban chic lobby that feels like a city loft, you’re greeted with a vibrant mural depicting the city’s tropical flora and fauna, reflecting the district’s signature art-centric vibe. The 163-room property is home to a happening lobby bar, featuring a stage for local live music and entertainment, and a coffee shop. There’s also a podcast studio, conference rooms, workspaces and the area’s only rooftop pool. Adjacent to the top floor’s swimming hole is the Sparrow Rooftop, a retro-inspired bar and lounge that serves up unrivaled, panoramic views of downtown St. Petersburg, along with sushi, steak, spring rolls and seafood bites that pair perfectly with their creative sips, opening this December. mariott.com
Oyster Shooters Raw Bar & Grill
Cocoa
The world is your oyster at this casual seafood spot in Cocoa. While they have all the coastal favorites—from conch fritters to grouper tacos—the small but mighty oyster is what makes this place the real deal. With an extensive raw bar menu, it’s the spot if you’re craving something shucked and salty. The different varietals are served with color-coded toothpicks, allowing you to easily track what you’re sampling. If you want to wash the mollusks down with something other than cocktail sauce, there’s also plenty to drink. With creative cocktails, multiple types of oyster shooters and other shots, and a seafood Bloody Mary that includes jumbo shrimp, a snow crab leg, bacon and more, you won’t leave this Central Florida eatery hungry. oystershootersrawbar.com
South
The Federal
Fort Lauderdale
What do you get when you drop a world-class dining venue in the middle of a professional sports complex? The Federal, a vibrant hot spot that bills itself as more than just a restaurant. Sure, you can find contemporary American cuisine with touches of global comfort food at The Federal, but you’ll also find a dynamic upscale atmosphere that overlooks two ice rinks within the newly built Baptist Health IcePlex (where the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers practice) and easy access to the nearby pickleball courts. Created by the same masterminds as some of Fort Lauderdale’s most innovative entertainment venues, like Rhythm + Vine and The Wilder, The Fed, as it’s affectionately known, allows guests to indulge in a sports-adjacent atmosphere, no matter what kind of fan they are. thefederalftl.com
La Mártola
Miami
One of Miami’s most exciting new neighborhoods is getting a taste of the European riviera with the recent opening of La Màrtola, an indoor-outdoor restaurant that’s an ode to coastal cuisine. Located in the Buena Vista neighborhood of Miami, La Màrtola’s signature is its cooking process—mostly through a wood-fired grill or pizza oven. Speaking of pizza, the restaurant prepares a 36-hour dough with a flour blend sourced from Italy, resulting in Neapolitan-style pies that are said to embody “La Dolce Vita,” (Italian for The Good Life). The light and airy space, accented with wood furnishings and minimalist decor and design, evokes modern coastal vibes, making a lunch or dinner date here an easy, unfussy proposition. lamartola.com
House of Perna
Delray Beach
A “Project Runway” alum is making Florida even more fashionable this fall with the opening of her brand-new atelier. Fashion designer Amanda Perna, a two-time contestant on the reality TV fashion competition, has opened her first flagship store in Delray Beach. The House of Perna atelier features two unique spaces: The front of the store houses the retail center with House of Perna-designed ready-to-wear clothing, accessories and gifts, and the rear is a fully functioning design studio. This high-minded concept is an extension of Perna’s mission to give women further validation to wear pieces that inspire happiness and vibrancy. Says Perna, “I truly believe clothes have the power to boost moods and create conversations between strangers who may actually end up becoming friends.” thehouseofperna.com
Bakery at Grappino
Naples
European charm makes another landing in Southwest Florida. Bakery at Grappino, a new cafe that speaks to the Italian roots of its co-owner, brings authentic Mediterranean cuisine to the city’s downtown. Made-in-house Italian breads, pastries and desserts are paired with authentic cold cuts and espresso to give diners a feel of chef and owner Fabrizio Aielli’s Italian heritage, which includes working in kitchens since he was 14 years old and becoming the executive chef of the famous Taverna La Fenice in Venice. The artisan bakery complements Aielli’s portfolio of Naples-based restaurants that he co-founded with his wife, Ingrid. In the mood for pasta? The bakery has you covered with its freshly made take-home pastas and a variety of homemade sauces. aielligroup.com
