12 New Florida Openings This Spring
From French bistros to sake lounges, these fresh openings are elevating Florida’s social scene with inspired flavors, stylish spaces and desserts almost too pretty to eat—almost.
North
La Nouvelle
St. Augustine
The third time’s the charm for Chef Michael Lugo who has a new restaurant to add to his St. Augustine culinary empire, which includes Michael’s and Pesca Vilano. This time, he brings a taste of Paris to the Lincolnville neighborhood, where La Nouvelle welcomes diners to the Victorian-era Jefferson House, the restored former home of Thomas Jefferson’s great granddaughter, Maria Jefferson Eppes Shine. The choice of cuisine is apt, as the founding father was a noted Francophile who served as the American ambassador to France. Chef Matthieu Landillon, who graduated from the exacting Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, oversees classic fare that includes le tout: from moules frites and steak au poivre to escargots de Bourgogne and lobster bisque. And, in a nod to “Pulp Fiction,” there’s even a royale with cheese.
Othello
Jacksonville
Named after the titular character in Shakespeare’s play, this restaurant serves a menu as complex as the character himself, which features a mix of dishes that combine the cultures of northern Africa, the Middle East and southern Spain. It’s the project of father-daughter team Jeriees Ewais, a longtime Jacksonville restaurateur, and Vanesa Ewais, who applied her skills as a restaurant designer and former captain at New York’s beloved Gramercy Tavern to the enterprise. The kitchen also features the expertise of Sebastian Velez, who has worked under French-born, New York-based Chef Daniel Boulud. Notably, Othello focuses on sustainable values with locally sourced bread, seafood and beer, and fresh herbs on its patio. Diners can’t miss it either; it’s housed in a gem of a Spanish-style building in the Springfield neighborhood.
The Monroe
Tallahassee
Modern American cuisine in an upscale casual setting comes to the southside of Tallahassee, in the shadow of the state capitol, with The Monroe. It’s the latest endeavor of the city’s Seven Hills Hospitality Group, which also owns the popular spots Liberty Bar & Restaurant, the Hawthorn Bistro & Bakery, Bar 1903 and Black Radish. The dinner menu offers eclectic shareable small plates like etouffee fritters with andouille sausage, crawfish and chicken, brandy cured foie gras torchon and main events like the artichoke rotolo, duck confit and lobster bucatini. Guests can also order up larger platters with enough to share for two or three (Nashville hot chicken or black angus ribeye? Flip a coin!). Happy hour, Tuesday to Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m., offers the classics—dirty martinis, old fashioneds and planters punches—for an inflation-fighting $6 or $7 each.
Wild Olives
Santa Rosa Beach
Twenty years after he opened the original Wild Olives in Rosemary Beach, Chris Trovas has expanded on its successful run with a new edition, which partners the chef with bar maestro Slayde Martin. The bistro is a culinary standout among 30A’s beach-bar lineup, offering plenty of seafood—catch of the day prepared multiple ways, for instance—and landlubber faves like filet mignon and paprika chicken with pancetta. The cocktail lineup is vividly imagined with such concoctions as Mai Hands Are Tai’d (a variation on the rum-based mai tai) and You, Me & The Sea (tequila with a housemade lime cordial, orange water and sea salt foam).
Central
Bar Kada
Winter Park
Sake is the centerpiece at this inviting lounge that also serves up small plates and a curated wine list. The 30-seat space is like the laid-back sibling of the Michelin-starred restaurant, Soseki, located next door. While it’s also the brainchild of the same chef, Winter Park’s Mike Collantes, don’t expect strictly omakase here. There are plenty of a la carte items, including inventive bites like caviar donuts. If you’d prefer the chef to choose for you, they recently added a five-course tasting menu. Rather drink? 2023’s Michelin-starred sommelier Benjamin Coutts will happily educate you on the ins and outs of rice wine. Experiment with different varieties with one of their sake flights to see which flavor profile you like best. A few sips in and you’ll be clinking glasses and saying kanpai (the Japanese word for cheers).
Pistil House
St. Petersburg
Equal parts flower shop and wine bar, Pistil House feels like you’re hanging out in your best friend’s living room. Located in a restored 1926 bungalow in St. Pete’s Grand Central District, the shop combines the two founders’ backgrounds working in Oregon wine country and local floral shops. In terms of blooms, browse the curated fireplace display before picking out flowers and greenery to add to your own bouquet. Pistil House’s pick-and-choose ethos extends to its food offerings, which allow guests to create custom cheese and charcuterie boards or kick back on the front porch with various snacks like cucumber dip and Fritos or the rotating sandwich special of the week. Local beers and eclectic wines flow along with kegged cold brew and other hot coffee creations.
Andrew’s Coffee
Lakeland
Instead of starting your day with the usual Starbucks order, try “If Robert Pattinson Was A Latte” (a blend of oat milk, espresso, Irish cream, macadamia nut, honey and brown sugar). Or how about an Oreo latte? While Andrew’s Coffee offers all the basics you can find at your typical java joint, what sets them apart is their adventurous flavor combinations and quirky straws themed for every holiday, from Thanksgiving turkeys to pink rubber ducks for breast cancer awareness. Plus, how many coffee shops allow customers to play barista by concocting their own beverages, which, if tasty enough, could be added to the menu and earn rewards if others order it? Beyond coffee, find energy drinks, seltzers, pastries, light bites and lots of laughs (if you follow their Instagram).
Luma
New Smyrna Beach
Luma, an outdoor cafe and bar designed for carefree kickbacks, opened last spring and quickly became a go-to hangout with its boho beach club vibes. The open green space and adjoining patio, outfitted with a mix of eclectic tables, white umbrellas, cozy couches and hammock chairs, welcome people and pups alike. A giant sandbox and yard games keep little ones entertained while music and drinks flow. Situated in the heart of downtown New Smyrna Beach on Flagler Avenue, Luma’s menu features a variety of light bites and refreshers, including black bean burgers, Mexican street corn dip, gelato and an Orange Blossom pilsner (brewed in Orlando). Just a short walk from the ocean, Luma provides the perfect complement to any beach day—no need to change out of your cover-up or sandals.
South
Palm House
Palm Beach
If Palm Beach were a color, it would undoubtedly be pink—a hue that the recently debuted Palm House hotel wears with effortless charm. Located just a block from the Atlantic Ocean and a short walk from the exclusive shops of Worth Avenue, this retreat marks the first U.S. property for London-based Iconic Luxury Hotels. The Palm House channels the island’s signature coral-colored allure while taking a playful step into the whimsical with cheeky Slim Aarons photographs lining the hallways and Murano glass chandeliers cascading like delicate feathers overhead. At their restaurant, the Dining Room, Japanese flavors meet Peruvian ingredients in a tantalizing fusion, and guests are welcomed by the host and chefs with “irasshaimase,” a warm Japanese greeting meaning welcome. Out back, the Sunset Pool Deck offers a heated oasis flanked by pastel-pink cabanas and umbrella-shaded loungers—because it’s Palm Beach, where poolside perfection is practically a mandate.
Marina Village
Fort Lauderdale
Create a chic food hall, but make it distinctly Fort Lauderdale. That was the vision Knallhart Management Group—known for buzzworthy local haunts like Harrel’s and The Federal—brought to life with Marina Village, an open-air, waterfront venue redefining the food court concept. Opened last fall along the bustling Intracoastal Waterway, Marina Village is anything but understated. The al fresco complex is anchored by three concepts: The Promenade, an eight-kiosk food hall serving global flavors; The Mainland Bar, a breezy outdoor watering hole with room for 44; and The Shorely, a two-story, 500-person ferry turned floating lounge where bottle service, plush cabanas and lively entertainment set the tone for unforgettable nights. Marina Village proves the city’s flavor isn’t just on the plate—it’s in the air, the water, the cocktails and the vibe.
Unidos
Naples
Dining at downtown Naples’s Unidos is an experience that feels like stepping into the heart of Latin and Central America—without ever leaving Florida. Drawing from their family’s rich Latin heritage, Salvador Muñoz, his wife, Jamie, and business partner Carlos Angel created a vibrant indoor-outdoor restaurant celebrating culinary traditions. The menu dazzles with Argentine asados (wood-grilled meats), flaky empanadas and a ceviche bar offering a kaleidoscope of flavors. Even the drinks embody Latin flair, with handcrafted cocktails starring tequila, rum and other iconic spirits. At the heart of Unidos is its open kitchen, where guests can engage with the chefs, adding a personal touch to every visit. Unidos isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a celebration of Latin culture, one plate at a time.
Sunny’s
Miami
What started as a pop-up has become Miami’s newest “it” restaurant, combining dinner-party vibes with impressive culinary chops in an indoor-outdoor setting that’s nothing short of magical. Sunny’s originated as a steakhouse and has since added a raw bar menu and delectable pasta dishes (such as the spicy pork sugo rigatoni). It all takes place in the Little Haiti neighborhood, where Sunny’s courtyard twinkles with patio lights woven into the branches of its voluminous banyan tree. The eclectic spot is a multipurpose entertainment juggernaut that is hard to confine to one restaurant category. Here, find yourself ordering a 30-ounce Australian Wagyu ribeye within an Art Deco-inspired, white-tablecloth dining room or go under-the-radar with al dente pasta at the relaxed patio. Confounding? Yes. Mildly confusing? Yes. Spectacular? Absolutely.
