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Every August and September, Miami Spice offers a reason to return to the city’s dining rooms, inviting both longtime residents and visitors to experience restaurants across Miami. In Coconut Grove, the appeal is particularly concentrated, with several of the neighborhood’s most compelling kitchens located within a few blocks of one another.
For residents of Vita at Grove Isle, whose private island setting is minutes from mainland Coconut Grove, Miami Spice offers the perfect reason to rediscover the city through food, before returning home to the peace of the waterfront. And three spots really stand out.
Amal brings a contemporary interpretation of Lebanese cooking to Main Highway. Executive Chef Wissam Baki’s menu draws on the generosity of the Lebanese table, moving through mezze, freshly baked pita, grilled dishes, and herbs and spices meant for sharing. Light-filled interiors and a landscaped terrace complement a dining experience that balances tradition with a distinctly modern sensibility.
A few doors away, Ariete has become one of Coconut Grove’s defining restaurants. Chef Michael Beltran’s cooking is Cuban-American in spirit, informed by classical technique and the culinary traditions of his hometown. The Michelin-starred restaurant offers a more considered evening, with a menu that reflects both Beltran’s personal heritage and the evolution of Miami’s dining culture.
Los Félix offers another perspective entirely. The Michelin-starred restaurant centers its cooking on heritage corn from across the Americas, paired with carefully selected seafood and meats. Under Chef Sebastián Vargas, Mexican culinary traditions provide the foundation for a menu grounded in biodiversity, responsible sourcing, and exacting technique. Michelin has also recognized Los Félix with a Green Star for its approach to sustainability.
And soon, Grove Isle itself will add a significant new restaurant to the neighborhood’s dining landscape. While not part of Miami Spice, La Sponda is expected to open at 4 Grove Isle Drive, bringing coastal Italian cuisine to a waterfront setting overlooking Biscayne Bay. The restaurant is a concept from Gioia Hospitality Group, the team behind Daniel’s, with interiors by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, whose portfolio includes Annabel’s in London and The Beekman in New York. Named for the Italian word for “the shore,” La Sponda is planned for brunch, lunch, and dinner, with an emphasis on Italian cooking and seafood.
Proximity is central to the appeal of life at Grove Isle. Set on a 20-acre private island just minutes from mainland Coconut Grove, Vita puts residents close to dining, entertainment, and culture. To learn more about the remaining waterfront residences at Vita at Grove Isle, contact the sales team to schedule a private presentation.