Updated Art Basel 2018 Events Around Miami

MIAMI BEACH, FL — The real fun around Art Basel are the side events and glamorous parties. Many, but not all are invitation only. But, you'll find plenty of other great things to do around town.

Here now is Patch's list of not so official Art Basel events around the Miami area. Keep checking back to find additional events between now and Sunday. See also Art Basel 2018 Opens In Miami Beach

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MIAMI

Frost Art Museum

The Smithsonian Affiliate in Miami announces a powerful new season of exhibitions and programming for Art Basel Season 2018 in Miami. Headlining this year is "Relational Undercurrents: Contemporary Art of the Caribbean Archipelago." Through Jan. 13, this is the first major survey of this size and scope of 21st century art by 67 contemporary Caribbean artists representing 14 Caribbean countries, whose works offer expansive perspectives that transcend the boundaries imposed upon Caribbean cultures. “Because of Miami’s geographic proximity to the Caribbean nations, as well as our cultural mosaic which Caribbean cultures have shaped, it was important for us to bring this exhibition to Miami during Art Basel season,” said Dr. Jordana Pomeroy, the Director of the museum. “Our new season opens up a dialogue about global commonalities rather than differences, from ecological changes to societal values around the world.”

Basel Therapy: Live Music at The Yard

With electrifying live musical performances by Patrick & The Swayzees, Gavin Turek, Jules and The Jinks and V. Keys and The Family Affair, among many more. Locals know that #BaselatTheYard is the place to be in Miami for live music, fantastic eats and drinks and good vibes during Basel Week every year. Stop by the friendly outdoor oasis to kick back, dance, sip on a well-deserved brew from sponsor Stella Artois, cocktail or glass of wine and enjoy extraordinary musical talent from the Sunshine State and cross-country. Find a full list of events and links to tickets here. The Bar at The Yard opens at noon and serves happy hour specials daily from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Food trucks open after 4 p.m.

RSVP and additional info via the link for each of the following events. Keep up with our Basel at the Yard Facebook page for more updates and info. The following events have free admission unless otherwise noted:

Thursday Dec. 6

• Make The Yard a must on Thursday for Disco Soul night and witness L.A.’s very danceable Gavin Turek make the Simple Vodka stage her own, with opening sets by Yoli Mayor and Shira Lee.
  

Friday Dec. 7

• At the Motown Funk party, get your fill of South Florida’s electrifying Patrick & The Swayzees; Shenzi and Lemon City Trio open.
• From 5 to 9 p.m., stop by a special Doral Yard pop-up and meet the newest member of The Yard Hospitality family.
• Late night Friday, dance at a Silent Disco at 11:30 p.m. or to The Classics at midnight, an evening of vintage house/disco and old school hip-hop presented by Keep It Deep Miami + Vagabonds-At-Large.

Saturday Dec. 8

• Saturday brings Electric Soul vibes to The Yard with NYC’s Jules and The Jinks, Black Dove and The Beholders.
• From midnight till 4 a.m., get down with Miami’s best Caribbean party, WynCarib. Ladies are welcome free but must RSVP. Gents, $10.
• Take a minute and find your zen with ZICO Coconut Water from 2 to 8 p.m. in YardBox. Yard 8, the newest upcoming member of the Midtown/Wynwood community, joins us on Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m.

Sunday Dec. 9

• Wind down in true Yard style with a Basel edition of Reggae Sundays featuring special guests Roger George and The Hyryze Band, Jahfe and Ras Kokay & The Truth.

The Art Plug Power House

This experiential adult playground celebrates creativity and craftsmanship in Miami's up-and-coming Allapattah neighborhood on Dec. 7 from 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. and Dec. 8 from 7 p.m. - 12 a.m. Single day tickets are $15. Multi-day tickets are $20. Featuring immersive and interactive art installations, more than $5 million in art, musical performances, pop-up shops, food, drinks and more, Art Plug Powerhouse is much more than just an art fair and moves beyond the basic Basel showings. Conceptualized by "The Art Plug" himself Marcel Katz (most for being the world's youngest Salvador Dali dealer) Art Plug Power House is sponsored by High Hemp and features works from artists including Aholsniffsglue, CB Hoyo, Robin Velghe, Chad Knight, Zevi G and many more.

E11EVEN Miami - E11EVEN x Bootsy Bellows ft. Travis Scott

Located at 29 NE 11th St in Miami, the event takes place at 10 pm on Friday. Rapper Travis Scott will go into sicko mode while famed LA hotspot Bootsy Bellows hosts its annual pop-up with Avion Reserve 44, Absolute Elyx, and Perrier Jouet through Saturday, Dec. 8. Click here for more information.

Art Miami

One Herald Plaza. Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 a.m. Tickets are available for purchase online. As the city’s original and longest running contemporary and modern art fair, Art Miami is globally recognized as a primary destination for the acquisition of significant work from the 20th and 21st centuries in collaboration with a selection of the world’s most respected galleries. During its 28th edition, Art Miami will present an array of iconic and exemplary works dynamic projects and special installations from more than 140 exhibitors to more than 85,000 visitors at its new waterfront location One Herald Plaza.

CONTEXT Art Miami

Located at One Herald Plaza, this is sister fair to Art Miami. Launched in 2012, this event is dedicated to the development and reinforcement of emerging and mid-career artists. The open atmosphere creates a meaningful dialogue between artists, galleries and collectors while providing the ultimate platform for established and emerging galleries to present cutting-edge and emerging talent. The 100 international galleries vetted by the CONTEXT Selection Committee will exhibit highlights from their gallery programs, solo artist exhibitions and/or curated projects. Tickets are available online.

Wynwood Walls

Located at 2520 NW 2nd Ave in Miami, this event is free and open to the public during Art Basel . Walls will be open from 10 a.m. until midnight.

Monkey Shoulder - Monkey Mixer

This event is free and open to the public at various locations but RSVP is encouraged. The blended malt Scotch whisky brings the fun on the road with the Monkey Mixer, which draws inspiration from a cement truck design and mimics a traditional cocktail shaker upgraded and transformed into the ultimate cocktail machine. The Mixer, which can hold up to 2,400 gallons of liquid, will be in Miami until December 15 to serve up the "Mixed Up Monkey" cocktail that is poured directly out of the truck. RSVP or request dates and lations via email to sydney@carmaconnected.com.

MIAMI BEACH

The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU

The museum is featuring three original exhibitions for Art Basel season: a show especially curated for art lovers who are yearning to see works by some of the world’s most acclaimed modern masters, the fashion world’s electrifying new star, and a heartwarming remembrance of a beloved painter that brings to life South Florida’s artistic history.

Marc Chagall … Lee Krasner … Roy Lichtenstein … Alexander Calder … and Peter Max! The Art of the Lithograph (on view through March 3), features world- renowned modern masters. Daniel Chimowitz: Walking Canvases (through February 3), is the first- ever museum show by the fashion designer/graffiti artist. Edna Glaubman: Retrospective(through December), is a tribute to the late artist, one of Florida’s most revered painters.

The works in The Art of the Lithograph are on loan from some of America’s leading private and public collections, including: The Metropolitan Art Museum and The New York Historical Society, the Collection of Lori Gold and Alan Hall of Miami Beach, and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

W South Beach's WET

BrightFox celebrates a member of their tribe at the Cavallaria Exhibition on Friday Dec. 7. Watch a live photoshoot of Brazilian supermodel Isabeli Fontanaas as celebrity and fashion photographer Marcos Mello works his magic in a live photoshoot from 7-10 p.m. Victoria’s Secret Angel Barbara Fiahlo teases her musical career for guests with her first exclusive live performance of three original songs.

Create & Cultivate Vision Summit

This popular online platform and celeb-studded conference is heading to Lincoln Road this Saturday featuring tennis legend Venus Williams, actresses Jamie Chung, Diane Guerrero, Monique Coleman, #AerieReal Role Model Iskra Lawrence, 3x World Champion Brenna Huckaby and more. The event brings together visionaries in fashion, food, art, culture and business for a one-day event of panels, workshops, delicious food and more. The core focus of all Create & Cultivate conferences is to entertain, enlighten and inform creative women around key topics surrounding the digital space, entrepreneurship and life as a modern woman. Partners include IT Cosmetics, Aerie and Home Depot. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. at 1111 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Check out the full schedule and other information here.

MAXIM December 2018 Cover Issue Party

The Plymouth South Beach 318 21 Street, Miami Beach 8- 11 p.m. (private)
MAXIM magazine will celebrate its December 2018 issue with an epic party transforming the Plymouth South Beach Hotel into a chic outdoor lounge for hip Art Basel trendsetters. Presented by blu, hosted by cover model Chase Carter, the private, invite only event is sure to be one of the most talked about events of the year.

The Confidante - Surf Lodge

Located at 4041 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, Montauk hotspot Surf Lodge returns for a fifth year to celebrate Art Basel with exclusive events and programming at The Confidante. There will be a private VIP reception Friday night from 7 to 9 p.m. with the Art News and Young Arts VIP dinner on Vista Terrace followed. From 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. - there will be an After Party in The Backyard with a surprise performance.

Fithouse Room Pop-up 1 Hotel South Beach

The hotel is located at 2341 Collins Ave in Miami Beach. This even is open and free to the public. RSVP required. Saturday, Dec. 8 and Sunday Dec. 9 there will be a 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. class. Fithouse, also known as "The All Class Club," is the newest disrupter in the NY boutique fitness scene - providing a one stop shop for all things premium-group-fitness. Class offerings include high intensity interval training, trampoline, sculpt, yoga, dance and more. During Art Basel at 1 Hotel, Fithouse will offer their signature "Sculpt" class Tone from head to toe, a total body conditioning class consisting of little to no impact. The workout targets each muscle group, sculpting a lean, long figure from head to toe. RSVP: rsvp@alisecollective.com

1 Hotel South Beach Lobby

Throughout Sunday, Procell, a Lower East Side shop with luxury sportswear and vintage garments, will host a pop-up shop open to the public. The shop will include rare and curated selections of fashionable items in a relaxed space with a DJ spinning vinyls. In addition to the shop, in partnership with Procell and Moet et Chandon, Dom Perignon and Veuve Cliquot, 1 Hotel’s lobby bar DRIFT will serve as a gathering spot for the hotel with a vintage list of champagnes by the bottle and flute and Organic Beats programming with DJ Yissel.

Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club - Wellness Activation with Dr. Smood

Located at 3925 Collins Ave. in Miami Beach, this event is open to the public on Dec. 8 from 1o a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the public beach and Bungalow Beach. Guests will enjoy an intense 90-minute curated boot camp class. Following, Dr. Smood will cool it down with a 30-minute post-workout stretch and yoga class. RSVP: basel@cadillachotelmiamibeach.com.

Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club - BEACH BEAUTY with BEACHWAVER CO

The Cadillac will also host a complimentary syling and products by Beachwaver Co professional stylists on Saturday afternoon at Cabana Pool. This event is open to the public. Guests will receive complimentary styling and products by Beachwaver Co professional stylists.

Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club

Through Sunday, guests will have the chance to experience a number of professional installations throughout Cadillac Hotel. Exhibitions will include artwork from Eduardo Sarabia, the renowned Mexican folklore artist, and Matt McCormick, the LA-based multimedia artist whose been featured in the emerging local gallery, The Office MIA.

CORAL GABLES

City of Coral Gables Public Art: "The truth is I welcome you" Recognized by Art Basel

Conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas is behind this new public art display that is recognized by this year's Art Basel and presented in partnership with the Lowe Art Museum. On exhibit from now until January 2019, the two-part installation of "The truth is I welcome you" invites us to approach our different perspectives on truth with a new sense of understanding. Overhead, speech bubble signs on Miracle Mile light posts will feature messages of truths translated into 22 languages from around the world. In addition, comic book-inspired speech bubble benches placed in open spaces throughout Coral Gables will enhance our public spaces. Now through Dec. 9, 216 Miracle Mile: Stop by the pop-up exhibition during Art Week and write your "truth" on a speech bubble balloon. Balloons will be archived by the artist following the exhibition.

SURFSIDE

Arte By Antonio Citterio Illuminates Surfside With "Ritual"

Curated by Stuart Parr and Designed by Sophia Hanover of Thinkcraft, Arte by Antonio Citterio – the new ultra-luxury condominium residences in Surfside – celebrates Art Basel with a custom video art installation projected directly on the 12-story building, which spans more than an acre. Inspired by the beauty of the building itself, theinstallation will be projected on the front façade of the building visible from Collins Avenue through Sunday, Dec. 9 from 5:30 pm – 11:00 p.m. each night. Ritual” will light up the night with a series of enchanting and luminous marine scenes. According to Hanover, the work is “a meditation on place, purpose, and the omnipresent and mystical nature of time.”

Designed by world-renowned Italian master architect and designer Antonio Citterio in collaboration with Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design and developed by Sapir Corp LTD, Arte will feature a curated collection of art. Outside will stand an original “ART” sculpture by recently deceased, legendary American artist Robert Indiana, and inside, the lobby will feature a work by the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson called “Polychromatic Chronology, 2016.” Sales at Arte are slated to launch in December.

PINECREST

Antarctic Ice Paintings Exhibit at Pinecrest Gardens
Scientists warn sea level rise is accelerating around the globe. Learn about how it will affect South Florida at the premiere of “Antarctic Ice Paintings: Global Coastlines and Underwater HOA” exhibit, featuring 60 untitled, never-shown-before paintings created by leading environmental artist, Xavier Cortada, while on a National Science Foundation Antarctic Artists and Writers Program fellowship. In Antartica, Cortada learned from scientists that the very ice sheets he was using for his art would eventually drown his beloved city. The Antarctic Ice Paintings exhibition runs thru Jan. 13. General consuls will be invited to help name the 60 paintings, which represent other coastal communities threatened by rising sea levels. This exhibit is part of a larger participatory art project titled “Underwater HOA” scheduled to take place during Art Basel in collaboration with the Village of Pinecrest. It is free and open to the public. Stop by 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday, in the Hibiscus Gallery at Pinecrest Gardens, located at 11000 Red Road. For more information, call 305-669-6990 or visit www.underwaterhoa.com.

MIAMI GARDENS

The Cultural Express

Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert presents the Art Basel Cultural Express on Sunday Dec. 9 from noon to 4 p.m. The event is targeted to children from 5-13 and their guardians. Adults must bring a child in order to participate in the Cultural Express. The bus will leave promptly at noon from Miami Gardens City Hall, 18605 NW 27th Avenue. Space is limited. RSVP IS REQUIRED.

Restaurants Around Miami For Hungry Art Basel Visitors

The Taco Stand

The restaurants has partnered with the Little Light House Foundation’s Holiday Toy Drive now through Friday, Dec. 14. Guests who donate an unwrapped toy will receive 15 percent off their order. Conveniently located right in the center of many of the Wynwood art events and galleries this Basel week, guests can easily stop by for a quick bite, all while feeling good about donating and even saving some money.

Bagatelle Miami Beach

Partnering with Toys for Tots through Dec. 14, guests who come in and donate a toy can enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne. Who wouldn't want to start/end their Art Basel week with some free bubbly?

Ariete

Set in idyllic Coconut Grove, Chef/Owner Michael Beltran’s has established a name for itself as one Miami’s most dynamic restaurants, offering a contemporary menu of New American cuisine with Latin, particularly Cuban, influences. Menu highlights include the famed Frita Cubana; Maduro y Provoleta; Local Fish; Pastrami Style Short Rib; and the wildly popular Chug Burger. For dessert, a fan favorite and an incredibly unique take on a classic Spanish dessert – Flan infused with candy cap mushrooms, Sambuca crema and coffee crumble. Offering a cozy ambiance with a full-service bar, Ariete is located at 3540 Main Highway in Coconut Grove. Call 954-765-3030.

BLT Prime
Featuring BLT’s acclaimed modern American steakhouse cuisine in a gorgeous setting, boasting spectacular views of the legendary Blue Monster golf course, the restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests can treat themselves to some of the finest cuts of USDA Prime Certified Angus beef available, including the 28 day dry-aged New York strip; Kansas City bone-in strip; and Porterhouse for two. In addition, BLT favorites such as tuna tartare; Dover sole and lobster cobb salad can also be found. Prime is located at Trump National Doral Miami, 4400 NW 87th Avenue. Telephone: 305-591-6606.

Chuy’s
If you’re in the mood for a fun Tex-Mex experience, Chuy’s marries traditional Tex-Mex, made-from-scratch cuisine and a playful lineup of cocktails with an eccentric dining room design offering a flavorful and whimsical culinary experience. Chuy’s restaurants are notable for their fresh ingredients and quirky design – and the stories behind it all. Chuy’s is open seven days a week.

Lightkeepers

The casually elegant new restaurant and bar at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami made its debut in March 2017. Located just off the island’s gorgeous waters, Lightkeepers features a contemporary, coastal-inspired dining room, a cool, casual indoor/outdoor bar and a beverage program featuring unique, hand-crafted cocktails. The menu, by Executive Chef Raul A. Del Pozo, relies on locally sourced ingredients – cheeses from Winter Park, beef from Ocoee, and snapper from Key West. Named as an homage to the lighthouse keepers who watched over Key Biscayne’s historic Cape Florida Lighthouse in the 1800’s, Lightkeepers is a premier waterfront dining and imbibing destination for locals and visitors alike. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, served daily, offer a bevy of land and sea options. Highlighting the space is an open air, state of the art, stainless steel kitchen that overlooks the dining area and is also home to the raw bar. Breathtaking views of the Atlantic and pool-scape can be seen from almost every angle of the restaurant including the indoor/outdoor bar and private dining room area. With an innovative craft cocktail program, delicious cuisine and a lively yet cozy, tropical, sophisticated atmosphere, Lightkeepers makes for the perfect escape from the daily grind. Lightkeepers is located at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami, 455 Grand Bay Drive. Call 305-365-4156.

Novecento
Staying true to the core elements is an aspect that has made Novecento an international sensation for more than two decades. The cuisine at 900 is a refined co-existence of Argentine, European and Pan Latin, this style perhaps best called ###strong. The cuisine is not a fusion; rather each style is separate and is a pure reflection of its heritage. A dash of nostalgia and a sprinkle of vintage set the stage for this glamorous, relaxing, and inviting ambience created by the furnishings from old cafes and restaurants imported from Argentina. Novecento Restaurants are located in Aventura, Brickell and Key Biscayne. Novecento will open its newest location at CityPlace Doral in Winter 2018.

Rusty Pelican

Key Biscayne’s iconic waterfront dining destination features a world-class wine program curated by internationally renowned Master Sommelier Michael Jordan to complement Eastern Regional Chef Jim Pastor’s elevated comfort food menu. In addition to copious fresh seafood and raw bar selections befitting to the restaurant’s gorgeous bayside setting, there’s something for everyone – from the signature 16 oz. bone-in rib eye and Niman ranch bone-in 20 oz. pork chop to unique garden-fresh salads and house-made pasta. Craft cocktails created by Head Mixologist Oscar Amaya can be enjoyed in the bar and lounge area overlooking the downtown Miami skyline as well as with the stellar wine program that showcases over 300 carefully selected bottles. The restaurant boasts breathtaking views and a vibrant energy which draws diners in, making it a perfect hotspot for dinner, drinks and special events. The Rusty Pelican is located at 3201 Rickenbacker Causeway in Key Biscayne.

The Commodore and Isabelle’s Grill Room and Garden

A trendy craft cocktail bar with an old world library vibe that also encompasses an al fresco lounge, The Commodore is Coconut Grove’s hot new destination. Cocktail connoisseurs, Happy Hour seekers and locals on the hunt for a perfectly-made drink in an unpretentious, welcoming setting flock to it. The bar and lounge, operated by LDV Hospitality (the team behind Miami Beach’s award-winning Regent Cocktail Club and more) is nestled in The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, Miami and features both a regal indoor bar and lounge, a tropically lush covered patio, a compelling cocktail list of classics and new innovations, and a bites menu designed to pair well with The Commodore’s featured spirits. Rounding out the bar and lounge’s attractions, live music every Friday and Saturday evening; a tight jazz trio delivering the perfect aural backdrop for a night out. The bar program delivers all the staples expected from proper craft cocktail experience, from the ice and glassware to the varied spirits and drinks it serves. The bar is the result of a new partnership forged between LDV and the hotel, which will also include a new restaurant, Isabelle’s Grill Room and Garden, currently in development and scheduled to open Winter 2019. Both concepts are led by Executive Chef Abel Veulens and Sous Chef Miguel Fajardo. The Commodore is located at 3300 SW 27th Avenue at The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, Miami.

3030 Ocean

For over a decade, 3030 Ocean at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa has been known for its sophisticated, yet simple locally-sourced cuisine, served in a chic, oceanfront setting. Overlooking pristine white sands at the popular Fort Lauderdale resort, 3030 Ocean is an elegant hotspot frequented by locals and visitors alike. Now at the helm of the kitchen, where her career first began, newly-appointed Executive Chef Adrienne Grenier has developed a fresh menu to match the restaurant’s modern, maritime-inspired design and ambience. Grenier brings her own signature cooking style of inventive farm-to-table fare – which won her the title of champion on Food Network’s Chopped – to the seaside restaurant, with a menu that highlights premium, seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients. With a heavy focus on Florida seafood, 3030 Ocean’s new menu puts a spotlight on the best product available in South Florida. In addition to the new menu choices, the combined 216 seat oceanfront restaurant also boasts an expanded bar and lounge area, as well as a restyled dining room. Driven by a desire to marry organic ocean-inspired elements with contemporary sophistication, each facet of 3030 Ocean’s new look was carefully selected to enhance the dining experience. Patrons can enjoy a more intimate environment in the main dining room, while the relaxed bar and lounge area showcase an array of ocean inspired textures, colors, and maritime accouterments. Located at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa, 3030 Holiday Drive. Dinner is served nightly beginning at 6PM. Reservations are suggested. Telephone: 954-765-3030.

Burlock Coast Seafare & Spirits

In November 2015, Burlock Coast Seafare & Spirits made its highly-anticipated debut in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. Located just steps from the beach, Burlock Coast features a gorgeous indoor/outdoor bar and a rustically appointed, sophisticated dining and lounge area with breathtaking ocean views. Overseen by Chef de Cuisine Paula DaSilva, the menu at Burlock Coast enhances the farm-to-table experience with fresh, daily offerings straight from the farms and docks of South Florida. Sourced from thirteen South Florida craft and nano breweries, Burlock Coast offers nine local bottles and cans, and nine local beers on tap as well as a progressive cocktail program that includes an extensive rum list heavy with French, Caribbean and Spanish selections. The marketplace offers artisanal goods, from locally-baked breads and roasted coffees to packaged items spotlighting ingredients or dishes from Burlock Coast’s menu. Offering polished, friendly service, and a lively ambiance perfect for after-work drinks, a night out with friends or lunch with colleagues, Burlock Coast raises the bar for dining and imbibing in Fort Lauderdale. Burlock Coast is located at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale at 1 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard. Call 954-302-6460.

Kuro

Located in the AAA Four Diamond-rated Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Kuro is the resort’s new-style Japanese restaurant featuring contemporary, artisanal fare created by pairing classic Japanese techniques with both locally sourced and imported ingredients. At the helm is the resort’s Creative Culinary Director who brings more than two decades of culinary experience and is recognized as one of the region’s most notable chefs. The sophisticated and wholly unique concept offers an interactive dining experience in traditional kaiseki-style: a multi-course dinner designed to tease the palate with flavors, textures and techniques starting with the lightest fare and progressing to spicier and richer dishes. The innovative beverage program features handcrafted cocktails showcasing fresh Japanese flavors. Designed by the esteemed David Mexico Design Group, the 9,500-square-foot resort showpiece boasts a socially vibrant, open-theater design that encourages diners to become part of the action with open views of the kitchen, sushi bar, lounge and outdoor bar patio. Kuro is located at One Seminole Way in Hollywood, Florida. Telephone: 800-937-0010.

ETARU

A restaurant featuring contemporary Japanese Robatayaki cuisine opened its first location in South Florida in a spectacular oceanfront setting in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A second location opened in June 2018 at The Related Group’s ultra-luxury rental Icon Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale. Brought to the United States by Rainer Becker, co-founder and creator of Zuma restaurants worldwide and ROKA London, ETARU is a neighborhood restaurant, welcoming local diners as well as visitors with a menu and vibe that embraces its respective setting – whether waterfront or in the heart of downtown. The restaurant’s menu has a heavy emphasis on Robata-grilled seafood, while also showcasing a wide range of sushi, sashimi, raw dishes, salads, tatakis and tempura, as well as cooked Japanese specialties. ETARU Hallandale is located at 111 South Surf Road in Hallandale Beach. ETARU Las Olas is located in the Icon Las Olas at 500 East Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.

DUNE

Fort Lauderdale’s new generation beach house, DUNE is a sweeping indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar recently opened on a coveted stretch of beach. It is the first East Coast restaurant from Auberge Resorts Collection, the hospitality brand that began by opening Napa Valley’s first fine-dining venue – Michelin-starred Auberge du Soleil – and then expanded to operate award-winning resorts internationally, such as Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Nanuku in Fiji, and Esperanza in Los Cabos, Mexico. DUNE will welcome residents, the community and sun-seeking visitors with dishes inspired by the sea, exciting cocktails and a Napa-inspired wine list, all delivered with Auberge’s genuine warmth and hospitality. Call: 754-900-4059.

Council Oak Steaks & Seafood

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s award-winning, signature steakhouse Council Oak Steaks & Seafood delivers a sophisticated fine-dining experience with 100% U.S.D.A. Prime dry-aged stockyard beef and Japanese Wagyu beef, fresh seafood, and an award-winning wine list served in an inviting, upscale atmosphere. Council Oak has been nationally recognized by Zagat and has earned Wine Spectator’s ###/emCouncil Oak is located at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at One Seminole Way in Hollywood, Florida.

Lona

Lona Cocina y Tequileria is celebrated Mexican chef Pablo Salas’ chic new Mexican eatery. Since opening its doors to the public in January 2018, Lona has quickly become one of the hottest new spots in Fort Lauderdale. Located on a stunning strip of beachfront real estate, Lona offers Salas’ eclectic, soulful Mexican cuisine in a chic, yet funky environment, complete with a gorgeous indoor/outdoor bar, casually elegant interior dining room, a special tequila tasting room and multiple private dining spaces. A tattoo devotee, Salas’ body is a living canvas and the restaurant, a clean slate, the canvas for his culinary creations. The menu is diverse, affordably priced and a definitive step above what passes for “Mexican food” in South Florida. Highlights include Pumpkin Tamale with pasilla sauce, crispy kale and cotija cheese; Braised Beef Cheek with pipian sauce and pureed cauliflower; and a not-to-be-missed Cabbage Al Fuego- grilled cabbage, with cream, cotija cheese, truffle oil, pipian sauce and cauliflower puree. Seating both indoor and outdoor, the bar offers a selection of craft cocktails, freshly-made margaritas (no premade mixes here), and Micheladas, all perfect for the beachfront vibe. Lona is located at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort at 321 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-245-3069.

Photo by Paul Scicchitano