Unlike the clear in-your-face mass migration of New Yorkers,
and the influx of hotspots that they love to frequent, you may need to squint your eyes to notice another movement that’s infiltrating South Florida. We’re talking about a ‘Californication’ of Miami. Where, in typical laidback West Coast fashion, the casual-yet-glittery lifestyle is subtlety
seeping into our equally sunny DNA.
Stay with us, it’s not a far stretch. With similar backdrops of
sand, sea and sun, if you stare long enough at the soaring
palm trees and catch a glimpse of a clique of young women
dressed in head-to-toe athleisure clutching green juices
and matcha, you might believe you’ve been dropped in Los
Angeles. Not to mention the constant glow up of plantbased
restaurants, or your bestie’s secret weapon for a
svelte stomach: a lymphatic drainage massage favored
by celebs like Selena Gomez and Jennifer Aniston. Clarice
Caldas of Magic Shape moved to Miami from la-la land in
2022, bringing her popular wellness-slimming massages to
the Midtown area. “People in Miami are just now discovering
lymphatic massage, which is shocking since there are so
many plastic surgeons here,” she says. “But with so many
body-conscious people and our lifestyle of living in bikinis,
it’s now catching on in popularity.” And don’t get us started
on the ‘woo-woo’. Miami may have Cali beat when it comes
to dabbling in tarot cards, sound bowl seshes and witchy
things, along with our plethora of wellness-centric retreats
like Tierra Santa Healing House and Carillon Miami Wellness
Resort.
While everyone may be talking about New York players like
Major Food Group, another hospitality and lifestyle group
from Los Angeles, The h.wood Group, has its sights set
on dusting the South Florida scene with major Tinseltown
magic. The group, founded by impresarios John Terzian
and Brian Toll, boasts a solid portfolio of celebrity-loved
restaurants and nightclubs from Los Angeles to Las Vegas,
as well as a marked presence in event producing at Formula
One, Grammys, Sundance and Coachella. The h.wood Group
recently opened an outpost of its popular Delilah supper
club at the base of the Brickell Key bridge. “We’ve had our
eye on Miami for years,” says Terzian, who adds that many
of their L.A. regulars now have second homes in Miami or
frequently jet set to the area. While Miami offers similarities
to the California lifestyle, Terzian believes it’s the differences
that make Miami a prime place for more concepts. “In L.A.,
many people eat at home during the week,” he says. “The
thing that I’ve noticed about South Florida is how much fun
people are having. They really enjoy eating, drinking and
socializing. They plan nights out, and it’s often.” Delilah’s
supper club vibe is perfectly suited for nights of escapism:
the glamorous dining room glitters with chandeliers and Art
Deco towers, while a talented pool of live musicians belts
out tunes from the stage and costumed dancers sashay by tables.
The Miami menu is structured similar to the L.A. outpost (and
includes the famous ‘Slutty Brownie’ crowned with ice cream
and chocolate fudge that’s named after Kendall Jenner) but
offers more attention to shellfish and seafood. Soon, guests
can look forward to dining on the waterfront patio and take
advantage of something else not prevalent in California:
arriving by boat. Like its L.A. location, Delilah enforces a
strict no-photo policy and there’s even a back entrance for
celebrities to slip through unnoticed. “A lot of our personal
friends are celebrities, so we want to be safe havens for
them,” says Terzian. The group is potentially bringing other
concepts to Miami including L.A.’s buzzy The Nice Guy and
Vietnamese restaurant ĐiĐi along with food and beverage
outlets at luxury hotels. “We’re committed to being here,” says
Terzian, who adds that both he and his business partner Toll
also have plans to buy a place in Miami. “We’re focused on the
long term as well as getting involved in the community and
charities.”
Continuing the Californication is Oise Ristorante, Miami’s first Itameshi concept by top toque Brad Kilgore and Andrew Mayer, co-founder of OG Hospitality Group. The idea for the Wynwood restaurant came to Mayer during his last trip to Cali, after he stopped in a new Itameshi spot where he was blown away by the cuisine’s flavors, which uniquely intermingles Japanese and Italian elements for an umami flavor. “It was one of the best dining experiences, as Italian and Japanese flavors are the perfect complement to each other,” says Mayer. “I always look to California for inspiration as their Asian population is incredibly diverse and cooking techniques from Japan usually hit California first. They’re always ahead of the curve and I think Miami is starting to realize that.”
Continuing the Californication is Oise Ristorante, Miami’s first Itameshi concept by top toque Brad Kilgore and Andrew Mayer, co-founder of OG Hospitality Group. The idea for the Wynwood restaurant came to Mayer during his last trip to Cali, after he stopped in a new Itameshi spot where he was blown away by the cuisine’s flavors, which uniquely intermingles Japanese and Italian elements for an umami flavor. “It was one of the best dining experiences, as Italian and Japanese flavors are the perfect complement to each other,” says Mayer. “I always look to California for inspiration as their Asian population is incredibly diverse and cooking techniques from Japan usually hit California first. They’re
always ahead of the curve and I think Miami is starting to realize that.”
