Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood is set to welcome another high-end restaurant, thanks to retail landlord Robert Rivani. The owner of the Black Lion Investment Group has acquired yet another trophy retail asset in the Miami area and this time it’s the ground floor of the Marea condo building located at 801 South Pointe Drive, adjacent to Washington Avenue.
The owners of Gaia, a Greek-Mediterranean restaurant chain with locations in London, Monte-Carlo, Doha, and Dubai, have filed plans to open their fifth location in the 9,534-square-foot space. The restaurant will feature a dining room and a bar with around 164 seats, an exclusive members club or VIP dining area with approximately 50 seats, and a sidewalk seating area with approximately 28 seats, according to a proposal filed with Miami Beach’s Planning Board.
Inspired by the Greek goddess of Earth, every aspect of the menu, decor, and atmosphere of Gaia Miami Beach will reflect the earth and its fundamental components. If approved, the restaurant will be the latest addition to Rivani’s growing portfolio of high-end restaurant leases in the Miami area.
In 2021, Rivani purchased the ground-floor retail base of the Marea building for $19.1 million and Red steakhouse and Kosushi occupy the other half of the space. Just two blocks east from the Marea condo, Rivani recently announced that Philippe by Philippe Chow will open at the One Ocean condominium, which he purchased for $12 million.
Celebrity hotspot Catch is set to occupy the ground-floor retail space at the nearby Continuum condo complex, which Black Lion purchased for $11.5 million in April. Across Biscayne Bay in Brickell, Miami nightlife mogul David Grutman and Latin superstar Bad Bunny recently opened a steakhouse called Gekko on the ground floor of the SLS LUX Brickell condo building, which Black Lion acquired for $13.5 million in 2021.
Representatives for Black Lion and a lawyer representing Gaia’s owners did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In conclusion, the addition of Gaia Miami Beach to South of Fifth neighborhood will provide residents and visitors with a unique dining experience inspired by the earth and its fundamental components. With Robert Rivani’s track record of acquiring trophy retail assets and high-end restaurants, this latest addition is sure to be a success.
