This new French-Mediterranean restaurant from a luxury brand has Brickell buzzing

A hospitality group known for its luxurious, upscale restaurants on Miami Beach and along the Miami River has found a new neighborhood to conquer: Brickell.

Now open a little south of Komodo and just a bit north of RosaNegra on Brickell Avenue is Riviera Dining Group’s Claudie, a French and Mediterranean restaurant that finds its inspiration in the South of France.

Led by founder Gregory Galy, the group is also the brains behind Casa Neos, a glamorous waterfront Mediterranean spot that opened along the Miami River in 2024, and Mila, named last year as one of the most beautiful restaurants in the United States by People magazine and OpenTable.

Brickell is the perfect fit for Claudie, Galy said, calling the downtown neighborhood “one of the city’s most dynamic and rapidly growing areas.”

“Brickell is the heartbeat of modern Miami, a vibrant, cosmopolitan neighborhood where luxury, culture and a global culinary scene all come together,” he said. “It attracts an international crowd that values both sophistication and unique dining experiences. Claudie feels right at home here.”

The restaurant continues the brand’s focus on hospitality and entertainment. Designed by OV & Co. and Lazaro Rosa Violan, Claudie offers a 2,408-square-foot indoor dining room with circular lights as its centerpiece (it’s meant, not surprisingly, to evoke the sun’s glow along the Cote d’Azur). There’s also a private dining room with a Mediterranean-style mural.

A bar bridges the dining room with the outdoor terrace, which seats 104 diners, with a fountain and greenery all around.

The restaurant’s evocation of the South of France is what sets it apart, Galy said.

“It’s not just about the food — it’s about the entire experience,” he said. “Every detail is designed to create an atmosphere that feels both intimate and lively.”

The food, however, is also not an afterthought. The Riviera group’s head of culinary is Chef Michael Michaelidis, whose career began on the French Riviera and went on to include stints at several Michelin-starred restaurants and work with culinary greats like Alain Ducasse and Joël Robuchon.

One of the restaurant’s signature experiences is a twist on the usual table-side Caesar. Instead of Romaine lettuce and lots of cheese, Claudie offers table-side gazpacho service (with or without vodka). Other items include lobster pasta, classic escargot, grilled shrimp truffle toupie macaroni and steak frites. There’s also a seafood tower packed with shellfish.

The menu may seem elevated (and it is), but Galy sees the restaurant as part of Miami’s culinary evolution, a place where diners can slow down and relax as opposed to the high-energy atmosphere of other new upscale restaurants.

“Miami has always been known for its vibrant energy and diverse food culture, but I think there’s a growing demand for dining experiences that feel elevated and intimate yet unpretentious,” he said. “With Claudie, we’ve captured that balance.”

Claudie

Where: 1101 Brickell Ave., Suite 113

Hours: 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Wednesday-Thursday; 5:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday

Reservations and more information: claudierestaurant.com or 305-990-1101

This story was originally published February 10, 2025 at 4:30 AM.