New waterfront restaurant and nightlife spot turns Miami into the French Riviera

There’s a new Bagatelle in town, and it’s right on the Miami River.

The French hospitality brand from entrepreneurs Aymeric Clemente and Remi Laba, which opened the first Bagatelle in New York in 2008, recently collaborated with Mandala Group and The Dirty Rabbit Group to open Bagatelle Miami River. This is the second location for Bagatelle in Miami-Dade County; Bagatelle South Beach opened at Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Miami Beach in 2019.

The glamorous indoor-and-outdoor spot on the water is a new sort of concept for the brand, combining the elements of the different Bagatelles around the globe. Its “House” concepts, like the original New York restaurant, highlights the atmosphere of a private (and luxurious) home, while its “Beach” concepts evoke the Cote d’Azur and the water.

Bagatelle Miami River offers the best of both worlds, according to Clemente.

“This new venue introduces a first-of-its-kind concept, where the effortless allure of a beach club meets the elevated experience of a Bagatelle House,” he said in a statement. “It continues our mission of creating vibrant, art-infused spaces where guests can escape into the timeless charm of the French Riviera.”

Bagatelle Miami River also offers boaters a 192-foot dock, if they prefer pulling up by sea as opposed to arriving on the land like the rest of us. Indoors, there’s a 25-seat bar and rooms with floor to ceiling windows, while the covered patio offers waterfront seating with views of downtown Miami. There are also cabanas available for rental, a nod to the brand’s “Beach” concepts in cities like Saint-Tropez.

The restaurant, which morphs into more of a nightlife destination as the evening wears on, is on the first floor, while a private dining room and event space take up the second floor. Coming eventually to the third floor rooftop is a speakeasy due to open in the next few months.

The culinary blueprint is created by corporate executive chef Rocco Seminara, with the kitchen led by executive chef Marco Antonio Estrada Gallardo. The menu includes a seafood platter and stone crabs as well as caviar service, salads, pate and beef and fish dishes.

Guests can expect “bold flavors, seasonal ingredients, and the kind of culinary flair that makes every meal feel like being transported to the flavors and scents of the French Riviera,” according to Seminara.

“The Miami River is becoming one of the city’s most dynamic culinary destinations,” he said in a statement. “I’m excited to bring our refined yet playful approach to this vibrant market.”

There are 15 Bagatelle locations around the world, including concepts in London, Paris, Athens, Lisbon, Malta, Athens and Dubai.

Bagatelle Miami River

Where: 311 NW S. River Dr., Miami

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

More information and reservations: bagatelle.com or 786-637-2174

This story was originally published December 2, 2025 at 4:30 AM.