OTL, a new restaurant and café in Miami’s Design District, is set to open on Tuesday, marking developer Craig Robins’ first foray into the dining scene in the neighborhood he is transforming into a luxury shopping destination.
Robins partnered with the team behind the Smile NYC and nightclub owner David Grutman to launch the Miami eatery, which represents the Smile owners’ Carlos Quirarte and Matt Kliegman’s first Florida concept.
The two-story, 7,000-square-foot restaurant and café at 160 Northeast 40th Street, is in a building owned by Robins’ Miami Design Associates. It’s aimed to be a community hangout with coffee, breakfast, drinks, sandwiches and pastries with an upstairs creative space for yoga classes, panel discussions and designer pop-ups.
“For me, this was an irresistible opportunity to work with the team from the Smile and Dave Grutman,” Robins, who has previously owned hotels and restaurants in South Beach, told The Real Deal.
David Grutman
“David Grutman [the owner of LIV, Story and Komodo] is such a legendary operator of nightclubs and food and beverage, and Carlos and Matt from the Smile have such a unique and special touch…,” Robins said. “It’s going to be another great experience people can have in the Design District.”
Matt Kliegman and Carlos Quirarte
With a focus on healthy items, OTL will serve breakfast, light fare, snacks and a happy hour. Breakfast items include granola, avocado toast, eggs and fruit. Sandwiches will come on Zak the Baker bread. Salad ingredients, wraps and pastries will also be locally sourced, according to a release.
The restaurant is among about 10 new dining spots set to open in the Design District, which is transforming into a luxury shopping, dining and cultural destination, spearheaded by Robins, president and CEO of Dacra. Dozens of stores are currently open, and a total of about 120 are expected to open on Dacra property by the end of 2017, with another 40 on other property owners’ land, Robins has said.
In addition, the Institute of Contemporary Art, topped off a few months ago and is expected to open in late 2017. And Helm Equities is bringing the contemporary art-driven 21c Museum Hotel to the Design District, as part of its planned mixed-use development.