12 March 12-18, 2026 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | ▼ CORAL GABLES ACROSS THE POND If you’ve ever spent time in Madrid, there’s a good chance you’ve found yourself standing outside Quintín Ultramarinos. Maybe it was early morning for café con leche and pan con tomate. Maybe it was midday for jamón and a glass of Albariño. Or maybe it was late evening, when you were in search of a nightcap of wine. Now, one of Madrid’s most beloved dining institutions is headed to Miami. Quintín Ultramarinos, the celebrated Spanish restaurant and gourmet market from Madrid, will open at Ponce Park in Coral Ga- bles in 2028. It will bring one of Spain’s most iconic all-day dining spots to South Florida. Founded in 2015 in Madrid’s Barrio de Sal- amanca, Quintín began as a traditional Span- ish ultramarinos, or gourmet market, before evolving into one of the city’s most popular restaurants. Today, it’s known for its lively atmosphere, seasonal Spanish cuisine, and a dining style that seamlessly moves from morning to late-night. For travelers visit- ing Madrid, it has be- come a ritual stop. Tourists and locals alike flock there for breakfast spreads of flaky pastries, fresh juices, tortilla espa- ñola, and thick slices of toast topped with olive oil and ripe to- matoes. By lunch and dinner, the menu ex- pands to showcase Spain’s classic flavors with refined but approachable execution. The Coral Gables outpost will bring that same all-day rhythm to Miami, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner alongside a wine list focused heavily on Spanish producers. The restaurant will anchor the ground- floor retail at Ponce Park, an 11-story Medi- terranean-inspired luxury condominium development currently under construction by the Allen Morris Co. Designed by architect John Cunningham with interiors by Meyer Davis, the project will feature 58 residences and roughly 25,000 square feet of retail space. According to the developers, Quintín’s de- sign will mirror the warmth and elegance of its Madrid flagship while embracing Miami’s tropical energy. Expect natural materials, ex- pansive windows, counter seating for casual drop-ins, and a layout that connects the res- taurant directly to the pedestrian flow around the development. “We are incredibly excited to welcome Quintín to Ponce Park,” says Spencer Morris, president of Allen Morris Co., in a statement. “Their Mediterranean heritage, attention to detail, and vibrant hospitality align perfectly with the lifestyle vision behind this project.” The restaurant is operated by Grupo Para- guas, the hospitality group founded by San- dro Silva and Marta Seco. The team has built a reputation for transporting diners through immersive restaurant experiences rooted in European dining culture. Miami diners already got their first taste of the group in 2025 with the opening of Amazónico, their lush Amazon-inspired res- taurant concept. Quintín will mark the group’s second U.S. venture. “For Quintín, Coral Gables felt like a natu- ral fit,” Silva and Seco say in a statement. “With its Mediterranean Revival architecture and old-world charm, the neighborhood em- bodies a sense of heritage and craftsmanship that complements our vision.” The news comes amid a wave of interna- tional landmarks opening their first U.S. loca- tions in Miami. The move truly reinforces Miami’s grow- ing status as a launchpad for internationally acclaimed restaurants entering the American market. Over the past five years, the city has increasingly attracted major hospitality names from Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America looking to expand stateside. Examples (from just this week alone) include Mexican restaurant and bar Canta Corazón and Dubai hotspot Gaia. But for anyone who has ever fallen in love with the breakfast culture of Madrid, Quintín’s arrival is especially exciting. Quintín Ultramarinos. 203 University Dr., Coral Gables, at Ponce Park; poncepark.com. Opening in 2028. NICOLE LOPEZ-ALVAR ▼ COCONUT GROVE SWEET DEAL Coconut Grove, consider this your official warning: your willpower is about to be tested again. This town is already the home of Fire- man Derek’s Bake Shop, Salt & Straw Ice Cream, two Greek frozen yogurt shops, and even our beloved the Salty, and now, another sweet newcomer is coming. Famed New York City bakery Levain Bak- ery is opening in Coconut Grove this fall. Yes, the home of those thick, gooey, palm-sized chocolate chip walnut cookies that have bro- ken the internet more times than we can count is coming to Miami. The New York City-based bakery recently | TASTE TEST | ▼ Café Allen Morris Co. Rendering Quintín Ultramarinos will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner alongside a wine list focused heavily on Spanish producers. filed permits with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for a lo- cation at 2979 McFarlane Rd., placing it right in the heart of Coconut Grove. This means it will be located right next to the Salty and near Oasis Hookah Lounge. A spokesperson confirmed the news, shar- ing that the 30-year-old bakery “renowned for its big, beloved cookies” plans to open this fall, with more details to come in the months ahead. If you’ve somehow never experienced a Levain cookie, let us describe them to you. These cookies are a six-ounce mountain of chocolate-chip walnut perfection, crisp and golden on the outside and impossibly soft and molten in the center. They’re perfect for gift- giving, and have been replicated a hundred times online by those wanting to re-create them at home. However, none can ever compete with their secret recipe. Celebrities known to love the cookies include Kylie Jenner, Giada De Laurentiis, and Taylor Swift, who have all publicly declared their love for them. New Yorkers treat them like a rite of passage. Levain was founded in 1995 by Connie Mc- Donald and Pam Weekes, two friends and avid triathletes who originally opened a small bread shop on the Upper West Side. The now- iconic cookie was reportedly created as a high- energy training treat. A sample batch flew off the shelves, and an institution was born. Today, Levain has expanded beyond Man- hattan with locations in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Boston, and Beverly Hills — but un- til now, Florida has remained off the list. Miami nearly had its moment back in 2021, when Levain partnered with Caviar for a one-weekend, delivery-only pop-up. I, New Times’ food editor, actually covered that frenzy during my TV news days, and let’s just say: Miami showed up. During the pop-up, fans basically sold out Levain’s cookies in minutes, so it was clear Miami was ready. Now, the cookies are finally getting a perma- nent address. Beyond the viral chocolate chip walnut, Levain also offers dark chocolate chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and seasonal specials, plus breads, brioche, and pastries. But let’s be honest — we’re lining up for the cookies. Coconut Grove has been on a serious culi- nary glow-up lately. And come 2026, it will officially have one more heavyweight in its corner straight from New York, with a gooey center to prove it. NICOLE LOPEZ-ALVAR ▼ CORAL GABLES ANOTHER ONE Miami’s fried chicken scene is getting an- other upgrade. Fuku, the famed fried chicken spot from chef and cultural icon David Chang, has opened its first standalone South Florida location at 135 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. What began as a secret off-menu experi- ment inside the once-viral Momofuku Noo- dle Bar in New York City has grown into one of the country’s most recognizable chef- driven fast-casual brands. Now, the spicy fried chicken sandwich that built a national following is landing squarely in the heart of the Gables. Long before fried chicken sandwiches dominated menus nationwide (and all across Miami), Chang’s original Fuku sando quietly developed a cult following among New York- ers in the know. The sandwich’s popularity quickly outgrew its underground status, lead- ing to Fuku’s first East Village location in 2015 and eventual expansion into stadiums, are- nas, and ballparks across the country. Today, the brand operates 15 locations na- tionwide, and the Coral Gables restaurant marks a major milestone as Fuku’s first perma- nent South Florida outpost. A second location is already planned for West Palm Beach later this year, signaling the brand’s continued na- tional growth and confidence in the region’s dining scene. (For those in the know, foodies have been able to try Fuku at Hard Rock Sta- dium in Miami Gardens for a few years now, but this standalone in the Gables is huge.) “This opening is about bringing Fuku back in a way that feels authentic and fun,” Chang says in a statement. “Great food, no over- thinking it, and a place people actually want to hang out.” At the center of Fuku’s menu are its signa- ture fried chicken sandwiches, each breaded in-house and served on a butter-toasted po- tato roll. Guests can choose between spicy or mild versions, including the “OG Sando” topped with Fuku mayo and pickles, the “Sweet & Spicy Sando” glazed in the brand’s signature sauce with pickled daikon, and a “Miso Ranch and Slaw” variation layered with rice vinegar slaw and scallion ranch. Beyond the sandos, the menu leans into craveable comfort food territory. Expect waf- fle fries, loaded “Party Fries” topped with multiple sauces and crunchy toppings, ten- ders, garlic rice, salads, and classic sides. Des- sert collaborations include cookies from Milk Bar and treats from Coconut Grove bakery Fookem’s Fabulous, giving the opening a dis- tinctly local touch. The beverage program keeps things casual and refreshing, with oolong sweet tea, yuzu lemonade, slushies, canned beer, and wine designed for quick lunches, late-night bites, or takeout on the go. The 2,000-square-foot restaurant features a bright, contemporary design anchored by Fuku’s signature peach tones, a nod to the Momofuku “lucky peach” origins. The space is meant to feel energetic and approachable, equally suited for a quick weekday lunch or a casual group hang. Fuku Coral Gables. 135 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables; eatfuku.com. NICOLE LOPEZ-ALVAR Photo by Daniel Zuliani David Chang’s cult-favorite Fuku has opened its first South Florida location in Coral Gables.
