16 May 30 - June 5, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | News | letters | coNteNts | miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | ▼ LITTLE RIVER FEMALE HOSPITALITY TRAILBLAZERS TO OPEN NEW WINE BAR In a town filled with club-restaurants, fancy out-of-town imports, and, *shivers,* bottle service, a low-key, no-fuss, high-quality wine bar is a welcome addition to Miami’s dining scene. Therefore, we predict Little River’s new wine and snack bar, Magie, is destined to be welcomed with open arms (and mouths). Located in the former Sherwoods loca- tion on NE Second Avenue in Little River, Magie will open in early June as a counter- service wine bar where guests can pair bot- tles of wine or craft beer with no-fuss snacks. The snacks range from tinned fish and (relatively affordable) caviar to an array of charcuterie choices, so guests can vibe as if they were having a wine night at home. Oh, and in a unique twist, Magie will be so easygoing that it will have no menu and no ta- ble service. However, items can be plated and served with locally sourced bread for diners to bring to their table and out to the front or back patios. Owner Caroline Strauss, a veteran of the Miami restaurant scene who’s opened more than 60 restaurants and bars around the globe throughout her career, wanted to create “a pop-up space for the community to hang and do their thing,” as she so perfectly de- scribes Magie. Strauss is known throughout Miami for her involvement in homegrown spots including James Beard-nominated Ital- ian restaurant Macchialina, Broken Shaker (one of New Times’ Top 100 Bars) and 27 Res- taurant at Broken Shaker, the Anderson, and her work as director of hospitality at the Cita- del since 2020. Inspired by the “tin-to-table” ethos of the Mediterranean, Magie is about high- quality ingredients in a no-frills atmo- sphere. Strauss wants to capture the easygoing spirit and elevated nibbles of her travels to cities like Barcelona and Ibiza where a great bottle of wine, a tin of fish, and a hunk of crusty bread made for some of the best meals of her life. “I want to bring my travel experiences home.” The name “Magie,” French for creating special mo- ments filled with magic, defines the atmo- sphere Strauss wants to create — a buzzy, non-pretentious place to hang out and drink great wine with neighbors. She joined forces with Macchialina’s award-winning beverage director, Jacque- line Pirolo, to lead the wine bar’s extensive wine program. Pirolo’s bottles will line the walls for customers to browse and choose from. Pirolo’s innovative wine program has consistently earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2019, made Gam- bero Rosso’s “Best Contemporary Wine List” in 2021, and Wine Enthusiast recently declared her one of “7 Female Wine Pros Shaping Miami” in 2023. Plus, Macchialina became the first restaurant in South Florida to receive a James Beard nomination for “Outstanding Wine and Other Beverage” in 2022 and 2023. To fully capture the atmosphere of her travels, Strauss tapped art director and ex- pert in creative fabrication Sofia Cirincione of Velvet Hammer, who executed Magie’s build-out and design, creating the elegance of an old-world café with the relaxed feel of a neighborhood staple. Here, expect dark colors and mismatched furniture, which will be used to create warm, cozy moments for intimate groups or to mingle with the community. A bistro-style tan and red checkered floor and Middle Eastern-in- spired bronzed ceiling will lend to the eclectic feel of the space, filled with old- school and low-fi hip-hop beats. Together, the three women form a trio of trailblazing women driving Magie to the fore- front in the fast-growing enclave of Little River. Looking ahead, the wine bar will have live music on weekends and events highlighting local artists and chefs. On Sundays, Magie will host a pop-up thrift and vendor market. Magie. 8281 NE Second Ave., Miami; insta- gram.com/magiemiami. Opening early June. NICOLE LOPEZ-ALVAR | TASTE TEST | ▼ Café Magie photo From left, hospitality veteran Caroline Strauss stands next to award-winning beverage director Jacqueline Pirolo and designer Sofia Cirincione.
