Miami is home to several quality dining spots, many which have incredible views of the water. A new spot on the waterfront in Miami lets you dine and drink along the coast – and you can bring your boat, too!
Yaya Coastal Cuisine, which is now in the former space of the Italian restaurant Antica Mare off 29th Street, was the idea of Miami hospitality entrepreneur Angel Forbes, who is known for the Wynwood hot spot Racket, the Asian restaurant Drunken Dragon, and the former bar Foxhole on Miami Beach.
Forbes, a longtime boating enthusiast, hopes the restaurant will draw members of the boating community, as well as diners looking for Mediterranean cuisine and great views while dining.
“We wanted to create a dining experience that not only tantalizes the taste buds but also transports our guests to a coastal paradise,” he said.
The restaurant, located at 7999 NE Bayshore Ct., is led by executive chef Todd Zimmer, the former executive chef for Prime 112 in Miami Beach. The menu will feature waterfront seafood options, including crudo and grilled head-on prawns, a Maine lobster cobb salad, a Spanish dorade, and seafood agua chile cooked in Leche de Tigre.
There is also hot mezze on the menu, which is similar to crispy zucchini and eggplant and flaming saganaki (fried cheese), as well as entrees like bone-in ribeye with salsa erde, rack of lamb, and swordfish Milanesa.
The restaurant’s cocktail program also includes special drinks like the Mediterranean Martini with olive oil-washed vodka and red bell pepper juice, basil simple syrup, and lemon juice, and the Honeydew Cooler with vodka, creme de banana, lime juice and coconut water.
The restaurant can seat 110 in its light yet charming interior, which Miami’s Saladino Design Studios designed. A full bar and 80 seats are on the terrace, which features a bay view. The restaurant was crafted with an atmosphere of calm, relaxation, and the beauty of the Mediterranean. It features a neutral color palette with a soothing backdrop that allows the show’s true stars to shine: its delectable food and fantastic view.
There is also a view of the boats belonging to the restaurants’ private membership club. Yaya Club offers 14 docking spots in front of the restaurant, so you can pull up in style if you’re a member. Members also get access to an elegant private dining room for special occasions or business meetings.
Yaya’s website indicates that the restaurant is a “celebration of passion, lifestyle, and community.”
“We are blending the experience and cuisine of the Mediterranean with Miami, the largest boating destination in the world,” the website states. “YAYA Club will cultivate a community that embraces the glamorous boating lifestyle that Miami can offer with its beautiful waters and year round sunshine.”
The website also shares that “YAYA is a celebration of passion, lifestyle and community. We are blending the experience and cuisine of the Mediterranean with Miami, the largest boating destination in the world. YAYA Club will cultivate a community that embraces the glamorous boating lifestyle that Miami can offer with its beautiful waters and year round sunshine.”
The restaurant urges those interested in dining to dress for the occasion, stating that they prefer casual chic for daytime and intelligent or elegant in the evening. Please be aware that there is a dress code, and specific clothing options are not permittable, so be sure to check the website before heading in.
Yaya is located at 7999 NE Bayshore Ct. in Miami, Florida. Hours vary, but you can call (305) 967-8020 or email [email protected] for more information.
