South Beach Seafood Staple Closes After 8 Years

Stiltsville Fish Bar has officially served its final guests in Miami Beach. The seafood-focused staple in Sunset Harbour closed its doors on Sunday, Dec. 21, ending an eight-year run for one of the area’s longest-standing restaurants.

After eight years on Purdy Avenue, the restaurant has closed due to its failure to reach a lease renewal agreement with its landlord. Grove Bay Hospitality Group confirmed the decision in a statement, writing, “After a successful run and extensive negotiations with our landlord, we were unable to come to an agreement and will not be renewing the lease at this location. Our final day of service was this past Sunday, December 21st.”

Real Estate Woes 

In their statement, the ownership team framed the exit as a business reality rather than a loss of demand. Stiltsville was a collaboration between Grove Bay founders Francesco Balli and Ignacio Garcia-Menocal and chefs Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth.

“Stiltsville Fish Bar has been an incredibly special chapter for Grove Bay Hospitality Group,” Balli and Garcia-Menocal wrote. “Opening this restaurant in collaboration with Chefs Janine Booth and Jeff McInnis was a true honor, and we are proud to have helped bring their vision—and love story—to life.”

The group also expressed its gratitude for the restaurant’s staff, its guests, and the Sunset Harbour residents who supported the space since it first opened.

Life on Purdy Avenue

Stiltsville first opened in September 2017, taking over the former PB Steak space during a time of rapid growth for the neighborhood. The restaurant paid homage to Biscayne Bay’s historic Stiltsville with a menu that celebrated old Miami through a modern lens. 

The menu, shaped by McInnis’s upbringing in the Florida Panhandle, focused on seafood and simple preparations of the local fish. Over the years, menu favorites have emerged, including its coconut shrimp, conch fritters, and Buffalo-style “fish wings.” 

While the closure leaves a hole in the Sunset Harbour culinary scene, Grove Bay hinted that new developments are already on the horizon.

“While this chapter comes to a close, we remain optimistic and excited for the future,” the statement said. “We look forward to sharing upcoming projects and new developments from Grove Bay Hospitality Group soon.”

Stiltsville Fish Bar. 1787 Purdy Ave., Miami Beach. Now closed.