4 Charles Prime Rib photo
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Miami’s steady transformation into what some locals now jokingly call “Lower-Lower Manhattan” appears poised to take another major step forward. According to Alan Philps of the What’s Good Miami Substack, multiple industry sources have confirmed that 4 Charles Prime Rib, one of New York City’s most famous and revered restaurants, is planning to open in the Miami Design District.
If finalized, the famed restaurant would take over the former home of Swan, the once-buzzy David Grutman and Pharrell Williams restaurant that has since closed, with an opening targeted for 2026.
The Scoop on 4 Charles
For Miami’s dining scene, this would be no ordinary opening. 4 Charles Prime Rib, created by acclaimed restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff, is widely considered one of the hardest reservations to secure in New York. Since debuting in the West Village in 2016, the restaurant has built a cult following around a formula that feels almost defiant in its simplicity: classic steakhouse fare executed with obsessive precision, served in a dark, intimate dining room where martinis are serious.
Sodikoff, best known for Chicago institutions like Au Cheval, has long been celebrated for elevating familiar American dishes into near-mythic status. At 4 Charles, that reputation rests squarely on two items. The prime rib, offered in cuts ranging up to the indulgent “King’s Cut,” is rich, deeply seasoned, and unapologetically old-school. Then there is the double Wagyu cheeseburger, often cited as one of the best burgers in America, with its griddled patties, molten cheese, and perfectly soft bun.
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4 Charles Prime Rib photo
Another New York Transplant Replacing a Homegrown Spot
The move would also underscore a broader shift reshaping Miami’s restaurant landscape. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, more than 20 New York-based restaurants and hospitality brands have established a presence in South Florida, and the list continues to grow. From Carbone in South Beach to cult-favorite casual establishments like H&H Bagels, Miami has become a natural next step for operators looking south.
If 4 Charles Prime Rib does arrive as planned, it would be among the biggest restaurant openings of 2026. The Design District, long defined by luxury retail and visual spectacle, could soon gain one of the most respected dining rooms in the country.
4 Charles Prime Rib – Miami. 90 NE 39th St., Miami; nycprimerib.com. Opening sometime in 2026.
