The Shelborne by Proper photo
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Miami Beach has plenty of hotel restaurants, but Pauline, opening Wednesday, November 12, inside the newly renovated Shelborne by Proper, takes a quieter approach. It marks the South Florida return of Florida Keys native chef Abram Bissell, who previously led the kitchens at the Modern and three-star Michelin restaurant Eleven Madison Park in New York before coming home to cook closer to the coast.
The restaurant is named after Pauline Baker, wife of famed cocktail writer Charles H. Baker Jr., whose travels through Latin America and the Caribbean inspired much of Miami’s early culinary culture. Designed by ADC Tuneu, the space reflects that spirit with curved stone, ocean-inspired tones, and porthole windows that frame the dining room.
The Shelborne by Proper photo
Seafood-Driven with Caribbean and Latin American Influences
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Bissell describes Pauline as a “love letter to Caribbean-Latino food,” shaped by the region’s flavors and ingredients. The menu opens with a raw bar featuring Jonah crab claws, conch ceviche, and Key West pink shrimp. Small plates include rock shrimp fideos, caviar tostadas, and zucchini blossom dumplings.
Larger plates such as lobster and mussel sancocho, turbot encendido, and “Beef Loin Con Pan” highlight its mix of Latin American and Caribbean flavors. Sides include yuca cremosa with rosemary tostones, sazón spinach, and green peas and rice. The 178-seat restaurant will offer indoor and terrace dining with an overlook of the Shelborne’s pool.
The Shelborne by Proper photo
The Late-Night Lounge Next Door
Beyond Pauline is Little Torch, an intimate cocktail lounge named after the luxe small island in the Florida Keys. The design pairs mid-century details with tropical touches, including a mosaic-tiled bar with pink grout, sculptural seating, and onyx tables.
The cocktail list leans tropical, of course, with options like the “Spicy Guava Cooler,” made with mezcal, guava, and grapefruit; the “Modern Vices” piña colada milk punch topped with daiquiri foam; and “Saints & Sailors,” featuring gin, pandan, yuzu, and sparkling rosé. The lounge plans to host vinyl DJ sets, small live performances, and even bring back karaoke nights (if you know, you know).
Pauline and Little Torch will operate as standalone spots, each with its own entrance and identity. Pauline launches with dinner service on November 12, followed by lunch and brunch. Little Torch will open the same evening and will be open until “late” most evenings. Both spaces are available for private events, from small gatherings to full buyouts.
Pauline at the Shelborne by Proper.1801 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; shelborne.com/restaurants-bars/pauline. Opening Wednesday, November 12.
