Founded by Italian restaurateurs Fabio Granato and Vittorio Assaf, Serafina has long been synonymous with fresh pasta, bubbly pizza crusts from wood-fired ovens, and a lively atmosphere. Since its first outpost on Madison Avenue, the brand has grown into an international family of restaurants stretching across Manhattan and into eight countries. But at its core, Serafina has always been about one thing: the neighborhood.
"The first Serafina opened the year I was born, a block from my childhood home,” says David Shabtai, who's spearheading the new Miami location alongside his father, Benny Shabtai. "It was where we gathered for family meals, where I had my first date. It was the office lunch spot at least twice a week. That's the vibe we want to recreate here, something Miami has been missing in the midst of all this rapid development: a true, high-end yet comfortable neighborhood restaurant."
Although this isn't Serafina’s first Miami rodeo (OGs will remember the short-lived outpost at the Dream Hotel South Beach in 2012, a favorite of Kim Kardashian before it shuttered in 2013), this iteration feels different. It feels grounded, purposeful, and, yes, deliciously local.
What to Expect at Serafina Miami Worldcenter
The new 283-seat space is just a quick stroll from the Kaseya Center, making it the ideal pre-concert, post-Heat-game, or downtown date-night destination. Think indoor and patio dining, a private dining and event space, and a bar area that hits the perfect note between buzzy and intimate. The pièce de résistance? A Marana Forni pizza oven, which delivers crispy, blistered pies with an artisanal flourish. There's also a sleek glass wine cellar with 60 percent of its bottles hailing from Italy, including a half-bottle program for perfect-by-the-glass pairings.The kitchen will serve beloved classics like penne alla vodka, cacio e pepe spun tableside in a wheel of pecorino romano, and tartufo nero pizza kissed with black truffle. But this isn't a carbon copy of the NYC menu. The Serafina team is debuting Miami-exclusive dishes and cocktails, tailored to the city's bold flavors and vibrant culture. It's Italian, but also unmistakably Miami.
Serafina will also join a slew of hot new restaurants that have opened at Miami Worldcenter, including Maple & Ash and Sixty Vines.
How Serafina All Started
Nearly 30 years ago, Vittorio Assaf and Fabio Granato found themselves stranded on a catamaran in the Hamptons over Labor Day weekend. As they waited for rescue, they discussed their love of food and how New York lacked a fresh, high-quality Italian dining concept. They made a pact: if they survived, they would open a restaurant to change that. As luck would have it, they were rescued in the early hours of the morning the following day.About a year later, Assaf and Granato opened Serafina Fabulous Pizza in Manhattan's Upper East Side neighborhood. The restaurant was an instant success, offering authentic Italian dishes made with high-quality ingredients in a relaxed yet stylish setting. Now, 30 years later, Serafina has expanded into a global brand with several locations worldwide.
In many ways, Serafina's return to South Florida feels like a full-circle moment. After opening its Aventura Mall location in 2018, the brand found a loyal following in South Florida, and now those in downtown Miami will get a taste. As David Shabtai says, "When a community needs Serafina, it comes."
Serafina Miami Worldcenter. 652 NE First Ave., Miami; serafinamia.com. Opening Thursday, May 29.
