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Fratesi's Pizza Pop-Up Locks in Permanent Downtown Miami Home

Popular COVID pop-up Fratesi's Pizza has just secured its first permanent home in downtown Miami along Flagler Street.
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Popular COVID pop-up Fratesi's Pizza has just secured its first permanent home in downtown Miami. Fratesi's Pizza photo
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After running wildly successful pizza pop-ups at Over Under and Tâm Tâm in downtown Miami, Fratesi's Pizza co-owners Brian Griffiths and Chris Fratesi have just signed a lease at 69 E. Flagler St., set to open in early 2025.

The announcement, posted yesterday on Fratesi's Instagram, racked up more than 1,000 likes in under 19 hours. Fans flooded the comments with fire emojis and congratulatory messages — no surprise, as their Sunday-only pop-ups regularly sold out of pizzas as they built a loyal following.

Plus, Fratesi's Pizza even landed on New Times' list of 8 Best Pizzas in Miami, so we know it's good.
click to enlarge different types of pizzas
The menu focuses on their tavern-style pies — think ultra-thin, crisp crusts with edge-to-edge cheese coverage.
Screenshot via Instagram/@fratesi_pizza

Tavern-Style Pizza Dreams Along Flagler Street With Old School Vibes

The new downtown Miami location of Fratesi's Pizza will sit between Over Under and Tâm Tâm on East Flagler Street.

Griffiths tells New Times they're skipping delivery services for a sit-down restaurant with phone-in takeout. "We want people to have an experience and for it to be personal and to get the best version of the food," he says.

Chef Chris Fratesi will continue to head kitchen operations with quadruple the cooking capacity from a bigger oven.

The menu focuses on their tavern-style pies — think ultra-thin, crisp crusts with edge-to-edge cheese coverage. Past favorites included the "Demon Pig Boy" with pickled hot peppers and Calabrian chili oil and their vodka pie. The new spot will add Italian ice and select appetizers.

Griffiths envisions a "grown-up hipster trash strip mall chic" hangout, bringing back traditional pizza parlor elements like booth seating and pitcher service. "Just the kinda place we all grew up going to, that got replaced by delivery and stuff," he adds.

The East Flagler Street location neighbors include Julia & Henry's, Lost Boy Dry Goods, and Margot. This downtown block has transformed as new restaurants and bars bring fresh energy to the area.

"We just want people to have fun and remember that kinda pizza tavern vibe where you get to cozy up in a booth with friends and slam pitchers and not think too hard," Griffiths says.

Fratesi's Pizza. 69 E. Flagler St., Miami; instagram.com/fratesi_pizza. Opening spring 2025.