The timing has raised eyebrows. Fluke had barely passed its three-month mark when the news dropped, surprising fans who had just started making the walk-in-only spot a regular stop for oysters, martinis, and that beloved "Big Macch Burger."
If the closure feels abrupt, it's not without precedent. Seasonal breaks have become a recurring theme in Miami dining. Just this year alone, high-profile spots from Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat in South Beach to Torno Subito in downtown have paused operations during the city's slowest months. The strategy can help restaurants cut losses during the brutal off-season when tourists disappear and locals hunker indoors.
Some closures have felt like permanent goodbyes dressed up as short breaks, while others return refreshed. In Fluke's case, the team kept things clear with an Instagram post and gave a firm reopening date: "Gone fishing...We'll be back on November 5." That reassurance sets it apart from other spots that left customers wondering if the lights would ever turn back on.
Its Sister Restaurant is a Withstanding Miami Beach Staple
Fluke isn't a standalone project. It lives inside the original dining room of Macchialina, one of Miami Beach's most enduring Italian restaurants. The move to carve out a seafood-driven sibling came after Macchialina expanded into the adjacent space during the pandemic. The old brick-walled room, once too far from the main dining area to make sense as part of one big restaurant, became a perfect home for a spinoff.The menu spotlighted crudo, oysters, and fried snacks, along with cocktails built around martinis and a rare dry Marsala list. Dishes included fluke and branzino crudo, fried mussels, and shrimp with artichoke remoulade. The burger, once released in the summertime months at Macchalina, became a permanent addition and one of Fluke's most popular items. The bar also ran a daily "Lucky $7 Martini Happy Hour," which paired with the raw bar selections and gave early guests a reason to drop in after work.
Instead of trying to make the original dining room and the new expansion function as one massive restaurant, they decided to split the concepts.
Fluke photo
Back in Time for Season
For now, Fluke is on summer break. The team has made it clear the bar will return on November 5, just as Miami's busy season ramps up and tourist traffic comes roaring back. Until then, private bookings remain available through Macchialina.Fluke Martini & Crudo Bar. 820 Alton Rd., Miami Beach; macchialina.com/fluke.
