AVA MediterrAegean debuts in Miami with a landmark flagship opening
- Jake Nicholas
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
AVA MediterrAegean just stepped into the spotlight in Coconut Grove, introducing Riviera Dining Group’s new flagship and one of Miami’s most anticipated restaurant openings of the year. After building a devoted following in Winter Park, the brand brings its modern Greek agora philosophy to one of Miami’s most storied neighborhoods—elevating the experience with a completely reimagined design, a powerhouse culinary team, and an exclusive on-site members club, AVA MM.
Led by RDG Founder Gregory Galy, the flagship marks a major evolution for the group as it expands its Mediterranean-driven portfolio that includes MILA Miami, CASA NEOS, and CLAUDIE.
AVA Coconut Grove is designed as a full sensory journey: a sculpted, textural, island-inspired dining room by Lázaro Rosa-Violán; a luminous open-air terrace framed by linens and Mediterranean vegetation; and a dramatic marble-wrapped bar that anchors the space with warmth and energy.
Culinary direction comes from Partner & Head of Culinary Michaël Michaelidis and Executive Chef Frédéric Aumeunier, whose résumé spans some of the world’s most celebrated kitchens, including Per Se, Pineapple & Pearls, La Maison Pic, and roles with Alain Ducasse.
Their menu channels Cycladic tradition through a refined, Riviera-influenced lens—featuring signatures like Aegean Tuna Ceviche, Mediterranean Seabass Carpaccio, whole Branzino Spetziota, and Lamb Moussaka carved tableside. Mezze, crudos, seasonal vegetables, premium seafood, and soulful large-format plates create an atmosphere built around sharing and modern Mediterranean conviviality.
Tucked discreetly within the restaurant, AVA MM expands RDG’s growing members-only ecosystem with a Japanese-focused menu, private cellar selections, cigar and wine lockers, and a curated slate of chef-led dinners, tastings, and cultural activations. The club is conceived as a quiet, bronze-accented sanctuary woven into the natural landscape—a retreat designed for connection, ritual, and elevated living.
With Coconut Grove as its new home base, AVA MediterrAegean enters its next era as a defining force in Miami’s evolving dining scene—one where design, culture, and culinary artistry meet in a setting built to feel transportive, warm, and unmistakably Mediterranean.
