After 26 years on Fifth Avenue South, Vergina has officially reopened as Medi, a St. Tropez-inspired Mediterranean restaurant and entertainment venue at 700 5th Avenue South in downtown Naples. The reinvention brings refreshed interiors for about 300 guests, a new menu from Executive Chef Víctor Villanueva, and live music every day from the late afternoon, while the same management and team that ran Vergina stay on under the new name.
Inside, the main dining room seats 110, and the indoor bar seats 52 for cocktails, dining, and the nightly entertainment. Out front, the patio overlooks Fifth Avenue South, and the courtyard seats about 45 more in a Mediterranean-inspired setting, rooms meant to handle everything from an intimate dinner and casual cocktails to larger celebrations and special events. The change was shaped by guest feedback and a desire to keep evolving with the Naples community. "For 26 years, Vergina has been a place where our guests feel like family, and that same spirit will continue at Medi," said Eric Tancredi, managing partner of Medi. "We wanted to bring the vibrant energy of the Mediterranean to Naples through a fresh culinary direction, inviting interiors and evenings filled with live music and entertainment. We're excited to share this next chapter with our longtime guests and welcome new faces to the table."
The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Víctor Villanueva, who brings more than a decade of international culinary experience to the new menu. Originally from Venezuela, he studied at Instituto San Ignacio de Loyola in Peru before earning a Certificate in Culinary Arts from the Mariano Moreno Culinary Institute, and at Medi his cooking centers on fresh, high-quality ingredients and a balance of flavor, technique, texture, and presentation. The menu sets a contemporary expression of Mediterranean dining beside fresh takes on Vergina signatures. Highlights run to Artichoke Branzino, Moroccan Salmon with aromatic spices, Linguini Portofino with shrimp and zucchini, Sapore di Mare seafood pasta, and a Seafood Paella, and for the table the Medi Platter brings Mediterranean dips with fresh pita while the Labneh appetizer pairs creamy labneh with tomato chutney. "With Medi, I want to bring the fresh flavors and warmth of the Mediterranean to Naples through dishes that let the ingredients shine," Villanueva said. "Our menu celebrates vibrant produce, fresh seafood and the pleasure of sharing a meal. My hope is that guests discover something new while feeling completely at home around our table."
The cocktail list is built on Mediterranean coastal flavors and runs long. A Peach Rosé Spritz and a Passionfruit Martini sit alongside the Coupe de Cantaloupe, made with fresh cantaloupe and melon liqueur, and the Lychee Moon, which pairs lychee with Empress Gin. The Hibiscus 75 puts a floral twist on the classic French 75, the Sarti Spritz Margarita is built on Sarti Rosa, and the signature Limoncello Sorbet Cocktail combines limoncello sorbet, vodka, and Prosecco to finish the meal.
Live music runs daily from the late afternoon on an upgraded audio system, and the redesigned layout gives the dining room and the bar distinct atmospheres. Early sets play as a backdrop to dinner and conversation. As the evening goes on, the entertainment shifts toward the bar, where the energy picks up for after-dinner cocktails and the room turns over into nightlife. The holiday calendar is already set, with Thanksgiving and Christmas seasonal dishes from Villanueva served alongside the full menu. Medi serves lunch, dinner, brunch, and a daily happy hour, opening at 11:30AM and running until 2AM, with lunch until 4PM, happy hour from 3 to 4:45PM, dinner from 4PM to 11:30PM, and bar service until closing.