Versailles via Tokyo

Mottai Coral Gables, best restaurants in Wynwood, Pagani Residences, The Surf Club Restaurant, Equinox Hotel NY, MORE

WORK • Thursday Routine

High octane

MIKI HAMAOUI • CEO • Riviera Horizons
Neighborhood you work in: North Bay Village
Neighborhood you live in: Miami Beach

⁠It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Most Thursdays start with design and construction check-ins and meetings with partners tied to financing, branding, or long-term strategy. I split my time between the Pagani Residences sales gallery in North Bay Village and focused work blocks, some in the office, some remote, depending on whether the day requires collaboration or deep, uninterrupted thinking. At this stage of the project, it’s very hands-on, and I like it that way.

What’s on the agenda for today?
The day started with dropping my son off at school (non-negotiable time for me), then straight into meetings, a mix of construction-loan discussions, alignment calls with the team, and internal reviews on design and resident experience details. We’re building toward a mid-2026 groundbreaking, so everything right now is about precision: making sure the capital stack, brand execution, and long-term vision are fully aligned. There’s no room for shortcuts.

⁠Any bar or restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I’m a regular at Brother’s Keeper (intel), especially trivia on Tuesdays, which has become a routine more than a plan. Friday nights are date night with my wife. We love The Surf Club Restaurant at the Four Seasons, sitting at the bar, live jazz, beef Wellington for two, and sharing the chocolate soufflé. It’s classic and never disappoints. If we want something more casual, Toni’s Sushi Bar in South Beach is a staple. No hype, just consistently great. Sundays are for pizza at Lucali. The pepperoni chips alone are worth the wait.

How about a little leisure or culture?
When I’m not working, I’m usually around the water or around food, ideally both. I love spending time on the boat, and if I get the chance, sneaking in a wakeboard session. Anything that feels active and outdoors helps balance out the intensity of work. At home, I really enjoy hosting friends. I’m borderline obsessive about smoking and grilling meats — dino ribs, brisket, back ribs — so weekends often involve something slowly cooking, while good music plays and people drift in and out. I source a lot of my meat from Snake River Farms, and those afternoons usually turn into long dinners. Wine is a big part of it, too. I love opening a great bottle of Brunello, Barolo, or whatever someone brings, and letting the night go wherever it goes.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I love the Eight Sleep Pod 5 Ultra. It tracks sleep and regulates body temperature. There are so many customizable features from head and foot elevations, vibration alarms, snore reduction, and health trackers that make sleeping so much more personalized. The real win is that my wife and I can each have our own automated sleep schedules. She sleeps warm, I sleep cold, and neither of us has to compromise. Once you get used to that level of personalization, there’s no going back.

What store or service do you always recommend?
Ultra Padel. Mondays and Wednesday nights, that’s where you’ll usually find me. It’s a serious padel community, well run, and one of the few places in Miami that consistently attracts high-level play without feeling pretentious.

Where are you donating your time or money?
We’re participating in Ride2Revive, organized by Brett David and Prestige Imports, to support children battling cancer. We also actively support the PCD Foundation, which focuses on Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia — a rare genetic disease my wife was born with. It’s a cause that’s personal, and supporting research and awareness matters to our family.

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RESTAURANTS • First Word

Gables glamour

The Skinny: Set within The Plaza, the new mixed-use development in Coral Gables, Mottai brings Japanese culinary precision to a dining room, with French decorative drama, via a Brazilian hospitality group. It opened in February.