From Michelin-star-winning restaurants in lush hotel lobbies to neighborhood-friendly breweries, restaurants in Miami can be here today and gone tomorrow. With this in mind, the contractors below are the makers and builders who give Miami restaurauteurs and chefs the extra push they need to stay afloat in this ultra-competitive entertainment landscape.
Let us find the perfect Restaurant Contractor for you
Many of the contractors below can be booked out or not suitable for your particular establishment. Let us match you with a personalized shortlist of of the best restaurant interior remodeling contractors in the Miami area by visiting this page
10) Group 3 Contractors
19075 West Dixie Hwy Miami FL 33180
Founded in 2006, South Florida-based Group 3 Contractors is led by Nestor Rojas CEO and specializes in commercial projects, such as shopping centers and restaurants. In fact, Group 3 has constructed over 40 high-profile restuarants in South Florida alone. The firm completes projects ranging from full remodeling to turnkey solutions, and can also provide expertise in green building and home automation. Past clients include Johny Rocket’s, Baires Grill, Bertoni Gelato in Brickell, and Novecento in Coral Gables.
Photo Courtesy of Eater Miami
Featured Projects
Cvi.che 105 is an award-winning contemporary Peruvian restaurant serving up fresh ceviche and other exotic dishes from locations in South Beach and Downtown Miami. Chef Juan Chipoco is the driving force behind the restaurant’s success and the design and build of the Downtown location lends Chipoco’s brainchild a healthy dose of hip, modern ambiance. The restaurant has been voted Best Ceviche and Best Restaurant Downtown Miami by New Times, as well as Top 5 Trendiest Restaurants Miami by Zagat. Group 3 Contractors also built upscale Argentine steakhouse, Blaires Grill Argentinian Steak House, in the monied neighborhood of Brickell.
9) City Construction Group
2727 SW 26th Avenue Coconut Grove FL 33133
With its Principals heavily involved in each project, City Construction Group provides general contracting, construction management, and consultation services and is locally owned and operated out of their offices in Coconut Grove. City Construction has constructed over 30 million square feet of built environment. Principal and Owner F. Javier Juncadella and Principal and President John Roettger have a client list featuring corporate giants like Kraft, Lockheed Martin, and HBO, and Goldman Sachs.
Featured Projects
José Andrés has been named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People and is a James Beard award-winning chef. He is also executive chef at Bazaar Mar , the upscale seafood restaurant situated in the SLS Brickell Hotel and Residences. The Miami New Times, Urban Daddy, Miami Magazine, GQ, and Bloomberg have all lavished praise on Bazaar Mar, its chef, and its whimsical interior. Designed by Philippe Starck, the white and blue décor is inspired by well-known sea ports from Mykonos to the South Pacific. The expansive 7,200 square-foot restaurant is adorned with marble table tops to seat 210 diners, and artist Sergio Mora created handprinted tiles featuring mermaids and unicorns to add whimsy to the walls.
8) Three County Construction
4955 SW 75th Ave Miami FL 33155
Based out of Glenvar Heights, Three County Construction specialize in design-build, retail, hospitality, and general contracting. Director Orlando Lamas, RA LEED AP, has over 20 years of experience. Work by Three Country Construction has been featured in The New York Times, Travel & Leisure, and Playboy, and their client list features PS Business Parks and the Easton Group.
Featured Projects
Three County Construction renovated 4,500 square feet of interior for the Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Company, a national award-winning cocktail bar and restaurant, and brainchild of local mixologist and bar and restaurant proprietor John Lermayer. Based in Miami Beach, it’s got a chic beachy vibe with the appropriate accoutrements—pink flamingoes, neon signs, and a 75-seat bar. The Miami New Times awarded it Best Bar in South Beach.
Another uber-hip project, South Beach’s Drunken Dragon was designed by Los Angeles-based Studio Collective and constructed by Three Country. The 4,800-square-foot renovation was a vast improvement on the original strip mall space, and the Korean BBQ restaurant pays homage to the Latin supermarket that once existed in its plac. Highlights include the Latino market’s neon red sign hanging in the window, the provocative interior, with walls featuring photography of Japanese bondage, and a 300-lb piece of Douglas fir suspended from the ceiling and used as a communal table. Chef Xavier Torres, formerly of Nobu, and Drunken Dragon have garnered praise from Haute Living, Artspace, and NBC Miami.
7) Brodson Construction
120 NE 27th Street Suite 100 Miami FL 33137
Brodson Construction is a national contractor based out of South Florida with a satellite office in Chicago. Founded in 1989, Brodson has deep experience in the high-end commercial, restaurant, hospitality, and retail sectors. Founder and Owner, Barry Brodsky, established Brodson Construction in 1989 with his father Stanley. Despite humble family beginnings, it has grown into a mid-size firm with national reach. Over the years, Brodson has won repeat contracts with big-hitting clients like The Bal Harbour Shops-Whitman Family Development, Neiman Marcus, and Starr Restaurant Group. Brodson’s work has garnered praise from The Miami Herald, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and Ocean Drive.
Featured Projects
Designed by architectural firm Niz & Chauvet and built out by Brodson, Cantina La Veinte is a traditional Mexican restaurant situated in Brickell, and brought to Miami by the Cinbersol Group. The space showcases Mexican Art Deco with touches such as a floor-to-ceiling black onyx bar, and black-and-white marble flooring. Other standout features include a pyramid-shaped chandelier and antique Mexican mirrors. A large venue, there are 450 seats spread across the bar, dining room, and waterfront patio with views of Biscayne Bay. Chef Santiago Gomez runs the kitchen, and has access to Cantina La Veinte’s adjacent market and to one of the largest selections of upscale tequilas in the United States. Eater Miami has sung Cantina La Veinte’s praise.
6) McKenzie Construction + Craft
2247 NW 17th Ave. Miami FL 33142
Specializing in commercial and residential design-build, as well as in green construction, McKenzie Construction + Craft are the brainchildren of University of Florida alum and native Miamian Gavin McKenzie. In the early years, McKenzie focused on construction in his beloved Everglades and swung a hammer by day. Since then McKenzie and team have branched out to become a craft shop and purveyor of custom mill work now located in a renovated 1938 warehouse in Miami’s trendy industrial Allapattah neighborhood. Their innovative custom craft solutions have earned them mentions in the Real Deal and Miami Today, as well as partnerships with industry leader Brillhart.
Featured Projects
Modern yet warm, the Dr. Smood franchise at Aventura Mall was planned by international designer Quincoces-dragò & partners. Dr. Smood already had four locations by the time it was developing one at Aventura Mall, so the challenge was to translate the style of the other full-size branches into an island kiosk setting. To navigate this, McKenzie ensured a build-out process that streamlined communication between the designer and the client so that the highly conceptual smoothie and health food cafe retained the warmth of the other branches while also featuring some unique new elements, such as a custom metal floor and custom marquis sign suspended from the mall’s ceiling four floors up.
Popular Wynwood street-food taco shop and tequila bar Coyo Taco was designed by Urban Robot Associates, and features ashwood paneling arranged in a herringbone pattern—custom millwork provided and installed by McKenzie Craft. McKenzie also installed the fire-seared gatorwood wall cladding, as well as the low lounge table, and the custom DJ booth. Fun fact: Bay-area artist Aaron Kai added the cerulean wave-inspired mural on the front of the building.
5) Buildworks
335 NE 59th Terrace Miami FL 33137
Buildworks’ principals have over 25 years of construction experience between them. President Joey Woodworth studied at the Boston Architectural College and Vice-President Juan Gabaldon is an expert project manager with a high level of expertise on South Florida construction. The boutique design-build firm, specialising in residential, commercial, and hospitality projects, has collaborated with high-end Miami restaurants and hotels, such as Miami Beach’s Betsy Hotel, as well as the Seiko watch brand. Their string of multi-million dollar island properties have earned them praise from the Robb Report and Curbed Miami.
Photo Courtesy of The Betsy South Beach
Featured Projects
Plans for the award-winning B Bar at the Betsy Hotel in South Beach were drawn up by Callin Fortis, who was also the brains behind Miami’s beloved—but now departed—Crobar. The B Bar is an underground Prohibition-era-style speakeasy and hipster magnet that features elements of chic French mid-century style fused with the sometimes-garish Miami nightclub style. Eater Eater Miami identifies it as ground central for those who love their craft cocktails.
Buildworks were tapped to construct the newest outgrowth, in Midtown Miami, of Apeiro Kitchen & Bar. Like its sister restaurant in Delray Beach, it will serve contemporary Mediterranean cuisine with a menu by chef and co-owner David Blonsky.The 6,000-square-foot space features indoor and outdoor seating, a honeycomb-pattern of gold and blue tile, and a billowing, white bar with clean curves that comprises an entire wall of the restaurant. With a bustling bar and the backing of renowned South Florida restaurateur Burt Rapoport, Apeiro Kitchen & Bar is a highlight on Buildworks’ portfolio.
4) RCC Associates
255 Jim Moran Blvd. Deerfield Beach FL 33442
Based in Deerfield Beach, RCC Associates has been operating for over 45 years and is acclaimed as the top Women-Owned Business in South Florida. Originally founded by the late Richard A. Raphael, the current President and CEO Beverly Raphael is his surviving spouse. Specializing in retail, hospitality, entertainment, and restaurant work, RCC Associates has collaborated with heavy-hitting brands like The Cheesecake Factory, PF Chang’s, and Versace, Fendi, and Louis Vuitton. In terms of independent Miami restaurateurs, the firm has built fine-dining establishments and industry darlings such as Zuma, Quinto la Huella, Sugar, Louie Bossi and Coya. The firm’s work has been featured in Lifestyle Magazine and Boca Magazine and Raphael won 2013 Entrepreneur of the Year.
Photo Courtesy of Eater Miami
Featured Projects
Designed by Japanese firm Studio Glitt, Downtown Miami’s 17,000-square-foot Zuma lives up to the renowned reputation of its London, Hong Kong, Istanbul, and Dubai counterparts. Zuma Miami offers sophisticated and modern Japanese dishes, Izakaya-style. Izakaya dining is an upscale Japanese take on pub dining, where dishes are shared and paired with drinks. The wood, stone, and metal elements, installed by RCC Associates, evoke a particularly Japanese elegance and vibrancy. One of the most expensive restaurants in New York, Zuma has been reviewed by Bloomberg, The New York Times, and Haute Living.
RCC Associates coordinated the construction of the first and second floor of the Mandarin Oriental hotel that overlooks Biscayne Bay and the Downtown Miami skyline. The renovation took a year and involved updating the hotel’s exterior stairs, bathroom, and Lobby Bar, as well as moving the kitchen from the first to the second floor. Included in this renovation was the transformation of the La Mar restaurant, a Peruvian fusion establishment that features three separate bars and indoor and outdoor seating in a contemporary atmosphere. RCC Associates was able to ensure that the hotel stayed open throughout the construction.
3) Amicon
7430 NE 4th Court Miami FL 33138
A boutique Miami-based general contracting and construction management firm, Amicon is led by President John Wood and currently oversees the development of South Florida projects worth a combined $200M. Over the years, Amicon has turned its hand to hospitality projects, mixed-use and residential builds, as well as high-profile commercial work. Utlizing state-of-the-art project management tools, Amicon is able to offer its clients the best value for money and streamlined production. Starbucks, American Express, Facebook, and Prada are a handful of their prominent clientele.
Featured Projects
One of Amicon’s most unique and fun projects, the firm built out Wynwood’s Concrete Beach Brewery, with designs by Perkins + Will in collaboration with interior designers Edge of Architecture. Wynwood, Miami’s hipster go-to neighborhood, was incompleted before the construction of Concrete Beach Brewery. Requiring expertise in both retail and industrial spaces, the complex project involved converting 11,00 square feet of an industrial warehouse into a working brewery, a social hall, and a beer gardben. The build centers around a circular bar and special features include Stonhard flooring, custom metal detailing, structural improvements to the exisitng warehouse, Windoor impact systems, and rolling bay doors. Featured in Eater Miami, the brewery has also caught the attention of Modern Luxury, Miami Beach Magazine, Southern Living, and Fox News.
2) Telesco Construction
1111 Kane Concourse Suite 303 Bay Harbor Island FL 33154
Principal Tom Telesco, Sr., AIA, heads this Miami Beach-based full-service design-build firm with expertise in managing projects with price tags over $100M. A former club-owner himself, Telesco’s firm is known for its nightclub, restaurant, and bar and lounge designs, though it’s also experienced in retail, hospitality, and major sports facilities. Telesco’s Miami nightclub credits include Crobar, a club that was once an international destination in and of itself.
Telesco started his firm in 1990,when he moved to Miami Beach from upstate New York. To this day, he reportedly starts each project that is in another city by visiting that city. Indeed, Telesco Construction’s portfolio of projects extends beyond the United States and into the Caribbean. The firm has been featured in Club Systems International, Hospitality Design magazine, and the American Society of Interior Designers’ Icon magazine.
Featured Projects
Touche Restaurant and its adjoining entertainment venue, the Rooftop Lounge at Touche, are nestled in the flourishing Downtown Arts & Entertainment District. The restaurant itself has 50 seats across a 2,500 square feet dining room, an intimate setting that offers privacy . Juxtaposed with this, the open kitchen and full-service bar add an element of fun and excitement to the dining experience. Floor-to-ceiling windows from the dining room offer views of the Miami skyline, and will leave you thirsting for a drink at the Rooftop Lounge with its retractable roof and hardwood deck, fire pits, and communal tables. The Lounge also provides the best in entertainment; a band shell, DJ pit, and an enormous 16ft x 10ft LED screen make these spaces, together, the ideal Miami night out.
1) Shawmut Design and Construction
10800 Biscayne Blvd. Suite 1000 Miami FL 33161
An ENR Southeast Top 100 Contractor with nearly $24M in revenue in 2015, national powerhouse Shawmut Design and Construction is 100% employee-owned and has branches in Boston, New York, Miami, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. CEO and Professional Engineer Les Hiscoe has been with Shawmut for 19 years, and oversees its development across a diverse range of sectors: academic, commercial, corporate, cultural and historic preservation, and much more. The firm has won awards in Boston and at Columbia University for their historic preservation projects. Fortune magazine ranked Shawmut one of the country’s best workplaces and it has been featured in the South Florida Business Journal. The firm takes pride in the growth of its workers and the Miami office was named Best Place to Work 2017.
Featured Projects
In collaboration with Parisian designers Gilles & Boissier, Shawmut Design and Construction constructed Hakkasan at the Fontainebleau Hotel and Resort in Miami Beach. Since its launch in 2009, it’s become a celebrity hangout, has won a Michelin Star, and was named a Top 50 Restaurant in the World by Restaurant Magazine. The 7,500-square-foot rooftop establishment took Shawmut 18 weeks to fit out and build. Since the Four Diamond award-winning Hakkasan was brought to Miami by a UK-based restaurant group, and designed by French architects, the build required sustained and frequent international communication. For wall ornamentation, Shawmut created a network of wooden rectangles and circles each featuring custom wood latticework and set against textured slate walls. The bar casts an inviting glow, with long tubes emitting neon blue light from beneath glass countertops.
Let us find the perfect Restaurant Contractor for you
Many of the contractors below can be booked out or not suitable for your particular establishment. Let us match you with a personalized shortlist of of the best restaurant interior remodeling contractors in the Miami area by visiting this page
Hey Jack, thank you for the write up.
Joey Woodowrth
Buildworks, Inc.
Great post Jack!