Elia Opens on the Miami River with a Waterfront Patio and Italian Cuisine

Although there are plenty of waterfront restaurants in Miami, not many of them specialize in Italian fare and have a riverfront lounge — that's where this newcomer comes in.

Elia, a new riverfront restaurant serving Southern Italian cuisine, has just opened at the River Landing Shops & Residences along the Miami River. The restaurant brings a touch of elegance and plenty of Miami-inspired atmosphere to a location that had been previously dominated by national and local chains.

The restaurant is filled with modern chandeliers, moody lighting, and floral touches that immediately make diners feel as though they are no longer in a shopping mall (and that's a very good thing).
Elia was founded by Engin Akdemir and Adnan Jafarov of Aden Hospitality Group, the same team behind Miami Beach’s Salt Cafe. The 3,557-square-foot restaurant features indoor seating for 160 diners and even has an outdoor lounge and patio dining for 100 guests. Here, diners can have their meals amidst opulent imported marbles and a striking hand-painted mural, with views extending to passing yachts and colorful sunsets.

“We knew that River Landing would be the perfect location for Elia’s opening,” says Akdemir. “Being on the Miami River allows us to incorporate such a beautiful resource into our design to create a truly memorable dining experience. We've designed our space to take advantage of the stunning sunset, with our bar chandelier illuminated in its golden glow, casting a mesmerizing ambiance throughout the restaurant.”

Elia’s interior design blends Italian influences with Miami’s aesthetic. Designed by Saladino Design Studios, renowned for their work at Red Rooster Overtown, the restaurant features terrazzo floors and hand-painted murals that help create a European ambiance in a part of Miami that isn't all that tranquil.

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The menu at Elia is a tribute to Southern Italian cuisine, with a raw bar that showcases seafood from Southern Italy, like scorpion fish, squid, swordfish, amberjack, and grouper. Plus, the appetizers are perfect for eating outside on the patio, like the charcuterie board, lamb meatballs, hummus platter, and bruschetta.

As for main courses, guests can indulge in pasta and brick oven pizzas, complemented by signature "Land and Sea" dishes such as a grilled Tuscan ribeye, Italian pork chops with a herb-marinated twist, olive-dusted citrus gremolatta, red snapper prepared two ways featuring grilled and semolina deep-fried fillets, and “Acqua Pazza," a delicately-baked filet of fish immersed in an artichoke and tomato stew.

Elia. 1400 N. River Dr., Miami; eliaontheriver.com. Open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to midnight and Friday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.