Hospitality king David Grutman on Miami’s best food, drinks and fun

As the head of Groot Hospitality, David Grutman is in business with some of the hottest stars in the world (Bad Bunny, Pharrell Williams) and has created some of the most sought-after Miami hot spots (LIV nightclub, The Goodtime Hotel and restaurants such as Gekkō, Papi Steak and Komodo, to name a few).

Future ventures will open in Vegas, the Bahamas — and even space!

Grutman has been tapped by Space Perspective to customize the menus, cocktails and playlists for private six-hour flights to the edge of the stratosphere.

But the Florida native — who started out as a bartender in Aventura — will always come back home.

“There’s no place like Miami in the world,” says Grutman, 49, whose A-list pals include David Beckham and Kim Kardashian. “It’s always changing, there are new people coming to town, new projects developing, and I like that people hustle in Miami. They’re not afraid to go after what they want.”

He certainly wasn’t. Take a peek at the places that have impressed the curator of cool.

The Sugar Factory is known for its sweet treats, as gorgeous as they are delicious.

“This is the best kid-friendly dining spot. The crazy-sweet creations are insane!”


Grutman recommends the Surf Club Restaurant for date nights with great atmosphere.

“My wife and I love this place. The food is amazing, and the ambience is perfect for a weekend date night.”


CASADONNA, 1737 N. Bayshore Drive

Casadonna is one of the newer spots recommended by Grutman, featuring Italian cuisine.

“This is Groot Hospitality’s first project with Tao Group Hospitality. The coastal Italian-style restaurant recently opened in the historic Woman’s Club in Edgewater and the views of Biscayne Bay are just wow!”


Superblue Miami offers an artistic experience to visitors.

“In this crazy immersive art experience, you make your way through different rooms curated by artists such as Es Devlin and James Turrell.”


Miami Slice is renowned for some of the best pizza and treats in town, per Grutman.

“Some of the best pizza in Miami is right here! I make sure to take anyone that visits Miami — friends, family, everyone! Everything they do is delicious, especially the chocolate chip cookies.”


LIV, 4441 Collins Ave.

For some music and dancing, a night at LIV can’t be beat.

“If you want to dance, you can’t beat a night out at LIV. It’s our nightclub inside the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel. We have the world’s top DJs and entertainers perform here. You never know who may show up!”


Strawberry Moon at the Goodtime Hotel has delicious dishes and an exciting vibe.

“The pool at Strawberry Moon in The Goodtime Hotel is phenomenal. My company worked closely with designer Ken Fulk to create a really cool atmosphere that’s super Instagrammable. We have terrific pool parties on the weekend and, during the week, it’s a great place to grab a drink and meet friends.”


Floridians don’t need to go far to get away — the Sorrento Tower at Fontainebleau is the perfect place to relax in the sun.

“[This tower of suites] is the perfect place for a vacation or a staycation. It’s so good!”


SWAN, 90 NE 39th St.

Looking to cool down in the Miami heat? Swan’s homemade scoops can’t be beat.

“We just redid the menu and the DIY ice cream sundae for two is insane. It’s homemade honey, pistachio and strawberry ice cream, with a bunch of different toppings, including SkinnyDipped chocolate almonds, brownie bites, sprinkles and more!”


Make your own fun walking around Miami’s design district with friends and family.

“I love exploring new places with my wife [Isabela] and daughters [Kaia and Vida], just spending time walking around the Design District. Between the stores, the art installations and the energy, there’s always something new to see!”


Grutman proposed at Miami’s gorgeous Wynwood Walls, a location for art and escapism.

“It’s a place where you have a visually and emotionally impactful experience. It was a natural place for me to propose, given my 1701940376 wife and I had so many special moments there looking at art, and I was able to have it be a complete surprise!”


Grutman, who plays tennis usually twice per day, taps Morningside Tennis Center as his favorite court.

“I’m a huge tennis fan, and I play every day, normally twice a day. This is my favorite court. You can’t beat it!”