First-of-its-kind Restaurant

With an investment in excess of $10 million, Karu&Y represents the most expensive restaurant project in Florida’s history. It is an integral part of the revitalization of Miami’s arts and entertainment district

Miami, FL – Influenced by residents who flock here from cosmopolitan cities around the world and are accustomed to sophisticated venues in their own backyard, Miami is rapidly becoming the cultural capital of the United States. The redevelopment of the former collection of dilapidated warehouses in the city’s emerging arts and entertainment district and design district are an integral part of this renaissance. Art galleries, hotels, night spots and upscale residential developments have transformed the area, which is gradually expanding in size and inching closer towards downtown.

The latest prominent revitalization project is Karu&Y, a dynamic destination from ARRSO Restaurants Inc. that will feature a lavish restaurant and a captivating ultralounge when it opens this fall. With an investment in excess of $10 million, Karu&Y represents the most expensive restaurant project in the history of Florida.

Perched at the southeastern tip of Florida, Miami has a population of 2.1 million, half of whom are Hispanic – a majority of which are Cuban immigrants, making Spanish the dominant language. The city’s has experienced an evolution in the last 50 years – from the beach resort town for celebrities in the ‘50s to the emergence of South Beach as a chic and trendy destination in the ‘90s.

Now downtown Miami and areas like the arts and entertainment district and the design district are hot spots. There's the new $280 million Performing Arts Centre, which is under construction, and the $250 million development that will house the Museum of Science and the Miami Art Museum. Defined by its immaculate art and architecture, and its innovative cocina de autor, Karu&Y will add to the area’s strong cultural ties.    

With executive chef Alberto Cabrera’s version of alta cocina - and an ambience of stunning elements like flowing water, frosted glass, rich colored marble and African wood – Karu&Y is the vision of Brazilian entrepreneur and international jetsetter Cesar Sotomayor.

Karu, an upscale restaurant, and Y, a lavish ultralounge, will create a destination where guests can have dinner followed by cocktails and entertainment – in two separate locations under one roof.  Karu&Y is not just a restaurant and ultralounge, though. It is an upscale destination for dining, nightlife and exclusive events. The sanctuary will cover 19,000 square feet with a multitude of microenvironments such as a dining room, the ultralounge, three bars, a private dining area, an exclusive VIP area and an outdoor terrace.

The destination also includes a 7,000-square-foot special events facility adjacent to the restaurant and ultralounge. This space will accommodate 1,000 VIPs and host intimate concerts from up-and-coming performers and A-list entertainers, fashion shows from the world’s most prominent designers, art galleries, weddings and VIP parties among other events. It will also serve as a location for production companies to create music videos, films and TV shows.

Inside Karu, the restaurant that will seat 126, cantilever tables of wenge and zebrawood will flank the walls and ceiling while terracotta-hued fabric sheets will loosely drape the walls, providing constant waves of illumination. Montreal artist Richard Boprae is creating a piece that will resemble flowing raindrops and cover an entire wall.  Alta cocina, or cuisine of the Americas, is an integral visual element as well.  Combining science and artistry, dishes prompt you to experience and contemplate the purity of each flavor. This culinary style involves taking fine ingredients and using a progression of techniques, textures and temperatures in order to extract flavors without altering their taste.

Designed by Miami architect Pepe Calderin, Karu&Y will have an aquatic theme with a futuristic feel. “Karu” translates to “eating” and “Y” means "water" in the aboriginal language, Sotomayor explained. Visitors will enter the facility by crossing a bridge over a reflecting pool surrounded by thick glass walls. Bubble domes protrude from the ceiling of Y, the lounge, which will seat 300 and have a 12-foot wall with multiple plasma screens that will serve as the focal point.

The VIP room will be highlighted by custom-built fiberglass booths and leather sofas, illuminated by glowing center columns and upholstered walls that give the illusion of a three-dimensional wave pattern. The terrace will boast custom-designed cabanas with tables for al fresco dining and entertaining VIPs with high definition plasma TVs and sound system control. As VIPs stroll to the patio area, they will walk under a glass ceiling of flowing water, which will cascade into the terrace’s reflecting pool.
 
The glamorous destination will also feature an exclusive chandelier designed by glassmaster Dale Chihuly and an elaborate custom Murano glass creation from Venini, the world-renowned maker of Italian glass art.

Karu&Y marks the most significant restaurant investment in the arts and entertainment district. Construction on the performing arts center started three years ago. Since then, the Biscayne corridor - which stretches from the American Airlines Arena north to through Edgewater and the design district - has attracted renewed interest from investors and developers.

Thousands of residential units are under construction or planned in downtown Miami and along the boulevard.  Including residential and retail development, the area where Karu&Y is located is experiencing more than $2.27 billion in investment from private parties. The City of Miami is spending more than $2.5 million to revitalize 14th street and the area between the performing arts center and Karu&Y. Sotomayor and ARRSO Restaurants believe it is worthwhile to be the first major restaurant investment in the area.

"We're creating an icon. It will be a destination that will attract people from South Florida, across the country and around the world,” Sotomayor. “With a project of this magnitude, we wanted to be pioneers in the area and set the standard for what follows. Karu&Y is truly a first-of-its-kind destination that will be the reason why people visit Miami.”

#####