Donna Mare: Reimagined Italian Chophouse on Miami Beach
Collins Ave in Mid Beach is a unique and complicated location on Miami Beach. Anchored by everything from the luxury Faena Hotel to the Holiday Inn all within 10 blocks, dining options have always been limited.
But the neighborhood is changing with the ongoing construction of the Aman, the planned Cipriani Club and Residences and now on the beach, the newly reimagined, Donna Mare Italian Chophouse upscale dining destination adjacent to the historic Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club.
Led by Executive Chef Luigi Iannuario, the restaurant celebrates the artistry of Italian gastronomy with an in-house sfoglina, a master pasta-maker whose craft is seasoned with generations of family tradition.
Donna Mare offers a cozy setting with an elevated open-kitchen concept that showcases a wood-fired pizza oven, dedicated pasta workshop, and chic seating centered around an olive tree. The menu features shareable dishes made with organic ingredients, including the signature Donna Mare Chicken Parm and 36oz Dry-Aged Tomahawk Ribeye.
Additionally, the beverage program highlights organically farmed, Italian-leaning wines alongside creative cocktails.
Chef Iannuario’s menus are influenced by the traditions of Italian cuisine. A Milan native with a lifelong passion for his country’s culinary heritage, Chef Iannuario honed his craft under Michelin-starred Chef Gualtiero Marchesi. His journey spans prestigious kitchens across Europe and the U.S., including The Albereta Relais & Chateaux and Ristorante Dal Pescatore Santini.
“Donna Mare Italian Chophouse is a celebration of Italy’s culinary artistry, where generations of family recipes meet the bounty of land and sea to craft an experience that is as playful as it is nurturing,” said Iannuario.
The team at Donna Mare is also proud to welcome master sfoglina Elena Montanari, a traditional pasta artisan from Italy, who showcases her craft from her workshop overlooking Collins Avenue, transforming simple ingredients into art – just as she learned in her family’s shop, preserving a centuries-old practice. Private pasta making classes can even be planned through the Donna Mare events team.
Menu highlights include Mortadella Pizza featuring creamy burrata sourced from Puglia, nutty pistachio pesto and fragrant basil atop a perfectly crisp, wood-fired crust. All of Donna Mare’s signature wood-fired oven pizzas are crafted with a 50-year-old mother yeast, passed down through generations.
Main dishes are ideal for sharing, with the Veal Cotoletta alla Milanese features a milk-fed veal accompanied by arugula and tomato. Even classics like the Donna Mare Chicken Parm are prepared with organic chicken and a rich five-cheese blend, embodying a “nonna-influenced” approach. Donna
Donna Mare’s beverage program complements the menu with lively twists on Italian classics. The Velvet ( Sgroppino) combines sparkling wine with silky limoncello sorbet for a refreshing nod to the Amalfi Coast, while the When in Roma is a dramatic cocktail featuring Rhum J.M. Agricole Blanc, Aperol, passion fruit and pineapple served in a sculpture-shaped glass perfect for two. The Espresso-Self dessert martini combines Bounty Premium Dark rum with a blend of coffee liqueur, amaretto, chocolate cream and fresh espresso topped with cocoa powder and a ladyfinger biscuit. Donna Mare also boasts an impressive wine menu – from crisp DO Ferrero Albariño to bold Damilano Brunate Barolo, with sparkling, white, rosé and red options that enhance the restaurant’s traditional Italian cuisine.
The ambience at Donna Mare amplifies the upscale dining experience, blending Old World charm with modern sophistication. New York-based Melissa Bowers designed the 182-seat space, which features a central olive tree (symbolic of the Mediterranean).
3921 Collins Ave.,
Miami Beach, FL 33140