All About Sra. Martinez, Chef Michelle Bernstein’s Renaissance Moment
A Miami culinary icon has been reborn. Over a decade after its closure, hospitality power couple Michelle Bernstein and David Martinez have reopened their beloved Sra. Martinez restaurant in a new home in Coral Gables.
The original restaurant opened in the Design District around a busy time of that neighborhood’s development, with the close-quarters space becoming known both as a hotspot and a favorite for chic afterparties. With the restaurant’s reimagining at the site of the former Open Stage Club in Coral Gables, Bernstein and Martinez aim to deliver a dining experience that captures Miami’s spirit through Bernstein’s cuisine and superb cocktails, striking design, and a theatrical atmosphere that offers a more refined take on the original restaurant.
“We love that it’s a city of locals who value great food and hospitality. We wanted to open a restaurant with a homegrown, high-energy vibe where Coral Gables and Miami residents can unwind with friends and family,” Bernstein says. “Although I grew up in Miami Shores, my first experience in a chef role was at Redfish Grill in Coral Gables, so opening Sra. Martinez here is a full circle moment for us personally and professionally.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the restaurant’s renaissance moment.
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The updated space blends old Miami with new.
Sra. Martinez’s new location has evolved for the modern era but still feels connected to the concept’s original spirit — polished but welcoming, suitably upscale for special occasions but relaxed enough for a casual night out. From the posh dining room to the inviting cocktail lounge and breezy covered terrace, each corner showcases a different side to the establishment.
Envisioned by the same award-winning designer behind The Publican in Chicago and Daniel Boulud’s concepts in New York, the stunningly transformed space evokes an immediate sense of place, combining classical European charm with the signature Art Deco palette of South Florida. It’s impossible not to note the retro-glam Miami feel, especially the throwback pink and green terrazzo floors and plush banquette seating — and there’s something special they preserved from the original Open Stage space, but more to come on that later.
The food is a delicious Spanish-Miami mashup.
Bernstein’s menu at Sra. Martinez tells the story of her journey as a chef — starting with Spanish foundations, brightened up by South Florida flavors and influences from across the Mediterranean. Small plates show off Bernstein’s playful side, from snackable popcorn with duck fat and citrus, to croquetas that reinterpret familiar flavors in unexpected, delicious ways. For example, the chef’s “marisco” croqueta with bomba rice and saffron aioli is like a seafood paella-inspired arancini, and the creamy carbonara croqueta with pecorino and cured egg yolk has become an instant hit with early visitors.
The restaurant’s wood burning oven transforms local and seasonal ingredients into dishes with thoughtful twists. Of note, the flame-kissed oxtail paella that’s served with melted bone marrow and the perfect amount of crispy rice bits tastes like an ultra-savory take on a traditional Spanish paella. There’s also a whole section of steaks aged in-house, seared and cooked to perfection and served with Spanish chimichurri and green peppercorn sauce. While there’s plenty on the menu to showcase the kitchen’s creativity (note the wood-roasted duck with Oaxacan mole, or the seared foie gras with apples), the menu is anchored in a reassuring sense of comfort.
The bar is strictly no-reservations, exactly as it should be.
Perhaps most telling of Bernstein and Martinez’s hospitality philosophy is their approach to the bar. The spacious 15-seat bar counter and 24-seat cocktail lounge area are held for walk-ins — a choice intended to make it a space intended for locals and regulars , especially during daily happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. That means plenty of space to pop in for a drink (or those killer croquetas) with no reservations needed.
Bar staff clad in eye-catching pink blazers will serve you drinks ranging from spot-on renditions of classic drinks to signature craft cocktail creations with a twist (Sra. Martinez’s Sangria, for instance, is made with whiskey and lambrusco wine). Given the perennial presence of Cafe La Trova (Bernstein’s craft cocktail bar on Calle Ocho) on global bar lists, the program is expected to be top-flight.
Meanwhile, wine lovers will also find various vintages and selections from sustainable producers, alongside a private collection of rare bottles for big nights out on the Señor’s Secret List.
There’s live music here, just like before.
Honoring the venue’s history as a performance space, the restaurant still has a small stage where live musicians set the vibe in the dining room several nights a week. From Latin jazz to Brazilian-influenced bossa nova, the musical performers capture Miami’s energy and create an upbeat atmosphere and a sense of theatricality.
This approach to dining — where flavor, design, service, and sound come together — is what makes Sra. Martinez feel so distinctly Miami. “Whether you pop in for a spontaneous drink at the bar, join us for a leisurely lunch, or go all-out with a big birthday dinner, you’ll feel looked after in every moment you spend with us,” Martinez says. “At the end of the day, going out to eat is about the entire experience. We always aim to leave guests in a better mood than when they arrived.”
Lyssa Goldberg is a Miami-based freelance writer and content strategist. She loves telling stories about food, wellness, and travel, and you can find her byline in Parade, The Points Guy, U.S. News & World Report, American Way, Mashable, Time Out, and more. Follow her on Instagram and X. Follow Resy, too.
