Opening Shot is a column that peeks inside new hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops with dreamy interiors.
Location: Miami
Designer: Tristan Du Plessis
On Offer: Perched on the rooftop of Miami’s megaclub E11even, Giselle melds the glossy aesthetic of South Africa-based interior architect Tristan Du Plessis (Chapter Roma, Gorgeous George) with a diverse menu offering Asian, Mediterranean, and French flavors. The design scheme spans global, from the Paris-made alabaster lights to the outdoor furniture crafted in Cape Town to the graffiti-covered bathrooms that echo the vibes of nearby Wynwood. The central dining space is the whimsical, French lace-inspired Dream Room, adorned in a baroque 3D wood-carved installation and equipped with a digital work by local filmmaker Frank Kelly. The Calacatta Viola Italian marble festooned throughout the interior is as ubiquitous as the caviar bumps ripping through Miami these days.
Standout features: It might seem hard to eclipse the extravagance of the design, but executive chef Gustavo Zuluaga seems up to the challenge. An alum of supercharged kitchens such as L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon and Komodo, Zuluaga’s menu features a hit list of supperclub classics. Bluefin tuna truffle cones topped with 24-karat gold leaf? Yes. Snow-aged Japanese A5 and flaming Australian wagyu tomahawk? Of course. Seafood towers, caviar, truffle toast, Maine lobster thermidor—it’s all there. Even the cocktails are over-the-top and reflect the international sensation club that resides below: the ‘Head Over Heels’, which blends E11even housemade vodka with sparkling rosé, raspberry, and lemongrass, is served in a stiletto-shaped glass.
