Sofia

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Modern Italian in the Heart of Miami's Design District

Sofia brings a refined yet energetic approach to Italian cuisine at 140 NE 39th Street, right in Miami's Design District. The restaurant's stated mission is straightforward: source quality ingredients, honor true Italian flavors, and serve them in a dramatically designed space that doubles as a showcase for a curated, ever-evolving art collection. The result is a room where the food, the wine, and the walls all earn attention — a combination recognized by Wine Spectator, which awarded Sofia its Award of Excellence in 2025.

The Chef Behind the Kitchen

At the center of it all is Executive Chef Abel Veulens, a Miami native whose career reads like a tour of the city's most formative kitchens. He trained at Le Cordon Bleu, then sharpened his technique working alongside Chef Michael Mina, followed by stints with Scott Conant at Corsair Miami and deeper immersion in Italian traditions at Scarpetta in the Fontainebleau. A collaboration with Tom Colicchio at Beachcraft and a stint as Chef de Cuisine at Byblos Miami Beach further rounded his repertoire before he won the $10,000 grand prize on Food Network's Supermarket Stake-Out, hosted by Alex Guarnaschelli. His philosophy at Sofia is grounded in simplicity — letting quality ingredients speak — while layering in the contemporary flair he's built over years at the top of Miami's food scene.

What's on the Plate

The Italian cuisine at Sofia leans heavily on the sea. The Torre di Frutti di Mare — a tower of oysters, stone crab, Key West shrimp, and Maine lobster — anchors the seafood side of the menu. The Spaghetti Nero di Seppia pairs black squid ink pasta with Maine lobster in a shellfish brodo, while the Crudo di Capesante presents thinly sliced Hokkaido scallops with honeydew melon and pickled serrano. For those drawn toward the land, the Bistecca arrives with layered crispy potatoes and a black truffle taleggio fonduta. Pasta dishes like the Cacio e Pepe al Tartufo — bucatini with Tellicherry pepper, truffle pecorino, and shaved black truffle — show the kitchen's command of Italian fundamentals. Desserts stay classic: a Tiramisu reimagined as a mascarpone espresso semifreddo, and a Cannoli filled with orange marmalade and vanilla cheesecake.

The Full Experience

Beyond dinner, Sofia runs bottomless weekend brunch with a live DJ, Thursday martini specials, and regular live entertainment. The wine program, strong enough to earn Wine Spectator's recognition, complements handcrafted cocktails at the bar. Private events make full use of the modern, art-hung space. It's a place that takes Italian cuisine seriously without taking itself too seriously — and in Miami's Design District, that balance is exactly right.