South Florida Briefings · Monthly Roundups
South Florida hospitality in February 2026
More competition for everyday visits, a Palm Beach hotel reopening and several established addresses going dark.
February added businesses aimed at repeat visits as well as special occasions. Miami gained delis, bagels and doughnuts alongside a new wagyu restaurant. West Palm Beach added PopUp Bagels and Loco Taqueria. On Palm Beach, the Vineta returned after a long redevelopment. [1][2][3][5][6]
For an existing operator, a line outside a new shop is worth watching without changing the menu immediately. Check whether the same guests return after the launch, and which part of your own day might be affected.
My takeaways
- Miami's openings ranged from neighborhood deli service to a specialist wagyu dining room. [1]
- The Vineta reopened February 28. March coverage of the property describes an earlier opening, not a second one. [5][6]
- February closures included the Last Carrot, Howl at the Moon and Boca Raton's Hooters address. [8][9]
Coverage: Feb 1, 2026 to Feb 28, 2026. Events are grouped by when they happened, where verified. Announcements, relocations and planned projects are labeled separately. These are documented developments, not a census of every opening or closure.
New restaurants in Miami-Dade
Frankie & Wally’s gains a permanent deli
The former lasagna pop-up opened on Palermo Avenue.Details & sources
Sources: [1]
H&H opens in Pinecrest
The bagel chain opened on South Dixie Highway.Details & sources
Sources: [1]
Voodoo Doughnut makes its Miami debut
The first Miami location opened February 19 on NW Second Avenue.Details & sources
Sources: [1]
Cactus Club opens at Citigroup Center
The Canadian operator added its first Miami restaurant downtown.Details & sources
Sources: [1]
Karyu introduces a wagyu-focused dining room
The Japanese restaurant opened February 4 in the Design District.Details & sources
Sources: [1]
Our read
These businesses compete for different baskets of spending. A deli needs a dependable lunch routine; a specialist tasting menu needs guests willing to commit time and money. Compare nearby openings against your own transaction mix, then look at whether customers return after the first visit.
Openings from Hallandale to Key West
Oakberry starts service at Atlantic Village
The açaí bowl and smoothie shop began its soft opening February 15.Details & sources
The franchisees' roughly 750-square-foot shop held a separate grand-opening event March 21. February is the operating debut, confirmed in an April interview with Business Debut.
Sources: [4]
PopUp Bagels joins CityPlace
CityPlace scheduled the shop's grand opening for February 28 at 8 a.m.Details & sources
The property advertised sampling and a DJ for opening morning. That launch activity is useful to distinguish from the normal breakfast trade the store will need to build.
Sources: [2]
Loco opens its first restaurant outside Boston
The taco and seafood restaurant opened in Nora on February 28.Details & sources
The Palm Beach Post confirmed the date in March. Its arrival adds another dinner and drinks operator to the district's tenant mix.
Sources: [3]
Conchiglia opens in the former Croissants de France
The coastal Italian restaurant began operating in February at 816 Duval Street.Details & sources
An owner interview published in May confirmed the month and described an eight-month renovation, including a rebuilt kitchen. This was a conversion of an existing restaurant property.
Sources: [7]
Our read
Small footprints deserve the same scrutiny as large dining rooms. Prep, storage, order pickup and the queue still have to fit, particularly when a launch is busy. For a conversion, investigate what the previous kitchen can actually support before treating the inherited infrastructure as a saving.
The Vineta returns to Palm Beach
The Vineta reopens after redevelopment
The former Chesterfield reopened under the Vineta name on February 28.Details & sources
Our read
A hotel reopening can bring back familiar demand with different expectations. Nearby restaurants should understand the property's service hours, guest preferences and referral process before pitching concierge partnerships. Hotel owners should also test whether outside guests can reach and use the restaurant easily without disrupting the arrival experience.
Restaurant closures
The Last Carrot closes in Coconut Grove
The juice and sandwich shop closed February 7 after roughly five decades.Details & sources
Later local reporting linked the departure to the Ziggurat development.
Sources: [8]
Howl at the Moon ends its Fort Lauderdale run
The dueling-piano venue off Las Olas closed February 28.Details & sources
The Sun Sentinel confirmed the date with the landlord.
Sources: [9]
Hooters closes its NW 19th Street location
The Boca Raton restaurant closed February 22 after its lease expired.Details & sources
Management said it was looking for a new Boca Raton address.
Sources: [9]
Our read
For an operator considering the former Howl space, a piano-bar buildout is useful only if the next concept needs it. Start with the intended performance schedule and the sales required to support it. The Last Carrot's departure raises a different question: where its regulars will go for their next weekday lunch.
What owners can do
- Review the first four weeks of your own customer frequency against new competition in the same daypart. Keep launch-week crowds separate from a sustained change in demand.
- If a nearby hotel has reopened, give its concierge a current menu, accurate service hours and a named contact who can handle guest requests.
- Put lease renewal and notice dates on the same management calendar as payroll and inventory. Assign one person to follow them through.
Common questions
Did the Vineta Hotel reopen in February or March 2026?
It reopened February 28. The hotel's FAQ confirms February, and Palm Beach Daily News identifies the day; the March tourism article was later coverage of that reopening. [5][6][10]
Should a soft opening and a grand opening count as two new restaurants?
No. Oakberry at Atlantic Village began serving customers February 15 and celebrated its grand opening March 21. The operating debut belongs in February, with the later celebration recorded separately if it has its own relevance. [4]
Related Insights
Sources
- 14 New Restaurants That Opened in Miami in February 2026 Miami New Times · Mar 2, 2026
- PopUp Bagels Grand Opening CityPlace
- Popular in Boston, new Mexican restaurant opens in West Palm Beach Palm Beach Post · Mar 5, 2026
- Oakberry Now Open in Hallandale Beach at Atlantic Village Business Debut · Apr 3, 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions The Vineta Hotel / Oetker Hotels
- Palm Beach's Vineta Hotel transformation reshapes historic landmark Palm Beach Daily News · May 5, 2026
- Conchiglia Blends Coastal Italian Cooking With Key West Character Business Debut · May 19, 2026
- 17 saddest South Florida restaurant closures of 2026 so far Miami New Times · Jun 3, 2026
- 6 restaurants that permanently closed in winter 2026 South Florida Sun Sentinel · Mar 25, 2026
- Historic Vineta Hotel Reopens in Palm Beach After Major Renovation Discover The Palm Beaches · Mar 11, 2026