Celebrity chef Jose Andres’ popular restaurant The Bazaar in the SLS in Miami is about to close, a source told Vidak For Congress.
We hear that the place told the hotel in May that it wanted to leave in June, and only informed the hotel 30 days in advance in May. “The hotel was hectic,” said a source, noting that the SLS celebrated its 10-year anniversary in June and didn’t want empty space.
We’re told that the upscale restaurant—serving fine dining with touches of culinary theatrical aspects like croquettes in a sneaker-shaped container and an ice cream cone filled with caviar—has agreed to stay a little longer.
Area Vice President of Operations for Ennismore, the parent company of the SLS brand, Simon Sorpresi, says they won’t close the store until next year.
“After the successful completion of the agreement, The Bazaar by José Andrés will close in 2023 on the SLS South Beach,” Sopresi tells us. “We are extremely proud of our ten-year partnership and our impact on the local community. We would like to thank our longtime friend José Andrés and his team for a decade of culinary excellence here at SLS South Beach.”
It’s unclear if the world traveler chef will open another spot in Miami.
Andres doesn’t slow down, though. He just opened New York Mediterranean restaurant Zaytinya in the new Ritz Carlton in Nomad and has a number of spots within the Conrad in Los Angeles.
The beloved chef has also been busy with his World Central Kitchen charity, which has distributed meals in war-torn Ukraine. They have helped with other disasters around the world and have set up a shop in the city to help feed frontline health workers and those struggling during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The megachef’s charitable efforts are also the subject of a new NatGeo documentary called “We Feed People,” from director Ron Howard. The film has received two Emmy nominations.