Coral Gables Favorite Luca Heads to Miami Beach

• 933 Normandy Drive, Miami Beach, FL: Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli is bringing Luca Trattoria to Normandy Isles this fall. The restaurant will take over the former Las Vacas Gordas space.
• Luca Osteria expands: The new restaurant will be a more relaxed sister concept to Rapicavoli's Luca Osteria in Coral Gables. The original restaurant operates at 116 Giralda Avenue.
• Italian dining with a neighborhood twist: Luca Trattoria will feature familiar Luca dishes alongside new pastas, steaks, seafood, cocktails and a wine program with Italian, European and Argentine selections.

What Giorgio Rapicavoli Is Bringing To Normandy Isles

Chef and restaurateur Giorgio Rapicavoli is expanding the Luca brand from Coral Gables to Miami Beach with Luca Trattoria. The restaurant is expected to open this fall at 933 Normandy Drive in Normandy Isles, giving the chef another location in a neighborhood where he previously lived and worked. Rapicavoli is partnering with longtime business partner Alex Casanova on the new concept. The duo previously opened Eating House in 2012, making the return to North Beach particularly meaningful for the operators.

What Luca Trattoria Will Offer

The restaurant will retain the Italian-focused identity that made Luca Osteria popular while taking a more casual approach for its beachside neighborhood.

Rapicavoli told Miami New Times, “Luca Trattoria will have a slightly more laid-back feel due to its proximity to the beach and neighborhood atmosphere.” He added that the restaurant will maintain the same level of cuisine and service associated with Luca.

The menu will largely mirror Luca Osteria, with additions including stuffed pastas, more steak cuts and a delicate fish preparation.

What The Beverage Program Adds

Bar manager and mixologist Eddie Fuentes will oversee the beverage program, bringing several familiar Luca cocktails while developing new drinks for the Normandy Isles location. The wine list will focus on European, Argentine and Italian producers, with Rapicavoli noting that diners can expect more Malbec selections as a nod to the neighborhood's influence and the restaurant's Miami identity.

What The Expansion Means For Miami Beach

Luca Trattoria will occupy a former restaurant space at 933 Normandy Drive, adding another established Miami dining brand to North Beach. The location previously housed Las Vacas Gordas and later Muchaaachos, making the restaurant space part of an established neighborhood dining corridor. For Miami Beach landlords and commercial property owners, the opening reflects continued demand for recognizable restaurant concepts beyond South Beach's traditional core. Normandy Isles is gaining another operator with an established customer base and a proven Coral Gables concept.

What Comes Next For Luca Trattoria

An exact opening date has not been announced, but multiple reports place the launch in fall 2026. The restaurant will give Rapicavoli and Casanova a second Luca-branded location while maintaining a distinct identity for the North Beach market. The expansion also adds another chef-driven tenant to Miami Beach's neighborhood retail and hospitality landscape, supporting continued investment in commercial corridors outside the city's core tourist districts.