Grotto Baths, Miami’s First Modern Social Bathhouse, Underway in Wynwood

Key Points:

• Location: 325 NW 28th Street in Wynwood, Miami’s northwest quadrant

• Scale: 7,500-square-foot wellness facility with a 5,000-square-foot bathing circuit and 2,500-square-foot outdoor café

• Team: Developed by Nathan Kaplan and Nick Anselmo, designed by Stokes Architecture and Cohere, with culinary direction by Chef Erik Oberholtzer

Construction has begun on Grotto Baths, Miami’s first modern social bathhouse, marking a new chapter in Wynwood’s evolution from an arts hub to a full-fledged lifestyle destination. The project aims to merge wellness, design, and community—a shift reflecting growing demand for spaces that balance social connection with self-care.

A New Take on Communal Bathing

Unlike traditional spas, Grotto is designed as a social hub inspired by ancient Roman baths, encouraging guests to connect physically, mentally, and spiritually.

• The concept was led by Darryl Gibson, former Culture & Programming Director at The Standard Miami and Faena Miami Beach.

• Gibson envisions Grotto as “a bathhouse where community gathers on all levels—social, physical, intellectual, and spiritual.”

Design and Experience

The 7,500-square-foot facility, designed by Stokes Architecture in collaboration with Cohere, will showcase site-specific sculptures by Miami artist Emmett Moore.

• A 5,000-square-foot bathing circuit will feature communal and infrared saunas, a steam room, and mineral, cold, and thermal pools.

• The 2,500-square-foot outdoor café, curated by Chef Erik Oberholtzer, founder of Tender Greens, will offer alcohol-free dining focused on mezze, fresh juices, and functional beverages.

Founder Vision

Co-founders Nathan Kaplan and Nick Anselmo are steering the project to serve Miami’s growing community of health-conscious residents and visitors.

• Their goal is to position Grotto as a sanctuary for wellness and meaningful human connection within the city’s bustling social landscape.

Why It Matters for Investors and Landlords

Grotto underscores Miami’s emergence as a wellness-driven real estate market, particularly in neighborhoods like Wynwood, where lifestyle concepts now drive property values and foot traffic.

• Developers are increasingly combining wellness, hospitality, and community programming to meet post-pandemic demand for experiences over traditional retail or nightlife.

• Projects like Grotto indicate that social wellness spaces could become the next major anchor tenants in mixed-use districts.

With Grotto Baths under construction, Wynwood continues its transformation into a cultural and wellness destination. The project’s mix of art, architecture, and mindful design could set a new standard for experiential development in Miami’s urban core.