Hotel Openings

🍴 Fleurette opened on December 10 in La Jolla, San Diego. Helmed by chef Travis Swikard, it offers Mediterranean cuisine inspired by the French-Italian Riviera. The restaurant features a Provençal-inspired garden and a 120-seat space with a 24-seat patio. Signature dishes include bouillabaisse with local fish, fresh pastas, and lobster aïoli. Open Tuesday to Sunday, its bar, led by James Roe, follows local and Riviera inspirations. Sommelier Tracy Latimer curates a predominantly Old World and California wine list.

🍴 La Stella Italian Steakhouse and Music Lounge opened in Addison, Dallas in 2025, occupying an 11,000-square-foot space that housed Lawry's The Prime Rib for over 40 years. Designed by Daniele Venenzoni, it blends Old World Italian and Art Deco styles. The venue, hosting over 400 guests, includes a music lounge for 21+ patrons. Signature dishes include a 40-ounce bistecca alla Fiorentina and Japanese A5 wagyu steak. Expansion plans target Fort Worth.

🍔 Melody Adams opens Maset in November on Chiltern Street, London, offering French coastal cuisine from the Occitania region. The menu reflects her experiences in Occitan, featuring dishes like Bouillabaisse croquettas and Pâtes au Pistou. Wines are sourced from small vineyards in France, Italy, and Spain. The design, by Parisian studio Haddou-Dufourcq, provides a welcoming, homey atmosphere. Maset aims to blend the warmth, style, and authenticity of South France with a modern twist.

Le Specialità Expands to Miami 🍕 Le Specialità, founded in Milan in 1977, opened in Miami's Design District on November 10. Led by Spicy Hospitality Group, this 100-seat restaurant features a "Milan meets Miami" design by Rockwell Group. The menu includes over a dozen pizzas and classic Italian dishes, while the bar offers a 260-label wine list. Future expansions are planned beyond Miami, along with new ventures like Karyu and Yasu in the Design District.

🍵 Maman, a café brand founded by Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte, opened its first Texas location in Dallas on November 20, 2023, at The Plaza at Preston Center. Established in New York City in 2014, Maman is known for its French provincial style and unique offerings, like the Croque Maman and celebrity collaborations. The Dallas spot features Texas-inspired menu items like the cheesy brisket croissant and implements a no-laptop policy to promote social interaction.

🎁 Hilton Molino Stucky Venice offers festive celebrations from 8th December to New Year. Guests enjoy Italian-style banquets, live music, and a Roaring 20s-themed New Year’s Eve party. Key events include a seven-course New Year’s Eve dinner at Aromi for €490 per adult and a Twixmas feast on 27th December for €120. Spa treatments start at €90. Skyline Rooftop Bar hosts a New Year's Eve party for €100-€150. Room rates begin at €240 per night.

🌟 From December 22, 2025, to January 9, 2026, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands hosts "Celestial Festive." Events include Cosmic Flow Yoga, Coral Garden Snorkeling, and the Michelin-starred MINIMAL Gelato from December 18–25. Key dinners: Starlight Dinner on December 27, Penfolds Wine Dinner on December 30, and Ocean Aroma Dinner on January 2. The Galactic New Year Countdown on December 31 offers fine dining and performances. Celebrate New Year's Day with Cosmic Sound Baths and Zodiac Crystal Sessions.

🏨 Hotel Daphne, a Bunkhouse Hotels property, opened in Houston's Heights in December 2025. The five-story hotel features 49 rooms and an Italian restaurant named Hypsi, led by chef Terrence Gallivan. Hypsi has 49 indoor and courtyard seats and serves Italian-Gulf Coast cuisine, including handmade pastas and spritzes. With a unique mozzarella cart, Hypsi blends classic service styles. The restaurant is currently open for breakfast, dinner, and room service, with lunch beginning in January.