Buya Wynwood

Type: Commission
Client: Buya Restaurants
Size: 1,680 SF
Location: Wynwood Miami, Florida
Status: Under construction
Principal in Charge: Everald Colas AIA, NOMA
Project Lead Designer: Evan Vander Ploeg
Designer: Fhenny Gracia
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A close collaboration between Chef Michael Sponaugle and Storyn Studio brings a new izakaya inspired
eatery to Wynwood, Miami. The space, formerly a bright and colorful breakfast restaurant, has been transformed into an intimate place to share cocktails and traditional Japanese fare. The first inspiration for the space is the close-knit community of Golden Gai micro-bars found in Shinjuku, Tokyo. This has directly manifested itself in the inclusion of a hidden bar area. The space has also been influenced by the grittiness of Kreuzberg, Berlin – home to another Buya establishment – where the local bars have a self-made familiarity which ushers in a sense of closeness.

The designers at Storyn, lead by Everald Colas AIA NOMA, have paid tribute to these special neighborhoods as well as the Wynwood space’s previous life. As you walk-in you’ll immediately notice the scent of yakitori cooking over crackling binchotan coming from the open kitchen. You move through the dimly lit space to your seat being welcomed by humble textures while large scale artwork reminds you that you’re still in Wynwood.

You may wonder if this restaurant is an elaborate pop-up that seemingly appeared overnight, or if it has been here for years without you realizing it. Trendy subway tiles have been left on the walls but are cracked and smashed. The finishes are gritty but rich and intentional. Whether you stop in for a beer and a snack or let the hours slip by while losing count of the number of dishes and whiskeys sampled, this space is a comfortable home in the heart of Wynwood.