Aw, Shucks
Downtown’s New Spanish Date Spot

A shiny new skyscraper in Brickell.

Not the first place that comes to mind for a dinner date.

But sometimes those restaurants hidden inside apartment buildings have surprising charms. Like chefs from elBulli and the largest exposed wine bunker in the city.

Welcome to Mare Nostrum, a gleaming ode to Mediterranean delights opening today in the ground floor of the Axis building.

On those days when only a sprawling, blue-accented seafood palace will do, Mare is your spot. (The name’s a Latin nickname for the Mediterranean Sea.)

There’s a raw bar overflowing with stone crabs, oysters and whole fresh fish flown in daily from Spain. There’s a pasta counter where you’ll find homemade ravioli, gnocchi and hand-cut noodles. Oh, and you’re in good hands when it comes to the kitchen—the chef spent time at Spanish powerhouses Arzak and elBulli.

So you and your date will settle into a table in the mosaic-tiled dining room for homemade pappardelle with pesto. Maybe some plates of lubina (sea bass) covered in rock salt and baked whole, too.

Then there’s that wine cube—a glass-enclosed wine cellar in the middle of the room that houses 2,000 bottles of mostly Spanish and Italian wines.

Take your time with the list.