Roberta's on the Way: Miami Is in for One Tasty 'Bee Sting'

Since launching a months-long pop-up in the Design District way back in 2017, Roberta’s Pizza has taken its own sweet time settling on Miami as its next market. But a brick-and-mortar location is finally slated to open in early 2024.

Roberta’s helped kickstart the Neapolitan pizza movement in the U.S. when its first store opened in 2008 in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Since then, the company has spread to other Gotham locations and expanded into Los Angeles, Nashville, Houston and even Singapore.

The Miami store will be located on the ground floor of a luxury Miami Beach condominium called 72 Park, a 22-story tower with both residential and commercial properties.

Roberta’s was topping pies with hot honey long before hot honey was a thing. The eatery is, in fact, perhaps most famous for its Bee Sting Pizza, featuring hot honey, soppressata, chili oil, red pepper flakes and fresh mozzarella. As Brooklyn Magazine once explained, “The soppressata levels up the slice with a little salt, red pepper and pork. Add some dollops of hot honey with a fine, melty cheese and, whew boy, it puts a new spin on pizza night.”

Starting in September 2017, Roberta’s set up shop in the Miami Design District’s Jungle Plaza and kept the pop-up operation going through April 2018. “Roberta’s has always been a supporter of art, design and ideation, which is why we chose the Design District for our first venue in Miami,” co-founder Brandon Hoy said at the time. “We love the vibe, style and continual evolution of the neighborhood and are thrilled to be a part of its next phase.”

Since then, however, Roberta’s seemed to be in no big hurry to put down roots in South Florida. But it did open a second L.A. outpost, this one in Studio City in August 2022.

“We are very excited to introduce Roberta’s to the vibrant city of Miami,” Carlo Mirarchi, Roberta’s other co-founder, said in a press release. “The energy and diversity of Miami’s food scene resonates deeply with our commitment to providing fun and memorable dining experiences for our guests. With its rich cultural tapestry, Miami provides the perfect canvas and 72 Park the perfect home for Roberta’s first step into the Florida market.”