Basel-hopping this year? In honor of Art Basel 2017, Sunset Harbour has one more spot to add to your list: NaiYaRa {1854 Bay Road, Miami Beach; 786.275.6005}. On Friday, December 8, fans of the hotspot’s Asian cuisine can come for dinner and get a dual treat—delicious food and eye-popping art by South American street artist Herbert Galarza, who is known to create art using historic pop imagery and contemporary cultural iconography that depicts highly-individualized messages about society and culture. From 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. this Friday, Galarza will not only turn the restaurant into his own personal art gallery, but he will paint one of his murals live for all dinner guests to see.
Known for Chef-Owner Piyarat Potha Arreerat’s modern, upscale spin on Thai street food, NaiYaRa has been in Miami Beach since it opened in 2015. And just in time for Art Basel 2017, “Chef Bee” (as the locals lovingly know him) has unveiled a bevy of new menu items that add a touch of South Beach chic to the flavors of back-alleyway Thailand. They include: Tuna Tostones with hot sesame oil, guacamole, and truffle eel sauce; raw grouper Tiradito with chili, garlic, and cilantro; Laad Nah with crispy chow fun noodles, white pepper chicken, bok choy, and jalapeño vinegar; and Panang Curry with slow-roasted lamb shank, green beans, peanuts, and jasmine rice; all of which will be available this Friday, in addition to NaiYaRa’s usual a la carte menu.
Born in Bolivia, but raised in South Florida, Herbert Galarza is known for his “graffiti-pop-style” art, most of which shows off his love for music, art, and all things Miami. He is most known for creating a mural titled The Never-Ending Battle, a work that shows South Beach nightlife mogul David Grutman and iconic DJ Cedric Gervais fighting with Lightsabers. Since then, he has been commissioned for paintings and murals with some of Miami’s foremost nightlife and music industry hotshots, and has even designed murals for Ultra Music Festival promotions and an album cover for Paris Hilton.
Craving a tasty night out at Art Basel? NaiYaRa is just the spot. Co-sponsored by Macallan scotch, this Friday night’s event will feature a pop-up shop with both Galarza’s work and custom-painted bottles of Macallan for sale, as well as exclusive pours of Macallan scotch for one-night-only.
NaiYaRa serves dinner nightly from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Reservations are encouraged during Art Basel.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor