Giotto has expanded to Downtown Miami with the opening of its second location.
The South Beach pizzeria has entered a new chapter under the leadership of second-generation restaurateur Giovanni Moretti, bringing its warmth, authenticity and community-led hospitality to one of Miami’s fastest-growing cultural and culinary districts.
The new Downtown restaurant opened on Friday 26 June and features a 55-seat footprint, offering a slightly larger capacity than the South Beach original while preserving the intimate, family-driven atmosphere that defines the brand.
The space has been designed to balance nostalgic charm with the urban energy of Downtown Miami, creating a welcoming environment for regulars and new guests discovering Giotto for the first time.
With its expanded presence, Giotto aims to establish itself as a neighbourhood cornerstone, grounded in tradition, simplicity and a personal approach to hospitality.
Giovanni Moretti, Co-Founder of Giotto, said: “Giotto has always been about preserving the rituals of Italian dining, from how the food is prepared to how people are welcomed, while creating a space that feels grounded and relevant to Miami today.
“In a world where servers are being replaced with automated systems and efficiency often takes priority over connection, we’ve made a conscious decision to hold onto that sense of warmth, familiarity, and genuine interaction that makes dining feel personal.”
Known among locals as a go-to pizzeria, Giotto built its legacy as a neighbourhood restaurant celebrated for its pizzas and charm.
After spending years travelling between Miami and Italy, mother-and-son duo Giovanni Moretti and Silvia recognised an opportunity to introduce a more connective expression of Italian dining to the city, while maintaining Miami Beach’s lively, community-focused spirit.
In 2019, the two officially relocated from Italy and acquired Giotto, transforming the restaurant into a reflection of their heritage through the lens of family tradition.
Even as Giotto expands, authenticity remains at the heart of the concept.
Silvia, who has overseen the restaurant’s recipes since the family’s acquisition, continues to lead the culinary programme, ensuring each dish reflects traditions passed down through generations.
The menu presents a selection of traditional Italian dishes also offered at the South Beach location, with a strong emphasis on classic Neapolitan-style pizzas including the Capricciosa and Sfiziosa.
The menu also includes simply prepared pastas and timeless favourites.
Signature dishes include housemade lasagne prepared fresh each morning and tiramisu crafted daily by Silvia.
Supported by fresh ingredients and time-honoured techniques, the menu reflects the restaurant’s commitment to quality and the care behind each dish.
Designed by Eduardo Suarez, the new Downtown location reinterprets Giotto’s South Beach character through a contemporary lens.
The design channels the charm of the original with an expanded open-seated bar and a palette of raw materials that evoke Giotto’s warmth, while layered, contrasting textures reflect the energy of Downtown Miami.
The result is a space designed to preserve the soul of a neighbourhood trattoria while embracing the changing character of the city.
Moretti added: “With Downtown Miami evolving so quickly, we saw an opportunity to bring something that feels intentionally slower, more personal, and rooted in tradition.
“This new location is not about changing what Giotto is, but about extending it into a different part of the city, creating a space where people can step away from the bustling pace of the neighbourhood outside and experience the same sense of familiarity, hospitality, and consistency that has defined us from day one.
“It’s about becoming part of the fabric of a new community while staying true to the one we’ve always been part of.”
As it expands into Downtown Miami, Giotto brings its Italian dining traditions, family-led hospitality and neighbourhood spirit into a new setting, contributing a sense of continuity and familiarity to one of the city’s fastest-growing districts.
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