4. Explore two distinct spaces with an open kitchen in the front and a separate bar in the back room.
Before finding the space for Anako, Ros and Dominguez moved from downtown Miami to Little River. They were already spending much of their leisurely time at local places like Off Site and the Citadel and had visited Sunny’s when it was a pop-up. They wanted to open among businesses they knew and admired in their own neighborhood.
The restaurant seats anywhere from 38 to 43 diners at a time, and the front dining area features an open kitchen, a size Ros says felt right for their first sit-down restaurant. Areatonic designed the interior with natural wood, earthy terracotta and deep burgundy tones, sculptural lighting, and an aesthetic of clean lines. Barake describes woven textures, bold patterns, and organic forms as subtle references to Filipino heritage in a room the team wanted to feel warm and modern.
In the back room, formerly home to an early version of Kojin, a walk-in wine bar will offer low-ABV drinks, craft cocktails, natural wines, and beer alongside appetizers from the main menu. Guests can drop in for a drink and a bite — with a dedicated bar menu planned for later down the line — for cocktails like the Night Shift, a shaken coffee cocktail inspired by a carajillo, combining cold brew, condensed milk, tawny port, Amontillado sherry, and Maldon salt.
Dining and Cooking