Michelin fave COTOA is closing in North Miami this month—but it’s not goodbye forever

If you’ve been meaning to try COTOA, you still have time. But wait much longer, and you'll have to follow chef Alejandra Espinoza to a new address.

The Michelin Bib Gourmand–recognized Ecuadorian restaurant is closing its original North Miami location later this month and relocating to a larger space just minutes away. The new COTOA is set to open Thursday, October 22 at 1111 NE 125th St., Suite 200, featuring more seats, more dishes and, mercifully, more room for anyone who has tried to herd a larger dinner party into the current space.

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COTOA opened its first standalone restaurant in April 2025 and quickly became a destination for Espinoza’s modern take on Ecuadorian cooking. The new 80-seat restaurant is designed to build on that momentum while giving the chef more room to explore her home country's food and culture.

The new space will include a 60-seat dining room, a 10-seat bar and TOA, an intimate eight-seat private dining room. Ecuadorian artwork will also be incorporated throughout the restaurant, adding a cultural component to the experience alongside Espinoza’s cooking.

And yes, there will be more food. The larger kitchen lets COTOA add new dishes across the menu while keeping some of the restaurant’s existing signatures. (We're fans of the Pan de Yuca, the Mahi Mahi Manicero, and the Cevichocho (lupini bean ceviche). The beverage program is getting an upgrade, too, with bartender James MacInnes developing a new cocktail menu to go along with the new digs.

The expansion comes as Espinoza’s profile continues to grow. She appears alongside two other Florida chefs in Season 2 of Apple TV’s Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars, about the pursuit of Michelin recognition. She’s also working on a forthcoming cookbook focused on Ecuadorian ingredients, recipes, people and culinary traditions, as well as a podcast exploring the country’s food culture.

The new COTOA will open October 22. Hours will be Wednesdays and Thursdays 5:30pm-10pm; Fridays from 5:30pm to 11pm; Saturdays from 11:30am-3pm and 5:30pm to 11pm; and Sundays from 11:30am-3pm and 5:30pm-10pm. For more information and to book a table, click here.