After 26 years next to the Colony Theater, Segafredo L'Originale at 1040 Lincoln Road has closed. The Italian-style café and bar ended a run that made it one of the pedestrian mall's most recognizable gathering spots.

Graziano Sbroggio and Mark Soyka, co-founder of the original News Café, opened Segafredo in 2000 as Florida's first Segafredo L'Originale. The Miami Herald reported the impending closure on May 21, and the South Florida Business Journal confirmed it on May 27. The Graspa Group, Sbroggio's restaurant management company, no longer lists Segafredo among its active concepts on its website.

A farewell celebration in June featured signature menu favorites, a glass of bubbly, and live DJ sets.

Whether a new tenant will fill the space has not been announced. For neighbors craving Italian on the mall, Spris Pizza at 731 Lincoln Road (305-673-2020) remains the Graspa Group's South Beach outpost.

Leonardo arrives on Collins Avenue

A new Italian restaurant modeled on 1930s-to-1950s supper clubs opened on Collins Avenue in April. Leonardo, at 2000 Collins Ave., welcomed the public on Friday, April 17. Founder and co-owner Igor Dze, who grew up in Italy and France, hosted a VIP ribbon-cutting the night before with Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner.

Dze has said Leonardo is built around the feeling of a long, lingering Italian dinner where one course turns into another, another bottle is opened, and the night takes on a life of its own.

Deep green walls, antique mirrors, and aged wood fill the dining room, with artwork inspired by Leonardo da Vinci lining the walls. Dze said he personally selected every material and finish.

Signature dishes include Fettuccine alla Leonardo, finished tableside in a wheel of Parmesan; Whole Branzino flambéed at the table; Tagliatelle with meat ragù; and Linguine Aragosta with Maine lobster. A Sunday prix-fixe brunch runs $55 per person and features sharable plates like smoked-salmon bagels and lobster salad rolls, a live omelet station, a champagne cart, and a cheese-wheel presentation.

Weekly programming includes The Prohibition Club on Mondays, a 1920s Gatsby-themed evening with crime-scene décor and staff in period attire. Thursday is Ladies Night with $10 cocktails, and an Aperò Hour offers $10 cocktails and bar bites.

Leonardo is open Sunday through Monday and Wednesday through Saturday starting at 7 p.m., closed Tuesdays. The venue is 21 and older after 10 p.m. Private dining accommodates up to 45 guests with custom menus and an outdoor terrace. Valet parking is available nightly, and reservations can be made through OpenTable.

Sparrow Amalfi pops up in Wynwood

For those willing to cross the causeway, Sparrow Amalfi is a summer pop-up transformation of Sparrow Italia by Noble 33 Management at 255 NW 25th St. in Miami's Wynwood area (786-322-5998). The space features cascading citrus décor by Floratoriam and nightly live performances of reimagined Italian classics by the Sparrow House Band. The dinner menu leans coastal with Chili Crab Linguine, Truffle Cacio e Pepe, Seafood Risotto, and Lemon & Garlic Spaghetti.