Delivering exquisite comfort cuisine inspired by family traditions, fluffy pastries, aromatic coffee blends and more, maman arrives in Wynwood with much anticipation. We chat with co-founder Elisa Marshall to learn more about its latest location and subsequent South Florida openings. 69 NW 26th St., Miami, @_mamannyc_

maman’s new Wynwood location has a coastal feel. PHOTO BY ISABELLE NAMNOUM FOR MAMAN

What prompted you to bring maman to Miami?

Miami and South Florida always held a significant spot in our hearts as I grew up with family living here and would frequent for vacations and family gatherings. When looking for a new market to develop the maman brand, selfishly we opted for the Sunshine State for obvious reasons, but business-wise we loved the synergies that Miami shares with New York City.

Tablescape of maman’s colorful dishes. PHOTO BY ISABELLE NAMNOUM FOR MAMAN

What is essential to bringing a concept to a new city?

For us, it’s about the community. When we opened our first location in 2014, it was intended to be a small, one-off , local community coffee shop and café. As we grew, it was very important for me to maintain that essence and not become a cookie-cutter ‘chain,’ ensuring that each location was an extension of the neighborhood where people could gather around the table for great conversation, meals and events. We always integrate local artists into our design, work with local vendors and support the neighborhood through various community and charity activations.

Elisa Marshall PHOTO BY ISABELLE NAMNOUM FOR MAMAN

The design is super inviting. Tell us a bit about the inspiration behind it.

The design at maman Wynwood was one of our favorite projects yet. Ben [Sormonte] and I enjoyed taking our traditional maman design elements and giving it a ‘beachy’ twist! We call it ‘maman a la plage.’ We imported furniture pieces from the South of France and customized many details to keep a light and welcoming atmosphere. For our façade, we worked with the incredible muralist Joel Hynes. The talented Carlos at Floratorium elevated our usual floral design. He paid tribute to South Florida’s natural beauty by creating indoor floral installations reminiscent of banyan trees adorned with Spanish moss and air plants. As details are in all that we do, we worked with the amazing Nancy Franum to create some beautiful and memorable artistic elements within our design, like handmade lamps and mirrors. My favorite design element that she created with help from my 4-year-old was the subtle seashells within our concrete columns.

Quiche from maman PHOTO BY ARIETTA MANZI

What are some of the standout menu items?

Some of our standout menu items within our bakery have been our kouign ‘maman’ (kouign amman), which we offer both classic and cinnamon. It is a round multilayered pastry, caramelized with butter and sugar. Within our lunch menu, our everything-croissant bun with smoked salmon is a highlight. Regarding beverages, one of my favorites is our guava mint lemonade—it’s very refreshing and the perfect combination of sour and sweet!

I understand you’re expanding maman to other locations in South Florida. Can you give us a sneak peek?

Coral Gables will be our next opening, along with South Miami and West Palm Beach, coming in the Summer of 2024!

Farro salad. PHOTO BY ISABELLE NAMNOUM FOR MAMAN