Beauty + Fashion
Ani Gutierrez
Exclusive
10 Years of Marion: The Making of Brickell’s OG Supper Club with Founder, Mathieu Massa
Founder, Mathieu Massa, shares the inside scoop on the legendary Thursday Soirées, unforgettable nights, and reflects on how Marion became a Miami nightlife institution.
- By: Julianne Elise Beffa I Photography By: Craig Dennis, World Red Eye, and Lorenzo Franco
Miami never hits pause. Restaurants pop up, clubs fade out, skyscrapers shoot up, and somehow last year’s “it” spot is suddenly yesterday’s news. Through all the city’s whirlwind reinventions, one place hasn’t just kept up, it has set the standard for how Miami goes out. This October, Marion Miami, Brickell’s original supper club, is turning ten. And if you’ve ever danced, dined, or toasted your way through a Thursday Soirée, the restaurant’s now-legendary dinner party, you know this milestone calls for a celebration as extra as Miami itself.
Marion isn’t just a night to remember, it’s a full-on Miami institution. To celebrate its 10-year anniversary and find out what it takes to run one of the city’s hottest restaurants, we sat down with Mathieu Massa, the French entrepreneur and founder of Mr. Hospitality Miami, the team behind Marion, Queen Miami Beach, and Lafayette Steakhouse, to hear how it all began and how Marion is still packing the house a decade later.
“When we opened Marion, Brickell was still an untapped, up-and-coming market,” Massa recalls in an exclusive interview with LOOP Mag. “After launching Bâoli and seeing its success in Miami, I wanted to create something that combined elevated dining with a truly vibrant nightlife experience. Naming Marion after my sister made the project personal from the very beginning. My focus at the time was simply on creating something fresh and different for Miami. I believed in the concept and in this market, but the way it’s been embraced over the years has been beyond what I imagined. I’m truly grateful for the success.”
Back in 2015, supper clubs weren’t “a thing” in Miami the way they are now. Most nights out involved dinner in one place, then hopping to a club for the party. Massa bet that Miami was ready for something new, a place where you could start with dinner and end the night dancing on the same table where you ordered sushi an hour earlier.
“Miami has always had an energy and rhythm unlike any other city,” he says. “Through my experience in hospitality, I saw how people loved the idea of celebrating over food and music and I felt confident that if we elevated that into a consistent, high-quality dining-meets-nightlife experience, it could really resonate. Marion tapped into something people were craving, a place where the dinner itself becomes the party.”
And that’s exactly what happened. Within months, Marion’s Thursday Soirée had turned into Brickell’s hottest night, a weekly ritual that would soon inspire an entire wave of supper clubs across Miami.
“The inspiration behind the Thursday Soirée was to create a signature night in the image of Marion herself, elegant, lively, and playful, and to make it the city’s must-attend weekly celebration,” Massa explains. “From the start, it quickly became the night everyone wanted to be part of, and over the years we’ve only elevated it with world-class DJs, incredible performances, and a crowd that truly brings the energy to life. While the programming has evolved, the essence remains the same: it’s glamorous, it’s fun, and it sets the tone for the Miami weekend.”
That glamorous and fun energy is exactly what has kept Marion not just relevant, but at the center of Miami culture for a decade, which is no small feat in a city where the trend cycle moves at warp speed.
“Miami moves fast, so we make sure Marion moves with it,” Massa says. “We’ve built a strong following and reputation in the community, and maintaining those relationships beyond just the dinner has helped us stay relevant. We keep reimagining programming to stay fresh, but we also pay attention to what our guests love and expect from Marion.”
Miami moves fast, so we make sure Marion moves with it
In 2024, Marion emerged from a multi-million-dollar renovation that reimagined the space for its next era. “Marion has always been a trendsetter, but after nearly a decade, we felt it was time to evolve her identity,” Massa says. “The renovation was inspired by the idea of Marion as an ‘It’ girl growing into a sophisticated, graceful woman, an evolution that reflects maturity and elegance. At the same time, Miami itself has been evolving, becoming more global, more refined, and more competitive as a dining and nightlife destination. We wanted Marion to mirror that growth while continuing to offer the vibrant energy and experiences our guests have come to expect. Additionally, we aimed to make Marion even more entertainment-driven, with grander performances and acts that elevate the nightlife experience to a whole new level.”
And while the vibe might be bigger, bolder, and even more elevated than before, the food remains just as much of a draw as the party. Massa credits Executive Chef Kylian Goussot for crafting a menu that perfectly matches Marion’s personality.
“Chef Kylian has been key in creating a menu that blends Asian and American flavors in a way that really matches the energy of Marion,” Massa says. “The food complements the atmosphere in that it is bold, fun, and something people want to share. Marion has always been about that idea of sharing: sharing plates, sharing laughs, and sharing moments together, and the menu reflects that perfectly.”
Ask Massa about the lessons he’s learned running Marion for ten years, and he doesn’t hesitate. “I’ve learned that you can never take success for granted, you have to earn it every night. Consistency in execution is key, but so is adaptability. I’ve also learned the importance of building a strong team and trusting them. The best concepts succeed because of the people behind them, not just the person in front.”
Marion has always been about the idea of sharing: sharing plates, sharing laughs, and sharing moments together, and the menu reflects that perfectly.
That people-first mentality is part of what gives Marion its staying power, and it’s not just for the guests. Every year, Massa throws an end-of-year employee ball for the entire team, one of his favorite traditions. “The entire team comes together not just to celebrate successes, but to reflect, reconnect, and remind ourselves of the journey we are on together,” he says. “Seeing hundreds of our staff, from every department, dressed up, smiling, and proud of their work always gives me goosebumps. The highlight for me is when we recognize and reward our best-performing employees, not just based on numbers, but on the company’s core values. Those moments of gratitude and recognition remind me why we do what we do.”
Marion’s influence has extended beyond Brickell, shaping Mr. Hospitality’s other projects including Queen Miami Beach, a lavish Art Deco throwback, and Lafayette Steakhouse, a new take on the classic American chophouse.
“Marion was the place where Mr. Hospitality’s story truly began,” Massa says. “It set the tone for the type of experiences we wanted to create, concepts that combine culinary excellence with immersive nights. Queen and Lafayette are natural evolutions of that vision, each with their own identity, but Marion remains the cornerstone. It showed us what’s possible when you deliver consistency, creativity, and a touch of magic.”
And while Brickell will always be Marion’s home, Massa admits the brand’s future may include expansion to other cities. “We are constantly receiving inquiries from investors and local operators who want to bring the Marion brand to some of the most exciting cities in the world,” he says. “It’s incredibly flattering because it means that what we’ve created here resonates far beyond Miami. While Brickell will always be Marion’s home, we are certainly open to exploring serious opportunities to expand internationally. The challenge is to keep the soul of Marion intact while adapting to new markets, cultures, and audiences. For us, expansion is not just about growing in size, but about carefully planting the Marion spirit in places where it can truly thrive and make sense.”
For now, though, Mathieu’s focus is on October 16 and the Soirée of the Decade. “We wanted to mark this milestone in a really big way,” Massa says. “The Soirée of the Decade will not be just dinner, it’s going to be a full-scale celebration with over-the-top entertainment, special performances, and plenty of surprises throughout the night. It’s our way of saying thank you to Miami for embracing Marion over the past ten years, and of course, setting the tone for the next chapter.”
As our conversation wrapped, Massa reflected on what makes him most proud after a decade of running one of the most competitive nightlife concepts in the country. “Without hesitation my employees and my customers,” he says. “Marion has become a family, not just within our team but with our loyal guests who return week after week, year after year. Walking into the restaurant and feeling the energy, seeing the smiles, watching people create memories at our tables is the ultimate reward. The venue itself is beautiful, but it’s the people who give it life. That’s what fills me with pride every time I step inside.”
If he had to describe Marion in three words? “Timeless. Festive. Human,” Massa says. “Everything we do, every dish, every detail, every night, is driven by connection, warmth, and the people who make it all possible.”
And that might be the secret ingredient that’s kept Marion thriving for a decade. It’s not just dinner, or dancing, or the party. It’s the feeling you get when you’re there, that this night, in this place, with these people, is exactly where you’re supposed to be. The laughter, the clinking of glasses, the beats pulsing through the crowd, and the moments that feel bigger than life all come together to create a magic only Miami can deliver. Marion is a celebration of the city itself, a place where every Thursday, and every night, you can feel the energy, taste the excitement, and dance in the glow of a space that has defined a decade of Miami nights.
Marion celebrating it’s tenth anniversary is more than a milestone. It’s proof that great ideas, combined with fearless execution, a dash of French finesse, and a deep respect for community, can create something timeless. Whether you’ve been a loyal guest since the very first Soirée or are just discovering Marion for the first time, the magic is the same. You step inside and know you’re in for a night that’s unforgettable, immersive, and undeniably Miami. The next ten years are sure to be even bigger, brighter, and full of the kind of experiences that only Marion can deliver.
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