Bespoke Bike Company CEO Piotr Nowocien On Best Spots For Delicious Business Meetings In Miami

Who doesn’t love riding bikes? From riding as a child to riding as an adult whether for fun, commute or otherwise, it’s both a fun activity and a useful one no matter what walk of life you’re in. Most recently, bike riding has been taken to a whole new level with the creation of custom bikes. 

Miami-based Vivélo is an innovative bike shop specializing in hand-crafted bikes complete with lightweight aluminum frames, handmade saddles and grips, Swiss powder coating technology and more. CEO and Founder Piotr Nowocien recently opened headquarters in the lively neighborhood of Wynwood, Miami after exceptional business growth last year, which even included celebrity-acclaim. People such as Kevin O’Leary of Shark Tank loves the bikes so much he bought several and even made a video about it. 

The handcrafted and customizable bicycles with colorful spokes and hand-sewn seats come as beach cruisers and chopper bikes that stand out even in a place that is as bright as Miami. 

“The American market has enormous potential, but it is not easy,” states the businessman who launched Vivélo in 2019. “In a very tough market, full of cheaper bicycles made in China, I decided not to compete on price but to build the best quality cruiser bikes. Every client can design their bike using an online configurator, and our team hand-assembles the bike in our headquarters located on Main Street in Wynwood.” 

“Our clients use bicycles as sports equipment and as a practical design gadget. Thanks to it we will make cycling popular even with people who have never thought about buying a bike before. My plan is to make Vivélo the trendiest beach cruiser brand on the market.” 

When the CEO is not in the shop and helping oversee dozens of daily orders for hand-assembled bikes, he is out and about all over Florida networking. Here are some of his favorite spots to chow down when in Miami. 

“My favorite sushi place is Makoto in Bal Harbour, especially when I can sit in the courtyard,” he says. “Lunch meetings are always a treat with dishes on the table that include frosty wagyu fried rice with foie gras, xo sauce and jidori egg; miso sea bass with crispy kale; and of course, the popular bento boxes showcasing sushi rolls, ponzu salmon and chicken robata.” 

Le Chick is another restaurant Nowocien frequents thanks to its delicious selection of tender bbq baby back ribs and burgers that include the Valentina burger with 3oz dry-aged patty, marinated chicken thigh, arugula rose petal salad, pickled cherry mustard seeds, and fondue of cheese. Other stacked sandwiches include the Royal with Cheese which comes with dry-aged brisket 3oz double patties, cheddar, and secret sauce on sesame brioche bun. Le Chick is a cozy spot with something indulgent for everyone. 

“If I have a more casual meeting and want to build a relationship with a business partner, I take them to Jaya at The Setai Hotel for the Chili Passion Martini after dinner in Miami Beach. Jaya during the evenings is great to see.” 

Jaya at the Setai is a sleek hotel restaurant that serves Indian-accented cuisine Asian from places that include Thailand and Vietnam. Popular dish dishes include selections of authentic dim sum; wok-made dishes such as the Panang curry salmon; and a section of tandoor and curries. The tender chicken makhani and the sea bass tikka with a cilantro mint marmalade are always hits. 

“Clients love the beachfront atmosphere here and also appreciate the creative offerings such the restaurant’s yellowfin tuna with avocado, ginger, rradishes, kaffir lime, and yuzu kosho; as well as the lamp chops with turmeric potatoes, curry, and mango cucumber yogurt.” 

“Another great stop for meetings is Fiola Miami,” he continues. “This Italian restaurant offers a beautiful setting for a special dinner with a client. Fiola is also known for their expansive wine list, particularly Italian wines.”

From start to finish the offerings are delectable and include such dishes as truffle spaghetti alla chittara with truffles, butter and parmigiano reggiano; tonnarelli al nero di seppia alle vongole with littleneck, middleneck & manila clams, calabrian chili peppers; as well as a great starter — bison steak tartare with parmigiano crema, sunny side up farm egg.

Having the personal touch of in-person meetings gives Nowocien a competitive edge, especially as his company enters the eBike market soon with a project using an Italian design studio that will use German technical solutions.