Miami has no shortage of famous restaurants, luxury hotels, and legendary nightlife venues. But if there’s one person who has helped shape the city’s hospitality scene, it’s David Grutman. Over the past two decades, he has gone from bartender to one of the most influential figures in hospitality. His restaurants, clubs, and entertainment venues attract celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and visitors from around the world.
Lauren and Michael were excited to sit down with David on The Bossticks because his story goes far beyond nightlife and celebrity culture. Behind the famous venues is a businessman who understands branding, relationship-building, customer service, and unforgettable guest experiences. During the conversation, David shares lessons from his entrepreneurial journey and the mindset that helped him turn a single opportunity into an international hospitality empire.
You can listen to the whole David Grutman podcast with The Bossticks below. But in this post, we’ll cover some of his biggest career highlights and what we can learn from him as leaders and business professionals.
Who Is David Grutman? The Man Behind Miami’s Hottest Spots
David Grutman is a restaurateur, nightlife operator, entrepreneur, investor, and author. He’s primarily known for building and operating some of Miami’s most popular high-end hospitality venues. Through the world-class experiences his venues provide, David has built relationships with hundreds of celebrities, athletes, and business leaders. Those connections, combined with his hospitality expertise, have helped grow his brands and establish him as one of the most successful figures in the industry.
David doesn’t keep his success to himself. To help others reach their own goals, he regularly teaches college courses on entrepreneurship and hospitality. He’s also written a bestselling book called Take It Personal: How to Succeed by Building Relationships and Playing the Long Game. Beyond this, David invests regularly in startups and consumer brands, like SkinnyDipped, Cymbiotika, and Liquid Death. Today, David continues to shape culture through hospitality, business, and investing while helping others pursue their own version of success.
What Does David Grutman Own?
David Grutman Clubs
LIV is one of the most popular nightclubs in the world. This Miami hot spot regularly hosts famous DJs, musicians, athletes, celebrities, and other high-profile guests. But its impressive crowd isn’t the only reason LIV is such a popular hotspot. Luxury VIP tables, bottle service, and a massive dance floor all contribute to the club’s reputation.
LIV was David Grutman’s flagship venue and helped redefine Miami’s nightlife scene. He has since expanded the brand with a second location in Las Vegas.
In addition to LIV Las Vegas, David also operates LIV Beach, a dayclub located at the Fontainebleau Resort in Las Vegas. This high-energy poolside destination features world-renowned DJs, live performers, and plenty of special events. The club offers VIP cabanas, bottle service, and, of course, a premium hospitality experience. It’s the same LIV energy and atmosphere—just with the sun out.
Story is another of David Grutman’s famous nightclubs in Miami Beach. This venue is all about production, with state-of-the-art sound equipment, lighting, and visual effects. While it features major artists and DJs, this venue usually focuses more on electronic dance music. Unlike some of his other more intimate venues, David designed Story to accommodate thousands of guests in a festival-like atmosphere.
David Grutman Restaurants
Komodo is a Southeast Asian restaurant in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood. It’s one of the city’s hottest dining destinations, attracting many of the same high-profile celebrities who frequent David Grutman’s nightclubs. Guests rave about Komodo’s sushi, Peking duck, lobster dynamite, and signature cocktails.
And if they’re somehow not wowed by the food, they’re blown away by the striking three-story restaurant featuring multiple indoor and outdoor dining spaces. In 2024, David expanded the concept with a second location in Las Vegas.
David Grutman joined forces with entrepreneur David “Papi” Einhorn to open Papi Steak in 2019. It combines the timeless appeal of a classic steakhouse with the infectious energy of a Miami nightclub. Like many of David’s projects, it delivers a luxurious experience with premium cuts of beef and over-the-top presentations. You may have seen videos online of a steak arriving at a table in a custom briefcase—that “Beef Case” is from Papi Steak. The restaurant has since expanded to Las Vegas as well.
Gekkō is what happens when Komodo and Papi Steak come together—a Japanese-inspired steakhouse with a nightlife edge. David Grutman opened Gekkō in Miami in 2022 alongside entertainer Bad Bunny. The restaurant is upscale and moody, attracting so many celebrity guests that securing reservations has become increasingly difficult. If you’re lucky enough to get a table, you’ll enjoy premium steaks and elevated sushi, making it feel like a luxury surf-and-turf experience.
Connected to Gekkō is Gekkō Lounge, an intimate nightlife destination designed for guests after dinner service. The space features cocktails, music, and VIP seating. It offers great energy while remaining more private and exclusive, making it ideal for guests looking for a more refined social experience after a memorable meal.
Located on Biscayne Bay, Casadonna is David Grutman’s waterfront Italian restaurant. It features both indoor and outdoor dining with beautiful waterfront views. As far as the menu goes, you can expect fresh seafood, handmade pasta, wood-fired dishes, and Italian classics.
Rather than recreating his signature nightclub atmosphere, David set out to capture the relaxed elegance of a Mediterranean coastal destination—and he delivered. The result is one of Miami’s most scenic and sophisticated dining experiences.
David Grutman and Pharrell Williams partnered to create Swan, a stylish restaurant in Miami’s Design District. The restaurant serves contemporary American cuisine in a glamorous, design-forward setting that feels equal parts upscale restaurant and social hotspot.
Known for its pastel interiors, lush décor, and fashionable crowd, Swan has become a favorite gathering place for celebrities, creatives, and Miami’s trendsetters. Like many of David’s venues, it combines exceptional hospitality with an atmosphere that people want to be seen in.
How Did David Grutman Make His Money?
Nightclub Ownership and Operations
A significant amount of David’s income comes from his nightclub portfolio. He earns revenue through admissions, VIP tables, bottle service, private events, and exclusive hospitality experiences. His clubs are some of the most recognizable nightlife destinations in Miami and Las Vegas, attracting visitors from around the world.
High-End Restaurant Concepts
David owns and operates more than half a dozen upscale restaurants, all of which also generate substantial revenue. Income comes from dining, private events, catering, and hospitality experiences. Though restaurant profit margins are notoriously slim, his venues double as luxury social destinations. This allows him to command premium pricing and continuously attract high-spending guests.
Celebrity Partnerships and Branding Deals
Over the years, David has built relationships with countless celebrities, athletes, musicians, and influencers. These connections have helped him launch new concepts, expand his audience, and create strategic partnerships that generate additional revenue and brand exposure.
Interested in hearing from another entrepreneur who is a master of celebrity partnerships? Listen to The Bossticks episode “Emma Grede Gets Personal on the Cost of Ambition, Self Mastery, and the Truth About Success.”
Event Hosting and VIP Experiences
David also profits from hosting exclusive events, celebrity parties, brand launches, and major cultural gatherings. These special events often bring in high-profile guests and corporate partners while generating additional revenue beyond regular restaurant and nightclub operations.
Strategic Hospitality Investments
In addition to hospitality, David invests in startups and consumer brands that he believes have long-term potential. His portfolio includes companies such as SkinnyDipped, Cymbiotika, Liquid Death, Vacation, NeuroGum, GOODLES, The Coconut Cult, and Lolli. These investments allow him to diversify his income beyond restaurants and nightlife while helping promising brands grow.
How Did David Grutman Start?
Bartending and Early Hospitality Experience
David Grutman never set out to be an owner. He started as a bartender and had the modest goal of becoming a manager one day. Along the way, he developed strong customer service and hospitality skills while learning how restaurants and nightclubs operate behind the scenes. He quickly became obsessed with creating memorable guest experiences and realized hospitality was where he wanted to build his career.
Management, Marketing, and Career Growth
Unsurprisingly, David quickly reached his goal of earning a management position. In leadership roles, he learned to oversee staff, manage operations, and deliver a seamless guest experience. This eventually led him into marketing and event promotion, where he developed a deep understanding of how sponsorships, branding, and partnerships drive business growth.
Curious about how to successfully promote your business? Listen to The Bossticks episode “How to Become a Better Marketer and Avoid Marketing Mistakes When Reaching Your Audience or Customer Ft. Camille Moore.”
Building a Network in Miami’s Entertainment Scene
As his career progressed, David became known for his ability to build relationships. He connected with local business leaders, entertainers, entrepreneurs, and hospitality professionals throughout Miami. By helping people make connections and experience the best the city had to offer, he built a powerful network that would later open doors to major business opportunities and partnerships.
LIV and the Birth of a Hospitality Empire
Finally, he took all of his accumulated knowledge and acquired a small nightclub that would eventually become LIV. He transformed what was once an ordinary venue into one of the most famous nightlife destinations in the world. The club’s success allowed him to launch additional venues, expand into restaurants, and establish his hospitality company, Groot Hospitality. Today, the brand is recognized internationally and serves as the foundation of David’s business empire.
Find the restaurant industry fascinating? Us too! Listen next to The Bossticks episode “From Rock Bottom to Empire: Overcoming Burnout, Mental Health Battles, and Turning Set Backs Into Success Ft. Kevin Boehm” to hear about the journey of another inspiring American restaurateur.
What Does David Grutman Do?
Oversees Restaurant and Club Operations
Of course, a lot of David’s day-to-day work involves overseeing his many restaurants and clubs. He’s not the direct manager of any location, but he works closely with his team and business partners to ensure an exceptional guest experience every day. Nearly every business decision centers on hospitality, service standards, and brand reputation.
Develops New Hospitality Concepts
David is always coming up with new ideas for restaurants, nightclubs, and entertainment venues. He’s great at identifying trends and lucrative opportunities, often getting involved before they become mainstream. He works directly on the design and development process, helping create the atmosphere, branding, and guest experiences that set his venues apart.
Expands Restaurants and Entertainment Venues
When one of his concepts performs well in a city, David often looks for opportunities to expand into new markets. He oversees the launch of new locations, ensuring the experience remains consistent even when venues are thousands of miles apart. Because he designs his concepts to feel VIP, David exercises a great deal of strategy and discipline to scale while maintaining quality and exclusivity.
Builds Strategic Business Relationships
One of David’s greatest strengths is relationship-building. Throughout his career, he has developed connections with business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, athletes, entertainers, and hospitality professionals. These relationships have opened doors to new partnerships, business opportunities, and collaborations while helping him grow his brands and influence.
Collaborates With Celebrities and Influencers
David regularly works with celebrities, athletes, musicians, and influencers to launch new concepts and promote existing ones. His partnerships with figures like Bad Bunny and Pharrell Williams have helped create some of his most successful ventures. These collaborations generate excitement, attract media attention, and introduce his brands to new audiences around the world.
Celebrity endorsements can take any business to new heights—but it’s especially powerful for venues. To learn about another restaurant with star power, listen to The Bossticks episode “How to Develop Real Life Skills and Read People Ft. Craig Susser – Founder of Craig’s LA.”
What Sets David Grutman Apart in the Hospitality Industry?
Relationship-Driven Business Building
David believes that relationships are among the most valuable assets a person can have. Throughout his career, he has focused on building genuine connections with business leaders, entertainers, investors, and hospitality professionals. Rather than asking what he can gain from a relationship, he often talks about finding ways to add value first. This long-term approach has helped him build an incredibly powerful network.
David Grutman has a lot of similar business principles as Gary Vee. To learn how you can bring some of those concepts into your own company ideas, read our post “How to Build a Business Using Gary Vee’s book Crushing It!”
Celebrity Integration as a Business Strategy
Many hospitality businesses use celebrities for promotion, but David often goes a step further by bringing them in as partners. His collaborations with figures like Bad Bunny and Pharrell Williams create excitement while adding authenticity to the brands. Not only do these partnerships help attract new customers and generate media attention, but they also allow his venues to become cultural destinations rather than just restaurants or clubs.
Focus on Atmosphere, Energy, and Exclusivity
David doesn’t just sell food, drinks, or entertainment—he sells experiences. He designs every venue carefully to create a specific atmosphere, from the music and lighting to the décor and service. He understands that guests want to feel like they’re part of something special. That focus on energy and ambiance has become one of the defining characteristics of his brands.
Consistency Across High-End Experiences
Whether someone visits one of David’s venues in Miami, Las Vegas, or another city, the goal is to deliver the same level of quality and hospitality. He places a strong emphasis on service standards, branding, and guest experience. Even as his business portfolio continues to grow, maintaining consistency remains a top priority. That attention to detail helps build trust with customers and keeps them coming back.
David Grutman shows that business success comes down to a stellar customer experience.
David Grutman didn’t build his success through a single restaurant, nightclub, or celebrity connection. Instead, he built it through years of hard work, strategic relationships, and a commitment to delivering exceptional experiences. His story is a reminder that the biggest opportunities often come from mastering the fundamentals and playing the long game.