From Nightlife to Wellness: Milan Mijatovic on Building SILA Miami

Milan Mijatovic Owner of SILA Miami

Host Steve Turk interviews Milan Mijatovic, founder of SILA Miami. Milan explains SILA as a social wellness club in Upper Buena Vista featuring longevity services (float tank, hyperbaric oxygen, lymphatic suit, red light therapy, bioscan/bodywork), outdoor classes (yoga, Pilates, functional strength, kettlebells), and contrast therapy (cold plunges and a 14-person sauna).

He recounts starting in hospitality as a dishwasher at Atlanta’s Dante’s Down the Hatch, moving to Chicago to become a bartender and competition mixologist, then relocating to Miami where he worked at the Versace Mansion reopening, Regent Cocktail Bar alongside Julio Cabrera, and as a cachaça brand ambassador.

After nightlife management at Rockwell and reflecting on industry excesses, a trucking-business detour, and a renewed focus on recovery and nature, he launched SILA without a formal business plan, emphasizing community support, systems, and a goal of a second location and future beach flagship.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:31 Sponsor Lodgify

01:34 Meet Milan

02:48 What Is Sila

04:13 Steve Joins Sila

05:17 First Hospitality Job

09:52 Chicago Hustle

12:13 Cocktail Roots

14:18 Mixology Rise

15:31 Miami Calling

17:31 Cuba Turning Point

20:58 Versace And Regent

22:32 Brand Ambassador Era

23:48 Nightlife Management

26:43 Surviving The Scene

28:59 Wellness Seeds

30:11 COVID Pivot to Trucking

31:34 Owning the Leap

33:17 Back to Nightlife Again

34:31 Wellness Aha Moment

35:35 Cold Plunge Origins

38:11 Third Shot at Business

40:25 CELA Vision and Nature

42:37 Finding the Perfect Space

46:08 Building Sila Community

50:08 Next 12 Months Vision

51:57 Trust the Journey

52:59 Closing and Sponsor