Inside “Whispering Pines”: A Rare Bayfront Estate Lists for $20.9M in Miami’s Historic Morningside

Source: The Jills Zeder Group 

Reported By: Caroline Dalal

May 26th, 2025 – Tucked inside the gates of Morningside, one of Miami’s most storied residential enclaves, a singular opportunity has emerged: “Whispering Pines,” a private, waterfront estate now listed for $20.9 million by Jill Eber of The Jills Zeder Group. Situated at 5725 North Bayshore Drive, the residence spans over three-quarters of an acre, offering direct access to Biscayne Bay with 125 feet of unobstructed shoreline—and it’s currently the only bayfront lot available in the neighborhood.

Owned by David Wallack, the entrepreneur behind Mango’s Tropical Café, the estate blends architectural charm with rich natural surroundings.

Morningside is revered for its canopied streets, architectural pedigree, and strategic proximity to Miami’s top cultural corridors—Design District, Wynwood, Midtown, Brickell, and Miami Beach. With only 13 bayfront properties in the entire neighborhood, ownership along this stretch is exceptionally rare.

“Whispering Pines” is not only gated, but offers a security entrance, expansive circular driveway with travertine pavers, and the kind of privacy typically reserved for more remote settings—all while being minutes from the city’s pulse.

What sets this estate apart is not just the location, but its botanical richness. With approximately $1 million invested in mature landscaping—including palm, bamboo, mango, avocado, sapote, longan, coconut, and banana trees, the property feels more like a private arboretum than a residential plot. Gardenias and night-blooming jasmine scent the air, while a winding Ipe wood deck meanders through the grounds, linking features like:

• A 500-square-foot dock with electric davit boat lift
  

• A 140-year-old antique Indonesian gazebo overlooking the bay
  

• A custom-designed bayside treehouse with a lounge bed and open water views
  

• An oval coral-stone pool deck anchored by a wet bar and summer kitchen
  

• A hot tub hidden beneath a tree canopy with bay breezes drifting in

Just offshore lies Rectory Island, a State of Florida–protected ibis sanctuary and Miami-Dade’s leading bird habitat, offering owners a rare, nightly natural performance of migrating and nesting birds—a backdrop as cinematic as it is serene.

The main residence spans 5,402 square feet with four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and two half baths, with spaces that invite both grand entertaining and quiet retreat. At the entry, a meditation garden with koi pond, cascading waterfall, and a custom copper-sculpted front door set the tone for the home’s layered personality.

Inside, details abound:

• Marble floors and rich wood-paneled ceilings in the formal living room, which includes a coral stone–framed fireplace and floor-to-ceiling views of the gardens and bay
  

• A custom, sound-controlled music studio discreetly adjacent to the main entertaining space
  

• A chef’s kitchen with a granite island for six, dual copper sinks, gas Thermador cooktop, Sub-Zero refrigeration, and pool deck access framed by bay views
  

• A den with marble insets and wood-paneled ceilings, extending out to the pool and garden

The principal suite offers a restorative retreat with Brazilian cherry wood floors, custom stone insets, a freestanding copper fireplace, and step-out access to the pool, Jacuzzi, and gardens. The spa-inspired bath includes a sunken tub, dual vanities, and walk-in glass shower.

Adding further charm is a private 1925 guest cottage tucked discreetly on the grounds, complete with a living/dining area, full kitchen, bedroom, and terrace—ideal for long-term guests, staff, or studio use.

All windows and sliding glass doors are made of mahogany and are Miami-Dade County hurricane-impact certified. A two-car air-conditioned garage and expansive parking round out the home’s everyday functionality.