A swanky new restaurant is opening at one of Miami Beach’s most luxurious hotels.
The Setai, a Forbes five-star hotel already home to Asian favorite Jaya and breezy al fresco restaurant Ocean Grill and named Miami’s favorite resort by Travel + Leisure readers, will open a new Japanese restaurant, Hapon, in October.
Led by Jaya masterminds Executive Chef Vijayudu Veena and Executive Sous Chef Ivan Monson, Japon focuses on creating an indulgent ambiance with dishes that showcase Japan’s cultural history.
The restaurant features indoor and outdoor seating, a beautiful sushi counter and an exclusive private dining space called “The Kyoto Room” with its own private bar and hidden entrance.
Vena said the restaurant, which opens on October 1, will offer “more than just food.”
“This is an experience that immerses guests in the rich world of Japanese culture,” he said. “Our dishes are crafted to evoke traditional Japanese flavors while incorporating a contemporary culinary twist.”
Designed by Saladino Design Studio, the space reflects traditional aesthetics and contemporary luxury, featuring “unique elements you won’t find anywhere else in Miami,” according to the firm’s co-founder, Sean Saladino.
The atmosphere is Asian opulence, and art is everywhere: the courtyard features a moss-covered mural, Japanese torii gates (a structure often found at entrances and inside shrines) surround the restaurant, and there’s a central fountain. The Kyoto Room is decorated with Japanese artwork dating back to the mid-1800s.
The menu will be upgraded, as it was in the space that previously housed The Grill, a seasonal steakhouse that closed in 2017. In addition to sushi and sashimi, the restaurant will feature familiar Japanese fare, including skewers, tempura, and a variety of meats (rib eye, filet mignon, wagyu). Hand-rolled dishes will also be available, ranging from $21 for a veggie roll to $42 for a king crab roll.
One of Vina’s standout dishes is the Chilean sea bass with burnt tomato miso ($54), while other specialities include the mushroom and truffle hotpot with sushi rice and poached egg ($45), deep-fried chicken ($42) and Faroe Island salmon in a yuzu-nori butter sauce served with crispy spinach.
There’s also a sumptuous Wagyu Katsu (sandwich) ($92) with spicy tomato teriyaki and chives that looks like a work of art in itself.
Japón also offers a selection of sake to pair with each dish, as well as a specialty cocktail menu, with drinks like the Wasabi Martini (vodka, cucumber, citrus, wasabi), Fuji Blossom (Fuji apple-infused vodka, Jyoto yuzu liquor, citrus, egg white) and Suntory Sour (Toki whiskey, Midori, Choya plum, citrus, saline, egg white).
For Vina, the opening of the new restaurant marks a significant moment for the hotel.
“Hapong rounds out The Setai’s lineup of Asian cuisines,” he said.
Japan
Location: The Setai, 2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Opening hours: Sunday and Monday-Thursday 6pm-11pm, Friday-Saturday 6pm-11:30pm
Opening date: October 1st
Reservations: OpenTable
More info: 855-923-7899
The steakhouse everyone in Miami has been waiting for is finally opening. Check it out!
