Japón is a new Asian restaurant in the same Setai courtyard that hosts one of Miami’s best brunches. The dishes are well executed, the vibe is swanky, and your meal might include acrobats performing over the decorative pool.
Yes, you’ve seen that all before in Miami, but this is the Setai, a luxury property that boasts all the accolades they award to hotels. So, aside from the originality of its concept, it’s hard to find fault in anything at Japón.
The space is stunning, with moody greens and oranges, cozy booths half-hidden by drapes and a dining room lit by paper lantern-style lights. It feels like the home of an eccentric art dealer. Outside, tables surround a fountain, much like at brunch, and when the roof retracts on a nice evening, there are few prettier spots in Miami.
Executive chef Vijayudu Veena and sous chef Ivan Monzón have crafted a menu that nails Asian-fusion staples. We started with a truffle-oiled spinach salad topped with avocado, a hamachi crudo, a crispy wonton tuna pizza and sushi rolls dressed in flavorful sauces. Highlights included a tableside-mixed truffle hot pot, miso salmon and lamb chops—all outstanding. Mid-meal, women took the stage for acrobatic routines with illuminated fabric fans resembling butterfly wings. It’s all as elegant as the dishes and surroundings.
It feels nitpicky to award Japón less than five stars. But will an Asian-inspired menu in a chic, tourist-heavy Miami Beach spot win over locals? Sitting there, I couldn’t help but wonder what these chefs might have created with bolder concepts—perhaps dishes inspired by Veena’s Hyderabad roots or Monzón’s Mexican heritage. Or, better yet, a fusion of both.
You might wish they’d taken a bigger swing. But odds are, you’ll leave Japón having had a pretty close-to-perfect meal.
The vibe: A handsome, moody-painted dining room opens onto a courtyard, where aerialists perform on stages above the pool.
The food: Asian-fusion sushi headlined by a truffle hot pot.
The drink: Miami Beach-level (and priced) cocktails, including a martini topped with a caviar-adorned potato chip.
Time Out tip: Tip somebody to get one of the secluded booths inside. In good weather, the real play is outdoors.