Refined Japanese with Brickell waterfront views — thoroughly excellent and the best option for a polished, non-casual night in Downtown Miami. Izakaya format with strong cocktails and a sake list that rewards attention.
Why It Belongs on the List
Zuma Miami is the most thoroughly excellent Japanese restaurant in the city — a contemporary izakaya concept with sharing plates, a robata charcoal grill, and a sushi and sashimi menu of genuine quality. The Miami location has the additional advantage of a waterfront terrace on the Miami River in the Epic Hotel complex — one of the most beautiful outdoor dining settings in downtown Miami. The signature dishes (black cod marinated in yuzu miso, the wagyu beef with sesame and wasabi, the rock shrimp tempura) are consistent with the global Zuma standard. The cocktail program is excellent. The energy is social and lively — this is a restaurant for groups and occasions rather than quiet dinners. The Sunday brunch is hugely popular in the city.
What Stands Out
- Best Japanese restaurant in Miami — consistent with the global Zuma standard
- Waterfront terrace on the Miami River: one of the most strikingly beautiful outdoor dining settings downtown
- Black cod in yuzu miso: the signature order in every Zuma worldwide
- Sunday brunch: the most popular hotel brunch in downtown Miami
- Social and lively: optimal for groups and special occasions