In May, German chef Rainer Becker opened the first U.S. location of his London restaurant Zuma on the Miami River. (Other outposts include Istanbul, Dubai, and Hong Kong.) The 8,500-square-foot Japanese restaurant is on the ground floor of the Epic Hotel in downtown Miami and has indoor and outdoor dining options.
The main dining room can accommodate 138 in seating options that range from Indonesian wood four-top tables to cream-colored banquettes and sofas. The restaurant resembles its U.K. counterpart with the inclusion of a sushi counter accommodating 10 people, bar seating for about 15, and the signature robata grill, a Japanese-style barbecue.
The Sake Bar and Lounge serves more than 40 varieties of sake and can seat about 60. Additionally, the terrace is one of the only downtown venues with boat access and is outfitted with tables and chocolate-brown sofas for 68. The space can also host nearly 100 for receptions.
For smaller gatherings, there is a private room for 18.