Luxurious new Japanese restaurant opens at Miami Beach’s historic Paris Theater
The Paris Theater, built in 1945 by Art Deco architect Henry Hohauser, once was home to hedonistic pleasures, a backdrop for album covers and videos by stars like Madonna, U2, Christina Aguilera and Ricky Martin.
Now, the gem from Hohauser, who also designed the Essex House Hotel in Miami Beach, is home to one of the most luxurious restaurants in Miami.
Queen Miami Beach, which opens Feb. 2, aims to restore the space to its glamorous past. Calling its offerings “the ultimate dining experience,” the restaurant serves Japanese cuisine and strives to present world-class hospitality mixed with oh-wow glamour.
Restaurateur Mathieu Massa, Queen’s owner, said that after 15 years in the Miami market, the time was right for a truly extravagant property on South Beach.
“Miami has recently experienced an influx of some of the most influential people in the country, so we decided to go after this demographic, a more sophisticated, educated, elevated, and more mature type of clientele,” he said. “Our goal will be to create the most beautiful, interesting, diverse, and fun mix of people possible, on every given night.”
The journey begins with a design by Carlos Rodriguez of Miami’s ModPlay Studio that highlights architectural details from the 1940s. Walk through the golden doors under a chandelier from J.T. Kalmar. Through the curved Art Deco passageway, you enter The Salon Lounge, where you’ll find some seriously fancy chandeliers (Lobmeyr, in fact). This is the home of the main bar — it’s marble, of course — which has its own craft cocktail menu and a wine and champagne list that boasts a partnership with the exclusive Louis XIII brand.
The main dining room is a jaw dropper, with a Mondrian wall you may struggle to tear your eyes away from. If you want somewhere else to look, gaze upwards at the LEDpaneled dome ceiling. You won’t regret it.
Somewhere amid all this old-school glitz and glamour, there’s a menu. Chef Julien Jouhannaud oversees the kitchen and with local chef Mitchell Hess has created a menu that matches French techniques and Japanese ingredients. Dishes from the sea include everything from sushi platters to giant seafood towers, and a charcoal oven and Robata grill highlight a meat program that features American and Japanese wagyu.
But wait — there’s more exclusivity to be discovered. On the second floor, there’s a secret omakase bar looking out onto the main dining room. Guests can also sit on private balconies and watch the culinary chaos below.
And if none of this sounds quite exclusive enough for you, there will also be a members-only VIP lounge.
QUEEN MIAMI BEACH
Where: 550 Washington Ave., Miami Beach
Opens: Feb. 2, 2023
Hours: 6 p.m.-late Tuesday-Saturday
Reservations: queenmiamibeach.com
Connie Ogle: 305-376-3649, @OgleConnie