Why The Setai Miami Beach Is One Of Florida’s Best Hotels For Food
Like many others, one thing I relish about staying at luxury hotels is room service. There are the tried and true staples we're well-versed in: burgers, Caesar salads, and club sandwiches. But while most of our palates have broadened far past Western comforts, room service menus—even those found in the poshest properties—haven't adapted much to our worldly appetites.
This is why I was pleased as punch to see Pad Thai on the room service menu of The Setai Miami Beach during a recent visit. As my initial excitement wore off, though, I wondered: "How good can a hotel's version, especially from in-room dining, be?"
As it turns out: not just good, but exceptional. The thin, flat rice noodles were chewy, clump-free, and wokked with tamarind, fish sauce, sugar, and garlic for that unmistakably craveable balance of salty, sweet, and sour. Properly garnished with crushed peanuts and fresh lime, this version left me full and giddy.
Since opening in 2004, The Setai Miami Beach has championed Asian culture and hospitality, from its original design incorporating striking elements like mother of pearl—which symbolizes prosperity in Chinese culture—and original artwork by Asian creatives including Korean painter Lee Jung Woong, to its culinary concepts led by Executive Chef Vijayudu Veena (Jaya, Ocean Grill, The Bar).
Unlike other domestic hotels that have enlisted a safe Western approach for their restaurants with brasseries and steakhouses, The Setai Miami Beach never did. For that reason—along with its legendary service, accommodations with every amenity imaginable (including real candles for ambiance), Valmont for The Spa , and tranquil outdoor pools—this discreet South Beach hideaway sets itself apart from Miami's highly competitive hotel landscape.
Today's opening of Japón , The Setai's newest restaurant, continues to build upon this legacy. Thanks to the creative leadership of local firm Saladino Design Studios , the look is unabashedly bold and ornate with tasseled lanterns, an oversized crane mosaic cural, and original woodblock prints from the late-1800s. As for the food, and as the name implies, Veena describes it as "a celebration of authentic Japanese flavors infused with modern creativity."
That means katsu sandwiches are stacked with buttery Wagyu instead of conventional beef, while the miso for the Chilean Sea Bass is charred with tomato for extra richness and umami. All of the beverages, from the original cocktails to the sakes, have been thoughtfully curated to complement all of the dishes. (Though we're partial to the Fuji Blossom, a positively pretty sipper blending Fuji apple-infused vodka, Joto Yuzu sake, and egg whites.)
To make eating at Japón an even more memorable experience, reserve the Kyoto Room. This exclusive space "offers an intimate, private dining space that immerses guests in the cultural elegance of Japan," says Veena.
