New York City’s Sushi by Bou is opening its first South Florida outpost in February inside none other than Gianni’s Suite at the notorious Versace Mansion, which now goes by the name Villa Casa Casuarina (1116 Ocean Drive) as reported by Eater Miami.
Guests will “check-in” with the front desk attendant in the lobby who hands over a key card and escorts them to Sushi by Bou. The 500 square-foot suite has been transformed into a four-seat sushi bar with a modern neoclassic style that gives a nod to the mansion’s over-the-top existing architecture and design while giving it an updated look.
Once at the sushi counter, guests dine on a 60-minute omakase meal for $125 inclusive of tax and gratuity. Items rotate frequently but guests can expect dishes like ikura, uni, fatty tuna, and Hokkaido scallops topped with smoked charcoal salt In place of a typical hotel mini bar, the suite is equipped with a self-service sake vending machine where guests can select three sakes for $30.
If you're wondering why Sushi by Bou isn't opening inside a larger space, owners Michael Sinensky and Erika London tell Miami New Times that it's on purpose. The two, who run the hospitality company Simple Venue, are in constant search of underutilized spaces within existing hotels to transform into unique experiential concepts. As with Sushi by Bou's NYC locations, chef David Bouhadana will lead the operation.
This isn't the first undercover sushi bar to open in Miami. In the past year, Hiden — an eight-person omakase restaurant — secretly opened behind the Taco Stand in Wynwood and now requires reservations months in advance. There's also Sushi Azabu in South Beach, which includes its own secluded sushi bar and Kaido in the Design District features a private room called Ama.
Only time will tell if Sushi by Bou will garner the same kind of attention. Right now, the restaurant is accepting bookings for February.
Sushi by Bou, Gianni’s Suite at the Versace Mansion. 1116 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach; sushibybou.com
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