Just when you think that South Beach had exhausted its list of trendy nightlife destinations, a new place pops up that makes all its predecessors seem, well, a bit bland. 9beach Miami {1626 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.327.6073} has managed to do just that—emerging as one of the hottest places in town.
But don’t think that 9beach Miami is just another of-the-moment SoBe hot spot that could be uprooted at the blink of an eye. Owner Itay Sacish assured us that he and his partners are in this for the long haul. “We’ve only been open a month and we’re already packed several nights out of the week,” he says. And come November, just in time for the busy season, they expect to be at the top of every visitor’s must-do list.
Inspired by the original 9beach that opened in Tel Aviv in 2001, 9beach Miami is a mixture of Eastern and Western influences paired with a laid-back Mediterranean atmosphere. Dramatic flashes of purple, pink, and orange lights set the mood for this outrageous indoor-outdoor space, coupled with ornate hand-carved gold accents, brazen lion heads, and rock band lyrics splashed all around. And although the 5,000-square-foot patio sits along Collins Avenue, high booths, large white tents, and lush greenery make you feel more like you’re in a secluded garden than on a busy street.
The vibrant atmosphere, however, does not distract from the caliber of the restaurant’s cuisine. In keeping with the Mediterranean vibe, there’s plenty of hummus and couscous to go around. But the overall menu is as diverse as its surroundings. There’s even an entire menu dedicated to sushi. We recommend the Dragon Roll—shrimp tempura, asparagus, and scallion with avocado and kabayaki sauce on top.
Not expecting our plates to be large, we also order the Crispy Shrimp and Dumplings (pictured above) as an appetizer, which could be a meal in and of itself! For our main courses, we ordered the Filet Mignon and the Moroccan Chicken (pictured below). Both exquisitely presented and perfectly flavored.
We dined on a Tuesday night, which meant that as we were finishing our meal, the space was gearing up for “Pour Some Sugar On Me” Tuesdays. An exotic belly dancer appeared at the entrance, a DJ took over the music, and flocks of beautiful people started making their way into the space.
9Beach promises to not only be a nighttime spot, but a daytime destination as well—it’s open daily from 9am-noon for breakfast and from noon-4pm for lunch. There’s also a late-night menu served from midnight-2am. Come dressed to the nines or in your beach cover-up. At 9beach Miami, anything goes.
By Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor
