Ocean views and a taste of the sea: José Andrés opens a new restaurant on Miami Beach

Miami Herald

4 days ago

A new restaurant and a new cocktail concept from Chef José Andrés' hospitality group are now open at a new Miami Beach hotel.
The Andaz Miami Beach from the Hyatt Lifestyle Group, formerly The Confidante Hotel, opened earlier this month and is now home to the Mediterranean restaurant Aguasal (named for agua salada, which is Spanish for saltwater) and Bar Centro, an all-day spot for small bites and drinks.
Fittingly, Aguasal is inspired by the sea, according to Andrés, who says the restaurant 'brings with it the flavors of both the Mediterranean coast and Florida's abundant produce.'
Aguasal, which serves breakfast and dinner, is located on the ground floor of the hotel, with indoor and outdoor dining and oceanfront views. Expect teak and woven furniture, stone floors, and lush tropical greenery.
Breakfast is what you might expect: eggs, pancakes and French toast, while the dinner menu leans to seafood. Highlights include chilled seafood like kumamoto oysters with harissa mignonette and Meyer lemon, stone crab and pink gulf shrimp as well as dishes like mussels Saganaki with feta cheese, chives and lemon. There's also a fried whole snapper and cobia with lemon-butter sauce, dill, braised fennel and trout roe.
You'll also find such vegetable dishes as grilled leeks with stracciatella, sumac, hazelnuts and brown butter breadcrumbs and roasted cauliflower with tahini, sesame seeds, ground coriander, pomegranate and puffed quinoa. Meat lovers can try the hanger steak with a marash rub, harissa roasted carrots and potatoes.
On the upper lobby level, Bar Centro features ocean views and is all about the cocktails like the house specialty, a Key lime pie daiquiri, although you can order small bites like croquetas, a new take on a classic Caesar salad or four-cheese grilled cheese. There's caviar service as well.
Aguasal and Bar Centro won't be the only dining concepts at the Andaz. In 2026, The Bazaar by José Andrés will open at the hotel, drawing on Andrés' Spanish heritage and featuring some of his most popular signature dishes. The hospitality group also operates Zaytina, a Mediterranean restaurant at the Ritz Carlton, South Beach.
The Andaz Miami Beach is the first hotel in Florida for the brand and sprawls across 25,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. It's a Michelin Guide-recommended hotel.
Amar Lalvani, president and creative director of Hyatt's Lifestyle Group, said the Andaz and the José Andrés group were a perfect match.
'Our close collaboration with José and his talented team will bring some very special experiences to the Andaz Miami Beach,' he said. 'The combination of the freshest local ingredients and bold flavors with global influences aligns perfectly with what Andaz is all about.'
Aguasal
Where: Andaz Miami Beach, 4041 Collins Ave, Miami Beach
Hours: 7-11 a.m. breakfast daily; dinner 6-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 6-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
Bar Centro
Hours: Noon-10 p.m.Monday-Friday; noon-11 p.m. Friday Saturday
More information: @aguasalmiamibeach or @barcentrobyjose