Mimi Kakushi brings Japanese glamour to Miami Beach

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Rooftop lounges are a defining feature of Miami’s silhouette, offering elevated outdoor retreats above the city’s activity. For Mimi Kakushi’s first restaurant in the U.S., London studio Pirajean Lees has fused Miami’s energetic spirit with the glitz of 1920s Osaka and the vintage glamour of classic Hollywood.

Designers Clémence Pirajean and James Lees, who also handled the Dubai iteration of the restaurant, looked to the Japanese silent-film star Sessue Hayakawa as a creative touchstone for the Miami interiors.

The restaurant sits on the fourth level of the Delano Miami hotel and blends indoor and outdoor spaces. The designers imagined a life for their cinematic muse as a globetrotter, and the interiors are arranged to reflect the various facets of his imagined personality.

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That invented backstory is expressed through a combination of period-inspired details and open terraces that tie the space to its seaside location. The outdoor dining area is designed to support a range of experiences—from relaxed group gatherings to secluded, quiet dinners—and is reserved for hotel guests and members of the Delano Members Club.

An exposed sushi counter makes the preparation of food a focal point, offering diners a direct view of head chef Henry Park and his team in action. A DJ booth provides a continuous musical thread during daytime and evening service, while the bar presents cocktails in an unconventional way: instead of a printed cocktail menu, guests receive a vintage View-Master to explore drink reels built around East Asian botanical flavors.

Strategically placed lush planting and decorative screens break the terrace into smaller seating pockets, creating a feeling of privacy without blocking the ocean vistas. The seating plan mixes counter stools with cushioned banquettes to suit everything from multi-course dinners to shared plates of sashimi and tempura.

Natural light filters through timber bead curtains and pieces of stained glass, throwing patterns onto a color palette of warm browns and soft creams. Fringed cushions bring tactile contrast, while hand-painted scenic panels and bespoke furnishings nod to artisanal traditions.

The combination of layered materials, the play of daylight, curated music, and the open-air location produces a mood that evolves as the day progresses. The finished space channels the theatrical quality of its cinematic inspiration while keeping a strong connection to the rhythm and setting of Miami Beach.