Japanese mojitos under the cherry blossoms: New sushi spot lights up Miami Beach

There’s a new reason to go to Española Way, and it involves sushi (and mojitos).

Paperfish Sushi, which opens just in time for the chaos that is Miami Art Week, is a modern Tokyo-style izakaya (a type of Japanese bar) that highlights Japanese cuisine with Peruvian influences.

The restaurant, from V&E Restaurant Group, is located on Española Way in Miami Beach, the Mediterranean-influenced pedestrian street that draws tourists by the boatloads. The area has long hoped to draw locals, too, especially since the renovation and reopening of the Esmé Miami Beach hotel in fall 2021.

Paperfish, which also has a popular location in Brickell, just may help with this goal. The dining room is eye-catching, with natural materials, handmade ceramics and its trademark pink cherry blossom trees.

The menu includes both small and main plates (sharing is caring, remember) and will be similar to that of its Brickell sister property, with appetizers, a raw bar, salads, sushi and main dishes, plus omakase (chef’s choice) for $120.

Appetizers include tiradito apasionado with salmon, passion fruit and philo strips or Nikkei tuna with Peruvian yellow sauce and foie gras. Main courses include pulpo robata (octopus) and wagyu ishiyaki and run anywhere from $18 to $45.

There are also a few new additions, like steamed Nikkei grouper (steamed with soy sake, scallion, ginger, cilantro and hot garlic olive oil) and the Ichiban Sando (crispy rice, spicy tuna, avocado and crab salad, red tobiko, smoked bonito flakes and clarified garlic butter).

The restaurant also will serve a wide variety of spirits, sake, wines, beers and champagnes as well as cocktails, including the Chanoyu, which means “the way of tea.” The drink, which you might call a Japanese mojito, is made with Japanese gin, mint, lime, coconut water, matcha syrup, orange blossom water mist and poured over dried ice.

David Berg, partner and developer in the Esmé ownership group Infinity Collective, said Paperfish is a welcome addition to the block.

“Paperfish joins other great new additions to the Esmé hotel such as The Drexel, Sushi Bar, and Tropezon ushering in a new era of fine dining for Española Way,” he says. “Stay tuned! There’s still more to come in 2023.”

Paperfish Sushi

Where: 432 Española Way, Miami Beach

Opening: Nov. 25

Hours: 4 p.m.-midnight Sunday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday and Saturday

Reservations and information: paperfishsushi.com or 305-686-0579