MIAMI
José Andrés Opens Aguasal and Bar Centro at Andaz Miami Beach
Written by Eric Barton | May 21, 2025
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AUTHOR BIO: Eric Barton is editor of The Adventurist and a freelance journalist who splits his time between Asheville and Miami. He has reviewed restaurants for more than two decades. Email him here.
Miami doesn’t exactly suffer from a lack of hotel restaurants, but when José Andrés decides to open one—scratch that, three—you pay attention.
His José Andrés Group just debuted two new concepts at the just-opened Andaz Miami Beach, including Aguasal, a coastal Mediterranean restaurant with a thing for Florida produce, and Bar Centro, a cocktail lounge that feels like the Spanish version of happy hour with better snacks. A reboot of Andrés’ beloved The Bazaar is also on the horizon.
Cobia in a lemon butter sauce
“I have always loved Miami,” Andrés said in a statement that somehow feels like it should have ended with, “And also, have you tried this mussel saganaki?” He describes Aguasal as “inspired by the sea,” blending Mediterranean coastlines with South Florida’s culinary bounty.
Located on the ground floor of the hotel, Aguasal (named for agua salada, or saltwater) is designed to transport you from South Beach to Mallorca without the JetBlue delay. It’s all flowing shapes, woven furniture, and lush greenery—plus a menu with dishes like chilled kumamoto oysters in harissa mignonette, mussels saganaki with feta and chives, and whole snapper served both raw and fried. There’s also a roasted cauliflower dish that tries real hard to upstage the hanger steak, and yes, saffron rice pudding is a thing that exists.
Beef tartare
Upstairs, Bar Centro brings back a name familiar to fans of Andrés’ cocktail wizardry. It’s part café, part cocktail lounge, with a concave stone backbar and ocean views that will challenge your commitment to whatever Zoom call you were supposed to attend. The drink menu includes a Key Lime Pie Daiquiri and a Reverse Carajillo, and the snacks? His mom’s croquetas, a Caesar salad you’ll want to write home about, and a grilled cheese with four kinds of dairy decadence.
Bar Centro’s oysters
Saffron rice pudding
And coming soon: the return of The Bazaar by José Andrés, an avant-garde Spanish concept that practically invented foam and whimsy. Expect a remix of old favorites and brand-new creations unique to Miami.
The whole thing is a collaboration with Hyatt’s Lifestyle Group, and if you’re wondering what “imaginative luxury” tastes like, this might be your first real chance to find out.
