Tea Room has been one of my favorite spots in Miami for a decade. I’ve always loved the space, 40 floors above the city, and during a recent staycation at EAST Miami, I went back for drinks and some food. I ended up having the best food I ate at the property.
Is it still worth the hype? Yes. The view is outstanding, and I’d go back for the short rib and another cocktail.
The Space: Tea Room is EAST’s indoor, Hong Kong-inspired lounge on the 40th floor, behind a hidden door. You get that view of gorg Brickell from inside, which I appreciate in Miami. Watching the neighborhood develop from this high up is part of what’s kept me coming back.
The crowd skewed a little older than me on this visit, though there were also kids with their parents, couples, hotel guests, and groups celebrating birthdays. I’d come on a date or with a few friends. Plenty of people seemed to be there for a bar moment, which is a good way to approach it.
What to Eat & Drink: I’m not a sushi roll girly. I don’t tend to order them, but the Miyazaki Roll got me with the combination of A5 wagyu and crunchy shrimp tempura. Add avocado, mango, yuzu kosho aioli, and Singaporean chimichurri, and there’s a lot happening in one roll and it worked. At $39, it’s an expensive order, but one I’d make again.
The Forest Dumplings, filled with shiitake and cremini mushrooms and served with black truffle, wasabi foam, and ponzu, were another favorite. I also liked the Imperial Gyoza, made with wagyu striploin, cabbage, crispy black garlic, shiso, and red vinegar.
The Wagyu Short Rib was my pick of the night, and probably the best dish on the menu. The beef sits on thick sweet potato tteokbokki noodles with shiitake mushrooms, gochujang, and garlic. It’s $46, and if you’re choosing one more substantial dish for the table, that’s the one to get.
We also tried the yakitori, grilled chicken thighs with scallions, quail egg, and sesame. The yakitori sauce was what made that dish for me. There’s mochi ice cream for dessert, too.
My drink was the Pineapple & Cucumber Salad, one of the more interesting cocktails I’ve had in a long time. The $21 drink combines EVOO vodka with pineapple, cucumber, tomato shrub, and sesame oil. I loved it, and it’s the cocktail I’d order on a return visit.
My caveat is about how much of a meal you’re planning to make of this. You can have a full dinner here, but if you arrive starving, it’ll get expensive. I like Tea Room for drinks and a few dishes, whether you’re heading to dinner afterward or calling that dinner for the night.
Perfect For: A sexy date. Drinks and bites with a few friends. Visitors you want to show Miami off to.
Pro Tip: Check the dress code before heading upstairs. Tea Room lists sneakers, shorts, and sandals among the things it doesn’t allow, so plan to change if you’ve spent the day by the pool. Also, make sure to make a reservation in advance.
Expect to Pay: Budget roughly $75 to $110 per person for shared dishes and one or two cocktails, including the listed 20 percent service charge, before tax. A larger dinner will cost more.
How’s the parking? EAST offers valet, or you can self-park at Brickell City Centre. I’d take a rideshare if cocktails are the plan.
@tearoom.mia // 788 Brickell Plaza, 40th Floor, Brickell