Additional Coverage:
- I visited Bad Bunny’s high-end Miami steakhouse. For $164, I got 6 bites of food and dessert. (businessinsider.com)
Bad Bunny’s Miami Hotspot: A Glimpse into Gekko’s High-End Hype (and High Prices)
Miami, FL – Global superstar Bad Bunny has been making headlines from his recent Grammy win to his upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show performance. But beyond the music, the Puerto Rican artist has ventured into the culinary world, co-owning Gekko, a Japanese-inspired steakhouse in Miami’s bustling Brickell neighborhood. A recent visit aimed to uncover whether this celebrity hotspot lives up to its opulent reputation.
Opened in 2022 in partnership with Miami nightlife impresario David Grutman, Gekko merges upscale dining with the energetic ambiance of a nightclub. This combination has quickly made it a magnet for celebrities, drawing in high-profile guests like the Kardashians, Beckhams, Lionel Messi, DJ Khaled, and Joe Jonas. Grutman, known for launching successful Miami venues such as the LIV nightclub and collaborations like The Goodtime Hotel with Pharrell, brings a proven track record to this latest venture.
Surprisingly, Gekko’s location in Brickell is far from an exclusive, tucked-away celebrity hideout. It sits directly across from the Brickell City Centre, a vibrant and often crowded mall, and next to a gas station, contributing to a lively, albeit sometimes chaotic, streetscape.
Securing a reservation for a Friday night during peak tourist season was unexpectedly straightforward, with many dining times available online just days in advance. However, patrons are required to adhere to a strict dress code, prohibiting athletic wear, shorts, tank tops, and certain baseball hats – a clear effort to maintain an upscale atmosphere.
Inside, the restaurant exudes a dark, moody, and mysterious vibe. Dimly lit tables and private dining areas are strategically placed, offering a sense of intimacy and discretion.
Afro-house and reggaeton music play at a volume that allows for private conversations while contributing to the overall energetic ambiance. The central, three-sided chef’s counter acts as a stage where sushi chefs meticulously prepare their exquisite ingredients, showcasing their craft rather than engaging in flamboyant performances.
Despite Bad Bunny’s involvement, his direct influence on the menu is subtle. The focus remains on Japanese-inspired contemporary dishes, steaks, and fish, with offerings like nigiri, dumplings, and lobster fried rice.
Latin touches are present in dishes like the prime beef alcapurrias and lobster ceviche. The drinks menu, however, offers more direct nods to the artist, including the “Summer Without You” cocktail, named after his 2022 album, and the “La Sanse Colada” and “Cafécito con Leche,” which incorporate Puerto Rican cultural references.
Wagyu steak is a prominent feature on the menu, available in various presentations, from the $120 A5 Hot Stone entrée to the extravagant $598 olive-fed “Wagyu Experience.” Other dishes incorporate luxurious ingredients such as caviar, lobster, and even 24-karat gold leaf.
A recent dining experience, aiming to sample some of the more “glitzy” options while maintaining a reasonable budget, included the wagyu crispy rice appetizer, gold-topped otoro nigiri, and surf-and-turf nigiri. While the quality of the ingredients, particularly the melt-in-your-mouth otoro and the smoky, velvety wagyu, was undeniable, the portions were notably small.
For a total of $164 after tax and tip, the meal consisted of only six bites of food, two drinks, and a dessert. Some high-end elements, like the gold leaf, felt more for show than for flavor enhancement, leaving a question of value for money.
However, the miso dulcey lava cake, priced at $24, was a standout. This decadent, made-to-order dessert, with its crispy exterior, rich miso and dulce de leche filling, and accompanying vanilla ice cream and shortbread crumbles, was a highlight of the meal and could be a reason to return.
Ultimately, Gekko is not a “Bad Bunny theme park.” His influence is subtle, reflecting more of his high-fashion, celebrity persona than his approachable, culturally proud roots.
While the restaurant successfully blends glitzy luxury with genuine culinary craftsmanship, it caters to a clientele seeking both intimate experiences and ostentatious nights out. Despite the high quality of the food, the small portions meant that a reviewer, after a $150+ meal, still found themselves reaching for Chinese takeout upon returning home, indicating that while the experience was luxurious, it wasn’t entirely filling.