Pao by Paul Qui

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Golden Dome on Collins Avenue

Inside Faena Hotel Miami Beach, beneath a radiant golden dome anchored by the hotel's iconic golden unicorn, Pao by Paul Qui delivers modern Asian dining unlike anything else on the Miami Beach strip. The room is designed for atmosphere — warm light, sculptural interiors, indoor and outdoor seating — and the kitchen matches the setting with equal intention.

The Chef Behind the Concept

Paul Qui was born in Manila and trained in classic French and Japanese cuisine, a background that gives him an unusually wide palette to draw from. His cooking is described, in his own words, as "equally playful and authentic, visionary and inspired by tradition." At Pao, that translates into dishes that weave Filipino, Spanish, Japanese, and French influences together, with charcoal and smoke threading through as a unifying technique. Forbes Travel Guide, which awarded the restaurant its Four-Star distinction, singles out Qui's "daring, bold flavor combinations and precise cooking techniques" as the defining qualities of the experience.

What Arrives at the Table

The artful presentation is part of the point: dishes come on custom-designed, hand-thrown stoneware by Jono Pandolfi, accompanied by gold flatware and wood service ware. Whole fish is kept simply prepared to let fresh flavors speak for themselves. Marbled bone-in wagyu and roasted pork are described by Forbes as "lush, juicy and meltingly tender" — and guests on OpenTable single out the Wagyu Carpaccio as a standout. The modern Asian kitchen here is not fusion for its own sake; each element earns its place.

Drinks and the Evening's Rhythm

The beverage program, overseen by Faena beverage director Zarko Stankovik in collaboration with Mayur Subbarao and Mark Kinzer, draws on early- to mid-19th-century cocktail classics as its reference point. Fresh, local ingredients are central — the house gin and tonic, for instance, is built around fresh kaffir lime leaves. A deep selection of premium sakes, including Faena's own label, rounds out the list.

On Friday and Saturday evenings from 7 pm, live music from Miami's local artists fills the dome, shifting the atmosphere from dinner to something closer to an event. Dress code is elegant chic — no shorts, sandals, or beachwear — which keeps the room consistent with the tone the kitchen sets.