Inside Bad Bunny’s Gekko: The Miami Hotspot Where Celebrities Dine
Bad Bunny expanded his empire beyond music in 2022 with the launch of Gekko. The high-end Japanese-inspired steakhouse and lounge in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood was co-founded with nightlife and hospitality heavyweight David Grutman of Groot Hospitality. Designed as a fusion of luxury dining and after-dark energy, Gekko blends premium sushi with a moody, jewel-toned interior. Bad Bunny is not a day-to-day presence at the restaurant, but his influence is embedded in the concept. Here’s everything to know about the hotspot that everyone’s talking about.
Bad Bunny chose to have Gekko in Miami because it feels like ‘home’
Bad Bunny’s entry into the restaurant world came through a strategic partnership with David Grutman, the founder of Groot Hospitality. According to Grutman, the two first connected organically in Miami while Bad Bunny was dining at Komodo, one of Grutman’s flagship restaurants. Their relationship grew after having shared conversations about food and the city’s dining culture. Bad Bunny’s well-documented love of sushi helped shape the concept, leading them to co-found Gekko, their Japanese-inspired steakhouse in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood.
“He’s obsessed with sushi, so that was part of the conversation from early on,” Grutman told Forbes. “And I had wanted to do a high-end steakhouse. The ideas ended up striking the perfect balance.” Grutman also described the restaurant as “elevated. Innovative. Showstopping. Delicious.”
Designed by the Rockwell Group, the restaurant interior features rich jewel tones, natural wood accents, mirror and bronze elements, and graphic custom wallcoverings, helping to evoke the restaurant’s name, which means “moonlight” in Japanese. The restaurant features a dramatic U‑shaped sushi bar with a gold‑and‑red dip‑dyed rope installation as well as velvet-draped booths.
While in conversation with Food & Wine, Bad Bunny explained why he wanted the restaurant in Miami. “The culture reminds me of home,” he explained. “Miami is a city where I can relax. I love to go out to eat, see the ocean — it’s just a great city.”
Grutman also noted that he wanted restaurant-goers to “feel wowed by Gekko.”
“I want them to be blown away,” he told the publication. “Not just by the menu (which I love, by the way, Japanese food and steakhouse staples are my two favorite types of cuisine), not just by the lounge, not just by the room, but by the entire experience taken as one.”
These are Bad Bunny’s favorite menu items
The menu at Bad Bunny’s Gekko combines the sophistication of an elevated steakhouse with traditional Japanese dishes. Those who go for a bite can enjoy premium cuts of steak, Japanese milk bread, and numerous raw plates. The extensive cocktail menu and wine list add to the experience.
Bad Bunny told Food & Wine that while he’s “obsessed with sushi,” he also can’t get enough of “the A5 Tomahawk, the Wagyu crispy rice, and the lobster fried rice.”
According to People, the musician also loves Beber Conmigo, a citrus tequila cocktail. For food, he’d recommend the Japanese milk bread, the hand-rolled otoro maki, crispy Wagyu dumplings, and oak-smoked chicken that’s been slow-smoked for three hours before finishing on the grill. It’s also recommended to try the Wagyu Experience, which features three premium Wagyu cuts.
As for the pricing, appetizers and shareables range from $17-$36, with the sushi and nigiri ranging from $18-$44. The seafood and grilled entrées go for around $62–$92. And the Wagyu and premium steaks typically sell for $95–$250. As for cocktails, they range from $18-$30, and sides and desserts are generally $15–$24.
These celebrities have already visited Gekko
At the grand opening of Gekko in August 2022, stars such as Joe Jonas, Sophie Turner, DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, Future, Karol G, and David and Victoria Beckham were in attendance, according to The PR Net. The celebrity momentum continued as global soccer icon Lionel Messi and his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, chose Gekko to celebrate her birthday. She was joined by friends, including Inter Miami teammates like Sergio Busquets and Luis Suárez.
Regular sightings also include names like Eva Longoria, Kaia Gerber, J Balvin, Derek Jeter, Aaron Paul, Bryan Cranston, and even Kim Kardashian and Tristan Thompson, reflecting Gekko’s status as one of Miami’s premier celebrity dining destinations.
