The Balfour Hotel, which recently opened on Miami Beach, introduced its new destination restaurant Mehzcla on Feb. 10. A play on the Spanish word for “mixture,” Mehzcla unifies a variety of Latin American culinary influences found throughout the hotel, welcoming people from all walks of life to enjoy a seat at the table. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the menu combines Latin recipes and ingredients in tribute to the property’s Miami Beach heritage.
With extensive knowledge of world cuisine and formal training from Le Cordon Bleu, one of the world’s leading culinary schools, Mehzcla’s Executive Chef Steven Acosta brings a global perspective to the restaurant’s diverse menu of sharable starters, small plates, sandwiches, salads, and desserts.
“I am a mezcla myself: a mixture of my training and my homegrown roots,” explains Chef Acosta. “Just like Miami, Mehzcla is one big melting pot of Latin cuisine. I’ve worked with chefs from all over the world, and now I get to apply that multicultural, global influence from my heritage to the restaurant.”
With a passion for traditional techniques and Miami’s homegrown flavors, Acosta created Mehzcla’s menu to highlight fresh ingredients and South Florida produce, a nod to the area’s tropical landscape and Latin representation. Must-try menu items include Latin household favorites such as the Avocado & Tomato Ensalada ($17), combining frisée lettuce, pickled red onions, fresh cilantro, and capers with a classic red wine vinaigrette, and the Whole Fried Snapper (MP), lightly fried without the bones for a more aesthetically pleasing dish.
As a refreshing, coastal take on traditional Mexican tacos, the crunchy Ahi Tuna Tacos ($26) are made with sushi-grade tuna, ginger-sesame vinaigrette, a refined guacamole-yuzu crema, and garnished with caviar for a touch of South Beach extravagance. The Medianoche Croquetas ($18) are another beloved creation of Chef Acosta’s, whose Miami upbringing of eating the iconic Cuban sandwich inspired him to turn Swiss cheese, cotto ham, pickles, mustard aioli, and lime zest into a delicate, crispy croquette.
Mehzcla’s breakfast menu, available from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., allows guests to nourish themselves after a morning yoga session with healthy choices like the Detox Bowl ($17) filled with scrambled egg whites, sautéed kale, turmeric-spiced cauliflower, avocado, and Marcona almonds, or prepare for an exciting day in the city with a hearty serving of the Croissant French Toast Casserole ($17) topped with a brown sugar-butter pecan crumble, chunky apple jam, and a drizzle of warm maple syrup.
Guests can enjoy a full bar and a cocktail menu featuring tropical twists on iconic drinks like the South Beach Mule ($15), made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, lime juice, ginger beer, and coconut water, and the Spiced Smoked Margarita ($16), a concoction of Maestro Dobel Tequila, Grand Marnier, and fresh agave sour. Adventurous aperitifs like the Balfour Batida ($14), crafted with Absolut Vodka, Liquid Alchemist Passion Fruit and Coconut syrups, lime, mint, and nutmeg, or the Spicy Boi Summer ($15), a mixture of Aviation American Gin, Ancho Reyes, mango purée, lime, cilantro, and chili salt, are indicative of The Balfour Hotel’s proud Latin heritage embellished with boldness and modern luxury.
The Balfour Hotel’s nod to Latin America is found throughout Mehzcla’s design. Diners enter the restaurant through a wrap-around terrace with ample outdoor seating overlooking scenic Ocean Drive. The dining room is centered around the historic building’s original marble fireplace, terrazzo flooring, and an inviting lobby bar featuring a well-crafted, classic cocktail program. Serving as the hotel’s social hub, this space celebrates Miami’s diverse cultural scene with its plush rattan furniture, pops of tropical prints and warm hues, and the rotating gallery of local art from emerging talent from South Florida art schools.
Just one block from the beach, The Balfour Hotel’s open, palm tree-lined courtyard connects its two buildings with an alfresco space for Mehzcla’s patrons to dine and mingle between lush banana groves, bird-of-paradise flowers, and views of the hotel’s plunge pool through a picturesque glass window. Visitors can escape to this hidden gem and find a relaxing oasis just steps from the hustle and bustle of South Beach.
Mehzcla is open daily for all-day dining from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
