Just a few minutes from Naples, there’s a garden where Japan meets Vesuvius, vinyl sets the mood for the evening, and dining becomes an experience, a listening session, and a story.
It’s called Mihao Garden and it’s the new summer spirit of Mihao, the Asian-inspired listening bar founded in Portici with a clear identity: to unite Japanese culinary culture, musical exploration, and Mediterranean hospitality in a rare, contemporary, and deeply recognizable format.
In the historic garden of Villa Pagliano—an 18th-century residence linked to the network of noble villas along Vesuvius’s “Golden Mile”—summer takes on a different form. It’s not just dinner, not just music, not just atmosphere. Mihao creates a complete experience, in which every element interacts with the others: the sound of vinyl, the quality of the raw ingredients, the soft evening light, the scent of aromatic herbs, and the casual elegance of a place that looks to Asia without losing its connection to Campania.
Every weekend, under the trees in the garden, the live vinyl sessions transform dinner into a contemporary ritual. Jazz, soul, funk, house, and disco aren’t just background music—they become part of the venue’s identity. The music doesn’t simply accompany the evening; it sets the pace, defines its rhythm, and preserves its atmosphere.
Mihao’s vision was born from a trip to Japan and the coming together of diverse professional backgrounds.E Emanuele Raniello and Antonio Luigi Improta, creators and co-founders, shaped the project alongside Valerio Cozzolino,E who brings experience in international Japanese cuisine; Carmine D’Orsi, sommelier and wine cellar manager; Alessio Olivieri, bar manager; and Davide Totaro, known as Dat Boi Dee, a music producer who helped define the venue’s sonic identity.
The name evokes the maneki-neko, the Japanese lucky cat, a symbol of good fortune and rebirth. A choice that speaks volumes: Mihao was not conceived as just a restaurant, but as a small cultural manifesto.
The cuisine spans Japan, engages with Nikkei culture, and embraces Asian street food with a refined touch. Raw seafood takes center stage: sushi, sashimi, nigiri, and signature dishes highlight fish, shellfish, and premium ingredients through simple, precise techniques.
The nigiri, prepared according to tradition, highlight ingredients such as otoro, amaebi, scampi, and A5 Wagyu. Oshizushi, an ancient technique originating in Osaka, is reinterpreted with lobster, salmon, and seared yellowtail, while the signature rolls feature chutoro, scallops, and prized shellfish.
What makes the menu even more distinctive is the Mihao Caviar, a variety selected and branded exclusively for the restaurant. It’s not merely a decorative touch, but a signature flavor—an element that enhances the umami depth of the finest nigiri and signature sashimi.
Among the most representative dishes are the Wagyu Carpaccio with kimchi and carpaccio sauce and the Nikkei Tiradito, featuring raw fish, tiradito sauce, and aji amarillo: a balanced fusion of Japan and Peru, technique and cultural fusion, simplicity and intensity.
Alongside the fine-dining offerings, the menu retains a convivial dimension with handmade gyoza, onigiri, yakitori, takoyaki, ramen, and katsusando. These dishes are designed to be shared, striking a balance between informality and attention to detail.
The same attention to detail extends to the beverage selection. The Champagne selection is curated to complement sashimi and summer evenings, ranging from aperitif-style sparkling wines to more structured pairings with premium nigiri and Mihao caviar.
The sake corner represents one of the most interesting and rare offerings in Campania’s dining scene: labels from various Japanese prefectures—from Niigata to Kyoto, from Hiroshima to Akita—in a journey ranging from the driest junmai to the smoothest and creamiest nigori.
The drink menu continues the dialogue with the cuisine. Yuzu, shiso, miso, Asian teas, and lychee feature in the signature cocktails, reinterpreting international classics with an Asian and contemporary sensibility. The Yuzu Paloma, Sakura Tommy, Shiso Breeze, and Miso Coffee Martini showcase a bar that doesn’t merely accompany the cuisine but becomes its natural extension.
Mihao is also a listening bar, a concept that originated in Japan and is based on a culture of mindful listening. Here, music isn’t just incidental entertainment—it’s the central experience. The Hi-Fi system, handcrafted by sound engineer Antonio Ruggiero, is designed for vinyl and calibrated specifically for the venue’s acoustics. A rotary tube mixer, dedicated speakers, and a curated music selection create an immersive atmosphere that is never haphazard.
In the Garden, this philosophy finds its most evocative expression. Music meets greenery, food meets the evening, and Asian culture meets the Vesuvian landscape.
There is also another element that makes Mihao deeply rooted in the local community: the vegetable garden entrusted to the Agricoltura Sociale del Vesuvio community, as part of a project developed with Slow Food Vesuvio to promote inclusion and social and occupational reintegration for people with mental health challenges.
Tomatoes, seasonal vegetables, mandarins, rosemary, and basil grow in the garden and find their way into the kitchen and to the cocktail bar. A short, tangible, living supply chain. A way to transform sustainability into an everyday practice and to connect the restaurant with the place that hosts it.
Portici, after all, is much more than a city on the outskirts of Naples. Nestled between Mount Vesuvius and the gulf, it boasts an extraordinary historical and architectural heritage. The Bourbon Royal Palace, the noble villas of the Miglio d’Oro, the legacy of Italy’s first railway, and the agricultural landscape of Vesuvius: all come together to create a unique setting where history coexists with modernity.
It is here that Mihao has found its ideal setting. In an ancient garden, within an 18th-century villa, blending aristocratic heritage with an international vision.
Mihao Garden is not just a new summer destination. It is a different way to experience the evening, food, and music. A place where Naples looks to Japan, Portici rediscovers its charm, and Campania’s culinary summer finds a new, refined, and surprising voice.
MIHAO
Via Salvatore Pagliano, 5 – Portici (NA)
Tel. 081 775 2502
