Upscale Restaurants in Miami

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, in the mood to splurge or just love fine food, high-end restaurants abound in Greater Miami and Miami Beach. Some have earned coveted MICHELIN stars, one boasts a Forbes 5-Star rating and many feature renowned chefs creating cuisine that goes beyond the ordinary. Visually stunning and unforgettable, these best restaurants in Miami promise a luxe dining experience like no other.

Stubborn Seed

With a MICHELIN star and South Beach address, Stubborn Seed is an upscale restaurant that’s well worth the splurge. The dimly lit, industrial-chic vibe sets the stage for visually striking dishes that change with the seasons.

Many ingredients come from the chef’s own organic farm down in Homestead. While you can order a la carte dishes, including favorites such as the Stubborn truffle chicken, the multi-course seasonal tasting menus offer a comprehensive rundown of the chef’s talents.

Jaya

Jaya at The Setai Hotel epitomizes fine dining in Miami. This upscale hotel restaurant sets the scene for a romantic date night in Miami Beach. Cozy up in the stunning indoor dining area or dine under the moonlight in the lush courtyard with water features.

Standouts from the modern South Asian menu include truffle shrimp and scallop dumplings, roasted Peking duck, Hong Kong-style sea bass and lamb chops and steaks from the grill. The restaurant also hosts an extravagant weekend jazz brunch, where live music is paired with a buffet of Indian, Thai, Chinese and Indonesian specialties, plus limitless pours of Champagne.

Estiatorio Milos

You’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to Greece at Estiatorio Milos, located in South Beach’s posh South of Fifth neighborhood. Step inside the airy, white-washed dining room with billowing curtains and wood-beamed ceilings or eat outdoors. 

Seafood reigns supreme here, and the staff often walks diners through the market so they can choose from fresh catch flown in from Greece, or king crabs from Alaska. Favorites include the big-eye tuna, jumbo prawns, grilled octopus, lobster spaghetti and stone crabs (when in season). The whole fish baked in sea salt is memorable for both its striking presentation and delicious flavor.

NAOE

Located on Brickell Key, NAOE is a Forbes 5-Star restaurant offering an exquisite omakase experience. With just five seats at the counter and only three seatings per night (Tuesday to Saturday), it promises an intimate, personal dining journey.

While the food is fancy, diners don’t need to dress up for the experience. Every night, acclaimed Chef Kevin Cory develops a new menu showcasing fish flown in daily from Japan, rare ingredients and unique textures seldom found outside of Asia. This means serious sushi lovers can come back again and have a totally different dining experience.

LPM Restaurant & Bar

Dining at the chic LPM Restaurant & Bar, with its airy dining room and eclectic art, feels like a trip to the Côte d'Azur. This French restaurant in Brickell, which has locations worldwide, draws a stylish crowd and is perfect for special-occasion dinners.

Start with a glass of rosé at the zinc bar, then move on to the dining room where white tablecloths are the setting for refined dishes like sweet corn salad, marinated lamb cutlets with eggplant caviar, tender baby chicken and a rich duck confit. End your meal with the pistachio cake with cherry sauce.

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon

Miami’s only two-star MICHELIN restaurant, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in the Miami Design District deserves a spot at the top of your gastronomic bucket list. After all, it’s part of celebrated French chef Joel Robuchon’s culinary legacy. 

Guests are led up a spiral staircase to the sophisticated dining room and bar, where they watch the action in the open kitchen like live culinary theater. The seasonal tasting menu is the way to go, and for a true splurge, the multi-course Evolution degustation menu is a meal you’ll never forget. Lunch is now available on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Surf Club Restaurant

Set inside the historic Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club in Surfside, illustrious chef Thomas Keller’s The Surf Club Restaurant drips in old-school glamour. This upscale spot boasts one MICHELIN star, thanks to its classic ambiance, impeccable service and modern spin on Continental cuisine.

Start the meal with a Caesar salad that’s prepared tableside, jumbo crab cake and the Hudson Valley foie gras parfait. For a worthwhile splurge, order the caviar service before digging into mains such as house-made pastas, Maine lobster thermidor or prime beef short rib Wellington.

Klaw Miami

Klaw Miami is a high-end beauty perched on the uppermost levels of the historic Women’s Club building in Edgewater. The restaurant enjoys sparkling views of Biscayne Bay from the dining room’s vast windows or chic rooftop bar. It’s primed for a special occasion or impressive date night.

You’re here for the seafood, particularly the fresh king crab sourced from Norway. You can also indulge in giant shellfish towers or go for the Maine lobster and Florida stone crabs when in season. The restaurant is also known for its meat selection, including a flavorful Australian wagyu ribeye.

Sunny Steakhouse

Sunny’s Steakhouse in Little River is one of the top steak restaurants in Miami and also one of the destination’s most popular – and to think it all started from a humble pop-up. Our advice: aim to book your spot well in advance (at least 30 days), or snag seats in the first-come, first-served outdoor bar area.

From its courtyard with a sprawling Banyan tree and fairytale lighting, to its dimly lit dining room with palm tree motifs, Sunny’s presents an alluring vibe for a special date or fun outing with friends. While it’s known for steaks, don’t miss the Parker House rolls with honey butter, wagyu tartare, house-made pastas and anything from the raw bar.