Where to Eat in Bal Harbour

While the ritzy enclave of Bal Harbour may be small in size, it offers big choices for fine dining in Miami. Many of its best restaurants are nestled within the luxurious resorts that line the beach, or in the shopping centerpiece of the village, the famous Bal Harbour Shops. This luxury shopping center offers a perfect day of retail therapy and upscale eats. High-end Japanese, a fancy new steakhouse and classic Italian are just some of the gems to be discovered on a culinary journey at these Bal Harbour restaurants.

Carpaccio

Carpaccio, located in the Bal Harbour Shops, is where shoppers and locals gather for a leisurely lunch or a standout dinner of Northern Italian delights. It’s been around since 1994, and that says everything you need to know about its food and service.

The restaurant is known for its variations of razor-thin carpaccio, including salmon and filet mignon. Other must-try dishes include pizzas from the wood-burning oven, linguine with seafood, specialty fish dishes and the hearty pasta e fagioli. Choose to eat in the fancy dining room or arrive early to score a coveted table on the palm-fringed patio.

Makoto

Another exceptional dining experience at the Bal Harbour Shops is Makoto, one of Miami’s best restaurants for sushi. The cheerfully decorated dining room or sun-soaked patio are both chic spots to enjoy chef Makoto Okuwa’s take on Japanese cuisine that marries traditional Edomae sushi with modern-day twists.

Start the culinary journey with the fire-and-ice oysters, crispy rice topped with spicy tuna and crispy-bottom chicken dumplings with miso mustard, then move on to the melt-in-your-mouth miso sea bass and Wagyu beef hot stone cooked table-side on a hot river stone.

Atlantikós

Atlantikós is located inside The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, but eating here is like taking a quick getaway to the Greek Isles. With its crisp blue-and-white decor and indoor-outdoor seating, this destination restaurant shines a spotlight on Greek cuisine.

In the morning, you’ll want to conquer the massive breakfast buffet, which features Greek favorites and American classics. At lunch, try the chilled seafood from lobster tails to jumbo shrimp, Mediterranean spreads, braised lamb meatballs and tender octopus accompanied by potatoes.

Terrace Restaurant at Sea View Hotel

Atmosphere is everything at the Terrace Restaurant at the European-style Sea View Hotel, where diners are treated to tropical views of the pool and the Atlantic Ocean from the patio.

The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the menu leans classic. For breakfast, go for buttermilk pancakes with berries, eggs Benedict or the healthier avocado toast. For lunch or dinner, guests favor the popular Cobb salad, pastas like the ragu pappardelle and any of the steak entrees.

China Grill

Ask anyone who lived in South Beach in the late-1990s and they’ll have fond memories of Miami’s most iconic Asian-fusion restaurant, China Grill. After closing in 2017, the restaurant has been revived with a new location at Bal Harbour Shops. Shimmering in gold and black, it’s the perfect balance of modern nostalgia, and the menu is all about sharing.

Longtime fans can still order classics like the lobster pancakes with wild mushrooms, crackling calamari, grilled Drunken Chicken, wasabi mashed potatoes and the Bananas in a Box dessert. New dishes like the Peking duck, Pastrami & Kimchi Eggroll and array of filled dumplings keep things fresh (but the spicy beef dumplings remain a top choice).

Slim’s Steakhouse

Slim’s Steakhouse is a glamorous new steakhouse located on the first floor of the Bal Harbour Shops. The Stephen Starr restaurant feels like you’ve stepped back into Hollywood’s Golden Era, with vintage murals, sleek leather banquettes and extravagant menu items like caviar service and raw bar selections.

This is a steakhouse, so you’ll want to order the NY strip, bone-in ribeye or the A5 Japanese Wagyu. There’s even an indulgent Wagyu cheesesteak with black truffle and foie gras that goes for a whopping $100. End the meal with a towering slice of coconut chiffon cake or table-side bananas foster.

La Gourmandise

La Gourmandise, also located inside The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, flaunts floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the resort and ocean, making it a perfect spot to indulge in French-American cuisine. Stop by morning, afternoon of night to enjoy a bistro-style menu of salads, signature croissant sandwiches, tartines and French delights such as a croque madame, steak au poivre with Yukon golden potatoes and a coq au vin.

One of the highlights of La Gourmandise is its daily afternoon tea, offering the largest variety of teas in Miami and a beautiful birdcage presentation filled with treats. The afternoon tea must be booked 24 hours in advance.