Best Romantic Restaurants In Miami

Sultry nights. Tempting ocean breezes. Breathtaking views. Top chefs and exotic food meant for sharing. When it comes to romance, Miami doesn’t have to try too hard. Whether you’re looking for cozy and intimate, or jaw-dropping vistas that will have hearts shooting from any date’s eyes, we’ve rounded up some of the top restaurants to bask in your love. Reserve a table and let the sparks fly.

Juvia

If you really want to impress your date, head to Lincoln Road in South Beach to elevate your dining experience at Juvia restaurant. Perched on the top of a designer parking lot — which is SO Miami — the restaurant has bragging rights to the most spectacular views of Miami Beach. Time it right for the golden hour to watch the sunset from the ultra-modern dining room swathed in purple, or the open-air patio flanked by vertical gardens which glows at night. You’ll enjoy cuisine perfected with the triple threat of French, Japanese and Peruvian techniques along with inventive cocktails.

Everything about The Setai Miami Beach is sexy, and its modern-Asian restaurant Jaya will seduce you with its ambiance and dishes. For a truly special evening, we suggest reserving a table in the stunning courtyard surrounded by stone-filled pools where you’ll dine under the stars and feel the cool, ocean breeze. On the weekends, live music fills the air, and on Friday nights things really heat up with exotic entertainment like contortionists and fire breathers. Spring for signature items like the tender Peking duck and the melt-in-your-mouth truffle dumplings.

Another fairytale experience can be found at Casa Tua, a Mediterranean-style villa hidden away behind tall hedges in the middle of busy South Beach. Like its name, this restaurant feels like you’re dining inside a close friend’s home, and couples can choose between an intimate table inside the villa, or the lush garden where lanterns dot the trees giving off a romantic glow. Order a bottle from their impressive wine list, savor starters like indulgent caviar and oysters, and then move on to delicious northern Italian-inspired dishes.

La Mar by Gaston Acurio

Tucked away on tranquil Brickell Key, which feels like a world away from bustling Brickell, head to the lavish Mandarin Oriental Miami to share a Peruvian feast at Lar Mar by Gaston Acurio. The upscale restaurant overlooks Biscayne Bay so your date will be dazzled by views of the twinkling Miami skyline and Biscayne Bay, and equally wowed by the food, which is some of the best in Miami. Start the night off with one of the fresh ceviches, then move on to inventive dishes with a Peruvian-Asian flair. When you’ve wrapped up dinner, cozy up at MO Bar + Lounge.

Ariete

Coconut Grove’s charming sidewalk cafes are a calling card for romance, but Ariete tucked away on a tree-lined avenue, sets the mood with dim lighting and amazing food from rock-star Miami chef, Michael Beltran. The food revolves around the wood-fired grill, and you can choose from a mix of high-brow and low-brow dishes — like a chorizo frita or fancy foie gras with smoked plantains — keeping the date night fancy and fun. If you really want to amaze your date, reserve the underground wine cellar, La Cava, for a candlelit dinner that will be burned into your memory. It’s a stunning place for a proposal … if that’s in the cards.

For a taste of glamour and nostalgia, head to the rooftop Bellini Restaurant and Bar housed inside the ultra-swanky Mr. C Coconut Grove Hotel, which is part of the Cipriani empire. You’ll be greeted by waiters donning white jackets, dishes served on gorgeous platters, and floor-to-ceiling windows that present dazzling views of Biscayne Bay. Set the night’s passionate pace by ordering a round of their famous Bellinis, then indulge in dreamy Italian dishes like decadent pasta dishes topped with truffles.

Mandolin Aegean Bistro

With ambiance that is reminiscent of the tranquil Greek islands, Mandolin Aegean Bistro has become a go-to with locals for a romantic night out in the Design District. Sweep your date off their feet as soon as you pass through the blue-framed doors, where you can hide away at a table inside the intimate 1940s bungalow or settle on the lush patio at a lantern-lit table beneath the trees. The husband-and-wife team who own the restaurant are from Greece and Turkey, so expect authentic recipes that result in shareable, light dishes like a Greek sampler of dips, steamed mussels, marinated grilled octopus and lamb kebabs.

Café Roval

For a scene that feels like it’s been lifted from a romantic movie, snuggle up at Café Roval, an enchanting restaurant located in Miami’s Upper East Side and run by longtime restaurateur Mark Soyka. You’ll find love wherever you choose to sit: snag a table inside the inviting house where coral-rock walls are dotted with interesting paintings and vintage chandeliers dangle from the ceilings or settle in the lush outdoor garden fitted with lagoons and a cascading waterfall. Fall in love with the Mediterranean-inspired menu with dishes made with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, and impress your date with a vintage from the extensive wine list boasting more than 80 artisanal wines.

When date night calls for views and award-winning top chefs, Amara at Paraiso will leave you starry-eyed with its idyllic bayside setting; and when James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz is involved, you know the food will be on-point. Located near Edgewater, this sprawling restaurant offers the chance to romance your partner in the main dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows offering dramatic vistas of Biscayne Bay, as well as deck seating right on the water where the cool breeze will entice you to linger (and maybe steal a kiss). Expect seafood and farm-to-table dishes with bold Latin American flavors, and plenty of plates for sharing.

Really, it’s easy to find romance anywhere you go in Miami. Experience more romantic restaurants and find amazing dining offers during Miami Spice Month that runs from August to September.