Accessible Restaurants & Culinary Experiences in Miami

Dining out is one of the great joys of traveling. This is especially true in Greater Miami & Miami Beach, where the culinary scene is influenced by the cultures of Latin America, the Caribbean and the rest of the world. Fortunately, these food adventures are easily accessible to people who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids as well as those who need accommodations for vision, hearing, neurodivergence and other differences. To help, we have prepared this rundown of restaurants, food tours and other culinary experiences that are good choices for people with disabilities.

Recommended Restaurants For Travelers With Disabilities

The restaurants below represent a sampling of the amazing dining experiences that are available in Greater Miami & Miami Beach. Most were recommended by Heidi Johnson-Wright, an accessibility professional and longtime Miami resident who uses a power wheelchair, and Cory Lee, who uses a power wheelchair and writes a blog called Curb Free with Cory Lee about his travel experiences (be sure to check out his Miami Travel Guide).

Amara at Paraiso

Amara at Paraiso, which specializes in Latin American-inspired dishes, is a good spot for accessible waterfront dining in Downtown Miami. The restaurant, which has a stunning view of Biscayne Bay, features a ramp at the north side of its main entrance and offers valet parking (self-parking spaces on the street are limited). People who have hearing challenges or those who are most comfortable in quiet settings will find that a table by the water will be their best bet, so consider arriving early or at less busy times for your meal.

Bombay Darbar Indian Restaurant

For those seeking authentic and delicious Indian food in an upscale setting, the Indian restaurant Bombay Darbar in Coconut Grove is a great option. It has a level entrance and offers accessible indoor and outdoor seating.

Brickell City Centre

Brickell City Centre is a shopping and dining destination in the heart of Brickell that’s home to restaurants offering a variety of cuisines. It has its own parking garage and a direct connection to Miami-Dade Transit’s accessible Metromover. Dining options include Pubbelly Sushi’s playful American take on Pan-Asian delicacies.

Cantina Beach

Cantina Beach serves up high-end Mexican food and 110 premium tequilas at its oceanfront location in The Ritz-Carlton hotel in Key Biscayne. It enjoys all of the accessibility features of the luxury hotel, and a ramp connects the lobby with the restaurant.

Costa Med Bistro + Wine

Costa Med Bistro + Wine in Key Biscayne is on the quieter side for diners who have hearing challenges or who welcome a more laid-back setting where conversation is easier – and it’s also highly rated by TripAdvisor, Yelp and other consumer-review websites.

CVI.CHE 105

Cvi.Che 105 offers an extensive menu of excellent Peruvian food, including ceviches and causas, the traditional potato dish of Peru. CVI.CHE 105 has four locations in Miami. The one on Lincoln Road in South Beach has parking garages and parking lots conveniently nearby.

Hometown Barbecue

Hometown Barbecue is a rustic spot in a produce company’s truck terminal in Allapattah. If it’s smoked, they have it and it’s delicious. Sample everything from turkey breast to sausage, pastrami bacon, brisket, and pork or beef ribs. The outdoor garden seating area is at the same level as the parking lot.

Mareva 1939 at the National Hotel

Mareva 1939 is on the terrace of the famed Art Deco oceanfront National Hotel Miami Beach in South Beach and benefits from the hotel’s beauty and accessible features. It serves Spanish cuisine with a twist for breakfast and dinner. A lift allows you to avoid the stairs at the hotel’s entrance, and the terrazzo floor leading to and going through the restaurant is all at the same level. This spot is relatively relaxed and quiet, so it’s a good option for those with hearing loss or diners who don’t like a lot of ambient noise and activity. An elevator is available to reach the poolside deck and the Aqua Bar and Grill.

Soya & Pomodoro

You’ll find fine Italian food in a welcoming, homey atmosphere at Soya & Pomodoro, a Downtown Miami restaurant that’s tucked into a former bank building with a surface parking lot and a parking garage nearby. Both the indoor dining space and the patio dining have an intimate, Old World feel. Come for lunch Monday through Friday or dinner Thursday through Saturday (Thursday evenings often feature live music).

Zuma Miami

Zuma Miami, on the ground floor of the Kimpton EPIC Hotel on the Miami River in Downtown Miami, is one of 14 Zuma locations spread across all corners of the globe, from London and Hong Kong to Istanbul and Abu Dhabi. The Miami restaurant features modern Japanese cuisine from its three kitchens: a main kitchen, a sushi counter and a robata grill. Entering the hotel’s lobby and the restaurant requires zero steps, and parking is convenient.

Food Halls

For convenience and accessibility, there’s nothing quite like having restaurants on the same floor in the same building. Check out food halls in Miami such as The Citadel near Little Haiti, which has a rooftop bar that’s accessible by elevator, and the 1-800-LUCKY food hall in Wynwood, which features plenty of indoor and outdoor seating as well as karaoke rooms.

Miami Restaurants With A Purpose

At least two Miami restaurants make accessibility part of their business plan by employing a diverse workforce.

Our Grounds

Our Grounds is a nonprofit coffee shop in Kendall that provides vocational training, education and employment to adults who have intellectual and cognitive disabilities. Our Grounds, which opened in 2019, offers breakfast croissants, avocado toast, yogurt parfaits with fresh berries, bagels and berries, hummus toast, and lox on a bagel. But its main product is giving a purpose and an income to its staff.

Pilo’s

Derek Gonzalez, who founded Pilo’s Street Tacos in the Brickell neighborhood and Pilo’s Tequila Garden in the Wynwood neighborhood, was inspired by a favorite aunt, Pilo, who had Down syndrome. About 20 percent of the employees at each Pilo’s location have developmental disabilities. The employees are referred to the company by service organizations, and they are trained in a program that Gonzalez calls Pilo’s University.

Accessible Miami Food Tours

Wheel the World, a company that promotes travel by people who need mobility accommodations, offers two food tours in Miami: one in Little Havana, which showcases the destination’s Cuban cuisine and culture, and one in the artsy Wynwood neighborhood. The tours include cultural stops, but mostly they’re opportunities to sample great food. The tours don’t include transportation, so guests will have to make their own way to each stop. But the company does provide knowledgeable guides who can assist travelers. The routes have been checked for wheelchair accessibility.

Tips For Miami Diners With Disabilities

Call Restaurants for Details About Accessibility

Finding information online about the accessibility of individual restaurants can be challenging. Yelp reviews, for instance, often indicate that a restaurant is “wheelchair accessible,” but you won’t typically find any details about accommodations for wheelchairs and other special needs.

It’s wise to simply call ahead to ask about concerns, such as ramps versus lifts and whether the ambiance is quiet enough for people who aren’t comfortable with noisy environments, according to Irenaida “Ire” Diaz, president and chief executive officer of Miami-based Advocacy Network on Disabilities. It’s always a good idea to call ahead to ensure that restaurant lifts and elevators are working before heading to your dining destination.

Transportation and Parking Considerations

Another important consideration is parking. Many businesses depend on parking lots or parking garages that might be close enough for highly mobile people or those who use a power wheelchair but are not convenient for those who use walkers or have other mobility challenges. Restaurants often offer valet parking; ask whether the business waives the fee for those with reduced mobility. People with specially equipped vehicles should ask if self-parking is possible.

Florida recognizes disabled-parking placards from every state and from around the world. It also offers temporary cards for a small fee to those who qualify.

Miami-Dade County has an online list of taxi companies with vehicles capable of handling wheelchairs.

Technology Helps Those with Low Vision

Many Miami restaurants have joined the movement to offer online menus, making it possible for people with low vision to peruse them with their phone or tablet and use all of their favorite screen-reading and text-enhancing features.

Find more information about Accessible Travel in Miami.