Miami’s hottest restaurants know that a great dining experience isn’t just about incredible food—in addition to blockbuster dishes, diners’ wishlists now include immaculate vibes.
Nest-like seats and massive bamboo columns add drama to a sceney Southeast Asian lounge. Lebanon’s sandy shores inspired the color palette at a breezy Middle Eastern spot in Coconut Grove. A historic theater with gold-leaf motifs and terrazzo floors got a second life as a luxe Japanese restaurant.
From impeccably restored relics to splashy new additions, these places are all about making bold statements. Read on for a guide to Miami’s 12 most drop-dead gorgeous restaurants.
Sexy Fish (Brickell)
Sexy Fish is easily one of Miami’s most larger-than-life restaurants with massive murals and wall-to-wall mosaics that channel a glamorous underwater oasis. Lavish touches like underlit agate floors and some of the city’s most popular bathrooms—a life-sized Daniel Craig sculpture dressed in scuba gear—make for irresistible photo ops. Fittingly, the Asian-accented menu also takes cues from the ocean, featuring favorites like miso-glazed sea bass and grilled tiger prawn skewers.
Amelia’s 1931 (Tamiami)
Old Florida is alive and kicking inside Amelia’s 1931. The elegant Latin-Asian restaurant is set in a former dry cleaner, and there are plenty of shoutouts to its past, from the terrazzo floors to moody track lights. The coolest design feature might just be a hidden drawer on every table—especially handy when servers need to grab fresh silverware. Which you’ll need as you eat your way through Amelia’s delicious cross-cultural mashups including Cuban pork katsu and escargot with umami butter.
MILA (South Beach)
This rooftop escape exudes peak bohemian-chic vibes. MILA’s “MediterAsian” aesthetic, inspired by its founders’ global adventures, applies to its menu—grilled octopus with romesco; ribeye with yuzu kosho and rosemary—and the eclectic decor, which uses lots of reclaimed woods, stones, and handmade linen. The getaway feels are just as strong on the outdoor terrace thanks to a 3,000-square-foot water feature, cabanas, and loungey seats you won’t be able to tear yourself away from.
Red Rooster (Overtown)
Celeb chef Marcus Samuelsson’s beloved Harlem transplant is set in a historic Overtown pool hall. Red Rooster’s Miami edition has tropical greenery, bright fabrics, and colorful local art, plus installations by internationally acclaimed names like Derrick Adams and Mickalene Thomas. Samuelsson’s menu is a thoughtful mix of Afro-Caribbean and Latin American dishes, and he gets bonus points for hosting regular performances and exhibitions by local musicians and visual artists.
Gianni’s at the Former Versace Mansion (South Beach)
This grand mansion traces its roots to 1930 and was modeled after a palace in the Dominican Republic. Once it became home to late fashion mogul Gianni Versace, he added its ornate, claim-to-fame pool, made up of more than a million mosaic tiles (some are made from 24-carat gold). It’s now the centerpiece of the must-visit Italian restaurant, and a poolside meal here includes hits like truffle gnocchi, lamb fettuccine, and whole branzino.
Komodo (Brickell)
Spread out over three levels, Komodo impresses with glowy red lights, huge bamboo columns, and bird’s nest-like seats that float above the dining room. Whether you score a coveted mezzanine perch or a place in one of the plush red banquettes on the main floor, there’s no bad seat for digging into the restaurant’s contemporary Asian dishes, which include lobster shumai, Peking duck, and Wagyu fried rice.
Dirty French Steakhouse (Brickell)
Interiors whiz Ken Fulk is the brain behind this Major Food Group charmer. Begin your night with cocktails in a jungle-themed lounge before ending up in one of four wildly different dining areas, which include a mirror-lined space with a disco ball or a zebra-themed room decked with chandeliers in the shape of garlic cloves (the restaurant’s most-used ingredient). On the menu, expect world-class cuts of meat with traditional sides like creamed spinach and whipped potatoes.
Sofia (Design District)
This all-pink Insta-worthy paradise was imagined by award-winning design collective Studio Munge, who decorated the place with curvy leather walls and portraits of iconic female actors including Grace Kelly, Sophia Loren, and Audrey Hepburn. Custom glass chandeliers from Italy brighten up the room and provide the perfect lighting for occasion-worthy food like truffle cacio e pepe and veal Milanese.
Queen (South Beach)
After a multi-million dollar facelift in 2023, the historic Paris Theater became Queen, a luxe Japanese restaurant. Enter through the regal golden doors and you’ll find yourself in a stunning space that’s part Old Hollywood glam and part Miami Art Deco adorned with accents like gold-leaf motifs, marble countertops, and Lobmeyr chandeliers. There’s no doubt Queen is one of Miami’s most beautiful restaurants, and, luckily, the sushi and sashimi served here is stunning, too.
Los Fuegos (South Beach)
Los Fuegos lives inside one of Miami’s most design-forward hotels, the Faena, so it’s no surprise the restaurant is also a see-and-be-seen destination. Gold-painted ceilings, flashy murals, and massive crystal chandeliers make it a South Beach hotspot, and playful details like leopard-print booths mean it’s one of the more interesting dining rooms in the area. A solid Argentinian steak and seafood menu and a deep wine list make Los Fuegos the place for a meal—and a setting—to remember.
Amal (Coconut Grove)
This breezy Middle Eastern restaurant was inspired by Lebanon’s sandy shores and contemporary Mediterranean architecture. Which explains its dreamy palette of dusty rose and muted terracotta, white plaster walls, and natural oak wood floors. Amal is an inviting spot for both daytime celebrations and evening feasts, known for shareable platters of hummus, babaganoush, skewers, and kebabs.
Jaya at the Setai (South Beach)
Jaya, set in the courtyard of the Setai hotel, is a stunning tropical oasis, decked with palm trees and a serenity pond bordered by tables and comfy lounge areas. Depending on the weather, you can either eat under the stars or a retractable roof. The menu criss-crosses Asia, so expect world-class dumplings, crudo, sushi, and noodles. Fire dancers and acrobats parade around the sleek space on an almost nightly basis, making a meal here feel extra festive.
Amber Love Bond is a Miami-based food and beverage writer who has written for Eater and Thrillist, and can typically be found somewhere delicious with her laptop in tow and a cocktail in hand.
