15 Best Restaurants in Miami with a View
There are plenty of hidden gems in this fun and exciting city that serve up mouthwatering food with a breathtaking view to go along with it.
From waterfront eateries to urban hot spots and everything in between, this guide to the best restaurants in Miami with a view covers all the bases.
Get yourself ready for some serious Instagram-worthy food photos coming your way!
1. Rusty Pelican
Rusty Pelican‘s yellow, plantation-style building is a gleaming beacon in Rickenbacker Marina. Sitting on Biscayne Bay, it’s one of the best restaurants in Miami with a view.
Take your meal outdoors on the waterfront terrace to admire Miami’s skyline. It’s breathtaking whether weekend brunch or happy hour.
Contemporary American cuisine and fresh seafood is on the menu. Diners can share the signature Board for Two or order tapas style.
Local snappers, smoked plantain mash, deco maki sushi and lime-fresh ceviche are popular dishes.
2. Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish
Simple is best proves Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish, living up to its motto via an unpretentious old-school set-up.
Its affordable price point is a huge draw, especially with accolades like “Best Waterfront Dining” in Miami.
Seafood is hauled into the shop fresh off their own fleet of fishing boats, served directly to your table or sold at the on-site market.
You can pick your own speedy tails and shells to crack. For Miami River views, take your meal on the outdoor patio.
3. Cipriani Downtown Miami
Another Miami restaurant with views over Biscayne Bay is Cipriani Downtown Miami. Inspired by the nautical surround, the dining venue is decked out in warm woods and white accent chairs.
Floor-to-ceiling windows capture calm blue sights. Its downtown location within the financial center makes it a popular spot for business meetings.
Italian cuisine is served at this upscale locale, boasting staples such as pasta varieties and gnocchi for texture.
Those who prefer meatier dishes will appreciate the veal chop and tender ragu.
4. Juvia
Nourishing both eye and soul, Juvia takes after its namesake and offers both sweeping views over South Beach and a full menu.
Bar tables and lounge seating make up the modern space, occupying the penthouse level of a parking garage. Suffice to say, it’s a unique viewing spot for candy-colored skies.
The Japanese-Peruvian menu boasts refreshing spins on ceviche, while cooked dishes take inspiration from both ocean and land.
Try their black truffle risotto or their grilled seafood everything.
5. Watr at the 1 Rooftop
Watr at the 1 Rooftop takes the beach to the rooftop. Nothing screams laidback luxury like white cabanas and 18-story panoramas over South Beach – top Miami restaurants with views indeed.
The light palette, soft linens and tree planters create a cozy yet airy ambiance.
To coax even more romance, Chef Richard Bernaola blends Japanese and Peruvian cuisine into fun starters and to-shares.
Sushi rolls and sashimi range from mayo-dipped shrimp tempura to truffle lobster fillings. Mains come with vegan options.
6. Vista
Close to the shoreline within a low-lying cluster of buildings, diners get glimpses of the bay and neighborhood skyline from Vista’s rooftop.
Under a wooden pergola, the outdoor-indoor space is styled with plants, arched windows and rattan seats.
Enjoy the breeze when it comes through; bistro lights add extra flavor at night.
Seasonal flavors lead in this Italian-inspired menu, meaning your meats and seafood switch out periodically.
Luckily, you can never go wrong with their house-made pasta dishes. But first up – house-cut fries with raclette cheese.
7. La Mar by Gaston Acurio
It’s high-energy, it’s chic, it’s La Mar by Gaston Acurio. Mandarin Oriental’s chef-led restaurants never let you down and this waterfront restaurant delivers tastefully.
Breakfast or dinner, indoor or outdoor – you can tailor your experience without skimping on Miami views.
Gaston Acurio, the acclaimed chef and mastermind, presents a diverse menu.
Expect mostly Peruvian fare with fusion and novo-Andean plates in the mix, every dish a colorful blend of ingredients.
The signature ceviches, anticucho and cocktails all liven up your tabletop (and social media feed).
8. Seaspice Brasserie & Lounge
Seaspice has everything nice: an open-air Courtyard Lounge, riverside location, views of yachts that cruise down the docks.
What used to be a post-industrial warehouse has been converted into a fine dining destination.
With gastro-classic cuisine that veers towards the fancy but hearty, this restaurant was designed for couple and group meals.
Whet your appetite with croquettes and pan-seared foie gras; continue with oysters on ice.
Entrees tempt you with sea salted fish, hot-stone steaks, pasta made in-house and risotto. Do order their wood-fired casseroles – it’s a classic.
9. Il Gabbiano
While service at Il Gabbiano isn’t very consistent, reviewers state food and waterside setting as major point savers.
It is the perfect date night spot: a posh, waterfront terrace right by Bayfront Park. The refined Northern Italian food comes in sizeable servings.
Order yourself a three-course meal – scampi originale and octopus appetizers set the tone, while entrees and mains range between veal, lamb, ravioli and other pastas.
Wines are a must to complement; you have a choice of desserts too.
10. Serena
Speaking of Miami rooftop restaurants with a view, Serena brings al fresco dining to a vibrant terrace.
Ascend a staircase for bright pops of blues, greens and patterns; just a precursor for lovely sunset views over South Beach.
Between lounge and table seating, you can pick out an inviting nook for your group.
As typical Mexican and Oaxaca fare goes, the expansive menu leans into shareable dishes.
Chef Scott Linquist modernizes your traditional tostadas with uni and crab, serving squash blossom quesadillas alongside other coastal eats.
11. Area 31
Surrounded by the gleaming skyscrapers of Miami’s downtown, Epic Hotel’s rooftop bar and restaurant offers urban and bay views.
Area 31 blends in well with stylish furniture in both the indoor and outdoor seating spaces. Expect beautifully plated food and drinks.
Don’t be put off by the elegant cuisine – every dish evokes something of home.
Not only are ingredients sourced locally, but the seafood-centered menu is also garnished with herbs from their on-site garden.
Some sprigs even make it to the abundance of cocktails at this 16th-floor spot.
12. Mila
Styled with fine-boned chairs, heavy counters and outdoor cabana seating, Mila looks more like a Balinese escape than a restaurant.
The flamboyant venue evokes Eudaimonia: a travel-fueled state of happiness. Sitting on Miami Beach, it’s one of the best restaurants in Miami with a view.
Restaurant, lounge and bar in one, Mila features a spectacle.
Think DJs, fire dancers, performative servers with cocktails on dry ice and putting final touches on dishes right at the table.
Healthy and flavorful, its Pan-Asian menu is likewise entertaining.
13. Amara at Paraiso
Latin America meets South Florida at Amara, where shared plates encourage friendly gatherings and family meals.
Situated right along the water’s edge, the white-toned setting emphasizes Biscayne Bay’s natural beauty. The refreshing atmosphere carries through both ground and terrace level seating.
Every dish is made with locally sourced ingredients to retain that homey flavor. Summer nights call for iced seafood platters and cocktails served in coconuts.
For fuller fare, try the beef tartare arepas and grilled snappers. Vegetarian dishes like greens-topped cilantro rice add additional color.
14. The Lido Bayside Grill
Relax on the bayside deck of Lido Bayside Grill as the sea breeze ruffle the canvas umbrellas.
String lights complete this Miami restaurant with sea views, inviting you outdoors both morning and night.
To complement the setting, Lido’s menu is designed to be light and shareable.
Seasonal produce and fresh seafood combine to make chilled soups, tartares, deep-fried bites and the occasional burger.
Beverages range from coffee to cocktails – frosé included, of course. Vegan and gluten-free options are plenty.
15. Smith & Wollensky
Raise the stakes with steak – Smith & Wollensky offers dining on water at Miami Beach’s southern tip.
Recently expanded to skip the lines, it comes with a second-story terrace with sweeping views over South Pointe Park and Government Cut.
Primarily a steakhouse, this waterfront Miami restaurant offers steak tartare, wagyu carpaccio, beef negimaki, dry-aged cuts and everything else cow related.
Seafood and greens aren’t left out; jumbo shrimp cocktails and fresh catches wiggled into the menu. Pair with the award-winning wine list for complete satisfaction.
