Renowned for its extravagant beaches and luxurious lifestyle, Miami offers the best fine-dining restaurants with picturesque views of the ocean. From casual brunch to lavish private events by the sea, Miami, with its artistic architecture and panoramic view of the ocean provides the perfect backdrop for the ambiance of luxury.
Take a look at these thirteen best waterfront restaurants in Miami that have the richness of culinary from across the globe and spectacular views of the ocean that you will never forget.
Amara at Paraiso
Amara at Paraiso brings Latin American flavors and coastal ingredients to one of Edgewater’s most enviable waterfront spots. Set right on Biscayne Bay, the restaurant captures the laid-back rhythm of Miami with breezy views, a lively crowd, and that unmistakable feeling of dining where the city meets the sea.
The kitchen leans into fire and smoke, with dishes built around simple techniques and bold flavors. Expect yuca cheese puffs with shaved truffle, a wahoo fish dip made for piling onto crispy tostones, and Amara’s signature ceviche. Drinks carry the same spirit, but if there’s one you can’t miss, it’s the Calm Before the Coconut. Served inside a fresh coconut, it’s equal parts playful and indulgent.
Amara at Paraiso is located at 3101 NE 7th Ave, Miami, FL 33137. For more information, visit their official website.
Elia on the River
Elia on the River brings Southern Italian flavors to one of Miami’s most coveted waterfront perches. Tucked into River Landing, this breezy escape feels both refined and inviting, with terrazzo floors and rattan chairs setting the stage against sweeping views of yachts gliding down the Miami River. Whether you pull up by car or take advantage of the “dock and dine” option, the sunsets alone are worth the trip.
The menu leans coastal Italian, with plenty of seafood and pasta to tempt. Start with Elia’s signature creamy Caesar salad or the truffle carpaccio, paired with warm, velvety potatoes. Then, dive into pasta favorites such as the decadent heart-shaped lobster ravioli bathed in brandy cream or the caviar capellini doused with crème fraîche. Save room for dessert—the pistachio bliss is exactly that. Elia’s cocktail program matches the view sip for sip, with spritzes, bellinis, and inventive signatures designed for long, lazy evenings on the water.
Il Gabbiano
Il Gabbiano brings a slice of timeless Italy to the heart of Downtown. Founded by the Masci brothers—veterans of New York’s iconic Il Mulino—along with partner Luigi Tullio, the restaurant exudes old-world charm with a bayfront view that rivals the menu itself. From the terrace, Biscayne Bay sparkles below as linen-draped tables set the stage for a classic Miami-meets-Italy moment.
The menu is all about elegance in simplicity: handmade pastas tossed with ripe tomatoes, basil, and silky olive oil, or truffle-dotted plates that feel straight out of Abruzzo. House favorites like pillowy gnocchi and delicate tortellini remind you why Il Gabbiano has become a downtown institution. The extensive wine list only deepens the spell, whether you’re sipping Chianti as the sun sets or indulging in a velvety Barolo with your vitello.
Il Gabbiano is located at 335 S Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33131. For more information, visit their official website.
Joia Beach
Joia Beach is our go-to when we’re craving an escape from city life without leaving Miami. Tucked away on Watson Island, this Mediterranean hideaway sits right on the sand, serving up skyline views in a lush, getaway setting. Step through the jungle greenery and into a breezy, wicker-lined space that feels worlds away. Whether you settle into the open-air shala or kick back with your toes in the sand, here’s what to order:
In true Southern European style, the menu leans heavily on seafood, fresh local produce, handmade pastas, and generous pours of extra-virgin olive oil. Start with shareables like zesty tzatziki, a Greek salad crowned with authentic feta, and tender grilled octopus over Santorini split bean purée. For mains, pistachio-herb lamb chops and a juicy skirt steak with za’atar potatoes compete for attention, while seafood pastas offer a lighter touch. Sure, it’s a splurge, but one that feels like a mini-vacation. Insider tip: swing by weekdays from 4–7 p.m. for happy hour—$8 wines, $5 beers, and bites under $18.
Joia Beach is located at 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami, FL 33132. For more information, visit their official website.
Kiki on the River
Kiki on the River brings the spirit of the Greek Islands straight to Miami’s waterfront. Set along the river with lush greenery and a breezy patio, it’s the kind of spot where weekday dinners feel effortlessly romantic, with Chef Peter Tsaglis crafting fresh, Mediterranean-inspired plates that pair perfectly with the view. Come the weekend, the energy shifts: live DJs, lively beats, and a party-ready vibe turn the riverfront into the ultimate Friday kickoff, carrying the weekend right through.
The menu is just as vibrant as the setting. Think tuna tartare spiced with Calabrian chili, whole lobster spaghetti in a rich tomato sauce, and lamb nestled on a silky cauliflower puree and dressed in truffle honey. The raw bar dazzles too—fresh oysters glisten on ice, perfect for savoring while the river breeze brushes your face. The wine list, heavy on Greek selections, and inventive cocktails make lingering over dinner irresistible.
Kiki on the River is located at 450 NW North River Drive, Miami, FL 33128. For more information, visit their official website.
Klaw
Klaw exudes elegance from start to finish. Located inside the charming historic Miami Women’s Club, this steak and seafood destination pairs rare land-and-sea treasures with panoramic views of Biscayne Bay. Ride the golden elevator, step into the soaring dining room that feels like a palace above the water, and get ready to feast.
Fresh-caught local fish ceviche adorns most tables, as whole Norwegian king crab is carried out on monumental platters with lemon-garlic butter wafting through the air. That should be enough to set the stage, as Klaw’s steak program is where the spellwork continues. Epicureans can look no further than the USDA Certified Black Angus Nebraskan Beef 45-day dry-aged porterhouse, complete with truffle sauce and a not-so-optional side of golden sweet potatoes glazed in miso butter and Okinawan sugar. Savor the views while sipping on one of the rare vinos from Klaw’s cellar and brace yourself for the bill—it’s oh so worth it.
Klaw is located at 1737 N Bayshore Dr, Miami, FL 33132. For more information, visit their official website.
Lido at the Standard
Lido Bayside Grill at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach, offers a vibrant, coastal-inspired dining experience overlooking Biscayne Bay. Under the guidance of Executive Chef Daniel Herget, the restaurant emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and sustainable seafood, aligning with its commitment to environmental responsibility.
The menu showcases a variety of dishes, including raw bar selections, chilled plates, fried options, and expertly grilled items, all crafted to highlight the natural flavors of the ingredients. Think coconut aguachile tuna ceviche with Okinawan purple sweet potato, conch fritters with cabbage slaw, Chilean seabass with corn succotash, and a Japanese fried chicken sandwich that will have you making reservations on a weekly basis. Lido Bayside Grill also caters to diverse dietary preferences, offering vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options to ensure an inclusive dining experience for all guests.
The Lido Bayside is located at 40 Island Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139. For more information, visit their official website.
Rusty Pelican
With remarkable views of the coastline, artfully made drinks, dazzling decor, and top-notch hospitality, Rusty Pelican promises fresh, sizzling energy in Miami. Beautiful and diversified seafood-forward cuisine made with the freshest local ingredients, Rusty Pelican is famous for charming the locals, celebrities, and tourists alike with the taste of the sea. The mix of seductive elegance and glamorous nightlife is what this place is all about.
The menu is jam-packed with global delicacies from caviar frites to filet mignon scorched tableside and doused in black truffle butter. Foodie faves include the butter-poached lobster and shrimp risotto, crispy whole local snapper served with a creamy coconut orzo, and a Chilean seabass served atop a smoked sweet plantain mash. This is Miami waterfront dining at its finest, folks.
Rusty Pelican is located at 3201 Rickenbacker Cwy, Key Biscayne, FL 33149. For more information, visit their official website.
Seaspice
Seaspice isn’t just a place to dine, it’s an experience in itself. Located at the banks of the Miami River, Seaspice is in a league of its own when it comes to waterfront dining. The restaurant is helmed by Executive Chef Angel Leon, who marries global culinary influences with Mediterranean flavors, offering a sincere devotion to excellence in each dish. Seaspice invites locals and tourists alike to indulge themselves in the freshest selection of seafood and an open-air waterfront dining room serving signature crafted cocktails.
On the expansive menu, find everything from barbacoa-grilled oysters with garlic butter, fire-roasted Florida lobster, sea salt-crusted market fish with a black truffle risotto, and then some. Dock your yacht, order a Don Julio and Absinthe-spiked craft cocktail like the Invite Only, and settle in—we have a feeling you’ll be staying for a while.
Seaspice is located at 422 Northwest North River Drive, Miami, FL 33128. For more information, visit their official website.
Smith & Wollensky
Smith & Wollensky is Miami Beach’s classic destination for steak lovers with a view. Perched at the tip of the island, the restaurant serves USDA Prime dry-aged steaks alongside premium seafood, all paired with an award-winning wine list. Two dining floors plus an overlook deck with a full bar and lounge let you soak in uninterrupted vistas of the Miami skyline and the sparkling waters of Government Cut.
Whether you’re settling in for a romantic dinner, a celebratory feast, or cocktails at sunset, the combination of impeccable food and sweeping waterfront views makes every visit feel like an occasion. We recommend completing it with the roasted bone marrow tableside steak tartare, crab cakes with cognac mustard, and for the grand finale, a 26-oz wet-aged, peppercorn-crusted bone-in rib eye au poivre. With the truffled mac and cheese, but of course. Smith & Wollensky isn’t just about the steak, though—it’s about the experience: Miami’s skyline glinting off the water, a perfectly seared steak on your plate, and a glass of something special in hand.
Smith & Wollensky is located at 1 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139. For more information, visit their official website.
Verde
Verde is where art, culture, and cuisine meet the water’s edge. Perched inside the Pérez Art Museum Miami, the restaurant spills out onto a breezy terrace that delivers front-row views of Biscayne Bay. It’s the kind of backdrop that makes a simple lunch feel like a mini-vacation. It’s the panorama that steals the show: an airy, sunlit space where Miami’s bay sparkles at every angle. There are a few indoor seats, but trust, the terrace is where it’s really at.
The menu, locally inspired and ever-changing, keeps things fresh with a concise lineup of pizzas, salads, and sandwiches. Provisions are as vibrant as the Museum art itself, think of a bright orange carrot and clementine soup with hot red chili oil, al pastor mahi mahi tacos with bursts of roasted pineapple chutney and cilantro aioli, and brick chicken served alongside bright green guasacaca—a zesty avocado and cilantro sauce. Dishes change with exhibitions too, and often include ephemeral options like the El Monte, a chocolate, coffee, and dulce de leche alfajor served with pistachio gelato and palo santo smoke. Oof.
Verde is located inside Pérez Art Museum Miami at 1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132. For more information, visit their official website.
YAYA Coastal Cuisine
YAYA Coastal Cuisine channels those creamy, sun-washed tones of a seaside trattoria, complete with patio seating that opens onto sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and the city skyline. A private membership club for boaters is available, with a number of dockage spots and private dining room access. Anchor your yacht and dig into the seafood-heavy menu with Mediterranean delicacies taking center stage.
Crowd favorites include char-grilled oysters with scampi butter, charred Spanish octopus with creamy labneh, a Maine lobster Cobb salad you simply don’t want to miss, and a lobster risotto with caviar butter that’s utterly irresistible. The cocktail program rounds off the waterfront evening just right, with tangy libations like the watermelon margarita with a spicy agave kick.
Yaya Miami is located at 7999 NE Bayshore Ct, Miami, FL 33138. For more information, visit their official website.
Zuma
Zuma Miami brings the vibrant energy of modern Japanese dining to Downtown, perched right on the waterfront with stunning views of the Miami River. Founded by internationally renowned Chef Rainer Becker, this U.S. outpost delivers the same celebrated izakaya-style experience Zuma is known for worldwide—robata grill, raw bar, and artfully crafted Japanese-inspired dishes.
Inside, sleek contemporary design meets riverside elegance—warm wood accents, dramatic lighting, and an airy layout that lets the Miami River steal the show. The outdoor terrace is made for cocktails at sunset or leisurely alfresco dinners. Don’t miss the prawn and black cod gyoza, crispy fried calamari with serrano peppers, and king crab glazed with ponzu-lime butter straight from the robata grill. Wash it all down with cocktails crafted around Japanese gin and whiskey, each sip a perfect note to cap off the evening.
Zuma is located at 270 Biscayne Blvd Way, Miami, FL 33131. For more information, visit their official website.
