The days around Christmas are a blur of plans, pop-ins, and “we should grab dinner” texts. Miami’s restaurants shine during this stretch, offering everything from festive splurges to easy, crowd-pleasing meals. Whether you’re hosting out-of-towners or just want to do something special with the family, these are the places worth booking.
Aguasal
Celebrate Christmas Day with a festive brunch at Aguasal by Chef José Andrés at Andaz Miami Beach. Start with a viennoisserie basket of croissants, pain au chocolat, and marmalades, granola parfait jars, and tropical fruit bowls. Continue with an elegant selection of tableside offerings, including coastal plates (oysters, shrimp, caviar, and cocktail claws), cheese and charcuterie, and a carving station with both prime rib with rosemary au jus and salt-crusted salmon with albariño beurre blanc.
No Christmas Day is complete without a traditional bûche de Noël. The prix-fixe menu is priced at $120 per adult and $55 per child. An optional wine enhancement is available for $65 per adult, featuring bottomless Taittinger Brut or La Fête du Rosé (two-hour limit).
Aguasal is located at 4041 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33140. For more information, visit their official website.
AVIV at 1 Hotel South Beach
This Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, AVIV is serving Chinese-inspired holiday specials that turn festive dining into an unforgettable experience. Guests can start with kimchi and scallion latkes finished with sour cream and caviar, then move on to mains designed for sharing: Persian fried rice with saffron, chicken, and pomegranate; smoked duck with sweet-and-sour silan and bok choy olesh; or kung pao pastrami with Szechuan sauce and roasted peanuts.
Desserts add a celebratory touch, featuring a labneh cheesecake with fig compote and red currant gel, or a chocolate challah bread pudding with tahini soft serve.
AVIV is located at 2341 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139. For more information, visit their official website.
Babette
Babette will celebrate Christmas Eve (lunch and dinner) and Christmas Day (dinner only) with an elegant holiday menu beginning with a glass of Champagne. Guests may start with either little gem lettuce dressed in truffle vinaigrette with migas and ginger-scallions, or a luxurious chawanmushi featuring a scallop truffle flan.
Entrée selections include butter-poached lobster with a bright yuzu infusion or Australian wagyu paired with sunchoke, wasabi, and snow pea tips. For dessert, diners may choose between a creamsicle accented with koji and kumquat purée or the rich les deux chocolats, with a cheese plate also available. The menu is priced at $165 per person, with chef’s selection wine pairings offered for an additional $65.
Babette is located at 301 Alcazar Ave., Coral Gables, FL 33134. For more information, visit their official website.
Beauty and the Butcher
Beauty and the Butcher hits that sweet spot between special-occasion dining and neighborhood favorite. The menu is confident and crowd-pleasing, moving easily from craveable small plates like beef tartare and hamachi crudo to rich, well-executed mains and steaks that feel like a real treat. The sleek room and ambiance seal the deal—ideal for leisurely holiday dinners that stretch well past dessert.
Bellini Restaurant
Celebrate Christmas Day at Bellini Restaurant with an elegant holiday menu that honors the richness of classic Italian tradition. Begin with a refined beef carpaccio complemented by pickled king trumpet mushrooms and shaved pecorino, followed by the comforting sophistication of tortellini in brodo.
For the main course, savor the exquisite veal ossobuco alla Milanese, crafted in true Milanese style, and conclude your meal with the signature Bellini panettone served warm with vanilla sauce. This Christmas Day menu will be offered for both lunch, from noon to 4 p.m., and dinner, from 5-10:30 p.m., alongside the regular Bellini à la carte menu.
Bellini Restaurant is located at 2988 McFarlane Rd., Coconut Grove, FL 33133. For more information, visit their official website.
CARBONE Miami
This Christmas, CARBONE Miami—one of the most celebrated Italian restaurants of the last decade—is offering a specially curated four-course prix-fixe menu from 4-10 p.m., priced at $295 per person. Guests can savor signature dishes like Caesar alla ZZ and spicy rigatoni vodka, followed by indulgent mains such as prime rib or shrimp fra diavolo, accompanied by potatoes Louie and garlic spinach. For dessert, enjoy festive classics like panettone anglaise and rice pudding.
CARBONE Miami is located at 49 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139. For more information, visit their official website.
Le Jardinier
This holiday season, Michelin-starred Le Jardinier invites guests to celebrate Christmas Eve in the Miami Design District with a four-course prix-fixe tasting menu curated by The Bastion Collection’s acclaimed chefs. From 5:30-10 p.m., for $165 per person, the refined experience begins with a chestnut velouté made with leeks, crispy celeriac, and smoked oil, followed by a second course of seared diver scallops with carrot purée, lemongrass sauce, and crispy breadcrumbs.
Continue to the braised beef short rib served alongside broccoli purée, miso port glaze, croquette, and horseradish. Finishing on a sweet note, the final course presents The Ornament, a spiced white chocolate mousse with cassis gelée and chestnut cream. An optional five-course wine pairing is available upon request for $135 per person.
Le Jardinier is located at 151 NE 41st St., Suite 135, Miami, FL 33137. For more information, visit their official website.
MATADOR ROOM
This Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, elevate your celebration at MATADOR ROOM, located at The Miami Beach EDITION—where culinary sophistication meets Miami’s iconic glamour. Indulge in delicious dishes from MATADOR ROOM’s signature à la carte menu as well as special Christmas dishes crafted with seasonal flavors, including lobster rice with fresh basil, croûtons, and lemon, and beef tenderloin with gorgonzola crumbs and spiced pear condiment.
Enjoy sommelier-selected wines to perfectly complement your meal and end on a sweet note with exquisite desserts such as chocolate and marshmallow yule log with meringue mushrooms. There’s no better place to savor the moment than under the hanging gardens and vintage vibes of Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s reimagined supper club.
MATADOR ROOM is located at 2901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33140. For more information, visit their official website.
Phuc Yea
This Christmas Day, Phuc Yea welcomes guests to celebrate the holiday with bold flavors, vibrant energy, and the modern Vietnamese flair that has made it one of Miami’s standout dining destinations. The four-time Michelin Bib Gourmand–honored restaurant, co-founded by Ani Meinhold and executive chef Cesar Zapata, will remain open during regular hours and invites locals and visitors alike to enjoy its cult-favorite dishes—from the famous smoked bone-in short rib and Chef Cesar’s beloved biscuits to limited-edition coquito.
For those seeking a cocktail and a laid-back vibe, Phuc Yea also features Mi Chini, a hidden speakeasy bar located directly downstairs. With expertly crafted drinks, cozy Christmas decorations, tunes, and an intimate ambiance, Mi Chini is the perfect complement to the vibrant energy upstairs, offering guests a unique holiday nightcap.
Phuc Yea is located at 7100 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33138. For more information, visit their official website.