The 24 best waterfront restaurants in Miami for a meal in paradise

Substance and style: La Mar isn’t the kind of restaurant that’ll sweep you off your feet with its killer views and then leave you hanging with mediocre food. Nope, the food is equally as impressive as the scenery. The modern Peruvian-Asian restaurant doles out interesting ceviches (15 of them, to be exact), complex seafood dishes and traditional South American flavors. At the Anticuchos bar, explore La Mar’s take on popular Peruvian street food made with Wagyu beef, chicken, octopus, whole jumbo prawn and Peruvian asparagus.

Located inside the same building as the historic Miami Women’s Club, Klaw is a new upscale restaurant with indoor-outdoor seating and a rooftop bar overlooking Biscayne Bay. Go here when you want to splurge—starters hover around $20 while a shellfish platter starts at $120 and the steaks go for $95 and up. If you’re really looking to impress (or happen to be charging this one to the corporate card), explore Klaw’s Heritage Menu, a selection of premium, locally sourced cuts that pair perfectly with a mignonette martini.

Michael Schwartz’s Edgewater restaurant boasts spectacular waterfront views and deck seating, for that only-in-Miami kind of dining experience. A hyper-local menu designed by a James Beard-winning chef, featuring tender octopus, Argentine-style empanadas and cheesy yuca bread, among the delectable bites. Settle into a barstool or high top for happy hour snacks and drink specials from Mon–Fri 4–7pm.

This North Bay Village institution draws crowds as much for its waterfront views as its impeccable smoked fish dip, chunky corkscrew fries and festive frozen cocktails. It’s one of the few places in Miami where dining with a view won’t cost you, but don’t expect more than a few notches above a beach shack. It’s a sandals-and-T-shirt kind of place where the vibe is relaxed and the seafood is always fresh.

Key Biscayne’s most famous restaurant is where brunches, anniversary dinners, weddings, baby showers and all kinds of special celebrations regularly go down. Plenty of folks will argue that the Rusty Pelican has the best view in all of Miami. And they’re sort of right. While the solid seafood and classy atmosphere draw folks in, that bay view keeps them coming back.

Downtown’s modern Japanese mecca is accessible by yacht and by land. No matter how you arrive, the palm-tree shaded terrace awaits with views of the Miami River and Brickell Key. It’s a fun people-watching spot as most boats navigate this stretch to get to and from Downtown.

Garcia’s is a salty, old-school fish joint that’s earned generations of fans with its fresh catch. A must-visit during stone crab season (when claws are cheap compared to other local places), it’s also great year-round. This family-owned spot puts out some of Miami’s best seafood accompanied by home-style Cuban sides. The tostones and whole-fried fish are always a winning combo.

From the same team behind Michelin-starred Stubborn Seed, Bayshore Club takes over the former Scotty’s Landing space along Biscayne Bay near Dinner Key. The historic Coconut Grove locale was once home to Pan American’s first seaplane terminal. Today, Bayshore Club nods to its midcentury era with retro details like a massive “Greetings from Miami” postcard mural near the entrance. The whole 300-seat affair is casual yet elevated, with a seafood-focused menu, a 360-degree bar and a sprawling lawn with cabanas, lounge seating and games.

The buzzy outdoor restaurant takes cues from its bayfront perch, offering up veg-forward coastal fare made with locally sourced ingredients like lobster ravioli, curried grilled courgette and a rotating selection of fresh fish. An assortment of lighter dishes will leave your body intact, like oven-baked peri peri chicken, chili-charred broccolini and plenty of options from the raw bar. 

For Key West vibes in Coconut Grove, Monty’s is the clear choice. The popular tiki hangout serves strong frozen cocktails and fried seafood, two things that pair perfectly with a boat day. Go for happy hour (Mon–Fri 4–7pm), when a lively mixed crowd comes for the legendary $6 Pain Remover cocktails, oysters and shrimp, and live island music starting at 5pm.

This Downtown waterfront spot is a favorite for sailing celebrities and packs a punch in both scenery and decadence. Blow your budget and feel great doing it. Should you order the $MP wood-fired seafood casserole? Absolutely. Look around—you won’t be the only one tucking into a pricey bowl of crustaceans or mounds of caviar. It’s just how people roll here.

This charming bistro and bar tucked away on Miami’s Little River overlooks an active manatee sanctuary and fits right in among its Art Deco-era neighbors. Flanked by layers of tropical foliage, the pastel-hued indoor-outdoor spaces exude understated, Old World glamor while the slow-moving river encourages a relaxed pace. The intimate ambiance and seasonal menu featuring re-invented Argentinian classics, typical aperitifs and boozy cocktails will instantly transport you to a charming Buenos Aires cafe.

Look the part of a fancy, seafaring yachtsman at this posh, bayfront restaurant where the Euro crowds, Mediterranean menu and Instagrammable views create a truly Miami scene. It’s fun, not stuffy, and Sunday brunches take daytime partying to new levels—rosé flows, the cabanas are full and the over-the-top seafood towers just keep on coming.

This buzzy beachfront restaurant and club is on a petite man-made island in Biscayne Bay. An ideal gathering spot for boozy brunches and larger parties, the boho-chic ambiance pairs with bottle service and DJ-spun tunes for a unique, Euro-inspired waterfront dining experience in Miami. Reservations are hard to come by, but the wait is totally worth it once you’ve dipped your toes in the sand.

This upscale yet approachable waterfront perch at the iconic Eden Roc hotel is helmed by Chef Tristan Epps, an award-winning chef whose Trinidadian roots and global travels inform the restaurant’s seafood-forward menu. Expect a menu defined by quality ingredients from local farmers and producers—starting with an exceptional bread service that comes with three different types of cultured butter: seaweed, honey and traditional.

Verde is the breezy New American restaurant overlooking Biscayne Bay on Pérez Art Museum Miami’s sprawling terrace. Understated and elegant with dishes as trendy as the art crowd wandering the museum’s halls, Verde’s rotating menus focus on seasonal ingredients and are often themed with the exhibitions. Though there are other waterfront options nearby (for instance, Amara at Paraiso or Klaw), Verde is a perfectly worthy stop for a meal with views before or after perusing the galleries at PAMM.

The Mondrian’s revamped Baia Beach Club makes excellent use of the South Beach hotel’s expansive and beautiful bay frontage, especially during sunsets. The open-air restaurant and bar features a menu of coastal Mediterranean fare. During the perfectly timed Sundown Social happy hour (Mon–Fri 5–7pm), enjoy a selection of $10 bites and sips that will make the glittering views all the more magical.

Yes, committing to an entire meal at Bayside Marketplace seems like a tall order. But La Cañita is a great reason to venture through the kitschy outdoor mall and dodge all the blank-staring tourists. This Cuban restaurant from the team behind Calle Ocho institution Cafe La Trova serves up an absolutely delish ropa vieja sandwich, super fresh shrimp ceviche and, of course, some of the best mojitos around. The outdoor seating with spectacular downtown views of Biscayne Bay pretty much seals the deal for us.

Enjoy a Greek feast on the dock at the handsome Kiki on the River, which—as the name so clearly states—is located along the Miami River. Arriving by boat? Order from Kiki’s Mediterranean menu and have it brought to you on board. Though a yacht isn’t necessary to enjoy the waterfront view: there’s no bad seat in the house.

Few restaurants can double as great sports bars and boozy brunch spots the way American Social does. This Fort Lauderdale import proves itself to be more than just a watering hole, thanks to its extensive list of craft beers and impressive menu, which features American classics like chicken and waffles and some new favorites, such as the wagyu steak bowl with kimchi fried rice.

Unlike some of the more upscale options, sandals are encouraged at Whiskey Joe’s— the beachy, laid-back Key Biscayne attitude is definitely present here. Fresh off the boat? There’s no better way to celebrate a successful day on the water than with a frozen Rum Runner. Just tell the dock attendants (they’re in the blue shirts) that you’re eating at Whiskey Joe’s and docking is free.

The Wharf revived the Miami River, injecting the downtown waterfront with a refreshed nightlife scene, food trucks and outdoor fun. It’s a great option if you want to do a little bit of everything. The bar takes care of the drinks, and a caravan of food trucks (brace for tacos, burgers, pizza and sushi) ensure everyone is nice and full—plus, you can even kill calories on the dance floor, courtesy of the talented rotating DJs.

One of the few restaurants in Miami with an actual view of the water, this pricey pasta joint is ideal for fans of garlic, truffles and homemade pasta that’s a far cry from Ragu. Classics like spaghetti alla carbonara and risotto with porcini mushrooms sport ungodly price tags upwards of $30 a plate. If you really want to splurge, go for the filet of beef with sautéed foie gras. Service is old school, verging on stuffy, but what you’re paying for here is the view. Considering Miami’s volatile real estate market, it makes sense.

Nestled at the southern tip of the Beach, overlooking Government Cut, this cavernous, 550-seat chain steakhouse, which was founded in New York in 1977, offers one of the best views in the city. And pretty good steaks, too, with choice cuts of prime-grade, dry-aged beef. The waterfront location makes it a fave for Friday happy hours, Sunday brunches or for toasting passing cruise ships.