14 Miami Restaurants Perfect For Celebrating Special Occasions

Located in Miami’s up-and-coming MiMo neighborhood, Phuc Yea has been a source of exciting Vietanamese-Cajun comfort food since 2016 — though it’s credited with being Miami’s first pop-up restaurant back in 2011. The flavorful fusion of these two cultures is expertly curated by owners chef Cesar Zapata and Aniece Meinhold using both their heritage and kitchen experience as inspiration. As ’90s hip-hop plays in the background, diners feast on dishes such as green papaya salad with crispy shallots, dried shrimp, carrots, peanuts, herbs, and nuoc cham dressing; massive bowls of pho; and PY noodles, a signature dish at the restaurant made with oyster sauce, parmesan, and garlic butter, and quickly cooked in a wok with noodles.

A Harlem transplant by celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, this Overtown restaurant is filled with soul food and a soulful feel. The menu is a cultural celebration with dishes inspired by not only Samuelsson’s Ethiopian roots, but from the Caribbean and America’s Deep South, too. Start with the cornbread served in a cast iron skillet with spiced rum butter or the deviled eggs topped with chicharron, caviar, and mustard before moving on to entrees such as shrimp and grits or fried chicken. Save room for dessert, as there’s a sister concept next door called The Creamery featuring a selection of locally made ice creams.

Breathtaking views scream “special occasion” at The Deck at Island Gardens. Located in the city’s only superyacht marina, diners at The Deck enjoy their meals while overlooking Miami’s downtown skyline and some of the world’s most expensive privately owned yachts. The Mediterranean menu includes appetizers such as Skull Island prawns or grilled lamb chops and large entrees like a 4.5-pound salt-crusted Florida snapper or the 32-ounce tomahawk ribeye.

If the special occasion calls for steak, then chef/restaurateur Richard Sandoval’s pan-Latin steakhouse inside the Intercontinental Hotel is the way to go. The restaurant is known for its expansive selection of tableside carved meats served rodizio-style and small plates featuring dishes such as short rib & bone marrow arepas or grilled octopus. Sunday brunch features bottomless mimosas and bloody marys. Toro Toro also features occasional OpenTable experiences like one with a special Macallan-paired menu.

Those looking to dine in fashion (and maybe catch a celeb sighting or two) should look no further than Swan, located in Miami’s Design District. Owned by nightlife mogul Dave Grutman and musical sensation Pharrell Williams, this glitzy and high-end restaurant is ideal for celebrating a special night out on the town. Popular plates include one featuring corn prepared three ways and caviar pasta made simply with spaghetti, white wine, butter, and lemon that’s topped with a heaping pile of caviar. Dishes are small, but meant to be ordered in abundance and shared.

Located in the exclusive Setai Miami Beach, Jaya’s menu is a mix of Asian techniques combining the flavors of Thailand, China, Korea, India, and Japan — think everything from Peking duck to pad Thai and Indian curries. While the restaurant is a great place for dinner, the Sunday jazz brunch features a grand buffet (served safely by servers) and bottomless Louis Roederer for $95 per person that’s extra-special for a celebration.

One step inside Fratelli Milano and it’s easy to see how this family-owned restaurant has stood the test of time for 15 years in Miami’s ever-changing downtown. Twin brothers Roberto and Emanuele Bearzi make everything from pasta to pastry in this classic Italian spot. While Roberto is busy making the fresh pasta, Emanuele is takes charge of the pastries and breads for the restaurant, as Fiorella (Roberto’s wife) greets each diner as they walk in the door. Dishes range from pizzas to pastas to one of the city’s best eggplant parms.

Top Chef winner Jeremy Ford’s first restaurant is known for its incredible chef’s tasting menu featuring seasonal dishes, with many ingredients coming from local farms. Though the menu changes often based on what Ford finds freshest, it’s always sectioned out the same: snacks/rooted/raw, where diners find vegetable-forward dishes and some form of freshly baked bread; and land/sea with a handful of options ranging from wagyu to local fish and poultry. The ever-changing menu means a unique experience every single time, making each visit feel celebratory.

Dark and cozy in the heart of South Beach, Byblos is a delightful date spot serving Eastern Mediterranean dishes. Most plates are served family-style making it easy to share while getting optimal opportunity to try a plethora of the menu’s popular offerings. Can’t-miss dishes include the grilled whole branzino served with chermoula, saffron toum, and watercress as well as the roasted lamb shoulder with sumac, pickles, and house lavash.

Located in an unassuming strip mall, it’s easy to miss Drunken Dragon. Home to Korean barbecue and fun tiki-style cocktails, this Asian-inspired gastropub is great for date night or a special celebration with friends. The large menu features plenty of options in its ‘to share’ and appetizer sections, as well as over a dozen types of protein cooked to request (or by the table) each with its own signature sauce. Noodle and rice dishes round out the menu, where the Drunken Dragon fried rice (white rice, gochujang sauce, sour cream sambal, pork, cotija cheese, cashews, and herbs) is a staple.

Located on the ground floor of the first-ever KAYAK hotel — OpenTable’s sibling brand — Layla is an elegantly bohemian restaurant inspired by the love story of Layla and Majun, a Persian folk tale of two star-crossed lovers. Dishes are served tapas-style and meant for sharing, so load up on mezze and appetizer options such as the eggplant toast, flaming saganaki, and Israeli salad before moving on to larger plates like the shawarma grilled chicken with toum, cilantro, and lemon agrumato. The restaurant is already getting recognized for its ultra-cool setting, named one of the seven coolest indoor-outdoor restaurants to Dine at Right Now by Architectural Digest.

If the name Mignonette isn’t a clue enough, this spot is known for its array of oysters that are flown in daily. The casual environment is great for a low-key celebration, where diners can down dozens of oysters and a bottle of bubbles before moving on to dishes like lobster rolls and clams casino. Nothing says special occasion more than oysters and Champagne.

Celebrity chef Scott Conant’s Italian restaurant at the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel has all the makings for a spectacular meal, from the sweeping ocean views to the spaghetti that literally melts in your mouth to the expansive wine list. The tasting menu, available for $95 per person, features all of the menu’s most popular dishes, including the spaghetti, the duck and foie gras ravioli, and Conant’s famous creamy polenta.

Tucked away in Miami’s South of Fifth neighborhood, Forte dei Marmi prides itself on high-quality organic produce and responsibly sourced meats and seafood. Of course, no Italian spot would be complete without freshly made pastas, like the truffle cacio e pepe that diners go crazy for — it’s served tableside in a massive cheese wheel. Save room for the decadent pistachio ice cream large enough for the entire table.