10 Splurge-Worthy Restaurants in Miami

Few dining experiences in Miami feel more exclusive than at this intimate 18-seat fine dining den. Tambourine Room is named for the famed 1950s cocktail lounge that used to stand in its place – a gathering spot for the likes of Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack back in the historic Carillon Hotel’s heyday. The earlier 6 p.m. seating ($165 per person) is an abbreviated, slightly more affordable experience with a three-course tasting menu, while the second seating at 8:30 p.m. ($265 per person) promises six courses – actually many more, but the team likes to surprise and delight – and feels like a full-on dinner show. Watch as everyone’s meal is served in synchronization by staff dressed in a sleek black uniform from head-to-toe, down to their glove-laced fingertips.

Sure, we’ve seen pasta dishes run upward of $90 here (granted, that one included freshly shaved truffle), but this Italian fine dining restaurant remains one of our favorites in town. Tableside presentations are a hallmark of Fiola’s exceptional service: expect moments like an artful serving of bison tartare that’s carefully formed into a quenelle by your server before being individually plated for each person at the table, and showy signature cocktail ingredients mixed and poured before your eyes. Fiola also frequently hosts wine and spirits pairing dinners – another special way to splurge and treat yourself to a one-of-a-kind meal.

The only two Michelin star restaurant in Miami, L’Atelier is designed with 34 counter seats so that every guest faces the open kitchen and can be part of the culinary team’s creative process. The modern French-inspired tasting menu – crafted with the late legendary Joël Robuchon’s culinary philosophy of elevating simple dishes with extraordinary ingredients and technique – is the ultimate treat to yourself. Experience the eight-course Evolution Menu for $305 per person or a seasonal four-course for $210. For those looking for slightly less of a splurge, there are a la carte offerings Sunday through Thursday.

Whether you’re dining as a duo or gathering a group around the tabletop grill, this Korean barbecue steakhouse is a crowd pleaser for a reason. The steaks are top-notch – from 45-day aged USDA Prime to American Wagyu and authentic Japanese A5 Wagyu – and so is the service. The way the servers all work together to season, flip and grill your steak cuts on the center of the table is like a perfectly choreographed dance. The Butcher’s Feast is more than enough to leave you satisfied, but for a truly splurge-worthy experience, opt for the Steak Omakase, a grand tour of premium meats and Korean accouterments.

Hidden inside the boutique Esmé Hotel, the simply named Sushi Bar is known for its whimsical take on sushi that’s anything but. The 17-course menu is meant to be a playful riff on traditional favorites, featuring nigiri dressed with fusion flavors (think barbecued eel with bone marrow or a Calabrian chile honey-drizzled scallop). For an omakase restaurant in Miami, one might actually consider the $175 price tag a steal. But you can always upgrade your experience by adding the sake pairing for a total of $270 per person if you’re truly looking to splurge.

Nightlife king David Grutman’s first foray into dining is often still considered his best. Komodo has been the place to see-and-be-seen in Brickell ever since it opened back in 2015 – mainly because they somehow make every guest at this massive three-story, 300-seat restaurant feel like a VIP. Take friends to Komodo for a memorable meal full of Southeast Asian flavors. If you’re lucky, you might find yourself seated at one of the floating “bird nests” that feel like you’re eating in a treehouse. Follow up dinner with a visit to Komodo’s upstairs lounge to keep the fun going late into the night.

Here, simple ingredients are elevated into exquisite dishes with visually stunning presentations in a Basque-inspired menu. To start, choose from a menu of (pricey) pinxtos, the word for small finger foods that are popular in that part of northern Spain, and be sure to order one of the fine, flaky whole fish from the Josper grill. You also can’t go wrong with any of the crispy rice soccarats. And if you’re going big, you can spring for offerings with Japanese Kobe ($75) or Alaskan king crab ($68).

This is where you’re coming for a night out when you want to throw it back to the glam of 1980s Miami. Dirty French Steakhouse is over-the-top in the best possible way, thanks to unapologetic decor that feels like an ‘80s movie set, with the soundtrack to match. Gather the crew to indulge in a shareable menu of prime-aged steaks, French-influenced plates like chicken and crepes (who needs waffles anyway?), and a must-order mushroom millefeuille of thin-sliced king trumpet mushrooms. The cocktails are a must too, so stop by the bar for an Instagrammable drink.

We had to make sure a rooftop spot was in the mix, and that’s where MILA comes in – a place that was made for celebrations. Hovering high atop Lincoln Road, MILA is high-end and high-energy all at once. The rooftop restaurant serves a fusion of Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine they’ve deemed MediterrAsian. That means you can expect tapas, a Mediterranean raw bar, and an entire sushi selection. For a more secluded experience, you can also book a seat at MILA Omakase, visit the MILA Lounge, or perhaps even sneak your way into MM, their private club if you happen to know a member.

At SexyFish, the restaurant’s infamous interior design will provide quite the backdrop when you’re dining on steamed buns with caviar, Wagyu tomahawks, or king crab and bone marrow truffle toast. Know you’re coming here for the experience as much as (or more than) the food. The opulent ocean-inspired interior makes it feel like you’re dining in an underwater-themed palace. While arguably more approachable during the daytime for the Brickell power lunch crowd, an evening at SexyFish might include pulsating DJ beats, captivating contortionists, shimmering mermaids, and sultry sirens.