12 Splurge-Worthy Restaurants in Miami

Part of a historic South Florida social club that first opened in the 1930s, The Surf Club might be the first place that comes to mind when we think of a restaurant that’s truly worth the splurge in Miami. But if you want to dine somewhere that feels uniquely Miami and away from the city, a reservation at The Surf Club always makes us feel like we’re re-visiting the Miami of another era. The restaurant is helmed by chef Thomas Keller and provides a fine dining experience of unquestioned sophistication. Indulge in Keller’s take on continental classics with dishes like tableside prepared Caesar salad, prime beef short rib Wellington, and Maine lobster Thermidor, with top-notch hospitality to match.

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 7 p.m. seating for the tasting menu promises 7 courses – actually many more, as 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.

Forget your old-timers – this is the kind of steakhouse we want to be taken to for a special occasion. Sunny’s (from the former Jaguar Sun folks) is a stylish, South Floridian take on the traditional white-tablecloth steakhouse (we don’t know many other chophouses where you can dine al fresco, much less under the shade of a massive banyan tree). The design of the indoor dining room also oozes SoFlo glamour with its mid-century modern aesthetic. But it serves more than vibes – more literally, they serve wood-fired meats and steakhouse classics, plus some of the old favorites we’d come to love at their previous Downtown spot. Veterans of the owners’ previous restaurants can expect those parker house rolls, raw bar bites, and yes, even handmade pastas like corn agnolotti and spicy pork rigatoni.

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 $255 per person or a seasonal four-course for $185. For those looking for slightly less of a splurge, there are a la carte offerings Sunday through Thursday, and shorter 3-4 course menus for weekend lunch. Here’s what to know if you want to know more.

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 accoutrements.

What if we told you one of Miami’s best sushi omakases is run by a Peruvian chef? The newest chapter in Itamae’s journey continues as a version run by sushi chef and owner Nando Chang, his first solo venture. The Nikkei-style omakase counter has only 10 seats, where Chang melds Japanese techniques with Peruvian influences – so the eight-course menu features Peruvian bites like anticuchos (skewers) and aguadito (soup) alongside their tender, dry-aged sashimi and nigiri (their dry-aging cooler is a focal point of the small space). At $165 per person, the intimate experience is a defendable splurge, and a hot ticket, as there are only three seatings a night (6 p.m., 8:15 p.m., or 10:15 p.m.), five days a week.

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.

You know you’re already off to a good start when you walk into a restaurant and smell the scent of a wood-burning grill – or asador as it’s known in Spanish – and Ossobuco delivers that sensory opening gambit, and more. Focused on seasonal ingredients cooked simply over wood and open fire, the restaurant offers a menu of deliciously dry-aged beef and charred vegetables. This Latin approach to cooking means you’ll find meats that you won’t in traditional American steakhouses, like Picanha, all of which arrive with herb butter, chimichurri, and caramelized shallots. And if you’re wondering why the restaurant is named Ossobuco, there’s also a whole section of the menu featuring the braised meat – from ossobuco croquetas and empanadas to ricotta gnocchi with a sauce of slow-cooked ossobuco ragout.