Fanciest Miami Restaurants | American Eats
Sometimes a burger place or fast-dining experience isn’t what we’re looking for. We want something with fine linens, real china, and top-notch service. We want to dine in a restaurant where we can dress up. In other words, we want a fancy restaurant. Luckily, there are several of these institutions in Miami. Here’s a breakdown of some of those fancy restaurants in Miami.
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Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina
19999 West Country Club Drive, Aventura, FL 33180
(786) 279-6600
If you truly love steak, then Bourbon Steak in the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa is your nirvana. Executive chef Gabriel Fenton is known for using the freshest ingredients in his creations. It shows in the seven steaks offered by the restaurant. For those who aren’t beef lovers, Bourbon Steak also offers a variety of fish and chicken dishes. This is all served in a small dining room with low-back seats, pine-bordered tables, and an expansive bar with a shining glass countertop.
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Nobu Miami
4525 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140
(305) 695-3232
Though there are other Nobus across the globe, the Miami location is one of the fanciest. Large floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the expansive pool area of the Nobu Hotel while a waterfront terrace offers outdoor dining. Traditional lanterns and paneling made of cherry wood compliment the space. Then there’s the menu, which offers a large selection of sushi, sashimi, and even tacos. Though Nobu Miami is fancy, its prices are affordable.
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Pao by Paul Qui
3201 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140
(786) 655-5600
You know Pao by Paul Qui is a different type of venue when you see the half gold-plated unicorn situated on a giant plinth. In fact, unicorns are everywhere in this fancy restaurant that prides itself on modern Asian cuisine. Diners not only get a beautiful view of the ocean. They also receive unique dishes like Golden Oyster Caviar, Shortrib Rice, and a whole roasted fish with chili patis, garlic, and ginger. For dessert, indulge in a crepes cake with cream cheese mousse and vanilla-passion fruit syrup.
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Il Gabbiano Restaurant
335 S. Biscayne Blvd. Miami, Fl. 33131
(305) 373-0063
Don’t let the location of this eatery fool you. Despite being on the ground floor of the One Miami complex, entering this restaurant makes you feel like you’ve stepped into an old bistro in the heart of Italy. It helps that there’s also a large waterfront deck for outdoor dining. Another advantage Il Gabbiano has over other fancy restaurants in Miami is it’s open for both lunch and dinner. Its large menu covers everything from classic pasta dishes to risotto, veal, fish, and, of course, decadent desserts.
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Cipriani Downtown Miami
465 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
(786) 329-4090
Located in the Viceroy Miami, Cipriani Downtown is one of the fanciest restaurants in the city. Vast floor-to-ceiling windows provide ample natural daytime light along with amazing views of the Miami River. Candelabras hang over tables with white linen tablecloths and wine goblets. Cipriani Downtown is known for its Northern Italian dishes like Veal Milanese and pan-roasted Chilean sea bass. Recently, it has introduced several Japanese dishes such as beef or salmon sashimi and deep-fried sole with an Asian-infused tatar sauce.
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Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann
3201 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140
(786) 655-5600
Where Cipriani Downtown is truly fancy, Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann is cozy fancy. Sinking into one of the red-leather chairs or comfy benches in this Faena Hotel restaurant makes us feel welcome. The menu by Chef Mallman also helps. Growing up in Patagonia, near the tip of South America, he has brought its flavors to American shores. For instance, a starter like wood-fired artichokes is comprised of sesame yogurt, sourdough breadcrumbs, and preserved lemon. His Angus skirt steak is done with Papas Aplastadas (crushed potatoes), and chimichurri sauce.
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Barton G. The Restaurant
1427 West Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 672-8881
Barton G. takes fancy to a whimsical level. It should since the company that owns the restaurant also handles event designs. Hence, the reason for the bold colors, modern lighting, and elegant outdoor seating area. What doesn’t feel fancy is the menu, which takes a modern American approach to comfort food. It starts with cocktails chilled with liquid nitrogen. This is followed by an appetizer of smoked ends of Wagyu beef with creamy grits or roasted garlic whipped deviled eggs. Options for the main course include Moroccan spiced turkey meatballs, fettuccine with Gulf shrimp, lobster, and Blue Crab, or short ribs rubbed and braised for 48 hours before serving.
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Il Mulino Miami
17875 Collins Ave, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160
(305) 466-9191
Located in the Acqualina Resort & Spa, Il Ilmulino provides a fancy respite for sunbathers and shoppers. Its red carpet and dark wood perfectly contrast the white tablecloths and napkins. The menu of Italian dishes gives us a warm & pleasant feeling even during the most humid of days. While the menu is small, the meals are made to order with fresh ingredients. On top of serving lunch & dinner, Il Ilmulino offers a Sunday brunch menu with items like Kobe beef sliders and chicken in garlic & white wine sauce.
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Hakkasan
4441 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140
(877) 326-7412
Fancy doesn’t always mean staid. There are plenty of Miami restaurants that are both fancy and modern. Such is the case with Hakkasan, which is both sleek and stylish. Plus, it’s one of the city’s high-end Chinese restaurants. This means Peking duck with Ostera caviar and steamed Maine lobster with garlic instead of basic egg rolls and pepper steak. Hakkasan’s menu is diverse enough for every type of diner.
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