Holiday season is upon us—so you know what that means! It’s party time. Whether you’re hosting a Christmas lunch for your colleagues, a private Thanksgiving dinner for family and friends, a late-night Basel wine party, or some other special occasion, these Miami restaurants have the ambiance and flavor your next private event needs.
Atrio Restaurant & Wine Room
Floating 25 floors above Brickell Avenue, in the Conrad Miami, Atrio Restaurant & Wine Room {1395 Brickell Avenue, Brickell; 305.503.6500} serves up globally-inspired dishes like Pan Seared Branzino with eggplant caponata, Short Rib Pappardelle with horseradish cream, and Confit Pork Tenderloin with roasted candy cane beets, along with a wine list you can’t ignore. For a little more exclusivity, reserve the restaurant’s intimate wine attic, which can accommodate eight to ten guests. With walls lined by 200+ vintages and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sparkling Brickell Avenue skyline, it’s good for corporate gatherings, wine-pairing lunches and dinners, rehearsal dinners, birthdays, and pretty much anything worth celebrating.
Seaspice
It’s hard to beat the allure of Seaspice {422 NW North River Drive, Miami; 305.440.4200}. Think about it: you can show up in a yacht, you’re surrounded by Miami’s most fashionable and beautiful people, and the delicate, globally-influenced cuisine is perfect. Even when you’re done eating, stay awhile—at Seaspice, you can drink some bubbly and enjoy the views (we’re not just talking about the Miami River) all day and night long. With its indoor and outdoor dining options, live entertainment, customizable menus, and all-around beautiful surroundings, Seaspice is the perfect place to host your next holiday party or private dinner.
Joe’s Stone Crab
Joe’s Stone Crab {11 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.673.0365} isn’t just a seafood restaurant; it’s a Miami Beach icon. Perfect for groups big or small, this South of Fifth staple has rooms that can accommodate groups of 16+, or you can buyout the whole restaurant for parties of up to 450 guests. Special prix-fixe menus are available for private dining, and there are three private rooms (Jesse’s Room, Gigi’s Room, and JoAnn’s room), depending on what your event needs. Events are typically scheduled for a minimum of two hours and fifteen minutes, and any additional time costs $500 per thirty-minute period.

Mr. Chow
Hailed as the celebrity go-to in Miami for haute Asian cuisine, dining at Mr. Chow {2201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.695.1695} is a real experience, one with nightly noodle shows, an A-list location on Collins Avenue, and dazzling décor—including a 125-foot gold-leaf and Swarovski crystal chandelier designed by the owner of the Mr. Chow empire, Michael Chow, himself. Here, a private dining room can accommodate up to 55 diners comfortably, or the restaurant can be bought out to host a holiday event for up to 250 guests.

The River Seafood & Oyster Bar
Sitting in the heart of Brickell, The River Seafood & Oyster Bar {650 South Miami Avenue, Brickell; 305.530.1915} is a casual, trendy spot where you can get a modern twist on classic seafood. Here, the seafood is as fresh as you can get it, from ice-packed, hand-shucked cold water oysters and organic Irish salmon and branzino, to sardines from Spain, cold-water fish caught in Alaska, and more. With its comfortable “living room” feel, this restaurant is perfect for an intimate gathering. It has a private dining room that can seat up to 25 people.

Cafe Avanti
Family-owned and -operated, Cafe Avanti {732 W 41 Street, Miami Beach; 305.538.4400} is where you go for “real-deal” Italian and top-notch service on Miami Beach. Its wood floors and exposed brick gives this restaurant a decidedly “cozy feel,” and the authentic northern Italian cuisine is made with a French flair. Depending on the size of your party, there are private dining spaces available for groups of 16 to 80 people.

Scarpetta
The brainchild of celebrity chef and restaurateur Scott Conant, Scarpetta {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.674.4660}, at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, is known for its A-list diners, upscale vibes, and of course, that perfectly-knotted bowl of spaghetti. The ideal restaurant for private events of any size, you can rent out the Main Dining Room to accommodate up to 110 seated guests, the Poolview Terrace for seated events of up to 70, the Oceanview Terrace for seated events for up to 55 guests, or the Cocktail Lounge for up to 60. Both outdoor terraces come together to form an L-shape, which guests can rent as one for a private event that boasts both pool area and dazzling Miami Beach views.
Big Easy Winebar & Grill
Locals and tourists alike can experience the flavors of the Western Cape region of South Africa at Big Easy Winebar & Grill {701 South Miami Avenue, Suite 339, Brickell; 786.814.5955}, the result of a partnership between Grove Bay Hospitality Group and pro-golfer Ernie “The Big Easy” Els. Go here for haute South African cuisine and a wine program straight from Ernie Els’ vineyards in Stellenbosch, in the Western Cape region of South Africa. Adorned in reclaimed wood floors, marbled stone, and earth-toned fabrics, and accented with clay pottery and rich, buttery-leather chairs, the restaurant’s private dining room can be used for both formal and informal, personal or business occasions for up to 75 guests.
Cantina La Veinte
Designed by Mexican architectural firm Niz + Chauvet, Cantina La Veinte {495 Brickell Avenue, Brickell; 786.623.6135} pays homage to the Mexican Art Deco style while maintaining the distinct décor of a traditional Mexican cantina. When you walk in, it’s hard to miss the restaurant’s striking, floor-to-ceiling black onyx bar with antiqued mirrors or the geometric, black-and-gold chandelier that looks like its straight out of The Great Gatsby. Walk downstairs and you’ll find an outdoor patio, looking right out onto Brickell Key, that can fit a private dinner for up to 105. This covered al fresco dining area is divided by lush, plant-covered walls, has an outdoor cooling system to keep diners comfortable, and for ambiance, even boasts frosted-glass windows etched with Cantina’s symbols of maize and agave.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor