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These in-house eateries aren’t just for tourists

In Miami, we’re no stranger to hotel restaurants, whether it’s a mega-resort catering to visitors or boutique hotels looking to woo locals for a staycation. But finding a good hotel restaurant can often be a challenge. Fortunately, a plethora of exceptional hotel restaurants have sprung up over the past decade, attracting both locals and out-of-towners looking for a beautiful meal in a beautiful setting. Here are our favorites.

Lido Restaurant & Bayside Grill at The Standard

Edge Steak and Bar {Four Seasons Hotel, 1435 Brickell Avenue, Miami; 305.381.3190}

Chef Aaron Brooks helms this modern steakhouse at the Four Seasons downtown which has proven popular among local food lovers and visitors alike. The dining room feels cozy and urbane with a large rectangular-shaped marble bar lit by dangling exposed string lights and white-washed oak tables flanked by cream leather booths.

The kitchen focuses on locally-sourced ingredients that work their way into shellfish starters, hefty slabs of beef, and creative mains like the Basil-Crusted Corvina with piquillo peppers. A gorgeous outdoor terrace offers downtown skyline views.

The Bazaar by Jose Andres {SLS Hotel, 1701 Collins Avenue, Suite 100, Miami Beach; 305.455.2999}

Prepare for sensory overload at this clubby outpost for global tapas and exotic cocktails. Like its LA counterpart, there are two dining rooms: “rojo,” a red and black accented spot in the hotel’s lobby with black leather couches and a bull’s head clad in a lucha libre mask;  and “blanca,” a quieter option adorned with a massive seashell-clad chandelier.

The epic menu contains anywhere from 60-80 items that change daily but can include Bacalao Fritters served in a clear plastic sneaker and a Scallop Risotto presented in a coconut shell.

La Mar {Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 500 Brickell Key Drive, Miami; 305.913.8358}

Peruvian Chef Gaston Acurio’s downtown Miami outpost occupies a gorgeous waterfront spot at Brickell Key’s Mandarin Oriental. The main dining room is awash in shades of watery greens, sandy grays, and beiges and wood, but it’s the enticing outdoor terrace that offers glittering views of downtown. It provides the perfect backdrop to Chef Diego Oka’s contemporary Peruvian dishes with colorful tweaks.

Lido Restaurant & Bayside Grill {The Standard Hotel, 40 Island Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.673.1717}

The Standard’s hipster-friendly pool deck is also home to one of South Beach’s best waterfront patios. Chef Mark Zeitouni’s menu emphasizes Mediterranean dishes that please vegetarians and carnivores alike.

Zuma {Epic Hotel, 270 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Downtown; 305.577.0277}

Upscale Asian dishes compliment a dock crowded with million-dollar yachts. If you’re looking to indulge, reserve a spot during their weekend brunch where the restaurant rolls out nearly the entire menu: buffets of endless fresh sushi, skewers of marinated beef and vegetables from the robata grill, and prepared salads. Then there’s a bottomless glass of Louis Roederer Champagne in addition to Bloody Marys made with robata-grilled tomatoes. And it all goes perfectly with the waterfront views of downtown. 

By Sara Liss, contributing writer

Not always so easy to find… but worth it when you do.

Seaspice on the Miami River

It’s a Miami-specific conundrum: so much water surrounding us, yet so few spots to actually enjoy it. But thankfully, there are many places that have been taking advantage of their waterfront locations for years and a few newer ones that have popped up recently to maximize that alfresco potential. We indulged in the views and all the fresh seafood to bring you this list of our favorite waterfront dining in the city.

Upscale Asian dishes complement a dock crowded with million-dollar yachts. If you’re looking to indulge, reserve a spot during their weekend brunch where the restaurant rolls out almost the entire menu: buffets of endless fresh sushi, skewers of marinated beef and vegetables from the robata grill, and prepared salads. Then there’s a bottomless glass of Louis Roederer Champagne in addition to Bloody Marys made with robata-grilled tomatoes. And it all goes perfectly with the waterfront views of downtown. 

La Mar {500 Brickell Key Drive, Downtown; 305.913.8358}

Peruvian Chef Gaston Acurio’s downtown Miami outpost occupies a gorgeous waterfront spot at Brickell Key’s Mandarin Oriental. The main dining room is awash in shades of watery greens, sandy grays, creamy beiges, and polished wood, but it’s the enticing outdoor terrace that offers glittering views of downtown. It provides the perfect backdrop to Chef Diego Oka’s contemporary Peruvian dishes with colorful tweaks.

Mondrian South Beach {1100 West Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.514.1910}

On Sundays, the place feels a bit like a Jay-Z video with bikini-clad pool lovers waving at the massive yachts that cruise the hotel’s enviable bayfront location. But during the week, the scene is more sedate with downtown skyscrapers twinkling in the distance and Mondrian Caffe’s menu of crowd-pleasing dishes like Kale Caesar and grilled skirt steak to keep you satisfied.

Garcia’s Seafood Grille and Fish {398 Northwest North River Drive, Downtown; 305.375.0765}

This Miami institution has been doing it right for years. Fresh seafood, reliable service, and a steady stream of locals tucking into platters of stone crabs and poached shrimp. Putter up to the back of the restaurant where waiters provide service directly onto the boats.

Seaspice {422 Northwest North River Drive, Downtown; 305.440.4200}

This two-building complex on the Miami River has already proven a hit with downtown’s well-heeled crowd. The restaurant’s large warehouse-like windows roll up giving the dining room a pleasant indoor-outdoor feel. The history of the spot dates back to Howard Huges, apparently it was his seaplane hangar and still has the rusted rigging intact to prove it. A dock that spans 250 feet with an additional dock across the river has hosted its share of mega-yachts that (sometimes) block the river views.

Kiki On The River {450 Northwest North River Drive, Miami; 786.502.3243}

And right next door is this boho-chic modern Greek taverna with those same Miami River views, this time framed by whitewashed nautical seating, lush greenery, and trees festooned with glass orbs. Chef Steven Rhee whips up food of the gods with mezzes, grilled seafood, lamb chops, and luscious feta-topped salads. 

Artisan Beach House {10295 Collins Avenue, Bal Harbour; 305.455.5400}

The restaurant at Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour’s classy spot is the stuff of postcards.  The gorgeous sprawling dining room features floor-to-ceiling views of the ocean and the busy Haulover inlet, where speedboats regularly putter by. Whitewashed walls and comfortable leather booths balance the grandeur of the setting, but the best spot to dine is still the outdoor patio where ocean breezes mingle with views of Haulover marina and the bar’s loungey soundtrack. The seafood-centric menu features quinoa tuna poke and charred octopus with Vadouvan carrots.

Duffy’s Sports Grill {3969 Northeast 163rd Street, North Miami Beach; 305.760.2124}

This massive restaurant-lounge has a whopping 200 flatscreens, an outdoor pool, and a 500-foot dock. Located on the west side of the intra-coastal waterway, Duffy’s is known as a sports-watching haven and a popular happy hour spot. Extensive covered patio seating makes it an ideal spot to take in the salty breezes.

By Sara Liss, contributing writer

zuma

Zuma

By Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor

California Roll? Yum. Spicy Tuny Roll? Yes, please. Sex on the Beach Roll? You’ll have to keep reading. Here’s our list of the top 10 sushi restaurants in Miami, in no particular order.

1. Zuma {270 Biscayne Boulevard Way; Downtown; 305 577 0277}
Located at the Epic Hotel facing the Miami River in Downtown Miami, the world-class Zuma is often cited as one of the city’s best. The expansive menu features a seemingly endless array of signature dishes and sushi rolls featuring surprising combinations and flavors—a true treat for the senses. Be sure to make your reservations well in advance; last-minute tables here are hard to come by.

2. Nobu {1901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.695.3232}
Just two blocks down from SLS inside the classic Miami Beach Shore Club is another world-renowned sushi restaurant: Nobu. Executive Chef Thomas Buckley honed his skills at Nobu London and now brings Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s award-winning culinary interpretations to South Beach. Most dishes are served family-style, perfect for a groups and large parties, lending an even more lively atmosphere to the already festive space.

3. Kazumi {260 Crandon Boulevard #16, Key Biscayne; 305.361.2675}
Key Biscayne locals will swear by this modern Japanese concept from the owners of Costa Med. Expect to find all your Japanese staples, including sushi rolls and sashimi, and yakitori bites from the robata grill. You’ll also find some unexpected twists like the Sex on the Beach and Honeymoon rolls. Stop by for lunch for one of the many reasonably priced bento boxes, which allow you to combine a bunch of your favorites into one flavorful meal.

Katsuya

Catsup by Starck

4. Katsuya by Starck {1701 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.455.2995}
Miamians rejoiced a few years back when the trendy SLS brand made its hotel debut in South Beach. And we were even more excited when we found out that inside this chic hotel would be the acclaimed sushi restaurant, Katsuya. The brand is known throughout the world for its modern Japanese cuisine by Master Chef Katsuya Uechi and its cool design motif by design impresario Philippe Starck—and the Miami location is no exception. More good news: a Katsuya is scheduled to open a downtown location later this year.

3. Pubbelly Sushi {1424 20th Street, Miami Beach; 305.531.9282}
From the Pubbelly Boys, the same team behind Pubbelly Gastropub, Pubbelly Sushi is a hip Sunset Harbour neighborhood sushi den that packs the house nightly with its Asian-inspired pub grub from Partners Jose Mendin and Chef Yuki Ieto. Big anime murals accent the space’s exposed brick, large chalkboards, and floor-to-ceiling windows, while stainless-steel light fixtures and dark wooden tables complete the look.

Hannya

Hannya

6. Hannya {1063 Brickell Plaza, Brickell; 305.808.5833}
It seems that a new restaurant pops up in Brickell daily, making it hard to stand out from the pack. But Hannya manages to do just that. The new eatery is a concept by Larry Chi of Sunset Place’s Akashi, which was one of the first sushi bars in the area when it opened in 1993 and remains a local favorite to this day. A must-try: the Alex #2 Roll. It’s hard to resist this tasty blend of shrimp tempura, krab salad, masago, and cream cheese topped with avocado, spicy mayo, and eel sauce—especially since the word “AMAZING!” is included in its menu description.

8. SOHO Bay {520 West Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.618.2788}
It’s very rare that a brand-new restaurant makes a top 10 list right away. Although SOHO BAY is new to Miami (it officially opened its doors on April 7), it is no stranger to the restaurant biz. In fact, this modern eatery is already an established success in Brazil, with 15 years of experience and eight locations across the country. Executive Chef Ricardo Sauri, formerly of Nobu fame, has devised a tempting sushi and sashimi-focused menu, which is complemented by a sizable list of fine sakes and innovative cocktails.

7. 26 Sushi & Tapas {9487 Harding Avenue, Surfside; 305.570.2626}
Kosher sushi? The two words at first glance do not seem to go together. But that’s exactly what makes 26 different. The restaurant, which encompasses a main dining room, sushi bar, cocktail bar, and patio dining, is certified by Kosher Miami. Chef Fernando Chang brings over a decade of experience conceiving dazzling kosher sushi and Japanese cuisine—with a hint of Peruvian flair—making it safe to say that kosher never tasted so good.

26 Sushi & Tapas

26 Sushi & Tapas

9. Fung Kü {1720 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.534.7905}
Have you ever heard of naked sushi? We hadn’t. Until we visited at the Catalina Hotel in South Beach. Serving up fine Thai and Japanese cuisine, dinner is always a treat here. And once you’re done eating, stay right where you are. A delicious party ensues complete with a live DJ spinning tunes and fabulous drink specials. As for the naked sushi? Let’s just say you’ll have to come in to experience it for yourself.

10. Naoe {661 Brickell Key Drive; Brickell Key; 305.379.0903}
Nestled on the quieter, more subdued Brickell Key, just off of Brickell Avenue, NAOE is quickly becoming the must-visit sushi restaurant for those in-the-know. At the helm is Chef Kevin Cory, whose family has been making shoyu (translation: soy sauce) since 1825 in the small town of Oono, Japan. Monday through Saturday, he serves up his signature Chef’s Choice prix-fixe menu. It changes daily, which means that every time you visit this Forbes five-star eatery (one of only 38 in the United States), you’re in for a new surprise.