From Bouchon Bistro, the dimly lit French bistro from Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller in Coral Gables to the glamorous Klaw restaurant in Edgewater overlooking Biscayne Bay, the Magic City is the perfect place to fall in love.
Whether you want to wow your Hinge date with a romantic spot, celebrate Valentine's Day with your new partner, or try a new restaurant with your spouse, let the sparks fly at any of these 13 romantic dining restaurants across Miami.
Amara's outdoor dining area
The Genuine Hospitality Group photo
Amara at Paraiso
3101 NE Seventh Ave., Miami305-702-5528
amaraatparaiso.com Michael Schwartz's Amara at Paraiso is beautifully set on Biscayne Bay with lush indoor and outdoor seating, all with a waterfront view. The James Beard Award-winning chef, best known for his Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, calls Amara at Paraiso a "love letter to Miami." The menu includes Latin American-influenced dishes cooked using a wood grill and a Josper charcoal oven. This restaurant is so romantic that it features a special marriage proposal package that includes the best seats in the house, a photographer, and a special menu.
Bouchon Bistro
2101 Galiano St., Coral Gables305-990-1360
thomaskeller.comBouchon Bistro, the dimly lit and romantic French bistro from Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller, opened in the historic La Palma building. The structure is a perfect example of the city's Mediterranean Revival style and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (talk about romantic). The dimly lit restaurant is intimate, classic, and features Bouchon's classic bistro fare like the soupe à l'oignon (onion soup), caramelized sweet onions in beef jus served with country bread and Comté cheese — what Keller describes as a meal in itself. There's also the poulet rôtir, roasted chicken plated with hen-of-the-woods mushrooms and bacon lardons in a Dijon chicken jus, and Bouchon's best-selling dish, the steak frites, a pan-seared flat iron steak paired with caramelized shallots and maître d'hôtel butter served with French fries. One dinner here and Bouchon Bistro made it on our most romantic list.
Casa Tua
1700 James Ave., Miami Beach305-673-1010
casatualife.comSet in an inviting and intimate Mediterranean villa surrounded by a serene garden, Casa Tua feels exactly like its name: your home. The Tuscan theme extends to a menu that evokes a weekend getaway to Southern Europe: spaghetti, beef tenderloin, and branzino. Leave room for dessert — the signature dessert platter for two is not to be missed. And if you don't plan to drive, explore the exhaustive collection of wines to pair with your fairytale dining experience in this hideaway on James Avenue.
The glittering patio at Cecconi's
Cecconi's Miami Beach photo
Cecconi's Miami Beach
4385 Collins Ave., Miami Beach786-507-7902
cecconismiamibeach.comItalian and Mediterranean dishes are served on a foliage-filled patio at this restaurant tucked inside the Soho Beach House. Begin your evening at the 14-seat bar before sitting down to dinner. Look up to find the night sky competing with thousands of tiny white lights twinkling in the many trees dotting the property. The menu is classic, and appetites are made hearty by the soft hint of salt air. The ocean provides the music of pounding waves just a stone's throw away. Because the goal of a romantic meal is to sate, not stuff, start with a classic tuna tartare and share an order of handmade spaghetti with Maine lobster, chilies, and basil before moving on to Dover sole with lemon and capers or the grilled seafood for two. Indulge in a final toast with the restaurant's house-made limoncello.
The main dining room of Contessa will transport you to a classic Italian restaurant in New York.
Photo by Nicole Lopez-Alvar
Contessa
111 NE 41st St., Miami305-990-8707
contessaristorante.comIf classic, New York-style Italian cuisine is your idea of the perfect date night, then Contessa will surely hit the spot with its moody, glamorous, and dimly lit atmosphere. Open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, the menu offers the old-world sophistication of Northern Italy's iconic resorts and estates, making for an equally glamorous dining destination. Indulge in a carpaccio of Chianina beef, the most coveted Italian prosciutto, or tuck into a bowl of handmade tortellini en brodo. After a few glasses of wine from Contessa's vast list, you'll surely fall even more in love.
Klaw
1737 N. Bayshore Dr., Miami305-239-2523
klawrestaurant.comKlaw might sound more like the name of a cartoon villain than a romantic restaurant, but we can assure you that it's the latter. Take the golden elevator inside the historic Miami Women's Club building in Edgewater, and you'll encounter an elegant dining room with blue leather chairs and warm lighting. If you're here to gaze into your lover's eyes, opt for the candlelit rooftop with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay. Order succulent oysters, Norwegian king crab legs with melted butter, and dry-aged steaks. If you want to get even more intimate, Klaw has two private dining rooms perfect for planning the remainder of the evening or the rest of your lives together.
L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon
151 NE 41st St., Ste. 235, Miami305-402-9070
latelier-miami.comMuch like great fashion houses, the great chefs of the world create restaurants that keep their legacies alive. Although Joël Robuchon died in 2018, his name lives on at this Design District gem that marries the interactive ambiance of Japanese sushi counters with the casual spirit of Spain's tapas bars and Robuchon's take on modern French cuisine. Today, the chef's protégés stay true to his legacy with a menu of iconic Robouchon creations alongside dishes highlighting South Florida's regional bounty. Grab a seat at the communal bar facing the kitchen and order the "Evolution" tasting menu, or go à la carte with "Le Burger," a patty that blends foie gras and beef. Either way, you'll appreciate why L'Atelier is the only restaurant in Florida to earn two Michelin stars.
Skyline and waterfront views from La Mar by Gastón Acurio on Brickell Key in Miami.
Photo by Nicole Lopez-Alvar
La Mar by Gastón Acurio
500 Brickell Key Dr., Miami305-913-8358
mandarinoriental.comThe waterfront restaurant is the epitome of romance as it overlooks Brickell's skyline from Brickell Key. Peruvian culinary ambassador Gastón Acurio's Miami outpost of La Mar at the Mandarin Oriental on Brickell Key merges the humble cevicherías of Lima with the elegance of fine dining and the bold flavors of Nikkei cuisine. Orchestrated by Acurio protégé chef Diego Oka, who has honed his career at restaurants around the globe, the menu elevates Peruvian classics — such as the cold casseroles known as causas and the grilled, skewered meats (anticuchos) — to heights of refinement that make even the most squeamish first-timers swoon (or fall in love).
Leku
1100 NW 23rd St., Miami786-464-0615
lekumiami.com Most restaurants offer a place to dine, but the Rubell Museum has created a romantic masterpiece with its restaurant, Leku. Savor Basque cuisine in a lush tropical setting with dishes and cocktails inspired by the art showcased at the Rubell collection. For example, the Allison isnamed after the painting by Allison Zuckerman, which hangs over the bar. Dine a la carte, or indulge in the ten- or 15-course tasting menus (with optional wine pairings for each).
Macchialina in Miami Beach is a wonderful Italian restaurant that's perfect for date night.
Photo by Nicole Lopez-Alvar
Macchialina
820 Alton Rd, Miami Beach305-534-2124
macchialina.comTucked away in a tiny plaza along Alton Road, this local favorite has been Miami Beach's best-kept romantic secret for over a decade. The dimly lit restaurant full of candlelit tables and wine bottles will surely make you fall in love. Helmed by chef Michael Pirolo, he spent years traveling and cooking at Michelin-starred temples in Piedmont, Lombardy, Bologna, and Campagne before returning to the United States. Here, he debuted his own Italian restaurant, Macchialina. Pirolo's skills are many and precise; his menu is focused and beautifully simple: a handful apiece of starters, rustic pasta, and entrées. The flavors are forward, thanks to the expert deployment of fresh and fine ingredients, whether in the form of a salumi plate, a salad of heirloom tomatoes and locally made burrata cheese, a tagliatelle ai funghi, or a whole braised fish. The wine list is similarly concise (and Italian).
Mandolin Aegean Bistro
4312 NE Second Ave., Miami305-749-9140
mandolinmiami.comTake a stroll along NE Second Avenue in the Design District and stop at the blue-framed door of Mandolin Aegean Bistro, one of Miami's most loved restaurants. Enter the 1940s home, and you will feel like you're in a Greek village, complete with blue and white accents and white tables filled with mingling faces. Head to the cozy back patio for a complete Grecian experience, and enjoy a seat at a lantern-lit table beneath the trees and bistro lights. Share the Greek sampler, which comes with warm house-made bread and a trio of dips — tzatziki, olives, and tirokafteri — and then feast on Mediterranean delicacies such as whole grilled sea bass and chicken kebabs — hearty chunks of grilled chicken served with orzo pilaf and maroulosalata, the classic Greek green salad.
Noma Beach at Redfish
9610 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables305-668-8788
noma-beach.comIf romance to you looks like driving away from the city and dining by the water, Noma Beach will be your new favorite date night spot. Chef Donatella Arpaia gives one of Miami's most stunning dining venues a culinary facelift at Noma Beach at Redfish. The property — a gorgeous coral rock structure — is tucked into Matheson Hammock Park and is directly on the water, so your dinner soundtrack is accompanied by the gentle sound of the rushing waves and the hint of salt in the air. Start with a dozen oysters before decadent fire-grilled meats and Italian specialties, including a spaghetti alla Chitarra perfect for a re-creation of the famous Lady and the Tramp scene.
The Surf Club Restaurant
9011 Collins Ave., Surfside305-768-9440
surfclubrestaurant.comIf your idea of optimal romance lies in a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie, then Thomas Keller's the Surf Club Restaurant is the only setting that will do. This exquisite restaurant is all "champagne wishes and caviar dreams," as they say. Thomas Keller's menu is a hit list of every decadent classic white tablecloth dish: Caesar salad served tableside, lobster thermidor, Dover sole, and beef Wellington — however, the precision, care, and passion that comes from the kitchen make each item feel like it was just invented.
