Romantic Restaurants in Miami, Florida

I started my culinary adventure through Miami at Villa Azur, an elegant gourmet restaurant in South Beach that serves exotic French Mediterranean dishes prepared with an Italian twist.

Featuring romantic décor with antique drop chandeliers and vintage motifs, the restaurant has a menu reflecting that same style. Villa Azur has a raw oyster and caviar bar, tartare and carpaccio, cold and warm appetizers, and a range of fresh seafood, meat, and pasta dishes.

If you are looking for best Miami restaurants to celebrate a special occasion, this is a great place to try. A separate dessert menu presents sweet delights such as tarte tartin, pannacotta and dulce de Leche, and the food can be paired with a selection of the finest wines from the restaurant's in-house wine cellar or a seasonal, signature cocktail.

Villa Azur, 309 23rd St, Miami Beach
Phone: 305-763-8688

Seaspice Brasserie and Lounge invites guests to come and enjoy a wonderful evening of cocktails and dinner with beautiful views of the Miami River and the downtown skyline. The menu truly caters to all tastes featuring their signature wood-fired casseroles, a brilliant assortment of appetizers, lip-smacking seafood platters and traditional entrees like Hot-stone grilled Wagyu or delicious New Zealand Rack of Lamb.

In addition, they also serve a variety of beautifully crafted pasta (house made) dishes and risottos. Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays and features their Maine Lobster Benedict which will have you coming back time after time.

Seaspice Brasserie and Lounge, 412 NW N. River Drive, Miami, FL 33128
Phone: 305-440-4200

The white-washed building with blue trimmed windows and brightly colored bougainvillea that houses Mandolin Aegean Bistro transports you to the magical Mediterranean as soon as you step through the doors.

Set in a beautiful 1940s house located between the Design District and the historic Buena Vista, Mandolin serves traditional Aegean food from the azure coasts of Greece and Turkey.

Founded by husband and wife Anastasia Koutsioukis and Ahmet Erkaya, Mandolin features a menu that is ingredient-driven, and they use locally caught fish and farm raised meat, pure olive oil, fresh herbs and vegetables, and homemade breads, cheeses, and yogurt in all their dishes.

Enjoy traditional mezes, fresh salads and sandwiches, and a variety of mains and desserts at this charming bistro.

Mandolin Aegean Bistro, 4312 NE 2nd Ave, Miami
Phone: 305-749-9140

Date Ideas:

Located in the vibrant Design District, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink is a friendly, laid-back neighborhood bistro that serves delicious homemade and seasonal cuisine for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

Chef/owner Michael Schwartz is dedicated to using only the freshest ingredients for his menu, which offers dishes such as chargrilled octopus, shitake mushroom risotto, and triggerfish ceviche, all of whose ingredients are sourced from local farmers and producers.

The food menu is accompanied by an exciting list of handcrafted cocktails, beer, and wine. Enjoy weekend brunch alfresco style on the sun-dappled patio or make a selection from the new late afternoon menu of small plates and snacks.

Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, 130 Northeast 40th Street, Miami
Phone: 305-573-5550

Your dining experience at Paperfish Sushi is intended to transport you from the mundane to the sublime. This contemporary Tokyo-inspired eatery will surprise you around every corner. Guests are invited to step through the traditional red torii gates into a beautiful outdoor terrace or the elegant inside dining area, where your taste buds will be treated to carefully crafted, contemporary Japanese cuisine.

The menu is made up of a selection of beautiful dishes in small or large portions, ideal for sharing. Everything that reaches your table has been made using the freshest seasonal local produce which takes your meal to the next level. There are 2 locations.

Paperfish Sushi, 1421 S. Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33131
Phone: 305-741-0936

Paperfish Sushi, 432 Espanola Way, Miami Beach, FL 33130
Phone: 305-686-0579

LoKal is a hip Coconut Grove restaurant operated by top Miami chef Matthew Kuscher, serving up sustainably-sourced burgers and gastropub fare in an industrial-chic venue.

The restaurant, which opened to the public in 2011, is named for the German word for "meeting place" and is the first restaurant within Miami-Dade County to use 100% renewable energy for all of its operations. Locally-sourced and sustainably-produced ingredients are used in all meals, including grass-fed burgers sourced from nearby Fort McCoy Ranch.

All of the restaurant's clever burger offerings can be prepared vegan or gluten-free upon request, with many sandwich platters offering inventive beef-free options prepared with chicken, fish, turkey, or vegetarian burgers. A draft beer list highlights unique regional offerings, while a doggie menu allows four-legged friends to dine with their owners.

LoKal, 3190 Commodore Plaza, Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Phone: 305-442-3377

Fried chicken, magnolias, and Moon Pies come to mind when thinking of Yardbird Southern Table & Bar. Located on Lenox Avenue in Miami Beach, this stylish restaurant pays homage to classic Southern cooking, culture, and hospitality, and it offers a seasonal menu with dishes made with innovative flair and farm-fresh ingredients. Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the Southern Table offers a relaxed and comfortable place to gather and enjoy good food and wine with friends.

Menus include favorite Southern classics such as fried green tomatoes, skillet cornbread, and smoked brisket with buttermilk biscuits, while the bar menu boasts an array of libations, traditional Southern cocktails and bourbons, draft and canned beer, and a range of whiskey and wine.

Yardbird Southern Table and Bar, 1600 Lenox Avenue, Miami Beach
Phone: 305-538-5220

Bringing the unforgettable flavors and aromas of Peru to several locations in Miami, Aromas del Peru will transport you to the little fishing port of Chimboti in Peru, where owner/manager Marita Astete grew up. The emphasis is on serving authentic Peruvian cuisine using the freshest locally-sourced ingredients. Peruvian cuisine traditionally features plenty of vegetables, beef and seafood, which means than everyone can find something fresh and delicious to enjoy. Each of the 6 venues offers a warm welcome, excellent cocktails and a relaxing atmosphere. A few of their signature dishes include Ceviche 3 Ways, Tuna Tartar, succulent Parilla Mixta and much more.

Aromas del Peru, 5757 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33144
Phone: 786-347-0506