Brian Nagele
One of the main reasons people come to Miami, Florida, whether it’s to visit or to live year-round, is because of all the perks that come with being in a coastal city. There is so much to do by water. You can swim, hang out on the beach, and go fishing or boating, but my favorite thing to do by the water is eat.
Not only does Miami have some of the best restaurants in the country, but many of them are located right on the water for a pleasant view while you eat. Pretty much any cuisine you can imagine, you can find it at a beautiful waterfront restaurant in Miami.
If you’re looking for all the best places to eat by the water in Miami, then you’ll want to keep on reading. I went around the city and found all of the best waterfront restaurants Miami has to offer and ranked them on this list down below, so check it out the next time you want to go out to eat!
La Mar by Gaston Acurio
500 Brickell Key Dr, Miami, FL 33131
Phone: 305-913-8358
This first place is called La Mar by Gaston Acurio. This place is amazing in every way, not least of which is the beautiful view of Downtown Miami from its location on Brickell Key inside the Mandarin Oriental Miami.
You can eat dinner here within arms reach of the blue waters of Biscayne Bay while you watch the boats and yachts sail past.
What I recommend from La Mar is the lomo saltado. This dish is a classic and the chef here has absolutely mastered it. You can also just go for the La Mar Experience option where you’ll get to experience the chef’s signature selections.
Rusty Pelican – Miami
3201 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne, FL 33149
Phone: 305-361-3818
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Rusty Pelican is a name that may be familiar to some of my readers out there and that’s because they also have a location in Tampa that has made my lists for that city, as well, so you already know this is a great place to eat.
Rusty Pelican Miami is conveniently located next to Hobie Island Beach Park on Virginia Key, so you’re afforded breathtaking views of Downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay.
They even have a restaurant dock for their seagoing patrons here at the Rusty Pelican, so if you’re a hungry boater, be sure to stop on by!
Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish Market
398 NW N River Dr, Miami, FL 33128
Phone: 305-375-0765
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Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish Market is one of the many unbeatable places to eat with a beautiful view of the busy Miami River. You can relax and watch the marine traffic sail by while you chow down on some delicious food.
I love Garcia’s because they’re located in a quieter part of Miami, so it’s ideal for a relaxing lunch or dinner away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
I highly recommend the conch steak when you come to Garcia’s, but there are myriad other options to choose from like a grilled swordfish filet or a Florida lobster that are sure to please.
Cafe Kush
7700 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138
Phone: 305-985-4764
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Cafe Kush is nestled into the bank of a small river off of Biscayne Boulevard, inside the Selina Miami Gold Dust motel and just south of the Midpoint mall in the Upper East Side district.
The greatest part about Cafe Kush, besides the waterfront location, is the eclectic menu. I had the coq au vin, which is a classic French dish that I was not expecting to find here. It was absolutely divine!
I also recommend the French onion burger. I’ve ordered this here before and it was so mind-blowingly cheesy that I get hungry just thinking about it.
Monty’s Raw Bar
2550 S Bayshore Dr, Miami, FL 33133
Phone: 305-856-3992
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Monty’s Raw Bar is up next and they are a local favorite when it comes to Miami waterfront dining. They’re located in Bayshore Landing on Bayshore Drive in Northeast Coconut Grove, not far from The Fresh Market.
Monty’s is located in a humongous marina, so you get to watch all the yachts and boats move about as you enjoy your meal. Be sure to come here when they have live music playing, too. It’s always a part here at Monty’s Raw Bar.
One thing I recommend the most on their menu is an order of the jumbo stone crab claws. They’re so fresh and tasty you’ll want to eat their whole supply.
Amara at Paraiso
3101 NE 7th Ave, Miami, FL 33137
Phone: 305-702-5528
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Amara at Paraiso has made my lists before when it comes to outdoor dining, but the real spectacle here is the waterfront view of Pace Picnic Island and the Intracoastal Waterway.
I highly recommend grabbing a table outside on the patio when you come to Amara at Paraiso. Once you’re seated, I suggest trying one of the unique cocktails they have to sip on while you peruse the menu.
As far as food goes, I tried the grilled grouper and I found it to be absolutely delectable, but there are plenty of other options like a pan roasted half chicken or arroz verde.
The Lido Bayside Grill
The Standard Spa, 40 Island Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: 786-245-0880
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Right inside The Standard Spa Miami Beach found on beautiful Belle Isle is a restaurant called The Lido Bayside Grill which I consider to be one of the best waterfront restaurants in Miami, by far. After all, it doesn’t get much more “waterfront” than eating on an island.
The raw bar is my favorite part of eating at The Lido Bayside Grill. There are so many delicious options like salmon poke, oysters, uni, caviar, and so much more. If you want to taste the bounty of the sea, this is where it’s at.
You’re definitely going to want to grab a seat outside when you eat at The Lido because the view of the bay is just too beautiful not to see as close up as possible.
Verde
1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
Phone: 786-345-5697
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Verde is an absolute gem of an establishment and that’s not just because of its convenient location, although that does play a part. You can find this amazing restaurant inside the Pérez Art Museum Miami next to the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science inside Maurice A. Ferré Park.
What I recommend from Verde is either a pizza or one of their juicy burgers, but there are so many other options to choose from. The best part is the view of the MacArthur Causeway bridge that you get from their dining area. It’s unbeatable.
Shuckers Waterfront Bar & Grill
1819 79th Street Causeway, North Bay Village, FL 33141
Phone: 305-866-1570
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Shuckers Waterfront Bar & Grill is where I like to eat by the water in Miami. This place is located inside the Best Western On the Bay Inn & Marina over in the North Bay Village, a small island community in Biscayne Bay near North Beach. It’s a quiet waterfront restaurant with stunning views and delicious food.
What I recommend ordering from Shuckers is always going to be oysters on the half shell. After all, oysters are the restaurant’s namesake. Another great menu item to try is the shrimp po’boy sandwich or even the turkey burger if you’re looking for something a bit healthier.
Seaspice Brasserie & Lounge
412 NW N River Dr, Miami, FL 33128
Phone: 305-440-4200
Seaspice Brasserie & Lounge is an upscale Miami waterfront restaurant that’s located on North River Drive near the Lummus Park Historic District, overlooking the Miami River.
If you’re looking for fine dining by the water, then look no further. Seaspice has everything you could ever want, and more to make your night absolutely magical, including one of the most extensive selections of wine that I’ve come across yet.
I highly recommend either the Maine lobster risotto or the black truffle risotto, but both options are sure to please. After dinner, make sure to save room for some tres leche or tiramisu.
Redfish by Chef Adrianne
9610 Old Cutler Rd, Miami, FL 33156
Phone: 305-668-8788
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Redfish by Chef Adrianne is a bit out of the way for some, but trust me, it’s well worth any bit of driving you might have to do to get here. This waterfront restaurant is one of my favorite places to eat when I want to escape all of the chaos of the city for an evening, thanks to its location in Matheson Hammock Park.
What I recommend when you get to Redfish is refraining from eating too much of the warm complementary bread and butter which is a very difficult task. For an entree, I highly recommend either the classic fish n’ chips or a tasty seafood cioppino stew.
Tigre Miami
620 NE 78th St, Miami, FL 33138
Phone: 305-456-9540
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This next amazing place to eat on the water in Miami is an Argentinian restaurant called Tigre. Tigre is situated right on the bank of a river that snakes its way through North Miami.
I love sitting in the outdoor seating area here and watching the river flow past while I eat and drink on a beautiful day. I recommend starting with one of their meat and cheese charcuterie boards before moving into the mouth-watering Patagonian sea bass.
For dessert, you can choose between a trio of gelato flavors, a malbec poached pear, or a chocolate ganache tart.
Il Gabbiano
335 S Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33131
Phone: 305-373-0063
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Il Gabbiano is a refined dining destination for waterfront views in Miami while you eat. They’re located inside the massive One Miami Condominium West Tower near Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami. This place is right in the heart of all the action.
I highly recommend trying an order of the veal piccata or the chicken Milanese. Both of these dishes were superb the times that I had the pleasure of sampling them.
If you’re looking to splurge a bit on wine, then this is the place for you. Il Gabbiano features a wine menu with bottles ranging to over $5000, so make sure you check the prices before ordering!
Kiki on the River
450 NW N River Dr, Miami, FL 33128
Phone: 786-502-3243
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Kiki on the River overlooks the Miami River from its location near the Lummus Park Historic District, so it’s a lovely place to eat and watch the water. They specialize in Mediterranean cuisine here like Greek, and they do it very well if you ask me.
My favorite dish to order from here, and most other Greek restaurants, is the lamb. Lamb chops are some of my favorite cuts of meat, so whenever I see them on a menu, it’s hard to pass them up.
If you can’t make up your mind and you’re in a party of at least 4, you should definitely go with Kiki’s Greatest Hits menu option which includes a family-style sharing experience of all their best dishes.
The Wetlab
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149
Phone: 786-660-6749
This next place on my list of top waterfront restaurants in Miami is called The Wetlab and they can be found over on the Rickenbacker Causeway near Historic Virginia Key Beach Park and the Miami Seaquarium. It’s the ideal location for a waterfront dining experience after a day at the park or the aquarium.
The Wetlab is more of a bar, really, but it’s still a great place to go for a fun night out by the water in Miami. They have cold beer on tap and all sorts of live music events happening all the time, so come by and check it out!
SALT Waterfront Restaurant
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149
Phone: 786-660-6749
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Right next to The Wetlab on the campus of University of Miami Oceans and Human Health Center is an amazing gastropub called SALT Waterfront Restaurant that you do not want to miss out on.
They have incredible bar food here that never disappoints and cold drinks that taste even better when you’re staring out over the bay at a beautiful sunset.
I really enjoy the burgers here at SALT, but the falafel sandwich and fish wrap are also some top contenders. Definitely give their menu a thorough look because it is pretty big and has some unique options.
The Deck at Island Gardens
888 MacArthur Causeway, Miami, FL 33132
Phone: 786-627-4949
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Last up is a place called The Deck at Island Gardens. This is the last stop on my Miami waterfront restaurants list, but it shouldn’t be your last stop when you’re in town.
I love coming to The Deck because it’s right by Jungle Island and the Miami Children’s Museum on Watson Island, so there’s plenty of family fun nearby.
This place has quite the menu. You’ll find everything from salt crusted Florida snapper served whole to a Prime, dry-aged, 32-ounce tomahawk ribeye. Sometimes it’s hard to make up your mind when you come to The Deck.
Waterfront dining is in Miami’s DNA. After all, the most enjoyable parts of the city all revolve around the water, if you ask me, and eating out is no exception, so be sure to check out all these waterfront restaurants in Miami the next time you’re going out to eat.
Not interested in waterfront dining? You might like some of these steakhouses around town instead!
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment and we’ll check it out!
