OpenTable Inc.
05/25/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/25/2021 09:32
The Best Outdoor Dining in Miami for Your Next Dinner Out
Miami has great weather year round - and the patios to prove it. Outdoor dining is a perk of living in the Sunshine State, giving residents the chance to dine al fresco on everything from Cuban to Italian. And the settings in Miami are just as diverse as the city's cuisines: Take your pick from water views, city skylines, abundant gardens, or raucous rooftops.
Check out the best outdoor dining in Miami, all available to reserve on OpenTable.
For Latin American in Wynwood: Amara at Paraiso
If you're looking for a meal with a spectacular view, check out Amara at Paraiso, perched right on Biscayne Bay. Headed up by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz, the restaurant serves a Latin American menu that includes Florida yellowtail snapper and locally caught stone crab. For an excellent spot for midweek happy hour or Sunday brunch, snag a scenic seat on the upper deck.
Credit: Ariete
For Cuban-inflected fine dining in Coconut Grove: Ariete
Stepping into Ariete's outdoor dining area feels like you've been invited to an exclusive garden party. The Coconut Grove restaurant combines executive chef and owner Michael Beltran's Cuban heritage with his European training in a lush outdoor setting. This combination comes to life in dishes such as a tamale with sea urchin and pork fat foam or a large-format duck for two served three ways: a 14-day dry aged duck breast with pistachio dukkah, a duck tamale with wild mushroom and foie gravy, and a duck fricassee pastelito with green salad.
For bottomless mimosas Downtown: Casa Florida
Casa Florida is basically three outdoor spaces in one, allowing diners to choose their ideal atmosphere. 'The Playground' features a ping pong table and a renovated 1969 GM bus that serves as a cocktail lounge. For the second, head up to 'the Deck' to grab a drink from the shipping container turned bar and DJ booth. Lastly, 'the Lawn' is a smattering of socially distanced tables to eat dishes such as tuna tostadas or zucchini carpaccio. To make a day of it, book the bottomless mimosas experience on OpenTable.
For a meat-centric feast in Wynwood: The Butcher Shop Beer Garden
Craving some meat? Get your protein fix with the housemade sausages and prime cuts of steak from The Butcher Shop Beer Garden in Wynwood, home to a full-service butcher shop, restaurant, and outdoor bar. Snag a seat on the covered terrace to enjoy hearty meals such as skirt steak, bacon and gorgonzola burgers, and pierogies, all available to pair with the restaurant's large beer selection.
For an ocean view in South Beach: Fuego y Mar
Credit: Fuego y Mar
At Fuego y Mar, the menu is influenced by Mexican, Cuban, Venezuelan and Colombian cuisines, with a focus on fresh, simple ingredients. Located inside the Ritz Carlton on South Beach, the restaurant has outdoor seating with full views of the pool and ocean. The Sunday brunch draws a crowd, offering omelet and carving stations with unlimited mimosas or bellinis to wash them down.
For sunset views in Wynwood: Astra
The 10,000-square-foot rooftop deck at Astra features lots of greenery and laidback couch seating, giving diners plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the sunsets in Wynwood. The Mediterranean menu includes lobster pasta, lamb chops, and grilled octopus, along with a late-night menu and a bottomless brunch option on Sundays.
For an intimate view of Peacock Park: Glass & Vine
Credit: Glass & Vine
Featuring an expansive patio beneath a canopy of trees next to the chic and spacious open-air bar and restaurant, there's not a bad seat in the house at Glass & Vine. The contemporary American menu from James Beard Award-nominated chef Giorgio Rapicavoli features a variety of locally sourced options and classics with a South Florida twist. Enjoy dishes such as deep fried whole snapper, grilled heritage pork with guava applewood glaze, or sip on brunch cocktails between bites of the corn cereal-crusted french toast.
For fresh Florida seafood in Wynwood: Three and No.3 Social
The food at Three and No.3 Social is inspired by local flavors, where the seasonal, market-driven menu can include Wagyu beef bavette steak and seafood platters with East Coast oysters, wild Florida shrimp, and ceviche from local fish. Diners can eat in the lounge or on the rooftop deck that overlooks the artsy neighborhood. Popular cocktails like 'Fly Me to Tulum,' a riff on a spicy margarita, and the rosé-based 'F'Rose' are just as summery and bright as the restaurant's decor.
For Italian on the Upper East Side: Vista
Venture to Miami's Upper East Side to dine at Vista, an Italian restaurant with two outdoor seating areas: a flourishing, plant-filled outdoor garden and a soaring rooftop deck. The restaurant's menu ranges from pizzas to proteins, with dishes such as arugula and prosciutto pizza, chicken milanese panini, and gnocchi sorrentina pasta.
For Caribbean in Liberty City: Naomi's Garden
Naomi's Garden started as a vegetarian food truck, but now has a permanent home on a garden property in Liberty City. The casual spot serves Haitian-Caribbean food such as jerk chicken and fried snapper, as well as vegan options like spinach stew. Allow extra time to hang out in the garden and enjoy the midweek music and art events. Walk-ins only.
For an epic rooftop in South Beach: MILA
Credit: MILA
MILA is a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant on Lincoln Road that boasts a 5,000-square-foot rooftop deck with a bohemian vibe and an upscale menu to match the surroundings. Stop in for signature dishes such as Wagyu beef carpaccio with onion jam and salted seaweed, and sweet-spicy soy glazed salmon with a panzanella tomato salad. Looking for a special occasion brunch? Check out the two-hour, shareable, multi-course menu, which includes options such as eggs Benedict with blood orange hollandaise sauce and corn on the cob with feta cream.
For thoughtful eats in the Design District: Michael's Genuine Food and Drink
Simple preparations of locally sourced ingredients is the driving force behind the menu at this airy Design District outpost from James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz. The menu rotates often to accommodate for seasonal changes, but always includes a variety of fresh caught seafood and creatively prepared vegetables. Sitting on the outdoor patio, surrounded by lush potted plants and twinkling lights, enjoy dishes such as charred leeks with smoked swordfish tonnato, or wood oven-roasted tilefish with a kimchi vinaigrette.
Mariette Williams is a South Florida-based travel and culture writer who has been featured in Travel + Leisure, Essence, VICE, and lots more. Follow her on Twitter @mariettewrites.
Lauren McDowell contributed reporting for this guide.