Let’s cut straight to the chase—Miami features 84 miles of Atlantic coastline and endless waterways, yet finding a restaurant that serves both knockout views and decent food? Well, let’s just say it’s as rare as a cool Miami day in August. Sadly, at many places, the waterfront premium you pay often subsidizes mediocre meals while you ride on million-dollar backdrops.
After years of sampling waterside dining across Miami-Dade, from hidden fish shacks to fancy yacht hangouts, we’ve compiled the spots truly worth your time and money. Our criteria? Would the food impress even if served in a strip mall? Does the view actually enhance your dining experience rather than justify the markup? We’ve eaten countless disappointing $30 Caesar salads beside beautiful waters so you don’t have to. Below, the best waterfront restaurants in Miami.
April 2025: This recent update welcomes three favorites to the waterfront dining scene: newcomer Yaya Coastal Cuisine in North Miami with its Mediterranean fare, Casa Neos, which brings chic crowds and unique flavors, and Avra Miami in Sunny Isles, where Greek classics meet Atlantic views.
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