The Best Miami Restaurants to Celebrate a Special Occasion

4 mins read
Riviera Focacceria Italiana

Looking for the perfect restaurant to celebrate a special occasion? Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, engagement, or just a long overdue get-together with loved ones, finding the right place can make all the difference. Here are some great spots to make some great memories:

Ironside Pizza

Pastas and pizzas abound at Ironside Pizza, the namesake neighborhood’s go-to spot for all Italian food. The beautiful restaurant offers plenty of space and plenty of delicious food to host any special occasion.

La Estancia  

Whether you want to celebrate your special occasion with small bites or large platters, La Estancia has it all covered.

Keep things casual with an assortment of empanadas and other light starters or go all out with the Argentinean restaurant’s famous parilladas, which come loaded with steak, chicken, sausage and more – it’s a meat mountain. Just make sure nobody in your party is vegan.

Leku

Don’t let the museum setting fool you: Leku is one of the best restaurants in Miami – and one of the best restaurants for celebrating special occasions.

The spacious eatery features an extensive menu of delectable Basque cuisine that will blow your mind with every bite. Standouts include the Iberian pork tartare, the wild mushroom rice, the sole meuniere and the duck breast. The cocktail and wine list is just as varied, so you can expect your party to keep going for a while.

Leku is located at 1100 NW 23rd Street, Miami, FL 33127. For more information, visit their official website.

Riviera Focacceria

Over in Midtown Miami, Riviera Focacceria remains a solid option for celebrating any special occasion thanks to its spectacular Italian specialties. The restaurant may tend to fly under the radar, but the food deserves any and all praise – especially the famous focaccia di recco.

Regular Dish Miami readers know that we rave about this cheesy dish every time, and that isn’t changing any time soon: It’s a masterpiece. So are items like the spaghetti al pomodoro, veal Milanese and gnocchi al pesto, which also deserve a look. Heck, the whole menu is great.

Update: Riviera Focacceria Italiana is permanently closed. 

Zuma

Located in the heart of downtown Miami, Zuma offers a sophisticated Japanese dining experience that’s ideal for special occasions.

The sleek, modern decor and stunning views of Biscayne Bay are a breathtaking backdrop for the delicious cuisine, which ranges from sushi and sashimi to signature dishes like barley miso-marinated baby chicken, roasted lobster with shiso ponzu butter, and rice hot pot. As you’ve probably guessed, it’s not cheap but it’s oh so worth it.

Zuma is located at 270 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Miami, FL 33131. For more information, visit their official website.

Geoffrey Anderson

Geoffrey Anderson Jr. is a contributing/staff writer for Dish Miami. For over six years, he has covered the South Florida dining scene with his wife for the award-winning local food blog Miami Food Pug. When he's not writing about food, he's eating it—or attending rock concerts and traveling.

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