What’s going to be your first restaurant experience of 2023? If you need plans to kick off 2023 on the right foot, these great eateries will be open on January 1 for your dining pleasure. Happy New Year!
CJ’s Crab Shack
Treat yourself to king crab, snow crab, and more at CJ’s Crab Shack on Ocean Drive. The South Beach favorite is known for its generous seafood portions, and it’s the perfect way to start the new year before the new diet kicks in. Besides all things crab, the restaurant serves up a bevy of other delights like steamed clams, fried shrimp, lobster tail, and blacked salmon. A full bar brings your meal full circle—cheers!
Contessa
Usher in 2023 at Miami’s newest hotspot! Major Food Group’s newly opened Contessa Miami will offer a special four-course menu on December 31st showcasing the very finest meat, fish, and pasta. Signature menu highlights include Contessa’s famed spicy lobster rigatoni, ribeye tagliata, ricotta gnudi with black truffle, and a delectable torta di baci or pistachio gelato to wrap your meal. Contessa Miami will have two seatings – the first from 6 – 8:30 p.m. and the second from 8:30 – 10:15 p.m. for the countdown celebration. The restaurant will also open for brunch and dinner on New Year’s Day.
Contessa is located at 111 NE 41st Street, Miami, FL 33137. For more information, visit their official website.
La Mar By Gaston Acurio
On New Year’s Day, stop by La Mar for its newly relaunched brunch. Starting at $135 per person, guests will choose from La Mar’s sizeable dining spread which, among many items, consists of elaborate hot and cold food stations replete with signature ceviches, causas, sushi, and salads, as well as juicy anticuchos, fried whole fish, empanadas and other traditional Peruvian cuisine created with Oka’s signature modern flair.
In addition to the sumptuous buffet, the brunch experience includes seafood and grill stations; tableside Chaufa Aeropuerto to share; a choice of main course; and assorted desserts, including the famous Dessert Retablo. Brunch also includes two-hour brunch cocktails, select wines, beers, and champagne.
La Mar By Gaston Acurio is located inside the Mandarin Oriental, Miami at 500 Brickell Key Drive, Miami, FL 33131. For more information, visit their official website.
La Terraza at Fiola
La Terrazza at Fiola, the rooftop restaurant and lounge located on the penthouse level of the 1515 Sunset Building, is inviting guests to experience an unforgettable New Year’s Day with the launch of Sunday Jazz Brunch.
La Terrazza’s New Year’s Day Brunch features a Bellini and bloody Mary bar, live jazz with music by Mark Small trio, and panoramic views of Coral Gables and South Miami.
Menu offerings include classic brunch favorites and some of Fiola’s iconic pastas such as Fettuccine Bolognese and Fusilli Pesto.
La Terrazza is located at 1500 San Ignacio Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33146. For more information, visit their official website.
The Lobster Shack
If crab isn’t your thing but lobster is, check out CJ’s sister concept The Lobster Shack for a tasty New Year’s Day meal. The restaurant has two South Beach locations, ensuring a delicious lobster roll is always close by. Warmed, chilled, lightly dressed, all the fixin’s… You’ll find all sorts of variations on the classic roll here. While lobster is the bread and butter here, there are plenty of other items too like fish tacos, baked oysters, shrimp salad, and clam chowder. There’s also a kid’s menu if you want to bring the whole family. And just like its sibling, The Lobster Shack has a full bar.
Orno Miami
On New Year’s Day, visit Orno, the ingredient-focused restaurant at THesis Hotel Miami in Coral Gables, for a Sunday hangover brunch. The brunch menu will take guests on a gastronomic journey with innovative twists on traditional fare, including the Belgian waffle, served with honeycrisp apple and maple crème fraîche, the ricotta pancake, topped with Nutella and hazelnut praline; grilled wagyu steak, served with wood-roasted farm eggs, heirloom tomato and chimichurri; Maine lobster toast, topped with avocado, farm egg, everything spice, and chili oil; and house-made pastrami Benedict, served with hollandaise, poached farm egg, and latkes.
Orno Miami is located at 1350 South Dixie Highway, Coral Gables, FL 33146. For more information, visit their official website.
RED South Beach
RED South Beach always goes big on the holidays, and New Year’s is no exception. The restaurant will be open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day with special prix fixe options as well as a la carte selections—take your pick. Regardless of what you choose, you’re doing New Year’s right with a visit to this esteemed steakhouse.
Riviera Focacceria Italiana
Looking to celebrate the New Year in a more laid-back way? Stop by Riviera Focacceria Italiana in Midtown Miami. The restaurant is closed on NYE but will be open on January 1st for all your pasta needs. The beloved neighborhood restaurant will be serving its regular menu, which you know is anything but regular if you’ve been here before. The eatery is known for stellar dishes like octopus carpaccio, seafood linguine, mushroom pappardelle, and veal Milanese.
Update: Riviera Focacceria Italiana is permanently closed.
Toscana Divino
Italian food and wine are a match made in heaven, and Toscana Divino will have plenty of both to welcome 2023. The restaurant will be open on both NYE and NYD serving a la carte specials like dry-aged tuna Wellington, Australian lamb loin, and hazelnut macarons. All of these will pair perfectly with selections from the restaurant’s extensive wine list—one of the largest in South Florida. Reservations are strongly recommended.
