9 Miami Restaurants With Insane Holiday Menus This Season
Miami goes big for the holidays, and this season’s restaurant lineups might be the wildest yet. From oceanfront Italian glamour to Michelin-starred indulgence, these spots are pulling out all the stops with over-the-top feasts and sparkling brunches. You will find luxe crudos, truffle-laced tasting menus, and waterfront vibes that turn dinner into an event. Bookmark this list and snag your reservations before the prime tables disappear.
1. Lido Restaurant & Champagne Bar at The Surf Club
Celebrate with luxe Italian holiday menus in a historic oceanfront setting that feels tailor-made for sparkle and sea breezes. Expect jewel-box crudos glistening on ice, delicate handmade pastas, and a festive brunch where bubbles flow generously. You will perch by the palms, savoring sunlight with every bite.
The team leans into timeless technique and high-end ingredients, balancing rich sauces with bright Mediterranean lifts. Think elegant carpaccios, butter-kissed lobster, and citrus that wakes up the palate. Desserts arrive like gifts, layered with creams and crunch.
Service keeps the mood celebratory yet relaxed, perfect for lingering conversations and holiday stories. You will leave plotting a return, because the room, the view, and the plates stage the season beautifully.
2. Altamura Trattoria
Enjoy a warm, seafood-driven Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes style menu crafted by husband-and-wife chefs for Christmas Eve. The room glows like a neighborhood gathering, and the plates come anchored in tradition with just enough sparkle. You will taste briny freshness in crudos, grilled prawns, and stews.
Handmade pastas catch the sea’s essence, with ribbons of tagliatelle napping in shellfish brodo. There is a gentle cadence to the courses, inviting you to slow down. Sauces whisper of fennel, garlic, and citrus zest.
Wine pairings lean Italian and coastal, making each bite sing. Save room for a not-too-sweet finish like olive oil cake. Christmas Eve feels intimate here, as if you were invited to the family table.
3. L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
Indulge in a Michelin-starred five-course Christmas Eve feast featuring foie gras, king crab, and truffle-laced compositions that thrill. The counter theater lets you watch the brigade’s choreography as each plate lands with sculpted precision. You will savor textures balancing silk, crunch, and gloss.
Expect premium mains cooked with exacting technique, sauces that hum with umami, and meticulous garnishes. Each course builds tension, then releases with focused flavor and warmth. Service feels polished yet personal, guiding choices without fuss.
Pairings elevate the arc, from Champagne sharpened by salinity to Burgundy with quiet power. Desserts arrive architectural, sweet yet disciplined. By the final bite, Christmas Eve glows like lacquered mahogany and candlelight.
4. Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink
A locally inspired Christmas Eve dinner highlights South Florida ingredients from field and sea. You will find pheasant terrine with jeweled pickles, confit goose with citrus gravy, and vegetables that taste like sunshine. The vibe is easygoing, design-forward, and neighborhood-warm.
Menus shift with the market, so expect surprises that make sense. Wood-fired touches add smoke and snap to crisped edges, while bright herbs keep plates lively. Cocktails lean seasonal, with bitters, spice, and tropical notes.
Service has a welcoming rhythm, guiding you through small plates to share and heartier mains. Save room for a nostalgic dessert reimagined. Christmas Eve feels grounded here, grounded yet special, like a celebration of place.
5. Aguasal
Chef José Andrés’s spot offers an elegant Mediterranean holiday dinner that’s equal parts comfort and spectacle. Picture foie gras with jewel-like fruit, and a Wagyu Wellington wrapped in golden pastry that shatters delicately. You will linger over sauces that carry warmth and sun.
On Christmas Day, a bubbly-forward brunch keeps spirits high with crisp bottles and savory surprises. Expect eggs soft as clouds, seafood glistening with olive oil, and desserts with citrus brightness. The room feels generous, modern, and celebratory.
Service keeps the tempo smooth, so nothing feels rushed. Each course lands with confidence and a wink. Bring friends who love big flavors and bigger stories, then toast to another glittering Miami morning.
6. Pao by Paul Qui
Celebrate Christmas Eve with upscale Asian-fusion plates that shimmer under Faena’s golden glow. Truffled scallops arrive delicate and aromatic, while sake-aged Wagyu prime rib slices like velvet. You will feel the room’s drama heighten each bite.
Flavors sweep from citrus-kissed to deeply umami, anchored by exacting technique and tropical touches. Cocktails play with spice, fruit, and restrained sweetness, keeping everything bright. The service choreography is seamless, attentive without hovering.
Save time to wander the art-filled spaces before or after dinner. The evening becomes a mini-holiday escape, glamorous and transportive. By the last sip, you will swear the lights twinkle a little brighter.
7. Amara at Paraiso
Bask in waterfront views while enjoying a Latin-leaning Christmas Eve menu that balances smoke, citrus, and chile. You will sip festive cocktails sparkling with passion fruit and spice, then dive into seafood, grilled meats, and bright salads. Live music drifts across the bay.
The kitchen leans into hearth and wood, giving dishes a satisfying edge. Think charred octopus with herb sauce, mojo-roasted pork, and plantains caramelized just right. Everything tastes like a celebration under string lights.
Service keeps the energy high yet relaxed, letting the evening unfold with a beachy cadence. Dessert might be flan or a tropical pavlova. It is the kind of dinner where the skyline becomes part of the memory.
8. Aviv
A vibrant Israeli restaurant remixing the classic Chinese food on Christmas tradition with swagger and soul. Picture bold mezze that pop with herbs, tahini, and heat, plus fried rice threaded with spices and crispy bits. You will chase bites with bright pickles and fresh salads.
Smoked duck lands juicy, perfumed, and ready for wraps with soft laffa. Sauces bring tang and smoke, then a clean finish. The room buzzes with music, laughter, and golden light.
Desserts flex sesame, pistachio, and citrus, playful and shareable. Cocktails lean aromatic, with anise and pomegranate accents. It is a holiday plan that feels deliciously off-script, exactly when you want a new tradition.
9. Jaya at the Setai
A lavish Christmas Day brunch unfolds in a serene luxury setting where caviar, sushi, and grilled meats take center stage. Live jazz floats across reflecting pools while holiday cocktails sparkle in the glass. You will find Santa dropping by with smiles and photo ops.
Stations brim with color and craft, from delicate nigiri to smoky skewers and winter-bright salads. Service glides gracefully, clearing plates like choreography. The room’s calm turns brunch into a spa for the senses.
Save space for patisserie and tropical fruits that taste like sunshine. Toast with something effervescent and soak in the moment. This is Miami glamour, refined and welcoming, perfect for family and friends.
