Eat, Drink & Be Merry

DINING

Eat, Drink
& Be Merry

By Melissa Puppo

WHETHER YOU’RE IN THE MOOD FOR A FESTIVE BRUNCH OR A DECADENT DINNER, WE’VE CURATED THE BEST LOCAL SPOTS TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH GREAT FOOD, COZY VIBES, AND UNFORGETTABLE FLAVORS.

Let’s face it: Spending hours in the kitchen isn’t everyone’s idea of holiday magic. Luckily, Miami offers the perfect excuse to ditch the apron and celebrate in style with friends and family. Whether you’re craving decadent dining or simply want to toast the season without the cleanup, this guide will show you the best places to eat, drink, and be merry. Happy Holidays!

Felice Brickell

Brickell’s trendy Italian hotspot will celebrate this Christmas with a signature a la carte feat with options including a seafood salad and whole roasted snapper with braised artichokes. End the evening with a classic slice of Panettone served with a dollop of mascarpone cream.

Photo is courtesy of Felice Brickell

Isabelle’s

Celebrate Christmas day with brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Isabelle’s inside The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove. Festive highlights include an omelet station, carving station, charcuterie and cheeses, seafood raw bar, dessert display, and more.

Photo is courtesy of Isabelle’s

Boia De x El Bagel

This Michelin-starred modern Italian hotspot will celebrate Christmas Day with its sixth-annual collaborative brunch with Miami’s favorite bagel shop, El Bagel. Expect some creative riffs on bagel sandwiches—plus plenty of bubbly and caviar. Be sure to RSVP fast.

Photo is courtesy of Boia De x El Bagel

Rao’s Miami Beach

Celebrate Christmas like a true Italian-American at Rao’s inside the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. Christmas Eve dishes abound with the Feast of the Seven Fishes classics, like spicy fritto mixto, baked clams, and Frutti di Mare over linguini in a marinara sauce. The Christmas Day menu specials include osso bucco with saffron risotto, pan-seared scallops, homemade lasagna, a Panettone bread pudding for dessert.

Photo is courtesy of Rao’s Miami Beach

La Mar by Gastón Acurio

Get into the holiday spirit with traditional Peruvian-inspired holiday cuisine by executive chef Diego Oka at La Mar by Gastón Acurio in Brickell. The Jingle Bells Christmas Eve dinner experience will feature a family-style pork feast and a lavish buffet with grilled favorites, including anticucho de corazón, anticucho de pollo, and anticucho de camarón, alongside live stations of seafood rice and scallops. Additional items include a whole fish Nikkei, ají de gallina empanadas, and more, all paired with cocktails.

Photo is courtesy of La Mar by Gastón Acurio

Mirabella

This coastal Italian hotspot inside the Fontainebleau Miami Beach is hosting a special three-course, chef-curated dinner with an optional wine pairing in addition to the à la carte menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Indulge in chef Michael White’s renowned crudo misto with bluefin tuna, king salmon, and hamachi; grilled hiramasa with porcini, maitake, and bone marrow panzanella; and a classic Italian dessert—gianduja budino with amaretto sabayon, olive oil, and hazelnuts.

Photo is courtesy of Moris Moreno

Aba Miami

Bal Harbour’s beloved Aba Miami will play host to lunch and dinner on Christmas Eve. Specials range from a za’atar roasted king salmon to maple-roasted Kabocha squash with tahini, pomegranate, lemon and chive, in addition to your favorite Mediterranean-inspired mezze. For dessert, indulge in gingerbread frozen Greek yogurt with spiced apple compote and gingerbread crumble.

Photo is courtesy of Aba Miami

STK Steakhouse

Celebrate Christmas dinner with a festive feast centered around a roasted free-range turkey with all the fixings: cornbread, herbs and cranberry stuffing, shallot and thyme confit thighs, maple-baked sweet potatoes, and parmesan-crusted Yukon gold mashed potatoes. Plus, enjoy handcrafted cocktails and save room for a decadent dessert.

Photo is courtesy of STK Steakhouse

ADRIFT Mare

This Christmas, enjoy a festive Mediterranean-inspired feast by Michelin-starred “Gypsy Chef” David Myers at ADRIFT Mare, located inside Hotel AKA Brickell. Savor dishes, like porchetta, served with hummus and mixed greens to Dover Sole, paired with white clams and smoked pil pil sauce, along with signature sides including crispy potatoes, grilled broccolini, and saffron rice. End the holiday on a sweet note with a choice of a chocolate tart with raspberry cream or the Mare baklava with pistachio sponge and walnut ice cream.

Photo is courtesy of ADRIFT Mare

Rosa Sky Rooftop

This holiday season, get into the spirit with Rosa Sky Rooftop’s “12 Days of Pinkmas” from Dec. 12-25. Daily cocktail specials, festive pink décor, and plenty of Instagrammable moments await you and your friends. Consider this the perfect outpost for pre-or post-dinner drinks. Specials rotate daily with options like $2 off favorites like the Christmas Tree Martini (Dec. 12) and half-price cocktails such as the Lobos Margarita (Dec. 17). Don’t miss the Christmas Day featured cocktail special available for $5 off.

DINING