Top restaurants to try before your cruise from Miami
By: Sonia Mendes
The Port of Miami offers cruisers a host of dining options, many with beautiful views of Biscayne Bay. Whether you’re looking to enjoy live jazz with your meal, accommodating a hungry family or grabbing an efficient bite near the ship, there’s no shortage of restaurants to choose from. To help you maximize the time before your cruise from Miami, we compiled our top recommendations.
Two of the restaurants – Red Rooster Overtown and Stubborn Seed Miami Beach – have received Diamond designations from CAA and AAA, meaning they each scored well in the categories of food, service and decor.
Closest to cruise port: Seaman’s Café
Where: 1180 South America Way, Miami, FL 33132
Price: $
Distance from port: Five-minute walk
Short on time? If you want to stay as close as possible to the cruise ship, Seaman’s Café has you covered! The restaurant is located right at the port in front of Terminal F and offers hearty, no-nonsense meal options between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Breakfast offerings include omelettes, pancakes, French toast and a full coffee selection. For lunch, hungry customers can choose from sandwiches and burgers. Signature salads and fresh-grilled seafood – including tilapia – are also on the menu. Sit inside or enjoy the outdoor patio with umbrella-covered tables.
Best spot for live music: Red Rooster Overtown
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Where: 920 NW 2nd Ave., Miami, FL
Price: $$
Distance from port: Nine-minute drive
Nestled in the Black heritage neighbourhood of Overtown – where legends like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday have performed – is the Red Rooster Overtown. Every Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the restaurant features live jazz paired with a vibrant culinary buffet. Offerings include class mac and cheese, fried chicken, lamb kofte and chicken kusiyaki.
On weekdays, the à la carte dinner menu features ‘soul food’ such as smoked jerk short ribs, brown crab fritters and cornbread. A diverse drink menu highlights wines and spirits from Black-owned companies. Designated as a three-diamond restaurant by CAA and AAA, the restaurant was also awarded the Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide in 2022 – a distinction given to restaurants that offer excellent food at a reasonable price.
Best family/kid-friendly spot: Margaritaville – Miami Bayside
Where: 401 Biscayne Blvd. Space 128, Ste 1180, Miami, FL
Price: $$
Distance from port: Nine-minute drive
If you have fussy eaters in tow, head to Margaritaville for lunch or dinner. This American-style restaurant offers a host of kid-friendly options, including quesadillas, chicken tenders, burgers and fries. Mom and Dad can choose from more elevated fare, such as jambalaya, jerk salmon, barbeque ribs and seafood pasta.
With bright, tropical island vibes, Margaritaville has two levels of seating – one of which looks over beautiful Biscayne Bay. Parents in need of their own “time out” will love the extensive list of margaritas, along with an array of boat-themed cocktails such as “Tranquil Waters” and “Lovely Cruise.”
Best view of the water: Crazy About You
Where: 1155 Brickell Bay Dr #101, Miami, FL
Price: $$
Distance from port: 14-minute drive
If you want a stunning view of the sunset over Biscayne Bay, be sure to make a reservation at Crazy About You. This waterfront bistro offers an eclectic range of lunch and dinner options, from wagyu beef entrées – steak salad, cheeseburgers and sirloin steak – to Cuban pork fajitas or Mexican oxtail tacos.
On weekends, stop in for brunch (10 a.m. and 4 p.m.) and try the eggs benedict or the brunch pizza – topped with three sunny-side-up eggs.
Best spot to indulge: Stubborn Seed Miami Beach
Where: 101 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL
Price: $$$$
Distance from port: 19-minute drive
If you’re looking to kick off your vacation in high style, look no further than Stubborn Seed Miami Beach. Located in the heart of Miami Beach’s coveted South of Fifth neighbourhood, this restaurant is led by Chef Jeremy Ford. A rising culinary star, Ford won Bravo’s Top Chef Season 13.
Using a farm-to-table approach, Stubborn Seed offers a rotating tasting menu based on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Diners choose between an eight- or an elevated 11-course tasting menu featuring inventive and sometimes surprising dishes like Kaluga caviar macarons, wagyu beef tartare cannelloni, and foie gras with black truffle tarts. Designated as a four-diamond restaurant from CAA and AAA, Stubborn Seed has also received a Michelin star for culinary excellence – along with a Green Michelin Star for its commitment to sustainability.
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