109 June 18–24, 2026 NEW TIMES miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com June 18–24, 2026 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES BEST ºf MIAMI ® 2026 Versailles, this decadent Japanese dining destination glows with cinematic allure. An undulating wooden ceiling ripples overhead, Torii gates frame intimate corners and cen- turies-old Japanese artwork watches quietly as couples lean closer across candlelit tables. The romance deepens outdoors where the courtyard transforms into a sultry, Asian night bazaar. DJs spin beneath the palms while aerialists and contortionists twist above the fountain, turning dinner into spectacle and spectacle into foreplay. Whether tucked into the dimly lit dining room or seated beneath the courtyard’s moss-covered murals and mood lighting, ev- ery table feels designed for lingering. The truffle hot pot arrives tableside, stirred and assembled before your eyes, while bespoke cocktails including the Fuji Blossom and Wasabi Martini keep the evening deliciously unsteady. For those looking to disappear completely into the night, the ultra-private Kyoto Room — with its secret entrance, pri- vate bar and museum-worthy antiques — may be the closest thing Miami has to a love affair in architectural form. BEST RESTAURANT WHEN SOMEONE ELSE IS PAYING Karyu 40 NE 41st St. Miami, 33137 karyu-mia.com Miami was recently named the most expen- sive city for dining out in the nation, and there are many restaurants that charge out the nose but fall short of flavor. Karyu earns its $350-per-person wagyu tasting with the quality of its courses and the perfection of its execution — and that’s the price tag be- fore you tack on drinks. This is the only res- taurant in the country to serve certified wagyu beef from Ueda Chikusan, a full-cy- cle cattle ranch in the mountains of Japan, and the three-person staff hails from its Mi- chelin-starred sister restaurant in Tokyo. The 10-seat counter-service showcases its highly prized meat in the traditional kaiseki style, where each course is steeped in Japa- nese tradition to highlight the star ingredi- ent. The result is both decadent and memorable. Is the Design District eatery appropriate for a last-minute pop-in? Maybe if you’re an oligarch or a tech billion- aire. Otherwise, save it for a special occa- sion — especially when someone else is footing the bill. BEST OUTDOOR DINING Claudie 1101 Brickell Ave. Miami, 33131 305-990-1101 claudierestaurant.com The sun-drenched glamour of the French Riviera may be some 4,500-miles away, but at Claudie, the spirit of Côte d’Azur comes to life. Inspired by Mediterranean seaside living, the sprawling alfresco space blends lush greenery, glowing lights and flowing fountains to create a photogenic backdrop that’s chic and breezy. It’s not just a feast for the eyes, though. Dine on French favorites, seafood towers, crudos and handmade pastas, or leave the menu up to the chefs with the prix-fixe lunch and dinner options built around coastal flavors and French techniques. BEST ROOFTOP RESTAURANT Sugar Miami 788 Brickell Plaza, #40 Miami, 33131 786-805-4655 easthotels.com Perched 40 floors above the city, Sugar’s lush rooftop escape drips in tropical greenery, low-lit seduction and skyline views of Brickell City Center that will have you thinking “maybe overdevelopment has its perks.” To the east, water stretches toward the ocean, shimmering beneath the city lights like Miami showing off after dark. Behind a hand- carved Balinese bar, cocktails arrive bold, smoky and dangerously easy to fall for, while Asian-inspired shared plates invite a little flirting across the table. The menu is refreshingly inclusive too, with vibrant options that appeal to vegans and vegetarians without feeling like an afterthought. Tables may come with a two- hour time limit, but the bar doesn’t believe in rushing chemistry. The DJ sets, warm breeze and glittering skyline are a great way to warm up for a long night on the town. BEST WATERFRONT RESTAURANT Casa Neos 40 SW N River Dr. Miami, 33128 305-800-6367 casa-neos.com When it comes to Miami, nothing beats wa- terfront dining — for which being in the Magic City does provide endless options. Casa Neos is one of the newest restaurants to fill this role, but it also gives diners the best of everything Miami has to offer. In a couple short years, it’s built a reputation as one of the ultimate spots for food and fun in the 305. The Mediterranean cuisine is un- paralleled with a robust menu of mezze, appetizers, a raw bar, seafood specials, Mediterra- nean Maki, fresh fish, paella, meats, pasta and more. If you like fruits de mer, Casa Neos’ signature seafood tower in- cludes lobster, New Caledonian blue prawns, a dozen oysters, scal- lop carpaccio, tuna tartare, seabass car- paccio, watermelon mignonette and basil calamansi for $185. It only makes sense that, with so much great seafood on the menu, the waterfront view would also celebrate Mi- ami’s best feature. The view is all bay breeze, passing yachts and sparkling skyline. views of Brickell City Center that will overdevelopment has its perks.” shimmering beneath the city lights like Miami showing off short years, it’s built a reputation as one of the ultimate spots for food and fun in the 305. The Mediterranean cuisine is un- paralleled with a robust menu of mezze, appetizers, a raw bar, seafood specials, Mediterra- nean Maki, fresh fish, paella, meats, pasta and more. If you like fruits de mer, Casa Neos’ signature seafood tower in- cludes lobster, New Caledonian blue prawns, a dozen oysters, scal- lop carpaccio, tuna tartare, seabass car-
