15 delicious Michelin star restaurants in Florida

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Miami is a modern French restaurant serving a tasting menu and standard entree-style plates. While most diners will opt for the latter, true fans of the restaurant know that the seasonal prix-fixe is the restaurant's star, with a three-course meal that runs $190 per person. Be sure to sit at the counter to watch the chefs at work while you linger over a glass of wine. 

“The bread basket is a lovely opener, arriving in advance of such thrilling bites as a seared sea scallop with toasted spices. The Design District setting bears all the beloved hallmarks with its counter and open kitchen,” said Michelin inspectors.

Star rating: 2 stars

Ariete is known for its Cuban and French fusion food, with a bit of American contemporary cuisine mixed in. The restaurant gives guests the option between two different tasting menus or a more traditional menu of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. No matter which, you’re sure to be astounded by the culinary creativity of chef Michal Beltran. Oyster fans will want to be sure to try the wood-grilled oysters with sea urchin butter, turmeric, tarragon, and lime. 

“Chef Michael Beltran’s Coconut Grove mainstay is immediately welcoming with a menu that weaves together Cuban and French influences to dazzling effect,” said Michelin inspectors.

Star rating: 1 star

Boia De is located in a nondescript shopping complex, but don’t let the surroundings fool you. This place is worth the drive from where ever you’re coming from. The menu is filled with delights like scallop crudo with a topping of herby green goddess dressing. The best way to dine here is to take a group of friends and have everyone order something different so you can try multiple dishes.

“A neon-pink exclamation mark that glows above the front door is impossible to miss. Surprising is certainly an apt descriptor for Chefs Luciana Giangrandi and Alex Meyer’s distinctive and impressive menu,” said Michelin inspectors.

Star rating: 1 star

Korean steakhouses seem to be popping up everywhere, but Cote is doing it in an elevated and elegant way that allows diners to slow down and enjoy the experience. All the steaks served at the restaurant are USDA Prime or above and American Wagyu, making them some of the best you can find in the country. Don’t expect your meal to come out of the kitchen fully ready to eat because here you’re in charge of cooking your meat on a beautiful gold-rimmed Shinpo grill. 

“Owner Simon Kim and his team know what they're doing in this highly stylized Korean steakhouse, which almost feels like a temple to beautifully marbled and aged beef, much of it on display in a nearby room,” said Michelin inspectors.

Star rating: 1 star

Those looking for an omakase experience in Miami will want to make reservations at The Den at Sushi Azabu Miami. The hidden omakase room is located inside The Stanton Hotel and is run by master sushi chefs. The 18-seat counter is a great spot for watching the chefs at work as they perfectly slice fish and serve it with minimal accouterments so diners can taste the delicate flavors of each selection. Guests are given a world-class experience since fish is flown in directly from Toyosu fish market in Tokyo a few times a week. 

“Tucked away in the Stanton South Beach hotel through Sushi Azabu’s dining room and behind a sliding door is this intimate temple to sushi. Fish flown in a few times a week is treated and dressed minimally, often with just a single brush of nikiri,” said Michelin inspectors. 

Star rating: 1 star

Miami has a diverse range of Hispanic cuisines on full display. When the craving for high-level Colombian cuisine strikes, the only place to go is Elcielo Miami. The modern tasting menu, dubbed THE EXPERIENCE, is a combination of traditional cuisine served with flair and opulence. The restaurant serves meals at set times, and guests should expect dinners to be a few hours. While waiting for your table to be ready (or if you just want a cocktail), be sure to go to the bar where you can sip on signature drinks. 

“The menu offers diners a taste of traditional Colombian cuisine presented in a modern and dramatic manner. Colombian-born Chef Juan Manuel Barrientos' culinary artistry has garnered international fame, with various locations, including Washington, D.C.,” said Michelin inspectors.

Star rating: 1 star

Omakase menus seem to be a highlight for the Michelin inspectors, and in Miami, that means going to the eight-seat restaurant, Hiden. The eight-to-ten-course menu is filled with seasonal delights that range from hot and cold dishes to sushi and dessert. This restaurant is great for those who have a sense of adventure when dining out because menus are never published online, and what is served each night is completely up to the chef.  

"This spot is indeed hidden in the thick of bustling Wynwood. Chef Shingo Akikuni sticks to tradition, sourcing most of his product from Japan — beautiful slabs of tuna, sweet botan ebi and generous portions of uni are highlights in a tasting menu that never feels stuffy or overly reverent,” said Michelin inspectors.

Star rating: 1 star 

Vegetables with all of their color and flavor are on full display at Le Jardinier Miami. The restaurant is named after the French word for “gardener” which helps to evoke the sense of bright garden whimsy. The seasonally driven menu is filled with expressions of each type of produce, like a spring salad with avocado mousse or a spring pea and ricotta agnolotti, with seasonal mushrooms and peas and carrots. 

“Stylish from head to toe, this dining room is a celebration of the seasons. The menu is a study of vibrant tastes and smart compositions that pack big flavor minus the heaviness,” said Michelin inspectors. 

Star rating: 1 star

Los Félix is known for its traditional Mexican cuisine that honors the indigenous way of making dishes. The menu is set up to be more tapas-style, where you can order multiple items and share them with friends. The daily crudo with aguachile and avocado aioli is a prime example of a dish being elevated while still honoring traditional recipes. Another must-get dish is the pork cheek carnitas, served with four different salsas, so the flavor could be different with every bite. 

“This is cooking that sends guests on a gustatory trip — at the hands of servers who are armed with ample information about the provenance of each ingredient. Recent highlights have included hearty pork cheek carnitas with myriad salsas and snapper crudo topped with shavings of jicama and avocado aïoli,” said Michelin inspectors.

Star rating: 1 star

Stubborn Seed is a gastronomic wonderland where the best of the land and the sea come together to create beautiful dishes. The restaurant is most known for its extensive “snacks/rooted/raw” menu, akin to appetizers. Some fan favorites include the savory cacio e pepe cheesy puffs and the gooey jalapeño fritters with shaved wagyu. To taste more of Chef Jeremy Ford’s creations, consider the tasting menu, which is eight courses of culinary delight. 

“Stubborn Seed is sexy and sleek with its industrial-chic décor and glass-fronted display kitchen. Chef Jeremy Ford brings the heat, and his ambitious and brashly creative cooking is best enjoyed by way of the tasting menu,” said Michelin inspectors. 

Star rating: 1 star

Thomas Keller is most known for his upscale restaurant, The French Pantry, but he also has a lovely restaurant in Florida, The Surf Club Restaurant. The modern American restaurant is serving all of the classics, from steak tartare to Maine lobster thermidor, but in an upscale and elegant way. No matter what you order for dinner here, be sure to get a side of the Hobbs’ applewood smoked candied bacon as a little treat to yourself. 

“Located within the elegantly restored landmark, now in league with the Four Seasons, The Surf Club is a prime location for Thomas Keller's first Florida venture. Sauces are what this team does best, starting with the scallop crudo with buttermilk-basil dressing; followed by the brilliantly reimagined Maine lobster thermidor with sauce Américaine,” said Michelin inspectors.

Star rating: 1 star

Situated high atop the Four Seasons Resort Orlando on Walt Disney World’s 17th floor, Capa is a glittering affair. Not only can you see Magic Kingdom’s nightly fireworks from the outdoor terrace, but the food is just as spectacular at the show. The Spanish-style steakhouse is known for its top-notch tapas, like the datiles, which are almond-stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates with a sweet maple finish. The 32-ounce porterhouse steak is a signature dish at the restaurant and is worth sharing with a few friends over a cocktail.

“At the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World; this steakhouse also flaunts a decidedly Spanish accent. Kick things off with ace tapas before indulging in a main dish, like flame-kissed ribeye with tamarind-ancho sauce,” said Michelin inspectors. 

Star rating: 1 star

Soseki is located in the adorable Winter Park neighborhood of Orlando, but don’t let the historic charm of the streets fool you. This restaurant packs a punch in terms of creativity and overall experience. Inside the 10-seat restaurant, guests will experience an omakase menu that is about two hours long. Throughout the meal, diners will experience 15 or more dishes that are all seasonally driven. 

“This tiny operation with Chef Mike Collantes at the helm is an ideal illustration of a contemporary meal expressed by way of an omakase. A laser-like focus on local Florida produce results in a menu that changes monthly,” said Michelin inspectors.

Star rating: 1 star

Omakase and sake are the specialties of Kadence. In fact, all three chefs and owners are certified advanced sake professionals, so they can help you pick out a delightful drink to go with your meal. The omakase experience features multiple hot dishes and the freshest of sashimi to ensure that guests get a wide range of bites that tempt the palette to keep diving in for more. 

“The omakase opens with hot dishes and cool sashimi. This is food that's free-spirited, yet manages to honor the classic methods. Pacing is on point in sashimi like hamachi and hirame. Nigiri, like snapper with lemon and sea salt, will have you yearning for more,” said Michelin inspectors.

Star rating: 1 star

Inside the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes is a new signature restaurant from celebrity chef John Tesar. The steak and seafood restaurant is known for its in-house dry-aged steaks, some of which have been aged for 240 days. Most fish dishes on the menu lean more Asian, like the whole roasted fish paired with a bright Thai salad and lemongrass chimichurri. To go with your meal, order a side of the kimchi creamed spinach, which takes the classic steakhouse side up to the next level. 

“This iteration from Chef John Tesar inside the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, is the picture of plush. Care and skill are the hallmarks of this team, as they turn out contemporary steakhouse fare woven with seafood,” said Michelin inspectors. 

Star rating: 1 star