The best seafood restaurants in Miami for a fresh-caught meal

Downtown’s upscale seafood diner serves Miami’s freshest oysters, plus excellent fish and buttery Connecticut-style lobster rolls in a delightful, laid-back setting. Mignonette receives about eight varieties of West and East Coast oysters daily. To ensure that the bivalves sold pass the test, servers sample each oyster shipment to taste and study the merroir (like terroir for wine, it reveals how the ocean’s conditions affect the flavor and consistency) before each shift.

Now in larger location, River Oyster is the token spot for bivvalve-loving people thanks to an unbeatable happy hour: every day from 4:30pm to 7pm, oysters are just $1.50 each. During regular hours, the menu at this classic establishment covers the full seafood spectrum, from fresh and local to flown-in and wonderful, like their famous Kumamoto oysters from the West Coast. Whether it’s a simple crab cake or an elaborate shellfish platter stacked with shrimp, lobster and everything else, River Oyster always delivers.

South Florida’s most famous restaurant is practically a South Beach attraction. A strict no-reservation policy makes for frustratingly long wait times, but the people and celebrating watching make the hours (!) go by quickly. Be sure to visit during stone crab season (October through May) for a taste of their renowned claws and irresistible mustard dipping sauce.

Kush Hospitality’s surf n’ turf restaurant serves an assortment of delicious seafood dishes, including raw bar favorites and hearty fried fish like what you'll find in the grouper Reuben—made with Cajun seasoning, swiss cheese, homemade slaw, and of course LoKal sauce. Like any Kush spot, the Spillover boasts a sizeable selection of craft beers and fun Miami-themed cocktails. There’s also a pet-friendly patio and a dog menu. Bring your pup to happy hour and he eats for free.

This buzzy seafood restaurant grew from a no-frills counter spot to a large, full-service establishment with a string of TV endorsements and legions of adoring fans. La Camaronera serves it all—from fish to lobster to stone crabs—and nearly all of it is caught right here in South Florida. Everything on the menu is tasty but this is the place you go for a mondo piece of fried snapper sandwiched between a fluffy Cuban roll. At least we do. Head here for the restaurant’s famous pan con minuta and wash it down with a fizzy Materva or the other Cuban soft drinks on tap.

A Pinecrest staple for 50 years, this spot is beloved by everyone who’s ever entered its doors. The decor may seem dated, but the fresh fish and welcoming buzz of energy is enough to distract you. Its massive two-page menu features a slew of crowd-pleasers, including a grouper oscar made with jumbo lump crabmeat, asparagus, hollandaise; and a seafood medley mixed with fish, scallops, shrimp and spicy tomato sauce, plus a side of jasmine rice and sweet plantains. Everything is made in-house—down to the sweet chili sauce that’s served with the Thai-style lobster nuggets. Regulars know to stop in on Tuesdays for two-for-one Maine lobsters.

Founded in 1966 by the Garcia brothers, this family-owned spot along the Miami River serves as a restaurant, fish market and wholesaler to numerous local businesses. It’s not unusual to see Garcia’s fishing boats casting nets along the Florida shores, so why not sample it straight from the source? You’re getting nothing but the freshest fish here but the catch of the day is what makes it to the restaurant’s simple chalkboard menu—go for that. 

With a separate entrance and a terrace that overlooks Miami Beach, Lure Fishbar inside Loews Miami Beach doesn’t feel like your typical hotel restaurant: The vibrant space is hip and good-looking, just like its clientele. Give Lure a whirl for date night or before hitting the town. The menu is a sampling of classic dishes and a few trendy small plates, like tuna tacos and caviar-topped deviled eggs, which bode well with the figure-conscious South Beach crowd.

This buzzy Chinese-Japanese restaurant from Russian restaurateur Arkadiy Novikov boasts sister locations in London, Dubai and Moscow. The crowd is equally international and characteristically posh. It's a scene but one we'll welcome for the chance to dig into a treasure trove of sashimi, maki, robata skewers and dim sum. The sweeping views of Biscayne Bay aren’t too shabby, either.

A long-standing waterfront restaurant in Matheson Hammock Park, the scenic spot has been renovated and is now operated by one of the hottest chefs in the city, Adrianne Calvo. Inspired by Calvo’s travels, the menu is a delicate mix of traditional fish-house delights and new American seafood. Think Maine lobster rolls with shaved jalapeños or brown sugar-crusted salmon served with spicy sweet potatoes. Of course, there’s plenty of oysters, sea scallops and ceviche, too.

Its Little Havana address makes Ella’s an unlikely contender for the best New England-style seafood shack, but that’s just what this place is. The oyster bar’s namesake menu item won’t disappoint—large, briny and fresh. But we’re also fans of trendier dishes, such as the crab croquetas and sake-steamed mussels. For a taste of the neighborhood, try the Latin-inspired calm bake with mussels, lobster, clam, Peruvian potato, shrimp, corn, chorizo, and more seafood.

A local pioneer in the sustainable seafood movement, Area 31 remains at the forefront serving responsibly sourced fish done up with a Spanish twist. The view alone is worth a trip here. Perched on the 16th floor of the EPIC Hotel, the Miami skyline is laid out in front of you as you dine on delicious ceviche, crudo and the like.