The Best Restaurants To Eat Near the Miami Cruise Port
Must-Try Restaurants in Miami for Before Or After Your Cruise
By Cassie Bailey | Published: March 12, 2020 | Updated: February 24, 2026
Miami may be best known around the world for its beaches, nightlife and Art Deco charm, but locals and savvy travelers know it’s also home to one of the best food scenes in the country. The city’s status as a melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities shines through its cuisine, which runs the gamut from Caribbean to Korean.
Whether you’re looking for guava-stuffed Cuban pastelitos and frothy cafecitos at a casual mom-and-pop stop or an upscale omakase experience, you’ll find Miami is bursting with incredible culinary delights that cater to every taste. Here’s a guide to some of the city’s top places to eat, written by locals who know what’s what.
Key Takeaways: Best Restaurants Near Miami Cruise Port
- ● There are several world-class restaurants less than half an hour from PortMiami, letting you sample the best of the city's culinary scene before or after your cruise vacation.
- ● These eateries encompass Cuban delicacies, grilled cheese, world-class sushi and much more.
- ● You have options for every meal near the port, from breakfast and coffee to late-night dinner and dessert.
- ● It's easy to experience all these exciting dining experiences when you book a cruise from Miami.
1. Versailles
No visit to Miami is complete without a stop at this homegrown institution. Located on the famous Calle Ocho (or Eighth Street) in Little Havana, Versailles has been serving some of the best Cuban food in the city since the ‘70s. Sit down in the restaurant’s mirrored dining room (yes, it was inspired by the French palace, in case the name didn’t give it away) and tuck into a plate of rich and tender ropa vieja with a side of white rice and sweet plantains. Or pop by La Ventanita — Versailles’s order-up window — for Cuban coffee, pastries, croquetas and plenty of chisme (that’s Spanish for gossip) from the old timers who gather here every morning.
How to get there: Versailles is located at 3555 SW 8th Street, Miami. It's under 20 minutes away from the port by car, and dining there gives you a great opportunity to explore the rest of Calle Ocho.
2. Juvia
Perched on the rooftop of the Lincoln Road Garage, Juvia offers delicious French-Japanese-Peruvian cuisine paired with some of the best views of Miami Beach. It’s a popular place to do date night, as few places in South Beach can match the romantic atmosphere Juvia brings when the sun goes down. But most locals will tell you the best time to visit Juvia is during its weekend brunch, offered Saturday and Sunday, thus marking it as one of the breakfast restaurants near the Miami cruise port. It includes a three-course fixed-price menu plus bottomless mimosas, bellinis, prosecco or margaritas for $65 — a steal on South Beach. The breathtaking views are just a bonus.
How to get there: Juvia is located at 1111 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. It's just about a brisk 15 minutes away from the port by car, across the MacArthur Causeway.
3. El Palacio De Los Jugos
Miami isn’t known for being a bargain — if you’ve spent some time in South Beach and Brickell, you’ve probably realized that. But there are several places where you can enjoy great food even if you’re visiting on a budget. El Palacio De Los Jugos is an all-time classic, especially if you’re looking for amazing Latin American food. It has locations across Miami, and each one serves up mouthwatering dishes like “arroz con pollo,” “fufu de platano,” “croqueta” sandwiches, “pan con bistec” and more. Make sure you try one of their fresh-pressed tropical juices — the jugo de guarapo (that’s sugarcane juice) is legendary.
How to get there: El Palacio De Los Jugos has multiple locations from Sunset to Hialeah. The closest to the port is less than 20 minutes away by car, at 1545 SW 27th Ave.
4. Kiki on the River
If you prefer your meals with waterfront views, add Kiki on the River to your list. Open for brunch, lunch and dinner, this gem on the Miami River is known for its lush boho-chic décor, stunning views and traditional, hits-the-spot Greek and Mediterranean fare. Call ahead to reserve a table at the edge of the deck where you can watch the mega yachts roll in for Kiki’s lively rose-fueled brunch parties. In the evenings, the vibe is more romantic — come early to catch the sunset, then linger over a candlelit dinner of homemade hummus, saganaki, harissa lamb chops and a bottle of Cretan wine.
How to get there: Kiki on the River is located at 450 NW North River Drive, Miami. It's one of the closest top restaurants to the port, at less than a 15-minute drive.
5. Ms. Cheezious
Visiting Miami with kids? Rally up the gang for lunch at Ms. Cheezious. This hotspot on Biscayne Boulevard specializes in gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches — we’re talking oh-so-gouda spin-offs made with braised short rib and jack cheese, goat cheese and prosciutto and even spiced apples and Havarti. And don’t worry if your little ones are picky eaters — there are plenty of more traditional kid-friendly options, like the stripped-down classic version, plus a build-your-own option. If there’s a sweet tooth in the family, don’t save room for the s’mores melt, made with roasted marshmallows and salted chocolate hazelnut spread.
How to get there: Ms. Cheezious is located at 7956 NE 4th Ave, Miami. You can get there from the port in 20 minutes.
6. Azabu
For the true culinary connoisseurs out there — if you can only do one dinner in Miami, it should be at Azabu. Owned and operated by legendary Japanese hospitality group, Plan Do See, this Michelin-starred concept made waves in New York before opening its second outpost in Miami Beach’s food-focused SoFi neighborhood. Since then, it’s consistently topped critics' lists as one of the best restaurants in the city. Standouts from the menu include Nagoya-style chicken wings served with caramelized spicy soy, Rohan duck confit bao buns, crispy corn tempura with curry salt and an A5 Japanese wagyu filet served beautifully on a hot stone.
Want to kick the experience up a notch? Make reservations for an omakase dinner at The Den, Azabu’s “secret” sushi counter, to try a chef-curated tasting menu.
How to get there: Azabu is located inside the Marriott Stanton, at 161 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. Just across the MacArthur Causeway from the port, you can be there in 15 minutes by car.
