La Mar by Gastón Acurio

La Mar by Gastón Acurio is the Miami home of the celebrated Peruvian chef’s waterfront restaurant, set at the Mandarin Oriental on Brickell Key with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and the downtown skyline. It is one of the city’s best Peruvian tables and one of its most scenic, especially at sunset.

The setting is the star: a breezy, elegant dining room and a large terrace right on the water, polished but relaxed, with the bay shimmering beyond. It works as well for a long, sunny lunch as for a romantic dinner, and the light over the water is hard to beat.

The kitchen showcases vibrant, modern Peruvian cooking: ceviches and tiraditos, anticuchos, causas and bold, citrus-bright flavours, paired with pisco sours and an ambitious cocktail list. The seafood is the heart of the menu, and the freshness and colour are part of the pleasure.

La Mar is ideal for couples and groups who want a refined, scenic meal with a sense of place; it is upscale, and the terrace is worth requesting, particularly at golden hour. It is about a twenty-minute drive from the residence, on Brickell Key, an easy and rewarding trip across the bay.