Sweet Escapes: Unveiling Miami's Best Decadent Dessert Delights
Discover Miami/South Florida's top dining spots for decadent desserts, featuring rich chocolate lava cakes, creamy crème brûlée cheesecakes, and a tempting dark chocolate martini. Indulge your taste buds in an unforgettable culinary experience.
Joey Aventura
Located at the new Esplanade at Aventura, Joey Aventura tantalizes taste buds with delectable dishes crafted by a team of award-winning chefs. Elevate your dining experience with the Joey 75 Champagne Cocktail ($14), a delicious blend of raspberry vodka, London dry gin, lemon juice, cane syrup and sparkling wine or the irresistibly indulgent Molten Chocolate Cake ($13), topped with fresh raspberries and Tahitian vanilla ice cream.
Address: Esplanade at Aventura, 19505 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 1150 Miami, FL 33180
Pinstripes Aventura
Enter a world of pure imagination at Pinstripes, where culinary expertise meets lively entertainment. Opening on December 13, right in time for the premier, this expansive Italian-American bistro seamlessly blends chef-driven dining with the excitement of bowling and bocce, offering a one-of-a-kind culinary experience. Get into the Wonka chocolate-river mood with the Warm Brownie & Gelato ($12), a triple chocolate brownie with housemade vanilla gelato topped with fluffy whipped cream. Or, enjoy the Blueberry Mash ($15) cocktail featuring Stoli blueberry, St-Germain liqueur, blueberries, fresh mint and limes with a splash of soda.
Address: Esplanade at Aventura, 19505 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 3290, Miami, FL 33180
Café Bastille Fort Lauderdale
There is no shortage of delectable sweets at Fort Lauderdale’s newest waterfront gem, Café Bastille. Located in the heart of the Riverwalk District, guests can enjoy savory housemade omelets and Benedicts; mouthwatering pancakes, waffles and stuffed French toast creations; health-conscious lunch options; delightful small bites; specialty coffees; bottomless cocktails; and more. In the spirit of Wonka and all things chocolate, try the Stuffed Nutella French Toast ($18), filled with gooey Nutella and caramelized and fresh bananas, or the delicious Dave’s Bread Pudding ($14), a warm and fresh croissant topped with chocolate, nuts and berries.
Address: 704 SE First St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
The Amalfi Llama
Opening this winter at the Esplanade at Aventura, The Amalfi Llama is the seamless fusion of a rustic live-fire steakhouse with the flavors of Italian cuisine. Embracing the essence of a modern farmhouse, The Amalfi Llama revolves around an open parrilla grill and wood-burning oven, harnessing fire, smoke, coals and embers to craft dishes that pay homage to coastal cultures across Patagonia and Italy. After a meal that takes you straight to the coast, take a trip to the sweet world of Wonka with the decadent Chocolate and Hazelnut Cake topped with vanilla ice cream.
Address: Esplanade at Aventura, 19505 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 4150, Miami, FL 33180
Chotto Matte
Experience the epitome of chocolate delicacy at Chotto Matte, a hidden gem that stylishly incorporates the bold flavors of Peru with Japanese techniques to celebrate the best authentic and innovative Nikkei cuisine. Reminisce about Wonka’s wonderland by indulging in the Salted Caramel Chocolate Fondant ($17), made with rich chocolate fondant, mango and dulce de leche topped with vanilla ice cream.
Address: 1666 Lenox Ave., #1664, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Uchi Miami
If you want to view paradise, simply look around Uchi. Serving up a menu full of nontraditional Japanese cuisine, fresh sushi, sashimi and more, Uchi (Japanese for “home”) has positioned itself as a must-try in the Wynwood food scene. Satiate any sweet need with the fan-favorite Fried Milk ($14), featuring vanilla custard, salted fudge and a toasted blondie. Cap off the night with the Uchi Cold Brew Martini (MKT), Suite Habana cold brew with Galliano Ristretto, Averna and sea salt.
Address: 252 NE 25th St., Miami, FL 33127
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants
Chocolate lovers looking for a sip reminiscent of Wonka’s chocolate waterfall can delight in Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants’ Dark Chocolate Martini ($16), made with Grey Goose, dark chocolate liqueur, Baileys Irish Cream, whipped cream and shaved dark chocolate. For a scrumptious bite, the S’mores Budino ($10.99) is a fanciful variety of the classic s’mores dessert layered with all the proper ingredients: caramel custard, Valrhona chocolate mousse and brown-butter toasted graham cracker.
Address: The Galleria Mall, 2568 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Casa Sensei
Guests of Casa Sensei, Fort Lauderdale’s favorite waterfront Latin and Pan-Asian restaurant, can indulge in the flourless Midnight Mousse Cake ($10) (just as indulgent as its flour-filled counterparts), made with deep dark chocolate and dusted with powdered sugar. The Chocolate Lava Cake ($10) is a fun dessert with the task of breaking through the outer shell to find the gooey chocolate center.
Address: 1200 E. Las Olas Blvd., #101, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
MaryGold’s by Brad Kilgore
Find chocolatey decadence in Wynwood at MaryGold’s by Brad Kilgore, a lush, modern dining space from renowned Chef Brad Kilgore. The Warm Dark Chocolate Fondant ($18) is a sweet representation of the restaurant’s dedication to shareable dishes. The indulgent copper dish filled with fluffy chocolate (meant for two) is served with sliced bananas, salted banana caramel and toffee ice cream. Pair the dessert with a Tea & Leche ($20) cocktail, a creamy mix of Aberfeldy, Rémy Martin 1738, black tea and clarified chocolate milk.
Address: Arlo Wynwood, 2217 NW Miami Court, Miami, FL 33127
Negroni Bistro & Sushi Bar (Midtown & Weston)
Negroni Bistro & Sushi Bar invites guests to two locations for chocolatey goodness: Midtown and Weston. The globally inspired hot spot offers a fusion Latin American and Asian menu presenting a variety of comfort dishes and creative drinks that mimic the diversity of Wonka’s indulgences. The New Choco Negroni ($12 Midtown, $11 Weston) is not a cocktail but a chilled chocolate dessert made of smooth dark chocolate marquise, Negroni wild berry sauce, crispy chocolate tuile and raspberry gelato. A lighter option is the Cheesecake Brûlée ($12 Midtown, $11 Weston), white chocolate caramelized cheesecake paired with a tropical sauce of mango and passion fruit.
Address: 3201 Buena Vista Blvd., Miami, FL 33127; Weston Town Center, 1744 Main St., Weston, FL 33326
Italica Midtown
Take an Italian twist on chocolate at Italica Midtown, the area’s vibrant spritz and pizza spot. Here, pure imagination has created the Pizza Dolce ($14), trading tomato sauce for Nutella with ricotta, berries and cocoa powder. For a citrusy take on lava cake, the Italica Lava Cake ($13) transports guests to the Amalfi Coast with Aperol orange reduction, torched orange and prosecco gelato. Fan of pistachio? The Cheesecake Al Pistacchio ($14) features home-baked pistachio cheesecake with chocolate crackers, chocolate ganache and pistachio praline for a nutty dessert that perfectly matches Wonka’s nutty shenanigans.
Address: 3201 NE First Ave., Miami, FL 33137
Verde at PAMM
Satisfy your sweet tooth at Verde, the modern-casual restaurant at Pérez Art Museum Miami, which offers sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and boasts an elevated menu of seasonally inspired dishes to be enjoyed from the expansive outdoor waterfront terrace. After a viewing of the latest exhibition, indulge in the sweet and creamy Chocolate Panna Cotta ($12) with passion fruit and chocolate crumble that fuels every bite with magical flavor.
Address: PAMM, 1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33132
Teatro at the Adrienne Arsht Center
Indulge in enchanting confections at Teatro, an immersive dining experience on the second floor of the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Ziff Ballet Opera House. The striking 2,500-square-foot dining room, designed by Johanna Dilone, creative director of Miami’s prestigious Gilded Group Decor, sets the stage for an immersive dining experience for theater-goers to enjoy before or after the show. The prix-fixe menu ($52) includes a choice of one appetizer and entrée or one entrée and dessert, along with a tempting lineup of sides and à la carte offerings. Mouthwatering dessert options include the whimsical Warm Chocolate Mousse, a flourless dark chocolate mousse topped with guava and dark cherry coulis.
Address: Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33132
Orno
The new Wonka film is an excellent opportunity to check out Orno at THesis Hotel Miami in Coral Gables, where you can finish your meal with a decadent Dark Chocolate Soufflé ($14) made with espresso ice cream and cocoa nib pralines. The modern restaurant with an open-kitchen concept is helmed by five-time James Beard Award nominee and Food & Wine’s “Best New Chef of 2020” Niven Patel. Also named “Best New Restaurant” by Miami New Times, Orno offers guests a true farm-to-table experience using locally sourced ingredients from Chef Patel’s very own farm, Rancho Patel. The menu consists of New American cuisine featuring the finest selection of meats and seafood. Wood-fired culinary creations are complemented by specialty cocktails inspired by literary classics, which can be enjoyed in the main dining room or The Library, Orno’s hideaway lounge and private dining room.
Address: THesis Hotel Miami, 1350 S. Dixie Highway, Coral Gables, FL 33146
Mamey
Landing on the New York Times’ list of the “50 Best Restaurants in America for 2022” and “36 Hours in Miami” guide, Mamey is an island-inspired restaurant by James Beard Award nominee and Food & Wine’s “Best New Chef of 2020” Niven Patel. Located inside THesis Hotel Miami, Mamey is inspired by Chef Niven’s travels throughout Asia, French Polynesia and the Caribbean and showcases the exotic flavors and spices commonly found in the islands. Like all of Chef Niven’s endeavors, Mamey features locally grown produce, most of which is sourced from his own farm, Rancho Patel, in Homestead, Florida. Mamey’s seasonal offerings are complemented by fun, innovative cocktails that transport guests to the tropics. Draping leaves, rich textures, warm woods and tropical artwork create a relaxed yet exciting atmosphere. Be sure to try the Chocolate Mousse Bar ($13), layered with brownie, dulce de leche and hazelnut praline, and the Viva La Chocolat ($18), a chocolatey cocktail made with crème de cacao, VSOP cognac, amaro and chocolate bitters.
Address: THesis Hotel Miami, 1350 S. Dixie Highway, Coral Gables, FL 33146
