The Surf Club Restaurant by Thomas Keller

The Surf Club Restaurant is Thomas Keller’s MICHELIN-starred ode to mid-century glamour, set inside the beautifully restored Surf Club at the Four Seasons in Surfside. The original club opened in 1930 as a winter playground for high society, and Keller’s room honours that history: terrazzo floors, soaring arches, white-jacketed service and a sense of timeless, old-Hollywood elegance.

The cooking is continental in the grand tradition, refined but generous, with a theatrical tableside element. Expect classics such as Dover sole filleted at the table, prime steaks, chateaubriand carved before you and lavish seafood, all executed with the precision that has made Keller the most decorated chef in America. The wine list is deep and the service polished to a shine.

This is special-occasion dining of the highest order, and it asks you to dress for it. The mood is celebratory yet hushed, the kind of room made for anniversaries, milestones and unhurried evenings. It is a destination restaurant rather than a casual drop-in, and the setting alone, steps from the ocean in a landmark building, is part of the experience.

The Surf Club Restaurant is ideal for couples and special occasions, and a glamorous choice during Art Basel and the season. Reserve well ahead and dress the part. It sits in Surfside, about a fifteen-minute drive up the coast from the residence, an easy and memorable trip from South Beach for one of Florida’s most celebrated tables.