New Miami Hotspot is Now the Most Lucrative Restaurant in U.S.

Joe’s Stone Crab: The Restaurant South Florida Never Thought Could Be Surpassed

For years, the title of Florida’s most lucrative restaurant has belonged comfortably and unquestionably to Joe’s Stone Crab — despite losing the title to the Boathouse in Orlando and Komodo in Brickell (which was the highest-grossing restaurant in the U.S. in 2022) over the past five years or so. Founded more than a century ago and woven into South Beach’s cultural DNA, Joe’s has long been revered not only for its stone crabs and key lime pie but for its seemingly unshakeable ranking as one of the highest-grossing restaurants in the nation.

This year, Joe’s landed at No. 3 with $47.6 million in sales. That is an extraordinary number by any metric. But to see such a leap by a newcomer is shocking. In comparison to 2024’s numbers, according to the report, Mila amassed $49.1 million in sales while Joe’s amassed $49.4 million. For Mila, a restaurant that did not exist six years ago, to leapfrog an institution that has dominated this list for years is something few in the industry would have predicted.

And the rest of the list only reinforces how astonishing Mila’s climb has been. Orlando’s the Boathouse brought in $51.1 million, Old Ebbitt Grill in Washington, D.C. reached $46.9 million, and Delilah Las Vegas came in at $40 million. All sit behind a South Beach newcomer that opened on the eve of a global shutdown.

Miami is not simply competing with major dining capitals. Miami is leading them.

History of Mila

For those residing in Miami and industry insiders, the news isn’t shocking. In 2024, the restaurant was ranked the ninth most beautiful restaurant in the United States, earning national attention for its design.

Mila’s 150-seat dining room features an earthy color palette and a sensory atmosphere, complete with an open kitchen, a bar wrapped in sculptural woodwork, teardrop lighting, and a massive carved mural by artist Etienne Moyat. Outside, a breezy terrace overlooks Lincoln Road, offering seating for 100 guests and a 3,000-square-foot water feature that feels more like a tranquil courtyard than a rooftop.

In 2022, Mila expanded with a private members-only club, lounge, and omakase spaces. The MM Club, its invitation-only extension, offers a luxurious spin on the classic speakeasy, featuring a rust-colored marble bar, tile-draped columns, and a wood-beam ceiling that cocoons guests in warm, moody glamour. It is part nightlife, part sanctuary, and part only in Miami fantasy.

That combination of design, spectacle, exclusivity, and a menu built for celebration helped Mila become more than a restaurant. It became an experience. And experiences are what people fly to Miami for (especially during weeks like Art Week).

Miami’s Dining Scene Is Setting the National Pace

Miami’s restaurant industry has been intensifying for years, fueled by ambitious restaurants, national attention, and a city that celebrates dining as a lifestyle.

Even beyond Mila, South Florida made a strong showing on the list in 2025. Makoto at Bal Harbour Shops ranked No. 13, bringing in $28.7 million with more than 311,000 meals served, proving that Miami’s appetite is not slowing down.

For a city that once struggled to be taken seriously in national culinary conversations, this moment feels monumental. A restaurant born in 2020, a year of fear, closures, and uncertainty, is now America’s top-grossing independent restaurant.