On weekends, Miami's restaurants and hotels open their doors for brunch. Many of them roll out luxurious spreads of sweet and savory items, inviting diners to savor unlimited bites and bottomless pours of alcohol. Some highlight a specific cuisine, such as Asian or Latin American, while others offer an eclectic group of foods, placing Belgian waffles side-by-side with caviar towers and Chinese sausage omelets. Before you make Saturday and Sunday plans, check out Miami's ten best buffet brunch experiences.
1. St. Regis Bal Harbour. Coined Rosé Sundays, the meal offers bottomless pink bubbly, unlimited trips to a buffet, and an unobstructed view of the Atlantic Ocean. Staples include an omelet station; a meat and seafood area with roast dry-aged prime rib, sea-salt-crusted fish, king crab legs, freshly shucked oysters, and caviar; a robust charcuterie selection with an assortment of soups and salads; and a bakery section with fresh bagels, breads, and croissants infused with jams. A large dessert table is anchored by a five-foot-tall macaron display in the shape of the Eiffel Tower. Sparkly cake pops, key lime pie, chocolate mousse, and other sweets orbit the centerpiece of colorful meringue cookies. But what distinguishes the St. Regis' Sunday brunch from other experiences is its lengthy menu of bottomless rosé wines, champagnes, and the hotel's variation on a classic bloody mary or mimosa. For rosé alone, the menu includes nearly ten brands categorized by sparkling or flat. 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at 9703 Collins Ave., Bal Harbour; 305-993-0700; stregisbalharbour.com. Cost is $95 per person.
2. The Biltmore. A local icon, the Biltmore is renowned for its famed champagne brunch. The opulent meal boasts a colossal buffet that includes a carving station, a breakfast table, tapas, salads, caviar, smoked salmon, and shellfish, along with a rotating dessert bar. Bottomless champagne and bellinis, as well as live musical entertainment, round out the feast. The fare is constantly replaced, ensuring peak freshness. Because of its extravagance, the Biltmore's Sunday brunch has become a staple for special occasions such as Mother's Day. Beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday at 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables; 305-913-3189; biltmorehotel.com. Cost is $90 and up per person.
Bazaar Mar
4. Prime Fish. A combination of things makes Prime Fish's brunch a standout: a full-service buffet serving breakfast and lunch dishes, an entrée selection, and bottomless booze. Egg-centered entrées from the à la carte menu include the egg foo yung omelet with rock shrimp and Chinese sausage; eggs Benedict with applewood-smoked ham drizzled in hollandaise; a popover stuffed with scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, scallions, and cream cheese; and a frittata with chorizo, sweet peppers, potatoes, herbs, and cheese. End the meal with a trip to the dessert bar for a medley of sweets such as chocolate Oreo squares, almond-caramel apple bars, homemade s'mores, and the restaurant's signature chocolate and peanut butter bite, topped with a Reese's peanut butter cup. 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 100 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-532-4550; mylesrestaurantgroup.com. Cost is $59 and up per person.
5. Zuma. Weekend brunch is a mouthful at Zuma in downtown Miami. The experience unites unlimited samplings of Asian-inspired food, bottomless cocktails, and live jazz performers. It's broken down into three tiers: Classic, Signature, and Premium. Included in all three is a buffet-style selection of hot and cold items such as sushi, sashimi, salads, bao buns, buttermilk fried chicken bites, and robata-cooked dishes. More than a dozen boozy beverages are also available, from mimosas, rosé, and sangria to margaritas, martinis, and sake. When it comes to entrées, each tier offers something different. Under the Classic, consider the spicy beef tenderloin drizzled in sweet soy or the salmon teriyaki topped with pickled cucumber. Or go for the Signature and order the miso-marinated black cod. Premium diners can choose truffle-garnished rib eye, jumbo tiger prawns, or lobster tempura dipped in wasabi mayonnaise. End the meal with a towering dessert platter stacked with a selection of exotic fruits, small pastries, sweet cakes, and light sorbets. 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 270 Biscayne Blvd. Way, Miami; 305-577-0277; zumarestaurant.com. Cost is $95 to $395 per person.
6. Cecconi's. Roaming pastry, meat, and veggie markets on cobblestone streets in Europe might sound romantic but unrealistic for your average weekend. Think again — brunching at Cecconi's is strikingly similar. The extensive buffet lines the lobby of the Soho Beach House with five unique culinary stations. From eggs, breads, and pastries to a raw bar and a carving station, this spread has it all. The price includes unlimited visits to the buffet and a bellini or mimosa. The full à la carte cocktail menu is also available. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 4385 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 786-507-7902; cecconismiamibeach.com. Cost is $65 per person.
7. Jaya at the Setai. At the Setai's Sunday jazz brunch, traditional goodies abound, including freshly baked pastries and an omelet station. Stock up on shrimp, mussels, snow crab claws, and oysters at the raw tower. Then head outside to the grill station for steak, chorizo, lamb, and chicken, finished to order. Save room for dessert, including nitrogen ice cream and gold-flecked pastries. Your glass will remain filled with unlimited pours of Louis Roederer champagne, mimosas, or bloody marys while you enjoy live jazz. Beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday at 2001 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 855-923-7899; thesetaihotel.com. Cost is $85 and up per person.
8. R House. "Brunch buffet" takes on a new meaning at this Wynwood restaurant. R House hosts the ultimate brunch party every Sunday. You'll savor unlimited small plates, which are brought to your table and continually replenished, as well as a choice of a hearty entrées. As you dine, watch live drag performances every 15 minutes. Unlimited appetizers include black truffle and porcini mushroom mac 'n' cheese, homestyle scalloped potatoes, grilled Italian mini pork sausages, a cheddar scrambled egg bowl, and tomato, feta, and cucumber salad. Seatings begin at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday at 2727 NW Second Ave., Miami; 305-576-0201; rhousewynwood.com. Cost is $40 and up per person.
9. Lightkeepers. The swank waterfront restaurant inside the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne offers an upscale brunch buffet every Sunday. Expect several chef-run culinary booths, such as omelet, bacon, waffle, and pork stations, paired with a spread of sweet and savory plates. Each week, offerings change depending upon availability and seasonality. Standouts include duck confit crostini with orange jam, caviar, oysters on the half shell, poached shrimp, snow crab claws, butter and chocolate croissants, and cinnamon pastelitos. 12:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday at 455 Grand Bay Dr., Key Biscayne; 305-365-4156; ritzcarlton.com. Cost is $89 per person.
10. BLT Prime. Located inside the Trump National Doral Miami, BLT Prime opened three years ago offering meat, fish, and house staples such as tuna tartare and warm popovers. Now the restaurant also serves brunch. The $69 buffet includes unlimited visits to all food stations. For an extra $12, add bottomless mimosas or bloody marys. Keep an eye out for BLT's legendary popovers, along with a selection of à la carte dishes such as chicken and waffles. Beginning at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at 4400 NW 87th Ave., Doral; 305-937-2777; bltrestaurants.com. Cost is $69 and up per person.
If you're a brunch lover, don't miss South Florida's ultimate brunch celebration — New Times' Out to Brunch — from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at Soho Studios, 2136 NW First Ave., Miami; 305-600-4785; newtimesouttobrunch.com. Tickets cost $40 to $70 through ticketfly.com.
