Solea at the W South Beach Hotel

Closed The W Hotel South Beach strives to create an atmosphere that is comfortable, modern and welcoming and dinner at Soleá is all these things and more. The dining space is dazzling with soaring high ceilings, bold contemporary furnishings and white brick walls. A second terraced outdoor dining area overlooks the tropical foliage in the hotel garden. Executive Chef Michael Gilligan presides over a contemporary Mediterranean menu that’s strongly influenced by the flavors of Spain. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the restaurant only feels South Beach sceney late night.

Dinner starts with a variety of hearth baked breads topped with olives and feta cheese to pair with marinated peppers and spice-infused olive oil. Tapas small plate appetizers like garlicky seafood or ham croquettes and tuna tartar pair nicely with pours from a well-edited Spanish heavy wine list. Early evening meals composed of tapas and wine provide a better sense of the kitchen’s talents than a traditional soup-to-nuts dinner since entrees skew more toward steakhouse than traditional Spanish fare. Best entrees are prime steaks and fresh local seafood treated to little more than the kiss of the grill, olive oil and lemons. Sides of mixed exotic mushrooms or dusky truffled fries are worthy counterparts. Chocolate fans should run - not walk -toward the “Chocolate Sabotage” to end a hearty meal on a sweet and satisfying note.

Soleá
2201 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL