Elcielo Miami By Juan Manuel Barrientos

My experience at El Cielo Miami was overall wonderful. The food was truly excellent, full of creativity and flavor, and definitely lived up to its Michelin recognition. The only area I felt could be improved was the service while the staff was kind and professional, I did notice my water glass went empty a couple of times. At this level, I expected a bit more attentiveness, especially compared to other Michelin starred restaurants I've visited. Still, the culinary experience was outstanding, and I would definitely recommend El Cielo Miami.”

We celebrated our anniversary at Elcielo Miami and had an absolutely unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, the service was warm, attentive, and thoughtful—every detail made the evening feel special. The pairing menu was outstanding, with each course not only beautifully presented but also full of incredible flavors that were perfectly complemented by the wine selections. What made it even more unique was the storytelling—hearing about the regions and traditions behind each dish brought the entire experience to life. An amazing night with my wife that we'll always remember. Highly recommend for any special occasion!

The Ceviche, lamb, lick me and sorbet are best creation by the chef and his team. The chocolate therapy is unique!

The entire experience was above and beyond expectations. The food and service was impeccable. A worthy Michelin-starred restaurant! Highly recommended!!!

Elejimos la experiencia de cocktail y fue realmente bueno. Tanto los cocktail como los bocados

A beautiful theatrical culinary experience with the guidance of Santiago, who so patiently explained each of the 18 courses. Excellent, beautiful and imaginative cuisine. Bravo and well done!

Going to el cielo is definitely something you should have on your bucket list, if I could give it 10 stars I would. Everything was cooked to perfection and they were very accommodating to my allergies. The staff was attentive to every detail. I loved my experience.

We visited El Cielo restaurant expecting a high-end, 18-course experience at around $300 per person. Here’s an overview of our visit:

Pros:
• Presentation: Each course was visually impressive.

Cons:
• Food Quality vs. Presentation: Despite the striking visuals, it felt like the focus was more on presentation than on the actual taste and quality of the food.
• Lack of Privacy: Servers came by frequently to deliver one-bite courses, making the meal feel rushed and interrupted.
• Service Inconsistency: One waitress seemed tense and somewhat arrogant, overly focused on “perfection” to the point of making us feel uneasy, while another waitress was notably warm and welcoming.
• Drink Pricing: A “house champagne” cost $77 per glass, significantly increasing the final bill.
• Overall Cost: Our total was $908 for two, which felt disproportionate to the experience.
• Atmosphere: The restaurant was relatively empty on a Saturday night, which was surprising for an upscale concept.

Bottom Line:
Although the presentation was excellent, the meal itself did not justify the high price, particularly since the focus seemed more on visual appeal than on flavor. Given Miami’s many exceptional restaurants at this price point, El Cielo felt underwhelming in comparison. We wouldn’t return based on this visit, and it’s hard to see the restaurant sustaining long-term success without significant improvements.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 4

The experience is not well produced for te price should be a-lot more of a 360 sensorial experienced, it is just an experience of good food but nothing more, the tables do not even have tablecloths, the music is any music, it does not create harmony with the specialness of the food, the experience is very long and the price is high.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: The Experience

My wife and I recently attended a wine dinner at El Cielo, featuring their “The Experience” tasting menu paired with Chilean wines. While we enjoyed the food and overall atmosphere, certain aspects fell short, making the high price hard to justify. If the meal had cost $150 to $175 per person, I would have rated the experience four stars. However, at nearly $300 per person (just the food), it simply didn’t deliver the value expected.

The Food
We genuinely enjoyed the food. Every dish was cooked perfectly, with well-balanced flavors that worked harmoniously. There were enough courses to leave us satisfied. However, nothing stood out as particularly creative or memorable. The meal lacked the “wow” factor I would expect at this price point. For comparison, Ariete in Coconut Grove offers a more exciting culinary experience with a better atmosphere at a significantly lower price.

The Wine Tasting
The wine tasting was the most disappointing part of the evening—not because of the wine itself, which was fine, but due to the extremely limited pours. There were around 12 guests, and we sampled five wines from just five bottles total, resulting in minuscule pours. When I requested a bit more wine, my request was denied. Even when my glass was empty during the meal, I was told to wait for the next course. This level of restriction felt stingy and out of place for a premium dining experience. At this price, offering a second pour or additional glass should be standard.

The Service
Service overall was excellent. The staff was attentive and professional. The only challenge was understanding one waiter due to a strong accent, though it didn’t significantly impact our experience.

Final Thoughts
El Cielo might have been innovative five years ago, but today there are better, more affordable options in Miami. While we appreciated the well-executed dishes and attentive service, the lack of value—especially with the wine experience—left us underwhelmed. At a lower price point, we would consider returning, but at its current cost, it’s hard to recommend.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: The Experience

I will always remember this as one of the most uncomfortable dining experiences of my life, trying to explain to the waiter that I didn't want to get chocolate on my hands. I would never return.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Going to this restaurant is one of the best gastronomic experiences, Diego's attention was the best. The food is an explosion of flavors and the wines go perfectly with each tasting. Recommended 100%, if I could give more than 5 stars I would

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Absolutely loved the food and presentation. Great service. “The experience” is certainly an experience. Some dishes are surprising, some are expected but delicious. I highly recommend El Cielo Miami- but will likely pass on the wine pairing next time…

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: The Experience

I came here with my uncle and my father so that I could treat them to a fantastic meal, and we were not disappointed. Pedro and Santiago served us and handled describing our dishes to us, and they were fantastic. They were personable, kind, patient, and attentive to our needs. They, along with many of the other staff who helped to serve us, created an amazing experience that was only aided by the incredible food. I can’t give enough credit to how delicious everything was, and how much fun we had. Thank you to everyone who tended to us , we had an amazing experience!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

$700 dollars for 2 people, the bar is high. El Cielo was in my opinion disappointing and very over priced. Dishes were nothing special, wine selection average at best. They make every portion and pour intentionally small, so you leave basically ready to have a meal. The service staff tried their best and were very attentive. Everything else not worth it. I would not go back.