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An Eater's Guide to the South Beach Seafood Festival 2022
The 10th annual South Beach Seafood Festival takes over the shores of SoBe once again for four days of mouthwatering cuisine. So tie on your bib, dig in, and kick off stone crab season with over 15,000 other seafoodies at the SoBe Seafood Fest, which runs from October 19 - 22. From ceviche to seafood tacos, here’s what to eat, what to expect, and how to make the most of the event (even if you can’t stomach seafood!).
South Beach Seafood Week
Showcasing the best talents of South Florida’s leading chefs and culinary masterminds, SoBe Seafood Week includes three nights of extraordinary culinary events leading up to the main jamboree on Saturday. Dine in the historic Jesse’s Room at Joe’s Stone Crab like Al Capone and Frank Sinatra for ‘An Evening at Joe’s’ (Wed. Oct. 19), enjoy surf ‘n’ turf pairings from award-winning chefs at ‘Crabs, Slabs, and Cabs’ (Thurs. Oct. 20), and attend the ultimate night of competition at the ‘Chef Showdown’ (Fri. Oct. 21), where 20 chefs battle it out in a series of themed challenges - and you’re the judge! Reserve your spot now - you’ll need separate tickets for each week-night culinary experience.
South Beach Seafood Festival
Named “Best Seafood Festival in the U.S.” by Travel Channel, the SoBe Seafood Festival’s Saturday bash on the beach features pop-up cafés, fresh seafood, open bars, culinary demos, DJs, three live music stages, and so much more. Florida’s top chefs and local restaurants will be serving up gourmet seafood dishes that you won’t find anywhere else. Eateries like Red the Steakhouse, The Lobster Shack, Ella’s Oyster Bar, Tacos & Tattoos, and Café Bernie will feature 70+ menu items like stone crab, shrimp tacos, crab cakes, seafood ceviche, steak and lobster skewers, lobster mac ‘n cheese, grouper in a bag, po’ boys, shrimp cocktail and oysters on the half shell.
Stone crab season comes only once a year to Miami, so it’s kind of a big deal. Plenty of cafés will be serving the sweet crustaceans on-site, pre-cracked and ready to eat. Another hot menu item that typically makes an appearance is the Lobster Waffle Cone. Although not the typical stuffing for a sweet, sugary waffle cone, fresh lobster meat, spices, and creamy sauce combine to make this top secret recipe one of the most coveted food items of the day.
Although the all-day open bars for 21+ are included in the cost of your ticket, the seafood offerings are not. So if you aren’t a fan of seafood, you can sip cocktails beside friends without having to dish out extra cash. Your ticket includes access to 30+ bar stations and a beer garden.
South Beach Seafood Festival bars and eateries will serve from 12 - 7 p.m. for General Admission ticket-holders. All 70+ premiere menu items are generally appetizer-sized and available at festival-friendly prices at $5-10 a pop. Tip: General Admission ticket holders may be lucky enough to score complimentary tasting samples in the Milam’s Markets Culinary Showcase Kitchen.
Book Your Hotel for South Beach Seafood Festival
Saturday’s main event will take place in Lummus Park. The main entrance at 14th Street and Ocean Drive is only a short walk from The Sagamore Hotel, an iconic Miami Beach destination known for its unique collection of contemporary art, spacious suites, prime location, and delicious on-site dining options.
Set within The Sagamore and named ‘Best Wine Bar’ by Miami Herald, the Water Lion Wine + Alchemy Bar's cozy 10-seat bar and 12-seat dining space features a relaxed vibe paired with beverage offerings like an ever-evolving wine list, beer, cider, sake, and an in-house fermentology-based mixology program of artisanal low- and no-ABV cocktails. Pair your libation with light plates like fresh raw oysters, salmon + brie tramezzini, top-quality charcuterie, chopped shrimp dip, and deviled eggs topped with white anchovy, prosciutto di parma, truffle paste, or Siberian osetra caviar.
Check out The Sagamore’s special offers to begin planning your SoBe seafood escape. Book our Stay Longer, Save More package to save up to 20% off your nightly rate.
