Dine With a View in Enchanted April

It’s time to get outdoors and bask in South Florida’s spring weather!

Nothing could be better than an al fresco brunch on a breezy South Beach patio or sunny rooftop, or one with panoramic views of Biscayne Bay or the Atlantic Ocean. Or how about a whimsical Mad Hatter-inspired brunch set amid lush greenery on an outdoor terrace?

Café Bastille (786.425.3575) at 538 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach is an all-day French brunch café that recently opened. It was founded by Parisian partners Benjamin and Estelle, who spent years working in the hospitality industry before deciding to try their hand at entrepreneurship. They succeeded: This marks the brand’s third location, in addition to Fort Lauderdale and downtown Miami.

This brunch haven features a coffee bar, a Parisian-inspired menu and bottomless mimosas – all day and all week long. Dine indoors in the cozy café or on the outdoor patio, which is great for people-watching.

 Favorites include crepes stuffed with Nutella, strawberries and banana; red velvet pancakes; French toast; and eggs Benedict and omelets. New dishes in the SoBe location include cinnamon roll pancakes with a cream cheese glaze and sugar cookie crumble, or opt for the protein-packed steak-and-egg bowl, topped with a sunny-side-up.

The adjacent bakery and juicery offers freshly made pastries and drinks for those on the go, such as the dulce de leche cruffin, Nutella croissant, smoothies and juices. Pop in for baked goodies or a breakfast tartine on brioche with fried egg, turkey bacon, avocado and tomato.

The Deck at Island Gardens (786.627.4949) at 888 MacArthur Causeway in Miami, one of the Magic City’s most popular waterfront restaurants, is back with a new spring menu just in time for fresh-air dining after a seasonal hiatus. New executive chef Jean Pierre Palacio has revamped recipes and upgraded popular items.

 The raw bar selection has been expanded to include a large variety of seafood, such as ceviche, stone crabs and Alaskan king crab. Other menu delights include ahi tuna tartare with capers, shallots and avocado; gnocchi alla Romana with Parmigiano fondue; and grilled lamb chops with apple carpaccio and mint demi-glace. Bestsellers include ravioli caio e “pere” with Bartlett pear and pecorino Romano, and braised oxtail. Desserts include lychee sorbet and St. Honoré, a puff pastry with hazelnut custard that adds a sweet finale to your meal.

The highly anticipated brunch buffet returns from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The opulent spread features the raw bar, sushi, grilled meats, fresh salads and breakfast favorites, along with homemade desserts. Late in the afternoon, the scene transitions into an evening soirée as the sun sets against the dramatic Miami skyline.

The Roof at Esmé Hotel (305.809.8050), 1438 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach, is a rooftop restaurant and cocktail lounge nestled above the corner of Washington Ave. and Española Way that’s far above the madding crowds where you can escape the South Beach fray.

Settle into a cabana and spend a relaxing afternoon sipping luscious Verdejo Blanco sangria. Try a specialty cocktail such as a Strawberry Paloma and choose from a casual menu of small plates such as hummus with crudité; watermelon salad; avocado toast; poke bowls; classic Caesar salad; and fish tacos.

As night falls, the atmosphere transforms into a celebration with DJs, craft cocktails and a new wood-fired pizza oven.

Isabelle’s at the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove (305.644.4680), 3300 SW 27th Ave., is just where you may spot a white rabbit with a pocket watch and a waistcoat lamenting his lateness for brunch. Follow him to the restaurant's relaunch of its popular “Mad Hatters Brunch” series, “The Queen of Hearts,” Sundays from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. through May 26. “Alice in Wonderland” fans will delight in this fantasy experience, featuring festive tea party games and a DJ, set amid lush greenery on an outdoor terrace.

 Enjoy bottomless mimosas, bloody marys or bellinis, or try themed cocktails that Miami food influencer Gio Gutierrez created especially for the series. They include the Red Queen Hibiscus Cosmopolitan, a spin on the classic cosmopolitan made with UNA vodka, Cointreau, cranberry, lime, hibiscus tea and glitter; and the Queen of Hearts Tea Elixir, Teatime with a Punch, made with Dewar’s 12 whisky, peach and coconut water.

 Sumptuous specialties are strawberry and champagne pancakes, topped with strawberry champagne syrup and gold leaf, and the Queen’s Royal Hash, a potato, onion and leek hash with perfectly poached eggs drizzled with a three-cheese sauce. Choose to elevate the dish in three styles: the Cheshire Cat with smoked salmon and tobiko caviar; the Mad Hatter with grilled kielbasa; or Grow Me with exotic mixed mushrooms and truffle.

For a sweet finale, the Curious and Curiouser Carousel is a rotating display of six enchanting desserts: coconut carmelia mousse, pistachio cherry mousse dome, chocolate hazelnut crunch bar, vanilla bean rum cake, choco raspberry mousse, and ube cake with tropical fruit curd and coconut ganache. Or choose a sampler of three sweet selections called the “Unbirthday Cake.”

Mirabella (305.674.4780) at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, 4441 Collins Ave., is a coastal Italian restaurant launched by chef Michael White. The five-time Michelin-starred White is recognized for his successes at Chicago’s Spiaggia, Italy’s Ristorante San Domenico and New York’s Fiamma Osteria. He’s a co-founder of BBianco Hospitality, a consulting, branding, design and management firm that creates memorable culinary experiences.

Designed by the award-winning David Collins Studio, which took its inspiration from the Amalfi Coast

, the restaurant features a glass-enclosed veranda with spectacular Atlantic Ocean views.

On Sundays from 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., experience Mirabella’s unique coastal Italian twist on brunch classics, such as lobster Benedict with brioche and crustaceans, scrambled egg toast with crème fraiche and chives, and flat iron steak with salsa verde and lemon.

To end the meal on a sweet note, visit the dolce station for the chef’s selection of desserts and parfaits.

Openings

New in Miami Beach are Ladurée (786.275.6621) at 1118 Lincoln Rd., serving an assortment of Viennoiseries, macarons, chocolates and savory croissants, and Oakberry Açai (786.558.4497) at 1674 Meridian Ave., featuring customizable acai bowls.

Peruvian restaurant and pisco bar Jarana (786.840.8840) opened at Esplanade at Aventura at 19505 Biscayne Blvd., and new Asian-inspired steak bar Salty Flame launched in downtown Miami at 1414 Brickell Ave.

Blue Collar (305.756.0366) is moving this month to 6789 Biscayne Blvd. The restaurant first opened in the MiMo District in a tiny Biscayne Boulevard spot more than 12 years ago. Blue Collar always remained a lynchpin in the neighborhood and the go-to spot for comfort food enthusiasts. Now it’s opening just across the street in a bigger location. For the first time, it will have a full bar with an emphasis on classic cocktails, along with an expanded menu and outdoor patio seating. The menu will still feature favorite Blue Collar classics with added daily soups, chops and made-in-house pastas and breads.

Irene Moore is a Miami-based writer and certified sommelier whose vivid descriptions take readers through culinary cultures around the world. Her feature articles have appeared in print publications, travel guidebooks and websites in the U.S. and Europe.