Raw Bar Near Me on North River Drive: Seaspice Platters and Sunset Hour

Seaspice opened in 2013 in a post-industrial warehouse at 412 NW North River Drive, and it is still the Miami River restaurant where guests arrive by car or by yacht. Its raw bar is built around platters: the Seaspice Platter brings a pound of Maine lobster, six jumbo shrimp and eight oysters. On Fridays from 5 to 8 pm, Sunset Hour pours $10 cocktails and serves Osetra caviar at $99, which makes it the raw bar near me for a sunset on the river.

The restaurant's own retrospective, written for its twelfth anniversary, says that when Seaspice opened in 2013 the Miami River was not yet part of the city's dining conversation. The building is a post-industrial warehouse fitted with nautical touches, and the terrace runs right along the water, facing the downtown skyline.

Over the years the venue grew into what it calls a dining-to-dancing destination, with DJs and performers on weekends. Its newest project is AIR, an intimate fine-dining room from the same team, styled after the interior of a private yacht and serving a progressive French-Asian tasting menu overlooking the river.

The sushi menu overlaps with the raw bar in useful ways. The Salmon Toro maki with avocado and shiso wasabi aioli and the spicy tuna maki with bluefin tuna and kimchi aioli both work as a second course after oysters, and the lobster maki with black truffle and miso butter is the indulgent choice. Most tables pair one platter with one or two rolls.

The Appetizers and Raw Bar menu splits into crudos, platters, oysters, caviar and cocktails. The crudos include a Meli Melo tartare of tuna, salmon and yellowtail with edamame and avocado, an Ora King salmon crudo with beetroot vinaigrette, bluefin tuna tataki with aji amarillo vinaigrette, and young hamachi ceviche with mandarin ponzu and yuzu gel.

Oysters come in West Coast and East Coast varieties, and caviar is Osetra in 30-gram or 125-gram portions. The cocktail section lists Maine lobster, king crab and jumbo shrimp. The regular raw bar menu online does not show prices, so ask your server for the day's oyster price before you order a round.

The platters are the reason to come. The Seaspice Platter carries a one-pound Maine lobster, six jumbo shrimp and eight oysters, a comfortable starter for two. The Grand Seafood Platter doubles everything: a two-pound lobster, twelve shrimp and sixteen oysters. The Seaspice Carnival goes further, with two two-pound lobsters, king crab, twelve shrimp, 24 oysters and tuna, hamachi and salmon tartare.

An honest call: skip the Carnival unless you have a table of six or more. It is built for groups who want a centerpiece, and a pair or a foursome will end up with too much of everything. Two people do better with the Seaspice Platter and one crudo, such as the hamachi ceviche, to add acidity.

Sunset Hour is the one time the prices are posted in full. On Fridays from 5 to 8 pm, cocktails such as the Dale Chica with watermelon and basil or the frozen Sunset Affair are $10, wines by the glass are $10, and a bottle of Moët Imperial Brut is $75. Bottles from the wine list are half price, except allocated and limited-release labels.

On the food side, East Coast oysters are listed at $12, malanga bites at $5, the Seaspice sushi roll at $14 and Osetra caviar at $99. Arrive by 5 pm to get a riverside table while the light is still on the water; DJs set the mood, and yachts glide past as the evening goes on.

Seaspice is closed on Monday and open Tuesday to Sunday from 12 pm to 12 am, with weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 4 pm. During Miami Spice 2026, the restaurant offered a $65 three-course dinner from Tuesday to Sunday, a weekday lunch, and a $40 weekend brunch.

There is one house rule worth noting: cancellations are accepted only by phone, so do not expect to cancel through the booking form. Upcoming events include a Día de los Muertos night on November 1, with costumes, live performances and a DJ, and Seaspice Sundays, which turn the terrace into a party with yachts and bottle service.

The anniversary piece credits Seaspice with helping spark the riverfront revival that followed its 2013 opening, and you can see it from the terrace: the river is lined with marinas and working boats as much as restaurants. Sit close to the water if you want to watch the yachts dock; the dining room behind is better for conversation when the DJ starts.

The crowd changes with the hour. Lunch from noon is the calmest time for a crudo and a view, while Sunday nights belong to the party crowd: the restaurant describes yachts pulling up and bottle parades making an entrance. The anniversary piece also mentions visiting athletes, artists and dignitaries over the years.

If you want a calm raw bar meal, avoid Sunday night. Go on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening, when the terrace is quieter and you can actually hear the water. Friday's Sunset Hour sits between the two: lively but still focused on food and drinks rather than dancing.

Seaspice shares North River Drive with Garcia's Seafood Grille & Fish Market at 398 NW North River Drive, a family-run spot founded in 1966 where a half dozen oysters is $18. If Seaspice is fully booked or too loud, Garcia's is the casual backup, a short walk along the same street.

For a stroll after dinner, cross the river toward José Martí Park at 351 SW 4th Street, an 8.9-acre green space with a public riverwalk and benches. Ask Karpo in the Karpo APP to route the walk between the two restaurants and the park.

Address: Seaspice Brasserie & Lounge, 412 NW North River Drive, Miami, FL 33128, on the Miami River. Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 12 pm to 12 am, closed Monday. Weekend brunch: Saturday and Sunday 12 to 4 pm. Cancellations by phone only. Arrival by car or boat.

Sunset Hour, Fridays 5 to 8 pm: cocktails $10, wines by the glass $10, Moët Imperial Brut $75, East Coast oysters $12, Osetra caviar $99, wine bottles at half price excluding allocated labels. Platters: Seaspice Platter, Grand Seafood Platter and Seaspice Carnival, priced by the restaurant on the day. Events: Día de los Muertos on November 1.