Your date might initially be a little skeptical when you take them to dinner under a sign that reads “Pump House.” But there’s no innuendo here—the phrase refers to the coral rock house’s one-time role as a water pump station during Miami’s early days. This left the space with a large quarry pond in the middle of its lush outdoor garden that creates a captivating waterside dining experience tucked along a busy street. Amid dim lights and soft colors, you can listen to the bubbling water features while sharing Middle Eastern spreads like shakshuka and pastrami hummus, then delving into one of ZOI’s shareable steaks or branzinos.

Major Food Group does restaurant design on another level, and while the chaos of Carbone can be fun it doesn’t always lend itself to an intimate meal. Opt instead for Contessa, an art-deco masterpiece of a restaurant that feels like eating in a 1930s mob movie. Long, plush benches allow you and your date to sit side-by-side, joining what looks like gangsters and their goomahs in dim light and joyful noise. The attentive staff and sommeliers help you along by suggesting interesting wines and guiding you through the northern-Italian menu.

Lorena Garcia’s MiMo darling in the old News Café space is like eating in a tropical forest, but not in the hokey way you remember from Rainforest Café. Calming plants alternate with sexy low-lit décor, making it a perfect place for a romantic dinner or suggestive end-of-the-night-drinks. The Latin-inspired menu gets the job done, with a creative collection of arepas like braised short rib asado and beet making for fun shareable appetizers. But the real excitement starts when you begin exploring the cocktail menu under Chica’s golden-hued lights, where a few sips of the pineapple-lime Chica-Rita has you contemplating some seriously naughty endeavors.

Miami’s lone two Michelin star recipient isn’t just a great date idea because a tire maker said so. It’s a low-lit, intimate experience where you and your date can sample some of the finest food in the world while watching a kitchen that moves like a silent precision drill team. Every dish here is an adventure, and so long as you both keep open minds you’ll find the seasonal creations challenging yet rewarding, much like your relationship. Be advised though, eating here is never cheap. And while we’d say it’s absolutely worth the price, maybe save it for an occasion with someone you know is worth it.