Natural Gourmet Cuisine
At The Palms Hotel & Spa

Diner's Choice 2019

a table with plates of food and drinks on it

Mindfully
Sourced,
Healthfully
Crafted

Essensia Restaurant & Bar welcomes you to natural gourmet dining at its finest. A freshly crafted selection of mindfully sourced and seasonally inspired cuisine with Asian and Mediterranean influences, healthfully prepared with premium and local ingredients to please your body, mind and soul.

VIEW MENUS

Hours of
Operation

Breakfast
Daily 7:00 am - 11:00 am

Lunch
11:30 am – 2:00 pm

Brunch
Sunday 11:30 am - 2:00 pm

Dinner
Daily 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Bar
Daily 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
Happy Hour, Sunday - Thursday 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

a man and woman sitting on a couch

Craft Cocktails
& Sustainable Wines

Our tropical Essensia Bar features a mindful beverage menu, including handcrafted "Essential Cocktails" made with premium organic or artisanal spirits, fresh fruits and herbs, local beers and a unique wine list that highlights conscious, organic and wholly sustainable wines. A tasty gourmet bar menu is also available.

View Bar Menu

Four Ways
We Raise
the Bar

  1. Tropical
    Outdoor Settings
  2. Romantic Dining
  3. Mindfully Sourced Cuisine
  4. Handcrafted Cocktails
    & Sustainable Wines + Spirits
a person holding food

Sustainable
Partnerships

Since 2011 Essensia Restaurant has been recognized for its commitment to quality, authenticity and sustainability as a Snail of Approval honoree by Slow Food Miami. We are also a proud member of the Surfrider Foundation's Ocean Friendly Restaurants program, committed to sourcing seafood from fisheries or farms that minimize harmful environmental impacts. eliminating Styrofoam and plastic straws, and ensuring proper recycling practices as part of this Earth-saving program. See the full list of current farm and specialty ingredient partners here.

partner icon_03partner icon_05

View Essential Partners

Chef Diana wearing a chef's jacket with a garden background

Meet The Chef

Introducing Essensia Restaurant's culinary maestro, Chef Diana Tandia. Born in Mauritania and shaped by her Northern and West African heritage, Chef Tandia's journey has been a fusion of her roots and global experiences. Trained at the French Culinary Institute and mentored by luminaries like Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Daniel Boulud, she artfully blends African, French, and Asian influences in her cuisine.

A Taste of Excellence

Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating
Always a pleasure to visit Essensia/The Palms. The staff are so welcoming! The food is always superb. I had the 4-course menu, which was perfect.
- LondonLover,
OpenTable, February 2024
Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating
I honestly have to say that Essensia is back. The service was better than ever and the food was delicious. Oh, and for the parents that read this: they offer the best kids menu in the city (it really shows that they care about the nutrition we give to our children). We had an incredible evening. Thank you to everyone that took care of us.
- Sebastian J.,
Yelp Diner, October 2023
Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating
The service was great. Everyone was on top of it with a smile. I had the chicken and it was fantastic. Atmosphere was nice. There was a wedding reception next to us, so we even got to listen to some of their jams as well.
- James C.,
OpenTable, February 2024
Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating
Best brunch value out there! Impressive food quality, attentive servers, beautiful setting. Completely underrated. So many places charge too much money for mediocre quality food in the beach area. This restaurant makes an effort, is sustainable and the hotel property is one of the only one left that’s privately owned! This makes the difference! It’s about the details and the hotel is so well maintained and run. Beautiful classic colonial style inside and outside garden area. Must see and must eat there!
- MiriamM,
OpenTable Diner, September 2023
Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating
Great location and ambiance. Food was excellent. Service was too. A nice, memorable evening.
- JohnGR,
OpenTable, January 2024
Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating
The staff was great (we have a 4yo and they were adorable to her), the food was very good (delicious burger and cheesecake), the prices very decent for the area - and the space is lovely. We'll be back!
- Clarance B.
Yelp, September 2023
Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating
Essensia continues to be one of my favorite restaurants in Miami. The food and drinks are delicious and the atmosphere is relaxing and beautiful.
- OpenTable Diner,
February 2024
Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating
This was a great meal after my appointment at the Spa! I sat on the patio and there were fans to keep us cool in the hot, Miami weather. There is a lunch menu that offers affordable options. I got the Palms burger and truffle fries. It was sooo good! The service was also amazing. I was given chilled water the second I sat down. This is a great restaurant for your next trip!
- Olivia B.
Yelp, September 2023
Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating
A beautiful restaurant with a romantic and quiet vibe. The gnochi with a braised ragu was incredible as were the salads. Salmon was very good but could have used more of a sauce. The arisanal bread with olive tapenade and herbed butter was delicious. Service was attentive and leisurely, leaving time for drinks and conversation between offerings. Strongly recommend this restaurant and would definitely return.
- Linda M,
OpenTable Diner, September 2023
Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating
This was our first experience at Essensia and we were very pleased. The restaurant had Florida "old plantation" vibes. The atmosphere was pleasant. The fool was excellent. We loved the "farm to table" concept - and the menu listed where some of the food items were sourced from. The food presentation was great! Our server was attentive and friendly. Definitely a good experience!
- CindyT
OpenTable, January 2024

outdoor eating area

Farm-to-table
Dining on
Collins Ave

For natural gourmet dining that feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Miami Beach, Essensia is a welcoming tropical oasis at The Palms Hotels & Spa, just steps from the Atlantic Ocean.