Back for its 13th year and more expansive and delicious than ever, the 2025 South Beach Seafood Festival returns to the sands of Miami Beach Wednesday, October 22 through Saturday, October 25, bringing four days of ocean-fresh flavors, unforgettable culinary experiences, and unbeatable Miami Beach energy. Brought to you by Tequila Herradura and Jack Daniel’s and presented by GOYA Foods, the premier fall event marks the official start of stone crab season and showcases the best seafood cuisine from South Florida’s leading chefs and restaurants. Hosted in partnership with Breakthru Beverage Florida, the exclusive wine and spirits provider, the 2025 festival continues to raise the bar with the introduction of an all-new two-night dinner series—“Experience Miami Beach.” From curated pairing dinners to high-energy showdowns and beachside bites, this year’s festival promises to be an epic feast fit for seafood lovers from near and far.
The 2025 South Beach Seafood Festival kicks off with an exciting new culinary event: “Experience Miami Beach,” a two-night celebration of dazzling wine and spirits pairing dinners at some of the city’s most iconic dining destinations. On Wednesday, October 22, and Thursday, October 23, guests will choose from a curated lineup of one-of-a-kind, seated, multi-course dinners hosted at two to three top-tier restaurants each night. Presented by GOYA Foods and Breakthru Beverage and featuring signature cuts from Halperns’, the Official Purveyor of the Festival, each intimate dinner will highlight four to five expertly crafted courses from South Florida’s most talented chefs, thoughtfully matched with top-tier wines and handcrafted cocktails featuring nationally celebrated brands.
Wednesday’s hosts include Carbone, the buzzy Italian-American hotspot known for its theatrical tableside service, and Mimi Chinese, the dimly lit stunner delivering bold, modern Chinese fare. Thursday evening brings dinners at Rao’s, the legendary institution serving timeless Italian specialties; Pubbelly, Miami’s pioneering Asian-Latin izakaya; and Catch Miami Beach, the stylish seafood hotspot. With more restaurants to be announced, the first-ever “Experience Miami Beach” invites guests to indulge in the flavors, style, and spirit that make Miami Beach a world-class destination for unforgettable nights out in partnership with national brand ambassadors curating a one of a kind wine and spirits experience. Tickets go on sale later this summer.
On Friday night, October 24, the festival heats up as the rousing weekend events begin with the ever-popular Tequila Herradura “VIP Chef Showdown,” presented by GOYA Foods and hosted by Pacifico Beer. Taking over Lummus Park at 7 p.m., this high-energy competition pits 20 of Miami’s top chefs against one another in 10 thrilling head-to-head seafood showdowns, including Taco, Crab, Sushi, Surf N’ Turf, Salmon, Shrimp, Ceviche, Seafood Pasta, Tuna, and Lobster. Ticketed guests sip, savor, and vote at each restaurant battle sampling station, ultimately deciding the winner of each showdown. Set against the pulse of a live DJ set, the GOYA Culinary Pavilion’s live stage becomes a culinary battlefield, as featured chefs then take the stage to fight it out for judges votes through live battles. Endless seafood bites, full bars, and compelling activations keep guests buzzing through the spirited beach bash. Tickets are now available for the 2025 “VIP Chef Showdown” at sobeseafoodfest.com.
The grand finale arrives Saturday, October 25 with the main event, the “Seafood Slam,” a full-day beachfront party featuring unlimited food and beverage tastings from 1 p.m. to sunset. This year’s all-inclusive experience, presented by Tequila Herradura, once again, lets guests roam multiple seafood zones sampling the finest coastal creations to find and vote on the Best of the Fest bites, hosted additionally by Milam’s Markets. This year’s diverse lineup of more than 40+ top new and returning local restaurants includes: American Social, Area 31, Bargean Miami, Catch, Chef Anthony’s Smoked Fish Dip, CJ’s Crab Shack/Lobster Shack, Dalido Beach Club, French Bistro Argentinian Steakhouse, Fresh Co Fish Market & Grill, Garlick Seafood and More, GNS Seafood Express, GOYA Foods, Marc Bynum Concepts, Paya, Pubbelly Sushi, Sala O’ Cuban, Shuckers Sports Bar at Clevelander South Beach, Southern Kulture Grill, Temple Street Eatery, UpperTea LLC, Vale Food Co, and Zaytinya. Ticketed guests will also enjoy live entertainment on Jack Daniel’s Live Music stage presented by Demesmin & Dover and dance the day away at the Pacifico Beach Club and High Noon’s Lifeguard Dance party. Tickets to the 2025 “Seafood Slam” are now available at sobeseafoodfest.com.
“This year, more than ever, we want to be a voice for our local restaurants, chefs, and culinary partners,” said Valerie Roy, Director of Marketing and Client Strategy at CI Management. “South Florida is bursting with talent, and we’re proud to bring those stories and flavors into the spotlight through the 13th Annual South Beach Seafood Festival,” remarked Valerie Roy, Director of Marketing and Client Strategy at CI Management. “More than just incredible food, we see this event as a platform to celebrate the people behind the food, to connect them with new audiences, and to highlight what makes Miami Beach one of the most exciting culinary destinations in the world.”
Previously named one of the “Top 5 Specialty Festivals in the Country” by USA Today; among the “Top 5 Things to Do This Fall” by Forbes; and “Best Seafood Festival in the U.S.” by the Travel Channel, the South Beach Seafood Festival remains a bucket-list event for seafood lovers from across the country. In addition to celebrating regional culinary talent, the festival annually supports CI Foundation’s EAT SMART program, a 501 © (3) nonprofit program that provides healthy meals and nutritional guidance to the local community and Florida’s youth through programs in Miami-Dade County public schools.
13th Annual South Beach Seafood Festival Event Schedule:
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22: EXPERIENCE MIAMI BEACH
Kicking off the festival is the exciting new event that invites guests to celebrate iconic Miami Beach restaurants as they host exclusive pairing dinners presented by GOYA Foods and Breakthru Beverage. On Wednesday, hotspots Carbone and Mimi Chinese are among the city’s top culinary destinations hosting unforgettable, four- to five-course masterpiece dinners expertly paired premium wines and handcrafted cocktails.
Tickets: Tickets to go on sale later this summer
Time: 7PM | Location: Multiple locations
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23: EXPERIENCE MIAMI BEACH
The journey through Miami Beach’s vibrant culinary scene continues Thursday evening, as coastal glamour meets world-class dining in a trio of exquisite multi-course pairing dinners at Rao’s, Pubbelly, and Catch—each offering an unforgettable fusion of exceptional food, fine wine, and expertly crafted cocktails.
Tickets: Tickets to go on sale later this summer
Time: 7PM | Location: Multiple locations
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24: Tequila Herradura’s VIP CHEF SHOWDOWN presented by GOYA Foods
The culinary excitement ramps up with the fan-favorite Tequila Herradura “VIP Chef Showdown,” presented by GOYA Foods. Miami’s top chefs will battle it out live on GOYA Culinary Pavilion’s stage in ten seafood showdowns where guests help decide the winner. Attendees will savor a wealth of seafood dishes and refreshing cocktails, voting for their favorites and watching thrilling live demos by competing chefs.
Tickets: $175*All Inclusive Experience.
Time: 7 P.M. | Location: Lummus Park, 1130 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25: SEAFOOD SLAM presented by HERRADURA TEQUILA
The main event, held on the sands of South Beach features a full-day, all-inclusive experience of unlimited food and beverage tastings. Showcasing the finest seafood creations from South Florida’s top restaurants, the “Seafood Slam” invites guests to sample their way through various seafood zones, where top restaurant teams compete for votes on Best of the Fest bites presented by the official bank of the festival, First Horizon Bank. Among the beloved vendors and acclaimed restaurant participating are American Social, Bargean Miami, Catch, Certo Italian Restaurant, GOYA Foods, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Paya, Pubbelly Sushi, Sala O’ Cuban, Shuckers Sports Bar at Clevelander South Beach, Southern Kulture Grill, Temple Street Eatery, UpperTea LLC, and Zaytinya – with more vendors to be announced soon.
General Admission: $160* All Inclusive Experience
Time: 1 P.M. | Location: Lummus Park, 1400 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL
In addition to individual event tickets, a multi-day festival package with a hotel is also available, including a two-day weekend pass for Friday and Saturday for $1,200*.
The festival is hosted in partnership with Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority and brought to you by entitlement sponsor Tequila Herradura; title sponsors Jack Daniel’s, Breakthru Beverage Florida, and GOYA Foods, which also serves as a presenting sponsor and Culinary host. The full list of presenting sponsors includes Demesmin & Dover Law Firm and hosted with assistance by the City of Miami Beach. Additional hosting sponsors include Cerveza Pacifico Clara, First Horizon, Miami-Dade County, Halpern’s, Cadillac, Hendrick’s Gin, and Milam’s Markets. For a list of corporate and media sponsors, please visit sobeseafoodfest.com.
Mark your calendars and secure your tickets now for the most anticipated culinary event of the year. For more information and to purchase tickets to the 13th Annual South Beach Seafood Festival, please visit sobeseafoodfest.com. Follow along on Instagram at @sobeseafoodfest and Facebook @SOBESeafoodFest.
