Pilikia by the pool

I’ll start by saying «Evie, we love you!» She was the best bartender ever.
We stumbled upon this hidden gem on a Monday night and had the best food/​drink experience of our entire stay. PERIOD. Please note: the restaurant/​bar is at the back of South Seas Hotel.
Let’s talk about the FIVE DOLLAR cocktails for a second. You will NEVER find prices like these on South Beach (make sure you come during happy hour). Not only were the drinks amazing, but the food was good as well.
I had their to-​die-​for fish tacos. It tasted like HEAVEN (with mango salsa on the side).
I left Pilikia by the Pool (literally by the pool) happy and FULL. I even dipped my feet in the pool for a bit. It was the perfect last night in Miami move.
My girls and I will definitely be back on our next trip. Thank you Evie and Pilikia! You guys are ahmazing!

Before coming to SoBe I looked up hidden gems (trying real hard to avoid touristy places) and was not super impressed with the «gems» we tried. So on our last night we decided to wing it and fortuitously stumbled on THE best kept secret of SoBe — an unassuming poolside hotel bar/​restaurant called Pilikia.
What’s so amazing about this place? Phenomenal fish tacos that taste of San Diego? Check. Delicious grilled steak on the salad? Check. Awesome service, well mixed drinks, chill vibe with not an ounce of pretension and fun music to fit? Checks everywhere. The only check that isn’t looming is the check itself because the prices are actually reasonable (esp. with half off cocktails during happy hour).
Easily the best meal and dining experience we had in Miami Beach. The only sad part is not getting another chance to eat here on this trip. Unilocal ratings tend to be inflated in sunnier/​warmer places (google it), as we’ve found out the hard way in SoBe, but Pilikia deserves all 5 stars and then some.

We picked this place for my daughters birthday totally based on Unilocal reviews. So far we’ve had great luck choosing restaurants this way but this place was disappointing and, in my opinion, no «hidden gem». I will say that the setting overlooking the pool was very pretty. However, the food was mediocre at best and there was only one server for the bar and dinner tables. The fish tacos were the only thing worth mentioning and I wouldn’t even say they were exceptional. The chips that came with the guacamole were doughy and seemed more like a fried pita chip than a tortilla chip, the mango in the fruit plate was tough, the goat cheese salad was heavy on the dressing and light on the goat cheese and the Hawaiian pizza was inedible… how hard is it to get pizza right? I could describe more but I won’t. Just trust me and go somewhere else.

THE best fries and fish tacos. A quiet oasis overlooking the pool. The Mai Tais were good too. Awesome prices. You have to go here!

Always looking for a great fish taco we noticed Pilikia by the pool. Located just across the street from where we were staying, and having good reviews we decided to try. Located in a cute boutique hotel easily accessible. Coming in the front door we were directed down the mostly aviation themed photo lined hallway. Take a moment to check them out. To the back of the hotel we find the beautiful old Miami beach Palm tree lined pool area. We were pleasantly surprised to find one of a handful of tables by the pool open. We were greeted by Laura. And shown to our table. We ordered the fish tacos and the shrimp cocktail. The tacos, mahi mahi grilled perfectly and drizzled with all important make or break tasty sauce and combination or veggies and wrapped in a tortilla she’ll that seemed to be lightly flipped on the grill with maybe olive oil and spices. Served warm. iMO were awesome. To make sure we ordered another round. To enjoy the scenery and another round of sea breezes and visit with Laura, incredibly pleasant and attentive, we will look for her on our return, it’s a great escape from the south beach hustle bustle. Thanks Laura and Pilikia great job. Compliments to the chef as well!!!

Delicious. Service was amazing. Location is perfect, ambience was great, views great. Amazing fish tacos. Calamari is too die for.

Amazing fish tacos and fried calamari. This bar is behind a hotel so it might be hard to notice but it is definitely worth the trip. Reasonably priced and nice servers. Bonus, the pool is open to everyone, not just guests of the hotel.

Surprised how great the food and drinks are here for a hotel bar. Great prices too! The calamari is very yummy! But everything else we had was great! The staff is so friendly and down to earth. Happy hour half price drinks from 5 – 6.

Came here for the fish tacos due to the Unilocal reviews. They deserve five stars on their own. Mahi-​mahi mango salsa, super fresh guac.. .So delicious.
The place is just a pool bar, so expect families in swimsuits and some screaming children. But if you’re looking for fish tacos, it’s totally worth it.

This place isn’t some dinky pool bar out back of some hotel. They take their job seriously. The whole je né sais quoi of the South Seas was of spectacular customer service thru and thru. Pilikia by the Pool was no exception.
For starters, its easy on the eyes. I’ve seen prettier pool bars, but this is nothing to sneeze at– it’s almost like a sand castle, and you can sit and stare out at the pool, with the hammocks in the background, and tons of palm trees, habiscus, and other gorgeous bright flowers.
We had lunch on Sunday after sitting by the pool a bit. My coworkers and I split the guac and chips. The guac was fresh, and limey, and so tasty! The chips were fresh cooked– probably among the best chips I’ve ever eaten. Usually I see chips as a method of getting the dip to my mouth, but in this case, I was smitten.
For my entrée, I had the goat cheese salad. Again, spectacular! Lots and lots of goat cheese (I actually took some off… it was almost too much), with lots of fresh, crispy greens, roasted red peppers, olives, etc. in a pesto dressing that was to-​die-​for!
The next day we swung by and split a margarita pizza 3x ways as a mid-​day snack which was also delicious. Cheezy, with lots of fresh tomatos and basil and a hint of pesto. Very well executed.
We stopped by the bar a few times too, and had amazing pina coladas that were made fresh each time. They have a solid beer list, and wine list, and the prices are pretty reasonabile given the location.
Finally, the service couldn’t really be much cooler. They were so sweet, and was able to walk the line of jumping into a conversation when they have something funny to add, vs. leaving us alone. I really enjoyed each and every person there throughout the duration of our time at the South Seas hotel. Next time I come back, I’ll check this place out again

Pilikia by the Pool is an underwhelming, underexposed hidden gem! We stayed at South Seas hotel for 6 nights a while ago, and Pilikia is the hotel bar/​restaurant, so it was very convenient for us. During those 6 days we probably ate at Pilikia about 5 times! This place is the best hotel bar I have ever dined at. Usually, food at hotel restaurants is mediocre at best. Not at Pilikia! We were a group of four people, so between us we tried almost every item on the menu, and the dishes ranged from very good to amazing. The grilled mahi-​mahi was the star of the menu. The fish tacos are delectable. The burgers are juicy. Even the pasta and the omelette that we tried for a change were very decent. Don’t be deceived by its unpretentious and simple décor and the hidden location: it is a great place with great food and attentive, personal service. Highly recommend.

Yep, blackened Mahi tacos are quite good (mango salsa on the side is a genuine plus), guacamole is quality, (though could use some garlic or lime or salt or perhaps all of the above), and friendly service in a casual relaxing setting by the pool… But FIVE stars? Seriously? So there is no difference between this place and say, OLA around the corner? C’mon people – we can like places with three stars, can’t we? This is a decent 2 – 3 star place, and the world needs those as much or more than the 5-​star temples of foodism.

Place was very cool and casual. It was close to where we are staying and it came up number one on Unilocal.We had the fish tacos and a burger. Tacos were amazing. We almost left because no one there. There is no sign out front of this small hotel. Look for the address. Burger great too. Hand cut French fries were tasty. Key lime pie for dessert. Yum. Service was slow but who cares. It was 80 degrees!

Should you live on the beach and lack a rooftop pool as part of your apartment’s amenities, hit up Pilikia. Locals welcome to lounge at their pool free of charge. Plus you can order alcoholic drinks and food at the bar.

Amazing food!!! The best mahi mahi taco ever! Definitely did not expect it by the look of the place. And the portions are so generous. Great find on South Beach. Very laid-​back.

This was a very pleasant surprise. We just landed and were looking for a quick lunch. Followed the Unilocalers to this unassuming place. Was kind of afraid of the low count in reviews, but boy were we shocked. The mahi mahi taco was sublime. Best fish tacos, ever. Dont let the fact that its in the appetizer section fool you. We ordered two apps and were stuffed beyond our dreams.
You will not be disappointed, especially with its reasonable pricing and generous portions.

Pilikia by the Pool located at South Seas Hotel is truly a hidden gem of South Beach. The food is absolutely incredible and made fresh to order. Try the Blackened Mahi Sandwich with the homemade tartar sauce… yum! It is by far the best Mahi Sandwich in Miami Beach! Beautiful outside seating with manicured landscape and pool views.

Pilikia by the Pool restaurant is INCREDIBLE. This is not your average pool-​side grub. No mass-​produced mozzarella sticks and soggy fries here. My friends and I were vacationing at the South Seas Hotel for a pre-​cruise stay. We first ate there after we arrived from the airport. Jean the bartender/​waitress was friendly from the get-​go. She makes some mean drinks and is great to talk to. She also poured us rounds of shots before we headed out for karaōke next door.
The food is Polynesian/​Asian/​tropical and super flavorful. We tried a lot of the menu while we were there and nothing was short of exceptional. Best guac we’ve ever had. Fresh fatty (in a good way) tuna tartar, korean bbq steak/​eggs, kim-​chi, hand-​cut fries, char siu pizza, rare tuna sandwiches, avocado-​BLTs with lots of bacon… mmmm. We all tried eachother’s dishes and everyone loved everything. You really can’t go wrong with any item. My mom actually exclaimed her food was «orgasmic»…thanks, mom.
Mark the owner is an awesome guy too! He really helped us celebrate our last night there by popping numerous bottles of champagne AND pouring some potent shots. We went to Taverna Opa for dinner and then went back to Pilikia to finish our night. Mark and Jean continued to spoil us ’til about 2 or 3am. Besides the food being fresh and amazing, Jean said she’s worked for Mark about 13 years and you can understand why when you meet them. Its wonderful to meet people who truly love what they do and are proud of their work. I look forward to returning here during my next Miami vacation, even if I’m not staying at the hotel.

This is a casual poolside bar that has a casual but very good menu. It’s more of a bar atmosphere (like an upscale dive). You are served by the bartender (staff is super friendly and hot).
You feel like you’re on vacation, hanging out with the tourists that are staying in the hotel, you’re poolside, you can smell the ocean air, the coconut palms are swaying overhead… I really forget I’m in Miami or South Beach… It has a Caribbean feel or South Pacific…
Great place to grab a bite, get loaded without breaking the bank, and head out to Set, Mynt, mokai, Shoreclub, or Florida Room at the Delano for your night out on the town. Pilikia is in the South Seas Hotel which is right in the thick of things location wise.
Don’t use valet parking, too expensive, park on 21^st or at the Lincoln Road garage and walk over.