Miami is known for its vibrant food scene, fusing Latin American, Caribbean, and other global influences into a delicious melting pot. From hole-in-the-wall gems to Michelin-starred hot spots, Miami offers outstanding cuisine. Here are some of the best restaurants to check out on your next visit.
La Mar by Gaston Acurio
Yardbird Southern Table & Bar
Yardbird offers a hip, modern take on southern comfort cooking with locations in Miami Beach and downtown's Brickell area. Brunch is especially popular, with chicken and waffles garnering much acclaim. The dry-rub fried chicken also shines with creative spice blends like chipotle chili or Chinese char siu barbeque pork seasoning. Beyond the bird, Yardbird serves up tasty cocktails and shared plates like fried green tomatoes, cheese grits and biscuits with smoked brisket. The vibe is lively and festive across both locations, great for a night out.
El Bagel
As the name implies, El Bagel is all about exceptional bagels and full Jewish deli fare. Their bagels are boiled and baked in-house daily, yielding a perfect chewy yet crispy New York-style bagel. Choose from traditional options like poppy seed and everything as well as rotating seasonal flavors. Pair your bagels with schmears like fresh veggie cream cheese or traditional options like smoked salmon and whitefish salad. Beyond bagels, El Bagel also offers deli sandwiches piled high with cured meats, burgers, egg sandwiches and more. With a great community vibe and friendly service, El Bagel is a true neighborhood gem.
CVI.CHE 105
Led by Chef Juan Chipoco, CVI.CHE 105 offers distinctive Peruvian seafood with Japanese inspiration in downtown Miami’s Resilia Hotel. This ceviche-centric spot plates artfully composed dishes focusing on pristine quality seafood and Nikkei essence. Favorite items include the mixed seafood ceviche, curated with 16 different types of seafood dressed in classic Peruvian marinade of lime juice and ají pepper. Octopus and chorizo skewers with anticuchera sauce also delight. Beyond ceviche, try Peruvian dishes like lomo saltado or arroz chaufa. The cuisine seamlessly melds Peruvian and Japanese flavors using time-honored techniques and locally sourced ingredients for dishes that feel simultaneously traditional and cutting-edge.
Boia De
Boia De brings a taste of the Argentine countryside to downtown Miami’s vibrant Brickell City Center dining and shopping complex. Native Argentinian Chef Mauro Colagreco helms this asado-centric spot, named after the gaucho term for feeding time at South American cattle ranches. Open-fire wood grilled meats are thus the specialty, cooked low and slow Uruguayan parrilla style to enhance smoky, charred flavors. Notable dishes include the ojo de bife, a rib eye cut marinated in garlic and parsley or sweet-spiced Morcilla blood sausage. Perfectly charred Provoleta cheese and torch-finished empanadas round out meals alongside rustic desserts like dulce de leche cheesecake with quince jam. The airy, modern ambiance nods to estancia ranch life with accents of leather, iron, glass and trees for a polished yet warm farmhouse vibe befitting the traditional cuisine.
Mandolin Aegean Bistro
Mandolin Aegean Bistro provides a flavorful taste of Greece, Turkey and the Mediterranean in Miami’s professional district. With an olive tree-lined patio and rustic yet sleek interior of hand-painted tiles and carved wood accents, Mandolin’s laidback charm transports you to a seaside Mediterranean village. Their simple, fresh meze-style small plates allow you to easily sample various dishes family-style. Standouts include rich hummus, smoky baba ghanoush eggplant dip, crispy falafel and plump grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs. Housemade yogurt paired with cucumber and mint makes for a perfect palate cleanser between bites. For heartier mains, try flavor-packed kebabs or whole crispy branzino fish. Mandolin’s welcoming ambiance and vibrant cuisine create a joyous, convivial dining experience.
MACCHIALINA
Led by powerhouse Chef Michael Pirolo, Macchialina serves skillfully crafted Italian fare in Miami Beach’s pedestrian-friendly Alton Road area. Diners can opt to sit along the marble bar by the open kitchen or at intimate tables lining the whitewashed walls. Macchialina focuses on quality ingredients, elevating simple, regional peasant dishes into refined composed plates. Favorites include the famed cacio e pepe, an elegantly prepared spaghetti with pecorino and black pepper. Meatballs simmered in rich tomato sauce also satisfy. Try the seafood carpaccio, pristine fish and shellfish sliced paper-thin in a light citrus dressing, showcasing an Italian approach to crudo. For wine, Macchialina keeps mainly Italian bottles on their concise, well-curated list. The food, ambiance and hospitality transport you straight to Italy for a rustic yet polished meal.
Los Félix
Los Félix brings bold Mexican flavors from Mexico City’s neighborhood cantinas to Miami’s trendy Brickell area. The hip exposed-brick space exudes welcoming energy. Behind the swanky bar, skilled mixologists shake up creative craft cocktails spotlighting quality tequilas and mezcals. On the food menu, traditional antojitos (Mexican snacks) take center stage with elevated preparations. The tableside guacamole earns high praise, mixed right at your table complete with hand-pressed tortillas for scooping. Tacos appeal as well, stuffed with everything from carnitas to chapulines (grasshoppers!) reflecting both common and adventurous Mexican street food. Mains like the perfectly cooked arrachera skirt steak balance rich, complex flavors. For a fun night out with top-notch drinks and fare, Los Félix delivers big, immersive Mexican flavor.
Leku
For Basque cuisine in Miami, check out Leku in the city’s hip Design District. Helmed by Chef Aitor Zabala, Leku means “place” or “habitat” in Basque, reflecting his mission of cultivating community through food and drink. The menu centers on Basque pintxos, small bite-sized snacks often eaten with drinks at bars. Pintxos offerings range from grilled shrimp on toast to pork belly with piquillo peppers. Raclette, melted cheese scraped right onto dishes, also makes frequent appearances. Favorite plates include the grilled head-on prawns with parsley sauce and squid cooked over charcoal with ink mayo and caramelized onions. Beyond pintxos, heartier fish and meat dishes also showcase Basque flavors. With a welcoming brick interior complete with community tables, Leku offers a lively, convivial Basque dining experience enhanced by signature sangria cocktails, Spanish wines and craft beer.
Cafe La Trova
For a taste of old world Little Havana with outstanding Latin-inspired drinks, Cafe La Trova hits the spot. Located on lively SW 8th Street in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood, the corner restaurant-bar expertly channels speakeasy vibes right down to the secret door entrance marked only by a discrete sign. Inside, the moody interior brims with bold Latin flavor. Behind the striking U-shaped marble bar, world-champion mixologist Julio Cabrera prepares creative spins on Latin cocktails featuring special rums, aromatic liquors and fresh-squeezed citrus. Likewise, Chef Michelle Bernstein crafts Latin bar bites with a gourmet twist, allowing guests to nosh on empanadas and tostones while sipping rum-based drinks late into the night. From the ambient music to tableside cigar rollers, Cafe La Trova fully transports you, making for an exciting night out.
TAO Asian Bistro
On the rooftop of the landmark Beaux Arts Alfred I. DuPont building downtown, Tao Asian Bistro brings contemporary pan-Asian cuisine and unmatched city views together. Known for locations in NYC, LA and Vegas, Tao opened its Miami outpost in 2020. Book a table outside to take in sweeping views of the Miami skyline and waterfront while sampling Tao’s artfully plated dishes and cocktails. Menu standouts include crisp peking duck carved tableside and miso-glazed Chilean sea bass. For starters, fresh tuna tartare on crispy rice cakes and shrimp wontons in a tangy chili sauce also shine. Complement your meal with Asian-inspired cocktails like the cucumber sake martini. From lively DJ-fueled weekend brunches to weeknight happy hours, Tao is the place to see and be seen while enjoying skillfully executed pan-Asian fare and drinks against a stunning backdrop.
Ariete
Led by award-winning Chef Michael Beltran in Miami’s hip Coconut Grove neighborhood, Ariete charm, warmth and outstanding cuisine. The atmosphere suits the restaurant’s namesake - Beltran's vintage Ford truck - with industrial details like a pressed metal ceiling mixed with reclaimed wood accents and arched windows ushering in natural light. Beltran’s dishes artfully blend Latin American and Southern U.S. influences, often incorporating lesser-used ingredients or elevated humble comforting plates. The conch croquetas starter and oxtail tartare wonderfully display Beltran’s knack for elevating off-cuts and offal into refined plates without pretention. Large format grilled branzino and a 32-ounce, bone-in ribeye show Ariete excels at straightforward yet flawlessly prepared proteins as well. Chef Beltran’s global, ingredient-driven vision matched with Ariete’s convivial ambiance makes for exceptional dining.
KYU Miami
Located in Miami’s vibrant Wnywood district, KYU fuses Japanese tradition with an eco-conscious, wood-fueled ethos courtesy of Chef Michael Lewis. The centerpiece is undoubtedly the impressive robata grill where bincho-tan Japanese white oak charcoal imparts deep, rich smoky flavors onto proteins, vegetables and more. Have an assortment of skewers letting the kitchen showcase cooking techniques spanning tataki style raw fish to unctuous, smoky chicken wings glazed in a sweet miso sauce. Beyond skewers, the wagyu pastrami sandwich bursts with meaty flavors while crisp tempura green beans provide lighter contrast. Wine, sake and craft cocktails like the smoky mezcal Negroni enhance the vibrant flavors. The interior balances sleek and rustic with blond wood accents, tile mosaic murals of Lewis’s family cattle ranch and a living plant wall for a polished yet warm vibe befitting the exceptional cuisine.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Miami's culinary landscape is a rich tapestry of flavors, offering something for every palate. Whether you crave oceanfront dining, authentic Latin cuisine, or hidden gems off the beaten path, Miami's restaurants deliver an unforgettable culinary journey. The city's diverse and innovative food scene is a testament to its cultural richness, making it a top destination for food enthusiasts.
FAQs
Are these restaurants suitable for families with children?
- Absolutely! Many restaurants in Miami are family-friendly, providing a welcoming atmosphere for all ages.
Do I need to make reservations at the celebrity chef hotspots?
- It's recommended to make reservations at celebrity chef hotspots, especially during peak hours, to ensure you secure a table.
Are there vegetarian and vegan options available in Miami's restaurants?
- Yes, Miami's culinary scene is diverse, and many restaurants offer a variety of vegetarian and vegan options.
What is the best time to explore late-night dining options in Miami?
- Late-night dining options are typically available throughout the week, but weekends tend to have a livelier atmosphere.
Are there any annual food festivals in Miami?
- Yes, Miami hosts various food festivals and culinary events throughout the year. Check the local events calendar for the latest information.