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Miami's restaurant scene has exploded in the past few years, with new restaurants springing up left and right every month. The melting pot of residents and visitors has brought an array of sophisticated, tasty cuisine. Little Havana is still king for Cuban fare, and Miami Beach is swept up in a trend of fusion cuisine, which combines Asian, French, American, and Latin cooking with sumptuous—and pricey—results. Locals spend the most time in downtown Miami, Wynwood, Midtown, and the Design District, where the city's ongoing foodie and cocktail revolution is most pronounced. Since Miami dining is a part of the trendy nightlife scene, most dinners don't start until 8 or 9 pm, and may go well into the night. To avoid a long wait among the late-night partiers at hot spots, come before 7 pm or make reservations. Attire is usually casual-chic, but patrons like to dress to impress. Don't be surprised to see large tables of women in skimpy dresses—this is common in Miami. Prices tend to stay high in hot spots like Lincoln Road, but if you venture off the beaten path you can find delicious food for reasonable prices. When you get your bill, check whether a gratuity is already included; most restaurants add between 15% and 20% (ostensibly for the convenience of, and protection from, the many Latin American and European tourists who are used to this practice in their homelands), but supplement it depending on your opinion of the service.
Dynamic and delicious flavors of the eastern Mediterranean merge over traditional and new-fashioned dishes at this photogenic local hot spot. Feast on pides (Turkish flat breads baked in a stone oven), Middle Eastern fried chicken (with tahini, za'atar, and house hot sauce) and fattoush (crunch salad) while enjoying the breezy, art deco surroundings and colorful interiors.
There's always a festive vibe at this Cuban hot spot from James Beard--winning chef Michelle Bernstein and famed Cantinero bartender Julio Cabrera. Old-school cocktails like the daiquiri, Hemingway fizz, and mojito are made slowly with showmanship straight from 1950s Cuba, while menu highlights include roast calabaza empanadas, arroz con pollo, and skirt steak ropa vieja. Daily live music is known to prompt dancing, and there's a Miami Vice--theme speakeasy with a separate 1980s-inspired cocktail menu—think Cosmos and apple martinis.
This posh taverna featuring grilled fish and classic mezes is also a good place for celebrity sightings—from local basketball stars to pop music moguls. The lush waterfront hideaway has an inviting patio with blooming bougainvillea, whitewashed walls, secluded “cabana” tables, and navy-cushioned seating. Chef Steven Rhee sources ingredients like olive oil, honey, and spices from Greece while also maintaining a local and seasonal menu.
Framed by exposed-brick walls, decorated with daily specials on chalkboards, and packed with gregarious patrons, this local foodie hangout feels like a cozy neighborhood tavern—unless you opt to sit outside in the lush courtyard. Owner and chef Michael Pirolo nails the concept of modern Italian cuisine through a small but special selection of antipasti (try the local burrata and creamy polenta) and daily homemade pastas (like tagliolini al funghi and spaghetti con vongole).
A step inside this 1940s house-turned-bistro transports you to ya-ya’s home along the Aegean Sea. The Greek and Turkish cuisine is fresh and the service warm, matching its charming dining garden enlivened by an awning of trees, a rustic wooden canopy, and traditional village furnishings.
Michael's is often cited as one of Miami's top tried-and-true restaurants, and it's not hard to see why: this indoor-outdoor bistro in Miami's Design District is an evergreen oasis for Miami dining sophisticates. Owner and chef Michael Schwartz aims for sophisticated eclectic cuisine with an emphasis on local and organic ingredients, and he gets it right (think crispy, sweet-and-spicy pork belly with kimchi and steamed mussels in coconut milk).
Discover a small, sumptuous piece of coastal Mexico at this feet-in-the-sand Mexican restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami. (Note: non–hotel guests are welcome.) Order the guacamole, prepared tableside, a few tequila-infused cocktails (like the sour black cherry Black Diamond margarita), and then move onto heartier plates of fajitas and enchiladas.
With bright graffiti walls, a buzzing bar, and an open-air roof, this trendy Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant has brought sophistication and edge to Lincoln Road. Order a pisco or Japanese whiskey and settle in for flavor-packed Nikkei-style cuisine and some of the best sushi in town.
Design impresario Philippe Starck opted to fill the smoking-hot SLS Hotel South Beach with a number of see-and-be-seen eateries, including Katsuya South Beach. At this popular Japanese restaurant, dishes come from four separate kitchens and include awesome eats like a legendary miso-marinated black cod, succulent lobster dynamite (in a creamy mushroom sauce), baked crab hand rolls, and amazing sushi rolls. If you want a quieter evening, ask to sit in the unpublicized second-floor dining room.
Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio's downtown Miami outpost occupies a gleaming waterfront spot at Brickell Key's Mandarin Oriental. The main dining room is awash in shades of watery greens, sandy grays and beiges, and wood, but it's the enticing outdoor terrace that offers views of downtown and is the perfect backdrop to chef Diego Oka's contemporary Peruvian dishes with colorful tweaks. The ceviche sampler platter and the traditional lomo saltado steak are a must, as is the dessert of lucuma mousse.
This stunning indoor-outdoor restaurant serves a vegetable-forward menu that imparts classic French techniques (no surprise, since it's the brainchild of world-renowned chef Joël Robuchon). Ingredients are sustainable and local with star dishes including heirloom beets, Heritage chicken, and chicory salad. Open for lunch and dinner, it's an ideal stop after a day of strolling through the Design District.
In one of Miami's most captivating and seductive settings, this headline restaurant by celebrity-chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten fuses Spanish, Caribbean, and Latin American gastronomy while focusing on local products, resulting in a diverse collection of small and large plates. Indulge in tropically inspired plates like avocado pizza, Florida Keys shrimp in "Agua Diablo," and grilled Florida black-grouper tacos.
Monty's has a Caribbean flair, thanks especially to live calypso and island music on the outdoor terrace. Consider it a fun, tropical-style, kid-friendly place where Mom and Dad can kick back in the early evening and enjoy a beer and the raw bar while the kids eat conch fritters and dance to the beats.
There's a helluva lot of southern lovin' from the low country at this funky South Beach spot, where Miami's A-list puts calorie-counting aside to indulge in comfort foods and innovative drinks. The family-style menu is divided between small plates, "the bird" plates, and sides and snacks, but have no doubt that "the bird" takes center stage (or plate) here—you'll rave about Llewellyn's fine fried chicken, which requires a 27-hour marination and slow-cooking process, for weeks to come.
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