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16 restaurants vital to Miami

A photo of Red logo
by Amber Love Bond
Updated December 15, 2023

Miami might be best known for its sun, sand, and gorgeous beaches, but the dining scene in the Magic City is one that’s not to be missed. From Caribbean dishes to modern American with a Miami twist, the flavors of the 305 shine bright in this city’s cuisine.

No matter what the occasion—fancy date night or a casual waterfront lunch with the family, or maybe even a late night need to soak up the night’s debauchery, there’s a spot for it. One of the best parts? Many have al fresco dining that’s perfect for taking in the fabulous South Florida weather all year long.

These are the restaurants that define Miami dining.

A photo of Michael's Genuine Food & Drink - Miami restaurant
4.6
4.6 (6436)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Design District
About the restaurant

Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink has been a Miami staple since it was one of the first restaurants to open in the Design District in 2007. James Beard Award-winning chef/owner Michael Schwartz is known for his fresh takes on classic fare using local ingredients and a comfort food approach. Most dishes pass through the signature wood oven, such as the pan-roasted half chicken served with red onion, potato, and red chimichurri. When you’re looking for a standout group meal, check out the chef-chosen family-style menu available on OpenTable Experiences. A stunning renovation in 2021 only reinforced this spot’s go-to status.


Top review
Michael
Dined 1 day ago
OG Miami. Sat outside and shared lettuce, cacio pepe, and an onion pizza. Excellent combo.
A photo of Ghee - Downtown Dadeland restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1517)
$30 and under
Indian
Kendall
About the restaurant

Some of Miami’s freshest food can be found at Ghee Indian Kitchen in Dadeland. James Beard Awards finalist chef/owner Niven Patel is known for growing a large portion of the restaurant’s menu in his own backyard, which he dubbed Rancho Patel. Ghee’s menu features seasonal takes on traditional Indian dishes available a la carte or as a family-style tasting menu. Highlights include ghost pepper cheddar naan, chana masala, and Kerala lamb (roasted lamb in a tomato and coconut milk sauce served with steamed basmati). Stop in for lunch where the tiffin (a stacked Indian lunchbox) special of the day is one of the best deals in the area—under $20 for a three-course meal.


Top review
Mary
Dined 1 day ago
Superb food and attentive service. Thank you for an awesome evening.
A photo of Gianni's at the Former Versace Mansion restaurant
4.5
4.5 (16066)
$31 to $50
Italian
South Beach
About the restaurant

Dine by the iconic Italian mosaic pool made with 24-karat gold tiles at the former Versace Mansion for an only-in-Miami experience. This South Beach hot spot is known for its wild history surrounding the colorful lifestyle of previous owner fashion mogul Gianni Versace. The mansion is now a fine-dining restaurant with an Italian-Mediterranean menu of seafood, steaks, and pastas. You can get creative with dishes such as octopus carpaccio, or keep it simple with the housemade spaghetti pomodoro.


Top review
Joe
Dined 2 days ago
Excellent Dining Experience! Food was good, Service was Excellent!!
A photo of Nikki Beach restaurant
4.5
4.5 (3466)
$31 to $50
Global, International
South Beach
About the restaurant

Miami’s first beach club is known for casual boho vibes and a prolific Sunday brunch. Go for a buffet like no other featuring charcuterie, a raw bar, sushi, salads, an omelet station, waffles, carving stations, make-your-own pasta, and a full bakery selection. Reserve a cabana table to take in the ocean breeze, sip on mojitos, and watch the live music and weekly performers.


Top review
Ani
Dined on Dec 16, 2024
Migule was the best. He was very professional. Thank you so much
A photo of Komodo restaurant
4.6
4.6 (4172)
$50 and over
Contemporary Asian
Brickell
About the restaurant

Komodo is one of Miami’s most stylish restaurants. As the first spot opened by nightlife mogul David Grutman, it’s a 17,000-square-foot showstopper dressed in fiery red. The sprawling Southeast Asian lounge is known for exclusive nests perched above the ground floor. Extravagant plates make up the menu—no visit is complete without an order of the Peking duck with cucumber, scallion, pancakes, and hoisin sauce. Other luxe dishes include dumplings stuffed with gold leaf and truffled honey salmon. Get the baked Alaska for some tableside theater.


Top review
CarolinaVIP
Dined on Dec 15, 2024
Always delicious! Must get the Komodo chicken salad and the peking duck, add the waygu dumplings if you need more food! Place is trendy and a little loud but worth it… go early if you want less noise (it’s what I do).
A photo of Seaspice Brasserie & Lounge restaurant
4.7
4.7 (3841)
$50 and over
Global, International
Downtown Miami
About the restaurant

This Mediterranean hotspot boasts some of Miami’s prime waterfront seats. Diners can take in the passing yachts and Magic City skyline while feasting on top-notch seafood. Go-tos include sea salt-crusted daily fish, oven baked and served with black truffle risotto, lemon, capers, and brown butter sauce. Come for happy hour (Tuesday through Thursday from 5 pm to 7 pm) for stone crabs, shrimp cocktail, oysters, and Osetra caviar—plus a delicious sunset view.


Top review
AbnerVIP
Dined 4 days ago
Service was amazing, very good. Like always offer a very good time. Recomend ++++
A photo of Novikov Miami restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1769)
$50 and over
Japanese
Downtown Miami
About the restaurant

An exquisite Chinese and Japanese feast awaits at this downtown beauty, all textured wood walls and tree trunk-inspired columns. Novikov’s menu features dim sum, sushi, and Peking duck. Diners can select their fish from a catch-of-the-day display and have it prepared in styles including sashimi, wok, or robata-grilled. Novikov is a sought-after setting for its business lunch specials on weekdays (three courses for $23). A bottomless brunch—with unlimited access to a dozen appetizers and a choice of mains—draws weekend revelers.


Top review
DamianVIP
Dined 5 days ago
Super good everything was good Cocktails Food Services All good
A photo of Phuc Yea restaurant
4.6
4.6 (1283)
$31 to $50
Asian
MiMo / Upper East Side
About the restaurant

Phuc Yea’s inventive Cajun-Vietnamese plates earned it MICHELIN Bib Gourmand status in 2022. The fusion menu is inspired by the heritages and experiences of co-owner Ani Meinhold and chef/co-owner Cesar Zapata. The spot began as a buzzy pop-up before becoming a full-fledged brick-and-mortar in 2016. Popular dishes include caramel chicken wings, PY noodles (housemade egg noodles, garlic butter, oyster sauce, parmesan cheese), and coconut croissant bread pudding. Crowds also flock here for the fun cocktail menu featuring unique drinks with flavors that complement the unique Viet-Cajun fare.


Top review
Kimberly
Dined 5 days ago
From the walk into the restaurant, the hostess welcomed us into their Phuc Yea universe. The ambiance, wait staff, and most all the food was superb.
A photo of Stubborn Seed restaurant
4.8
4.8 (2847)
$50 and over
American
South Beach
About the restaurant

Those looking to be wined and dined by a Top Chef winner should head to MICHELIN-starred Stubborn Seed. Chef/owner Jeremy Ford prioritizes local bounty on his precisely plated seasonal dishes, available in chef’s tasting menu or a la carte form. As a protege of famed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Ford’s creations are almost too pretty to eat. Though the menu rarely repeats, there’s always freshly baked bread, housemade pasta, local fish, and an A5 wagyu dish.


Top review
NateVIP
Dined 7 days ago
One of the finest meals I have had in a long time. The dishes were creative yet elegant, thoughtful, and executed skillfully - the fresh ingredients of Chef Ford's garden were powerful and instrumental in the success of each of the dishes in which they were featured.
A photo of Blue Collar restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1306)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
MiMo / Upper East Side
About the restaurant

Danny Serfer’s comfort food favorite has kept devotees returning to its compact, retro-themed dining room since opening in 2011. The menu features homey American plates such as a daily parm special, one of Miami’s best burgers, and latkes. Cap off your hearty feast with a gargantuan slice of key lime pie or chocolate cake, best devoured with multiple spoons.


Top review
Teresa
Dined 2 days ago
Always enjoy blue collar, loved seeing the new space
A photo of Cerveceria La Tropical restaurant
4.6
4.6 (373)
$30 and under
Brewery
Wynwood
About the restaurant

This family-owned brewery traces its roots to 19th-century Cuba but it’s now a Miami icon. Cerveceria La Tropical offers live entertainment, a Caribbean-inspired menu, and lush gardens that can easily turn drinks into lunch or dinner. Renowned chef Cindy Hutson dishes up Cuban sandwich empanadas, lager-steamed mussels, and a Latin Lovers pizza (pulled pork, chorizo, churrasco, and citrus onions). La Original—the beer that started it all— is an amber lager, but the menu features a handful of other brews from smooth IPAs to tropical-flavored ales.


Top review
NeilyVIP
Dined on Dec 8, 2024
The garden was beautiful, and the service from Catalina was amazing. Food was good but with the beer parings it gets better. The only bad thing was the hostess that was rude, even though I made a reservation a month ago, she was telling to check on my empty table when they get the chairs otherwise other people will get it, so I had to be standing next to a table next to the stage until they got the chairs. Catalina was so nice and she was making sure nobody will take the table, and then her service was what made the difference.
A photo of Prime 112 restaurant
4.7
4.7 (421)
$50 and over
Steak
South Beach
About the restaurant

The long lines at Prime 112 are full of people as interested in the celebrity clientele as the massive steakhouse menu. Snag a table at this restaurant in the Prime Hotel to feast on large dry-aged steaks, truffled lobster mac and cheese, tuna tartare, and lobster or stone crab cocktail. The portions are large—including the slices of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and Oreo-chunk cheesecake—making sharing dishes with the table a breeze.


Top review
JaimeVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Excellent service, very cordial and welcoming staff. Food was excellent. We have not been back for several years, the place has not changed, brought back beautiful memories.
A photo of DOYA restaurant
4.8
4.8 (2456)
$31 to $50
Mediterranean
Wynwood
About the restaurant

Doya is a love letter to the Mediterranean. Chef/partner Erhan Kostepen grew up in the Turkish coastal town of Izmir. His hometown inspires much of the meze-forward menu here, confirming that food does taste better when it’s shared. Crowd-friendly plates include manti beef dumplings, chopped spiced lamb Adana kebap and greens, and a fig salad with hazelnut-pomegranate dressing. To all that, add cushy blue velvet seats and an expansive covered patio and it’s no surprise the Aegean stunner was recognized with a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand in 2022.


Top review
Nasser
Dined 2 days ago
Excellent service, fresh food and beautiful presentation. This place is a gem!
A photo of MILA restaurant
4.7
4.7 (5336)
$50 and over
Japanese
South Beach
About the restaurant

If you’re looking for a celebration-worthy meal in Miami, you’ll find it at this sprawling indoor-outdoor retreat. Mila’s izakaya-style “MediterrAsian” dishes were made for sharing, including grilled Spanish octopus with romesco and truffle cream spaghetti with parm, chives, and freshly shaved truffles. Recent additions such as a 10-seat omakase lounge, a nightlife lounge, and a members-only club add to its flamboyant charm.


Top review
MarcelVIP
Dined 1 day ago
This was awesome. What a service and food experience. Thank you!
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