7 Best Restaurants in Design District, Miami and Miami Beach

Home to some of Miami's best sushi rolls, fish bowls, and ceviches, this family-run Nikkei concept (owned by James Beard--nominated brother and sister duo Nando and Valerie Chang and their father Fernando) is a hot spot amid the designer stores of the Design District. Dishes are prepared tenderly with fresh seasonal ingredients and high-quality seafood and served in a casual outdoor setting in the center of Palm Court.

A concept created by the legendary chef Joël Robuchon, this ultradecadent restaurant draws you in with a sexy, red-backlit bar and sleek tables. Each bite is rich in flavor and plated perfectly with immaculate French technique. Expect caviar garnishes and dainty dishes served on unique vessels, available à la carte or as a chef's tasting menu. Don't overlook the pomme puree aka Robuchon's famous, creamy, cheesy French mashed potatoes.

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).

At first glance, Aubi & Ramsa may seem like a sleek bar, but it's actually a 21-plus ice cream shop featuring small-batch pints infused with a bevy of spirits and wines. Imagine flavors like The Highland Truffle, made with Belgian chocolate, Macallan 12-Year scotch, and chocolate chunks; or Strawberries Rosé, a strawberry sorbet with Veuve Cliquot Rosé and St. Germain. There are even vegan flavors to cater to those with such dietary needs. Ice cream is sold by the scoop or the pint.

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.

The name stands for "out to lunch," and, indeed, you could hang for quite the lunch break at this Design District haunt that serves coffee drinks, pastries, and sandwiches in an Instagram-worthy atmosphere. Don't miss the toast topped with superseed butter, a gluttonous, if healthy, alternative to your usual PB&J standby.