78 Best Restaurants in Miami and Miami Beach, Florida

Popular with the brunch crowd, this cozy indoor-outdoor restaurant serves elegant American dishes with a Miami twist. The menu changes seasonally with offerings from pastrami-style short rib to bone marrow--topped, wood-grilled oysters. The build-your-own charcuterie board boast homemade pâté and locally sourced meats. The fritas are a popular choice for a quick bite, but the pressed duck service is typically the star of the show.

More crafty than churning, flavors at this Cuban ice cream shop are inspired by and derived from ingredients at nearby fruit stands, international grocery shops, and farmers' markets. The menu features creations that nod to the culturally rich Little Havana location (café con leche, flan, and the signature Abuela Maria—made with Maria cookies, cream cheese, and guava) as well as seasonal specialties (like sweet creamed corn and egg nog).

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.

There's more to love than just cookies at this adorable off-the-radar bakeshop. Each day more than a dozen types of treats are baked fresh with care, including Rocky Road and Nutella swirl cookies, banana bread, carrot cake, and more. Even the biggest sweet tooth can be conquered with the larger-than-life cookies and cakes served here.

Some of the best bites come from the smallest spots, and that's especially true at Clive's Cafe. This local gem serves hearty plates of some of the best Jamaican food in Miami. Each entrée, from curried goat to jerk chicken, is piled high and features your choice of two sides, such as the popular rice and peas or macaroni salad. Don't forget to grab a spicy beef patty for the road.

This stateside sibling of the Michelin-star London restaurant brings the haute-Chinese-food movement to South Florida, adding pan-Asian flair to even quite simple and authentic Cantonese recipes and producing an entire menu that can be classified as blow-your-mind delicious. Superb eats notwithstanding, another reason to experience Hakkasan is that it's arguably the sexiest, best-looking restaurant on 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.

In South Beach's decidedly new-money scene, the stately Joe's Stone Crab is an old-school testament to good food and good service. Stone crabs, served with legendary mustard sauce, crispy hash browns, and creamed spinach, remain the staple at South Beach's most storied restaurant (which dates from 1913).

High atop South Beach's design-driven 1111 Lincoln Road parking garage, rooftop Juvia commingles urban sophistication with South Beach seduction. Three renowned chefs unite to deliver an amazing eating experience that screams Japanese, Peruvian, and French all in the same breath, focusing largely on raw fish and seafood dishes.

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.

Foodies and locavores love this eco-minded restaurant in the heart of Wynwood, which plants five trees for every tree burned in its Japanese wood-fired grill. The Asian-inspired, small-plates menu wows through creative dishes such as the epic roasted cauliflower with goat cheese and shishito-herb vinaigrette and sizzling Thai fried-rice stone pot with king crab.

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.

Peruvian celebrity-chef Gastón Acurio dazzles with a sublime menu and an atmospheric, bay-side setting to match. Tour the far corners of Peru through La Mar’s signature cebiches (ceviche) and tiraditos (similar to crudo), freshly grilled skewers of street-style anticuchos, causa dishes (mashed potato topped with meat and vegetable toppings), and national libations, like the pisco sour.

Miami is filled with great steak houses, but this is arguably the best. Located in the glamorous art deco open lobby of The Betsy hotel on Ocean Drive, noted chef Laurent Tourondel (of BLT Steak fame) presents a seasonally inspired menu that includes fresh seafood, sushi, the highest-quality cuts of USDA prime and certified Black Angus beef, and decadent sides (don't miss the hand-cut Parmesan truffle fries with truffle aioli).

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).

Stephen Starr's Japanese headliner, executed by celebrity-chef and master of Edomae-style sushi Makoto Okuwa, now sits in a new, much larger space and offers two menus: one devoted solely to sushi, sashimi, and maki, the other to Japanese cold and hot dishes. Look forward to hyperfresh raw dishes, tempuras, meats, and vegetables grilled over Japanese charcoal (robata), rice and noodle dishes, and a variety of steaks and fish inspired by the Land of the Rising Sun.

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).

A swanky rooftop restaurant on Lincoln Road, MILA is a place to see and be seen while sipping well-crafted cocktails and ordering Mediterranean-Asian fusion dishes, small plates, and sushi. The stunning focal point is a Zen-like reflection pool flanked by two curtained cabanas that can be reserved for a bit of privacy while dining alfresco. Highlights of the menu include branzino tataki, edamame guacamole, seared scallop roll, and a 32 oz. tomahawk served with a butter-onion jus. The indoor and outdoor bar serve two separate cocktail menus, and those who dine on the terrace can order one of the special cocktails that are made tableside on a mobile bar cart.

The original location of the Miami-based specialty coffee roaster is smack in the center of Wynwood (it has now expanded into Miami Beach and other South Florida neighborhoods), attracting a who's who of hipsters, artists, and even suburbanites to indulge in small-batch cups of joe and super-moist muffins and fresh-baked pastries. Baristas gingerly prepare every order, so expect to wait a little for your macchiato.

On a residential street in SoBe’s western reaches, this petite eatery attracts the who’s who of beach socialites, hipsters, and the occasional tourist coming to chow down on inventive Asian-Latin small plates, sushi rolls, and grilled skewers of meat and seafood by executive chef-owner José Mendin. From bigeye tuna spicy rolls to short-rib and truffle dumplings, the menu constantly pushes the envelope on inventive cuisine, and locals simply can’t get enough.

Oversize baked doughnuts piled high with creative toppings plus fun coffee offerings like Cinnamon Toast Crunch lattes are the reasons for the sometimes long lines at this doughnut shop. Even if the national doughnut craze has subsided elsewhere, The Salty continues to live up to the hype with a rotating menu of popular pick-me-ups like the white chocolate tres leches and guava + cream cheese, made with 24-hour brioche.

A local favorite for a quick bite while hanging out on The Key, Sir Pizza keeps it simple with square-cut thin-crust pizzas, sandwiches, and hefty deli salads. Using fresh ingredients, special marinara sauce, and tiny cubes of pepperoni, these pies are ones you'll likely think about for awhile. Grab an extra side of ranch for pizza dipping---it's a must at Sir Pizza.

Texas-inspired barbecue is all the rage at Society BBQ, where meats reign supreme and everything is smoked. The carved-to-order smoked meats and made-from-scratch sides are finger-licking good. The meat market menu includes burnt ends, pulled chicken and pork, sliced brisket, and giant beef ribs. For sides, expect your run-of-the-mill barbecue favorites like mac and cheese, loaded potatoes, and pit-smoked beans.

Austin transplant and James Beard Award–winning chef Tyson Cole creates fresh takes on classic sushi at Uchi. Indulge in rolls of thinly sliced flounder atop candied quinoa or bigeye tuna topped with aji amarillo, tangerine, and pumpkin seed granola, or have all the decisions made for you by opting for the omakase menu featuring a selection of dishes by the chef. Daily happy hour from 5 to 6:30 pm features half-price bubbles, $9 cocktails, and heavily discounted bites.

Miami visitors looking for that "Cuban food on Calle Ocho" experience, look no further: this storied eatery, where old émigrés opine daily about all things Cuban, is a stop on every political candidate's campaign trail, and it should be a stop for you as well. Order a heaping platter of lechón asado (roasted pork loin), ropa vieja (shredded beef), or picadillo (spicy ground beef), all served with rice, beans, and fried plantains.

A restaurant, a bar, and an entertainment venue with live DJs wrapped into one space, this hip, 10,000-square-foot Asian food hall has seven restaurants and a full bar to choose from. Take a trip through Asia's many cuisines with everything from dumplings and pho to poke to sushi, and even Peking duck. Save room for dessert where photo-worthy red-bean ice cream cones are on the menu.

A new José Andrés restaurant opened in Mid-Beach and it doesn't disappoint. Nestled in the bottom of the Andaz hotel, Aguasal is dishing out pan-Mediterranean and coastal flavors that complement the Miami beach area perfectly. Common dishes like fried calamari are found here, but are elevated with a spicy raw garlic toum and harissa chili crisp at the base of the plate. Make sure to try the farm chicken tagine that is visually appealing and tastes like a home-cooked meal on a special occasion, and leave room for deconstructed deserts like the Atlantic Beach Pie, with fresh lemon curd, Chantilly cream, Ritz cracker crumble, and sliced blueberries.

When you first walk into the restaurant, you'll immediately smell the smoky flavors coming from the wood-fired grill in the open kitchen. AHU|MAR is decorated in a clean, modern, and natural style, with a large olive tree as the focal point. The cocktails stay consistent with the smoky flavors of the meal. The Torch is a must-try, with 400 Conejos Mezcal, Chinola passion fruit liquor, orgeat lime, pineapple, and ginger; even a mescal-hater would love this drink. The wood-fired watermelon salad and buñuelos de bacalao with truffle honey creme fraiche are just a few highlights on the menu, but you genuinely can't go wrong with anything you choose.