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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.
971 S.W. 8th St., Florida, 33130, USA
Known For
- Classic Cuban bartending
- Large portions
- Miami Vice--theme '80s backbar
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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.
5890 N.W. 2nd Ave., Florida, 33127, USA
Known For
- Braised oxtail
- Jerk chicken wings
- Curried goat
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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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.
140 N.E. 39th St., Florida, 33137, USA
Known For
- Oversized ceviche bowls
- Lost in Translation roll
- Totoro roll
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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).
11 Washington Ave., Florida, 33139, USA
Known For
- Best-of-the-best stone crab claws
- Key lime pie
- No reservations (arrive very early)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed mid-May–mid-Oct. No lunch Sun. and Mon., Reservations not accepted
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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.
251 N.W. 25th St., Florida, 33127, USA
Known For
- Living walls
- Apex of Wynwood atmosphere
- Flavor-rich small plates
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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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).
1440 Ocean Dr., Florida, 33139, USA
Known For
- Massive popovers
- The Betsy crab cake
- Cocktails inspired by literary greats
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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.
9700 Collins Ave., Florida, 33154, USA
Known For
- Superfresh sushi
- Artistic presentation
- Well-dressed crowd
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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.
4312 N.E. 2nd Ave., Florida, 33137, USA
Known For
- Signature Greek salad
- Bucolic courtyard
- Spectacular meze
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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).
130 N.E. 40th St., Florida, 33137, USA
Known For
- House-smoked bacon cheddar burger
- Sceney alfresco dining area
- Sunday brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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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.
1424 20th St., Florida, 33139, USA
Known For
- Long waits
- Pork belly bao buns
- Butter "krab" roll
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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.
712 Crandon Blvd., Florida, 33149, USA
Known For
- Loyal regulars
- Pepperoni pizza
- Deli-style salads
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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.
3450 Buena Vista Ave., Florida, 33127, USA
Known For
- Burnt ends
- Creamy queso mac and cheese
- Mouthwatering brisket
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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.
3555 S.W. 8th St., Florida, 33135, USA
Known For
- Gossipy locals at takeout window
- Old-school Little Havana setting
- Guava-filled pastelitos
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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.
143 N.W. 23rd St., Florida, 33127, USA
Known For
- Hidden reservation-only karaoke room
- Ladies night every Thursday
- Photo-worthy red-bean ice cream
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Under the glow of a green neon light in a hip industrial space, this locally loved, independent coffee shop offers quick service and a curated list of rotating coffee blends, pastries, and sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. Coffee connoisseurs will delight in the several preparations of nitro cold brew, pour over, and carefully crafted lattes. Most popular of the bites is the Runny & Everything sandwich, an aptly named sunny-side up egg sandwich with bacon, cheddar, lettuce, and tomato on an Everything brioche bun, but you'll also find local staples like croquetas and fresh-squeezed Florida orange juice.
1035 N. Miami Ave., Florida, 33136, USA
Known For
- Awesome coffee blends
- Knowledgeable baristas
- Locally made pastries
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High atop the 16th floor of Downtown Miami's Kimpton EPIC Hotel, memorable and sustainable ocean-to-table cuisine is prepared in the bustling, beautiful open kitchen. Look forward to a seafood-centric menu with innovative flavors and a hefty portion of ethos—all fruits of the sea here are certified by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch.
270 Biscayne Blvd. Way, Florida, 33131, USA
Known For
- Great raw bar
- Excellent bay-side views
- Artisanal cocktails
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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.
455 Grand Bay Dr., Florida, 33149, USA
Known For
- Top-shelf margaritas
- Ceviche
- Family-friendly setting
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As expected for its ritzy location, this upscale restaurant matches its high-fashion neighbors: waiters don bow ties and coattails, even for lunch hours, yet are approachable in their knowledge and attentiveness. Practically everything on the menu jumps out, though the handmade mozzarella antipasti, clam linguine, and namesake beef carpaccio are signature dishes. An extensive list of wines from Italy, California, and other locales around the world perfectly complements a meal here.
9700 Collins Ave., Florida, 33154, USA
Known For
- Myriad carpaccios
- Ladies who lunch
- Well-heeled crowd
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: For reservations call (305) 501-4448
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The wait for a table at this outpost of the legendary Italian restaurant is just as long as for its counterparts in West Hollywood and London. Expect heavy portions of atmosphere: it's a real scene of who's who and who's eating what, cast in a seductive, vintage-chic setting across the courtyard of Soho Beach House.
4385 Collins Ave., Florida, 33140, USA
Known For
- Light and succulent fish carpaccios
- Truffle pizza
- Beautiful lighting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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Chez Le Bebe offers a short menu of Haitian home cooking—it's been going strong for over 30 years and has been featured on shows like the Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern and The Layover with Anthony Bourdain. Try the stewed goat (the specialty) or the tender and flavorful chicken, fish, oxtail, or fried pork; each plate comes with rice, beans, plantains, and salad, for around $15.
114 N.E. 54th St., Florida, 33137, USA
Known For
- Authentic Haitian eats
- No-frills atmosphere
- Hefty portions