The 19 Best Restaurants in Miami you have to try 2022
The best restaurants in Miami to enjoy a luxury dinner, trendy cafes, and coffee shops at a reasonable price.Choosing a restaurant in Miami can be as tricky as finding the perfect parking spot on the beach (and hey, deciding which of all our incredible beaches to visit in Miami isn’t too easy, either). But that was not always like this.
Just a decade ago, Miami’s best restaurants used to be found in elegant South Beach hotel lobbies. Today, the best hotels in Miami still offer lovely dining experiences. Still, fine dining has spread throughout the magical city, from trendy Wynwood to Brickell and from Little Havana and beyond. To learn about this new generation of Miami’s best restaurants, you’ve come to the right place.
1. The best restaurants in Miami
2. Three
- Restaurants
- Fusion
- price 4 of 4
What is it? With the return to Miami of Florida, culinary pioneer Norman Van Aken comes the chef’s first restaurant in Wynwood. The bright and charming dining room will catch your eye, but wait until you see the food.
Why go? Set menus of three, four, or seven courses elevate the quality of the experience. Excellent pairings and dishes with good portions make their way to the table in a perfect union, ending in ecstasy in the cocktail menu.
3. Stubborn Seed
- Restaurants
- price 4 of 4
What is it? This intimate restaurant—seats 74—is owned by Top Chef winner Jeremy Ford and exemplifies Miami’s new wave of haute cuisine: sophisticated, cutting-edge, and with a hint of playfulness. Ford doesn’t take himself or his food too seriously.
Why go? Whether you’ve been there once or ten times, ordering the chef’s tasting menu is always a good idea. By combining the restaurant’s staples with seasonal signatures, you’ll find that each one is better than the last, offering a host of delicious surprises.
- Ram
- Restaurants
- contemporary American
- price 2 of 4
What is it? Half American, half Cuban, but completely Miami, this Coconut Grove restaurant makes elaborate dishes from scratch. Its floor is made with typical subway tiles, dim lighting, and an open kitchen that remains quiet to achieve an informal and relaxed atmosphere.
Why go? Chef-owner Michael Beltran keeps things weird enough in the best possible way. He puts head cheese in the croquettes, mushrooms in the flan, and foie gras in the cupcakes. Go with the flow: this Cuban-born chef knows exactly what he’s doing.
4. Kyu
- Restaurants
- BBQ
- price 2 of 4
What is it? In just two years, this trendy Asian restaurant earned a James Beard Award nomination, won a Time Out Bar Award, and established itself as one of the best restaurants in town, with Wynwood’s hardest-to-get reservations. Its airy, industrial-style dining room fits perfectly into the urban style of the neighborhood.
Why go? Chef Michael Lewis offers Asian comfort food, transforming classic dishes like pork buns, Korean-style fried chicken, and crab fried rice into delicious and visually appealing dishes. For every tree used for the wood-fired grill—for example, to grill the delicious wagyu short rib—the restaurant plants five more.
5. The Sea
- Restaurants
- Peruvian
- price 4 of 4
What is it? An inviting oceanfront terrace and irresistible Peruvian menu sum up the famed Brickell Key restaurant.
Why go? Talented chef Diego Oka has raised the profile of traditional Latin American cuisine with unexpected ingredients and combinations, like the original backache tiradito: snapper delicately drenched in aged Parmesan cheese. We assure you: it works. Their brunch is quite an experience, and it is worth dedicating an entire afternoon to enjoy it.
- Macchialina
- Restaurants
- price 3 of 4
What is it? This off-the-beaten-path, rustic, homey Italian restaurant is packed with people looking to escape the madness of South Beach. Fortunately, they have found a place to do it where the relaxed atmosphere is authentic, and the food is also delicious.
Why go? Like the Cavatelli Macchialina in red sauce, Fresh homemade pasta is consistently featured on lists of the best in town. Stop by the restaurant on Thursdays and try this and all the pasta dishes for $10.
6. Mignonette
- Restaurants
- Seafood
- price 3 of 4
What is it? A casual seafood restaurant with a seaside vibe, serving Miami’s best selection of oysters, Connecticut-style lobster rolls (buttered claws, but no mayo), and delicious bread pudding.
Why go? The old-fashioned blackboard that hangs over the kitchen lists the oysters of the day. There are usually about eight varieties from the East and West, but you’ll want to ask your waiter to pick a dozen of your favorites. The staff here know all about oysters.
7. Ghee Indian Kitchen
- Restaurants
- India
- price 3 of 4
What is it? James Beard Award nominee Niven Patel jump-started Indian cuisine in the city by opening his Dadeland restaurant. The chef grows a portion of the produce and herbs he serves in Ghee on his Homestead farm.
Why go? Unlike the failed reheated curry you often find in Miami, the meals made at Ghee are an explosion of fresh flavors. The cheddar naan with green millet that Patel brings from a small town in India and the smoked lamb is, without a doubt, two of the star dishes.
8. Restaurant & Bar at Freehand Miami
- Restaurants
- contemporary American
- price 2 of 4
What is it? A two-level homestyle restaurant located inside a former Art Deco home, serving globally inspired dishes made with fresh ingredients from local farms.
Why go? Hipster home cooking is all the rage here: family recipes with unexpected ingredients and portions to share. The kimchi fried rice is a must for brunch or dinner, while the arepa plate is the king of entrees. Of course, you cannot leave without trying a cocktail made by the famous Bar Lab team.
9. alter
- Restaurants
- American
- price 3 of 4
What is it? Chef Brad Kilgore runs this modern, minimalist restaurant in Wynwood. A three-time James Beards Award nominee, Kilgore took his previous haute cuisine experiences and channeled them into the delicious and refined American cuisine that he and his partners Javier Ramirez and Leo Monterrey implemented at Alter.
Why go? This progressive card is a delight from start to finish. There’s a $65 tasting menu for those who need a little guidance, but ordering a la carte works too: be sure to order Kilgore’s soft-boiled egg with scallop foam, chives, truffle pearls, and Gruyère cheese. Rest assured that people around you will want to ask you about your experience.
10. Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink
- Restaurants
- contemporary American
- price 3 of 4
What is it? James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz’s lively restaurant is a real star. The decor and menu are elegant yet casual, and the service strikes the perfect balance.
Why go? The restaurant puts the prolific chef and his high-end food on the map. Always emphasizing local ingredients, specials change daily and may include duck confit with brussels sprouts or pepper steak. Whichever you choose, prepare to be amazed.
11. Pubbelly Noodle Bar
- Restaurants
- contemporary American
- price 3 of 4
What is it? The city’s first Asian-inspired gastropub opened its doors to traditional Latin cuisine and introduced Asian flavors to classic dishes like mofongo.
Why go? Pubbelly innovates with seasonal ingredients, a fresh ramen menu, and extraordinary desserts created by the team’s pastry chef, Maria Orantes. She won’t forget to save room for the coco loco; a refreshing ice cream dessert served in an empty coconut. There is nothing that says ‘Miami’ more than this dish.
12. Pinch Kitchen
- Restaurants
- price 2 of 4
What is it? The phrase ‘jewel of the neighborhood’ fits like a glove, and Pinch deserves this description. Located in Shorecrest and established in an old pizza joint, this homestyle restaurant, where Pinch, the chef, also owns, borrows from all sorts of cultures to create a short but robust menu.
Why go? People come far and wide to try Pinch’s juicy burger, though it’s only served at lunch and brunch. Turn your attention to the vegetable dishes made with ingredients sourced exclusively from local farmers at dinnertime.
13. Eating House
- Restaurants
- contemporary American
- price 2 of 4
What is it? Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli’s small, rustic restaurant is located on the edge of chic Coral Gables. Dishes here are off the beaten path, like meaty cauliflower steak or seemingly simple mushrooms that burst with earthy flavors.
Why go? You never know what kind of wacky creation Rapivacoli, known for his playful interpretations of the classics, will put on the menu. But once you try their waffles with pate and chicken and Cap’n Crunch pancakes, you’ll never go back to the ordinary dishes.
14. Lokal
- Restaurants
- contemporary American
- price 2 of 4
What is it? Owned by Matthew Kutcher, this neighborhood burger joint is popular with people and canines alike (yes, they have a special menu for dogs, too).
Why go? The Coconut Grove restaurant’s grass-fed beef burger selection runs from traditional to Miami’s signature, starting with the famous Cuban Fried Burger and Juan’s Fidy-Fidy, made 50 percent with Florida beef and 50 percent bacon. Beer-loving Kuscher has also made sure to stock up on an exciting variety of local beers.
15. Cantina La Veinte
- Restaurants
- Mexican
- price 3 of 4
What is it? This upscale Mexican restaurant puts out fresh homemade tortillas and authentic dishes in a luxurious setting.
Why go? Cantina has proven that there is much more to Mexican cuisine than tacos, serving a wide variety of regional dishes and the best margaritas in Miami: but beware, each one is $16. Drop by on Friday and Saturday nights for a live mariachi serenade.
16. NIU Kitchen
- Restaurants
- price 3 of 4
What is it? This trendy and cozy restaurant serves the closest thing to authentic Catalan cuisine in Miami; even the names of the dishes are written in their original language.
Why go? Small and hidden, this place offers a menu of dishes that can be shared, making NIU ideal for couples. You can share a delicious pa amb tomàquet (the traditional rustic bread with ripe tomatoes, olive oil, and salt), a bottle of good wine, and a creamy bowl of poached eggs, truffled potato foam, Iberian ham, and black truffle.
17. Joe’s Stone Crab
- Restaurants
- price 3 of 4
What is it? Opened in 1913, South Florida’s most famous seafood restaurant is open October through May during crab season.
Why go? You’ve been waiting all year for the season of Joe’s namesake crustacean, but so has the rest of the city, so get in line and prepare to wait with crowds of locals and tourists alike on the lookout for their freshest crab claws in town.
18. Lucali
- Restaurants
- Pizza
- price 2 of 4
What is it? An offshoot of famous Brooklyn pizza, this Sunset Harbor joint is as hip and busy as the original in New York City.
Why go? New York knows good pizza, and Lucali offers the state’s best export, serving up big chunks (no slices here) topped with all sorts of fresh toppings (basil can be added for free). And if you’re on a diet, kale salad is a great start.
19. Versailles
- Restaurants
- Cuban
- price 2 of 4
What is it? Versalles describes itself as the most famous Cuban restaurant in Miami, and it doesn’t lie. This place is packed at any time of the day.
Why go? Come to Versalles to cross all Miami’s Cuban experiences: coffee, sandwich, and cupcake if you’re visiting. And if you live in Miami, you’re probably familiar with the bit of window that dispenses the additive cafecito shots.
What are 10 best restaurants?
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants
- Noma. Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Geranium. Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Asador Etxebarri. Atxondo, Spain.
- Central. Lima, Peru.
- Disfrutar. Barcelona, Spain.
- Frantzén. Stockholm, Sweden.
- Maido. Lima, Peru.
- Odette. Singapore.
What is the most popular restaurant in?
McDonald’sTop 250: The Ranking
| Rank | Chain |
|---|---|
| 1 | McDonald’s |
| 2 | Starbucks |
| 3 | Chick-fil-A |
| 4 | Taco Bell |
What’s another name for restaurant?
Synonyms of restaurant
- beanery,
- café
- (also cafe),
- caff.
- [British],
- diner,
- eatery,
- grill.
What food is LA known for?
Guest Post: What Food is L.A. Known For?
- Tacos. Mexican food is a large part of Los Angeles, what with being so close to Mexico. …
- Thai Food. …
- Korean Food. …
- Japanese food (especially sushi and ramen) …
- Chinese Food. …
- Burgers. …
- The French Dip. …
- Donuts.
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The 19 Best Restaurants in Miami you have to try 2022