Maybe Lincoln Road Dining… Doesn’t Suck?
I never thought I'd write these words: Lincoln Road doesn't suck anymore.
Trust me, I'm as shocked as you are.
For years, Miami's most infamous pedestrian mall has been where good taste goes to die. I avoided it unless dragged there by out-of-town relatives desperate to see "the real Miami Beach." The dining scene was a wasteland of overpriced mojitos and chain restaurants hawking $75 steaks to sunburned tourists.
But I've noticed something unexpected happening: Lincoln Road is becoming a legit dining destination.
Take Mister 01, the tiny pizza spot hidden in an office building behind the Apple store. I've watched their star-shaped pies with ricotta-stuffed crusts build such a cult following they've expanded across Miami. Then there's Osteria Da Fortunata - the first outpost outside Rome - creating massive fanfare for its pasta dishes like carbonara, even at $34 a plate. Even old standbys like Rosinella, that family-run Italian spot with the green awning I've probably walked past a hundred times, still dishes out solid rustic cuisine and tiramisu after 25 years.
The new heavy hitters are making serious noise too. Andrés Carne de Res brings Bogotá's most iconic party restaurant stateside, turning a massive two-story space into what feels like the world's most elaborate quinceañera (in the best way). MILA keeps the see-and-be-seen crowd happy with wagyu dumplings and killer views - and apparently $52 million in revenue last year, making it one of the country's highest-grossing restaurants. And just steps off Lincoln, I've joined the crowds at spots like Paya Miami (from Food & Wine's "Best New Chef" Niven Patel) and Mimi Chinese, getting my fix of Caribbean heat and high-end Cantonese.
The momentum isn't slowing down either. Prince Street Pizza is bringing its Instagram-favorite Sicilian slices from NYC this spring. Negroni Caffe & Sushi Bar opens this summer. Big hospitality groups like Noble 33 (bringing Mēdüzā Mediterranïa in 2026) and LA's h.wood Group (opening The Nice Guy) are betting big on Lincoln's comeback.
For quick bites, I head to Lincoln Eatery Food Hall, which packs nearly a dozen vendors under one roof—perfect for when my group can’t agree. Cortadito Coffee House does ventanita classics right, even if its digs are fancier than your typical Cuban coffee window. And don’t sleep on Shake Shack—this was their first location outside NYC, chosen before South Beach was cool again.
Look, I'm not saying Lincoln Road has completely shed its tourist-trap skin. You'll still dodge pushy hostesses waving laminated menus, and yes, that guy is still out there selling water from a coconut for $12. The chains aren't going anywhere, either. But I’ve found plenty worth eating between dodging the tourist traps - from Segafredo's prime people-watching perch to the new wave of actually good restaurants. If you're a local who's written off Lincoln Road, you might want to – dare I say it – reconsider.