The 21 Best Restaurants in Miami
A highly opinionated list of the best restaurants in Miami picked by our expert team
We dine out for a living, which means we've been to a lot of restaurants — good ones, bad ones, and plenty that fall somewhere in between. After all that dining, these 21 spots are the ones we keep going back to, the places we actually recommend when friends ask where to eat, and the restaurants that remind us why Miami's food scene is worth paying attention to.
Each of us picked seven places we genuinely love, covering everything from hole-in-the-wall spots to special occasion splurges, neighborhood staples to tried-and-true favorites that have proven themselves over time.
We'll update this list a few times a year because Miami's restaurant scene never stops moving and changing, and neither do we.
Abbale TLV
Having lived in the Middle East, and experiencing the culinary expertise in Israel but also across the border in Beirut, I really do understand what it means to enjoy a good meal from that region. Enter Abbale TLV which is under the helm of Exec. Chef Samuel Gorenstein. And it’s mouth-wateringly incredible. From their onion dip (a fan favorite) to their hummus…to the imported Zaatar and Sumac that enhance the flavor profiles of his dishes, the Israeli Salad that we once before mentioned in ‘Dish of the Week,’ is worth the visit to enjoy just that. Even the fresh bread is as farm-to-table as it gets. —EMN
Pro tip: They have their own brand of Abbale TLV Rose. It's dry and crisp and divine, so get it! They also have a private dining room in their Aventura outpost, so it is perfect for special occasions. @abbaletlv // 864 Commerce St., Miami Beach - or, 2956 NE 199th St., Aventura
Boia De
This Michelin-starred gem sits in a strip mall next to a coin laundromat, proving that good food doesn't need good real estate. Boia De chefs Luciana Giangrandi and Alex Meyer's Italian-influenced fever dream of a menu somehow makes sense — potato skins with stracciatella and caviar (a day-one menu item), chilled tagliolini nero with king crab, and other beautiful weirdness that works perfectly. The forest-green nook fills up the second doors open, so either master the art of noon Resy warfare or pray for bar seat luck. —OF
Pro Tip: Reservations drop at noon exactly 30 days out and vanish faster than free samples at Costco. Best walk-in odds are right at 5 PM opening or near 10 PM closing. @boiaderestaurant // 5205 N.E. 2nd Ave., Miami
Cote Korean Steakhouse
Considering consistency isn’t often ‘a thing’ in the Magic City, COTE is a no-brainer for meat eaters looking for a heavenly meal paired with a killer vibe. Naturally, within this meat-centric destination, there are non-meat options. But the purpose of COTE is to order the ‘Butcher’s Feast’ as it comes with four meats that your server prepares for you table side. A hefty selection of USDA Prime and American Wagyu cuts, along with Korean side dishes like the heavenly scallion salad, kimchi and soup - well, save room for the soft-serve at the end. Although it has some MSG (um, yea) - it's worth that salivating taste of vanilla to cleanse the palate at the end of the dining experience. —EMN
Pro Tip: Notice the John Boos wood cutting boards that the Butcher’s Board is served on. It’s a collaborative project between Simon Kim’s Cote and Boos. So for those in-the-know (or not), we told you first! @cotekoreansteakhouse // 3900 NE 2nd Ave. Design District.
Doya
There’s a certain amount of overwhelm one gets when trying to figure out where to eat in Wynwood. Whatever mood you’re in, and whatever you’re looking to do, Doya is always the right answer. Want a beautiful bar with inventive cocktails for a fun first date? Doya’s drink menu is meant for meet-cutes. Big meal with friends? The massive menu is full of wood-fired kebabs and vegetable dishes that everyone in your group can enjoy. Eating outside? The plant filled patio feels a world away from Wynwood’s busy streets. —MM
Pro tip: Go on Thursday when the chef steps out of the kitchen and plays DJ in the dining room. Only in Miami, bro. @doyamiami // 347 NW 24th St.
El Cielo
The true mark of any fine dining establishment is how many times it allows you to lick chocolate off your hands. And by that metric, El Cielo is one of the finest restaurants in the world, since said chocolate-licking is the middle course of its 15-course tasting menu. The rest of the courses might not be as fun, but Juan Manuel Barritentos’ modern take on Colombian food is one of those experiences where every bite is even better than the one before. Cheap it's not, and it may literally cost less to fly to the original in Medellin, eat there, and fly home. But if you’re looking to drop money on a big-ticket dinner in Miami, you won’t find anywhere better. —MM
Pro tip: Pace yourself. The Tree of Life bread – a yuca-based bread served to look like a bonsai tree – might be tempting. But limit yourself to a couple of bites or you won’t make it 15 courses. @elcielomiami // 31 SE 5th St., Brickell
Eleventh Street Pizza
Another thing that’s never worth waiting on line for: Pizza. And the beauty of Eleventh Street Pizza is that they’re putting out the best pies in the city, and don’t make you stand in line like a schmuck to get them. The creation of Fooq’s proprietor David Folquier, Eleventh Street bakes pizzas with a perfect crispy crust, rich, spicy tomato sauce, and the optimal amount of fresh made mozzarella. It’s pizza like you remember – big, delicious pies that come in slices without char. And they manage to maintain quality without charging you $30 for the pleasure. —MM
Pro tip: Hit the Dadeland location if you find yourself south on U.S. -1. The pizza’s just as good and the parking is exponentially easier than the original downtown. @eleventhstreetpizza // 1035 N. Miami Ave., Downtown
Flour & Weirdoughs
Look, I don’t like driving to Key Biscayne any more than I like getting dental surgery, but it’s worth it for a croissant at Flour and Weirdoughs. Because they’re set out on the Island Paradise, F&W doesn’t get as much love as more centrally-located bakeries in Miami. But brave the homicidal cyclists and you’ll be rewarded with fresh baked breads, stellar sourdoughs, better-than-France pastries, and cookies that’ll delete the word “calories” from your vocabulary. —MM
Pro tip: Go on a weekday morning, after 9am. The stuff is delicious, but nothing is worth waiting on the line that wraps around the place on weekends.
Ghee
People who say they “love” Indian food usually just love chicken tikka masala and naan. If you wanna see what Indian food can truly be, check out the tasting menu at this Dadeland spot from chef Niven Patel. Sure, he’ll make CTM if you really want him to, but this would be kinda like ordering a hamburger at the world’s finest steakhouse. See what Patel can do with ingredients fresh from his Homestead farm, and you too will start sneering at people who have the nerve to ask for papadum. —MM
Pro tip: Pair your dinner at Ghee with a bottle of Indian wine. You won’t find it many other places in Miami, and it’s the perfect companion to Patel’s complex flavors. @gheemiami // 8965 SW 72nd Pl., Kendall
Il Gabbiano
With hundreds of Italian restaurants in Miami, IL Gabbiano sticks out. And certainly not for the interior design which could use a major gut. But rather for the food, the service, the wine list, the bartenders capabilities and the views. Head over for a power lunch or a divine dinner and expect a chic, well-heeled crowd who simply love good food. No frills. Pair the amazing food with the service that you don't generally find in the USA, their pastas are cooked to perfection. Try the capellini with peas. And the daily fish specials, well, order them because the chefs within have a magic touch re preparation. Also, the bone-in Veal Milanese is heavenly in crunch and their chopped bruschetta tomatoes on top with the arugula completes the dish making each bite better than the next. —EMN
Pro tip: If you love a strong martini, this is your spot. Their dirty martinis are divine. @ilgabbianorestaurant //335 S. Biscayne Blvd., Downtown Miami
Kojin 2.0
Some restaurants feel like you’re eating an assembly line that happened to invest in very expensive tablecloths. Others feel like you’re eating in someone’s living room. Kojin 2.0 is very much the latter, where chef/owner Pedro Mederos goes from table to table, cracking jokes like he’s everyone’s bad pun-making dad. The menu is tiny, which means Mederos can make every dish a hit, with no extra stuff to placate picky eaters. Because Pedro is equal parts chef and social butterfly, the food can sometimes take a while as he spends time touching tables. Even as an impatient eater, I barely even noticed. —MM
Pro tip: Sit at the bar. The bartender treats the wine list like their own personal collection, and on the right night dinner can be a wine-tasting journey too. @kojinmiami // 804 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables
LPM Miami
This French Mediterranean stunner makes you feel like you're lunching on the Cote d'Azur, minus the seven-hour flight and European attitude. LPM’s Brickell location serves craweworthy escargot and grilled branzino in a marble-accented dining room that attracts everyone from power-lunching executives to Instagram influencers chasing the perfect shot. But the real star is the Tomatini — a tomato-vodka-balsamic concoction that's somehow both refreshing and sophisticated, easily earning the title of one of the best drinks in the city. —OF
Pro Tip: The weekday business lunch prix fixe (Wednesday-Friday, 12-3 PM) gets you the same quality for way less cash. The outdoor patio is prime real estate for people-watching. @lpmrestaurants_us // 1300 Brickell Bay Dr., Brickell
Miami Juice
Nearly thirty years ago, Miami Juice opened its doors in a strip shopping center in Sunny Isles. Becoming a destination for clean, tasty food for locals, the late founder Isaac was way ahead of the curve. With their famous tuna salad, chicken salads, MJ Salad, and brown rice platters with the Bonita Salmon (a poached fish with sesame flavors), no matter what you select from their vast menu, you can never go wrong. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner - the fruit salads with toppings are insane. Even their fresh pressed juices are paradise. —EMN
Pro tip: They don’t take AMEX. 18660 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles.
MIKA
The best thing to hit Coral Gables since the inception of the city is Chef Michael White’s latest and greatest - Mika. Brightening the f&b landscape of South Florida when he opened up this past year, it's romantic yet socially suitable for a night out on the town with the girls. With the dimmed lighting that sets the ambience to perfection and a menu which boasts options where each dish is better than the last, these two dishes were MICHELIN-esque insanity. The scallop crudo melts on your tongue and the swordfish entree was the best we ever supped on.
Pro tip: It is really loud, so prepare for that and if you cannot get a reservation, try the bar where you can enjoy the full menu. @mikacoralgables // 3007 Ponce de Leon. Coral Gables.
Motek
What started as one location in the Seybold building has exploded into eight spots across Miami, proving that kosher-style Mediterranean done right travels fast. Drawing from Lebanon, Morocco, Turkey, and Yemen, "sweetheart" in Hebrew lives up to its name with shakshuka that converts skeptics and their award-winning Arayes Burger that's won Burger Bash two years running, and the hummus is the most creamy in town. —OF
Pro Tip: The downtown original gets crazy with jewelry dealers at lunch, so dinner is your move for a more relaxed experience. The challah bread pudding is secretly one of Miami's best-kept dessert secrets. @motekcafe // 36 N.E. 1st St., Miami
Santorini by Giorgios
About the last place anyone would expect to find a restaurant with over-the-top friendly hospitality and epic, reasonably priced portions would be Ocean Drive. But wander behind the Hilton Bentley Hotel and you’ll find a little slice of the Greek Islands, where the kebabs, pitas and fresh seafood platters are enough for two to three hungry people. Sure, there’s the requisite Greek music and plate-breaking, but what sets Santorini by Giorgios apart is the warm hospitality of the family that runs it. You’re guaranteed to have a conversation with Giorgios himself at some point during your meal. Go enough times, and he may invite you to stay with his family at their home in the isles. —MM
ro tip: Order half as much food as you think you need to. Every portion is double sized, and you’ll end up with food for a week if you order like you would normally. @santorinibygiorgios // 101E Ocean Drive., South Beach
Stubborn Seed
Jeremy Ford's Michelin-starred flagship in South Beach proves that fine dining doesn't have to be stuffy. The Top Chef winner's eight-course tasting menu weaves together Latin and Asian influences with French technique, creating dishes that look like art but taste like comfort food's sophisticated cousin. The industrial-chic space with exposed brick and glass kitchen lets you watch the theater unfold while sipping carefully prepared cocktails that pair perfectly with Ford's creative combinations. —OF
Pro Tip: The à la carte menu at the bar features gems like the truffle chicken with pomme purée and the corn cream reverie dessert, it’s perfect for when you want the Stubborn Seed experience without committing to the full tasting journey. @stubborn_seed // 101 Washington Ave., Miami Beach
Sunny’s Steakhouse
The former Jaguar Sun team brought their greatest hits to this Little River stunner, including the legendary Green Ghoul Goblin cocktail that made the original a cult favorite. Sunny’s is built around a majestic banyan tree that's been the centerpiece since pandemic pop-up days, this steakhouse blends chic old-meets-new Florida vibes with a good-looking crowd that knows where to find the best cuts in town. The Parker House rolls are mandatory, the bone marrow vinaigrette will ruin you for other sauces, and save room for the decadent kouign-amann ice cream sandwich. —OF
Pro Tip: Free parking is a rare luxury in Miami, so don't take it for granted here. The russet potatoes fried in chicken schmaltz are the sleeper hit side dish everyone's talking about. @sunnysmia // 7357 N.W. Miami Ct., Miami
The Surf Club
Thomas Keller's Michelin-starred shrine to Continental cuisine operates inside the Four Seasons, where Frank Sinatra once held court and the ghosts of old Miami glamour still linger. This is old-school fine dining that demands your respect: beef Wellington carved table-side that'll make you question every other Wellington you've had, and an ice cream sundae so legendary even the lactose intolerant throw caution to the wind. The dining room's original 1930s murals tell stories of a Miami that predates spring breakers and crypto bros. —OF
Pro Tip: Book the Banyan Room for a brighter, more Miami feel, or stick to the main dining room if you want the full historic club experience. The lobster thermidor is Keller’s cuisine at its finest. @surfclubrestaurant // 9011 Collins Ave., Surfside
Tâm Tâm
This Vietnamese quán nhậu (think drinking and snacking spot) from husband-and-husband team Tam Pham and Harrison Ramhofer turns dinner into a delightfully messy affair. Fish sauce caramel wings that'll make you lick your fingers, tamarind-glazed pork ribs that slide off the bone, and a "lamb wrap situation" that's exactly as fun as it sounds. Of course, Tâm Tâm is set in a former Cuban diner with a karaoke-equipped bathroom, because why not make it weird? —OF
Pro Tip: Embrace the mess — half these dishes are meant to be eaten with your hands. The bathroom karaoke machine is real, and yes, people use it. Multiple hand-washing trips are encouraged and expected (and encouraged). @tam.tam.mia // 99 N.W. 1st St., Miami
Tropical Chinese
A South Miami staple, Tropical Chinese by Mei Yu is an elevated, yet casual, red-clad hole-in-the-wall destination for foodies in the know. They just so happen to have some of the best Chinese food outside of Beijing, too. Tropical’s daily dim-sum menu is what keeps the crowds piling in. And their ala-carte is beyond incredible. They also have MSG-free options, including shrimp and vegetables, a fried noodle dish and a tofu and vegetable plate that makes the hour-long drive worthwhile. —EMN
Pro tip: Their dumplings are outstanding. And they have a full bar of libations, so enjoy! @tropicalchinesemiami // 7991 Bird Road. Miami.
Sushi Yasu Tanaka
It’s Chef Yasu’s simple ways of sourcing and slicing the fish and crustaceans he hand selects every week that have made his countertop at the MIA Market a destination for those in the know. For just $59 usd, select the Omakase option because it's the best in town - and, the best deal, too! The order includes ten pieces of the ‘chef's selection’ and one hand-roll, so it should be a grand surprise based on catch of the day and availability. But anything he and his team decide is suitable for you, alongside his perfectly balanced rice are what keep his regulars and new clients coming back one lunch/dinner at a time. —EMN
Pro tip: If there is a Japanese uni delivery available, ask to add-on a the nigiri. Trust. @sushiyasutanaka // 140 NE 39th St #241. Design District.