Super 7: Wynwood Restaurants
So good you'll almost forget about Art Walk
Sparrow Italia
Oh, you thought pairing Italian food with wine was cool? That, friend, is painfully 1623. In 2025, the best pairing for Italian food is 1990s hip-hop music. You’ll realize this as soon as you step into Sparrow, which feels a little like an expensive interior designer’s take on a Subway station with less graffiti and more wagyu Bolognese. The place is big on Italian-American crowd-pleasers, kinda like the Jay-Z of restaurant menus.
Pro tip: Head to the bar where they’ve got a huge menu of pizza “slices,” which are actually squares that can feed two not-that-hungry people. The chicken alla vodka was the best thing I had last week. @sparrowitalia // 255 NW 25th St.
Lira Beirut
Like you, I was excited that Wynwood had an entire restaurant devoted to beer pong. My disappointment when I realized Lira Beirut was actually a Lebanese restaurant was short lived, though, especially once I tried the kafta kabab and meat eggplant fatteh – a salad made delicious by frying everything in it from the eggplant to the pita chips.
Pro tip: Try the Lebanese wines on the menu, which you won’t find anywhere else in Miami. Are they as good as France? No. Do you know the difference? Also no. @liramiami // 2000 NW 2nd Ave.
Uchi
Uchi comes to us from one of the great sushi destinations on planet Earth: Austin, Texas. And while you might think trusting a Texan named Tyson to make sushi would be like trusting the Temple Beth El cafeteria to make you a Cuban sandwich, Chef Tyson Cole absolutely slays it here with a tasting menu that keeps the place packed even during summer.
Pro tip: The happy hour deal is one of Miami’s best, where you can score a 9-course tasting menu for two for $120. @uchirestaurants // 252 NW 25th St.
Hacienda Ramirez Cruz
For years people have complained that Miami didn’t have any great Mexican food. What I never understood is that their definition of “great” meant waiters singing karaoke versions of “Eres Tu” in front of VIP tables. That seems to be the magic formula at Hacienda Ramirez Cruz. Or maybe it’s the massive menu of mole sauces, crafted from the chef’s grandmothers’ recipes. The place is weird, I’ll admit it, but the fresh grilled meats and homespun sauces make the flatscreens blaring ‘80’s Mexican pop music worth it.
Pro tip: Sit inside. It’s decked out like a Mexico City mansion/opulent Mexican farmhouse, and keeps the noise to a minimum. @haciendaramirezcruz // 2509 N. Miami Ave.
Kyu
Sometimes you need a sewer main to explode all over your dinner service to really discover who you are. At least, that seems to be the case with Kyu, who’s come back from that unfortunate mishap exponentially better than it was before. The Asian-inspired BBQ spot isn’t anything like the smoked brisket houses you’d imagine, but puts out some killer wood-fired filet mignon and branzino, and some of Miami’s best fried chicken.
Pro tip: Take the night off from drinking and try Kyu’s mocktails. The Thai Tonic tastes like a spa and the Shake-a-Milk Matcha could also be your dessert. @kyurestaurants // 251 NW 25th St.
Doma
Balancing chic and classy is hard in a city where Brazilian butt lifts pass for dinner conversation. Doma does it exquisitely, combining a dark, minimalist chic décor with a verdant back garden and a menu of approachable, modern Italian dishes. Keep it traditional at Doma with a hearty meatball and provolone, or go a little crazy and try the truffle-crusted filet mignon.
Pro tip: If you find yourself in Wynwood by yourself, the bar at Doma is one of my favorite places to eat alone. It’s like watching a movie set in Miami with a full Italian meal. @domamiami // 35 NE 26th St.
Doya
The only thing more universally beloved in Miami than the food at Doya is probably Dan Marino. Though, actually, some transplanted Jets fans might have a problem with him. Even chronic team-name spellers rave about the sprawling selections on Doya’s placemat menu, though, which range from beef-filled manti dumplings to wood-fired meat kebabs you can smell throughout the restaurant. The cocktail menu is a literal photo-essay too, making the Doya bar a fun date adventure.
Pro tip: Head in on a Thursday night when Doya’s chef comes out from the kitchen and does a live DJ set in the dining room. Hey, at least he’s not trying to sell you a condo. @doyarestaurant // 347 NW 24th St.