Published: February 21, 2021 | Updated: September 29, 2023
Miami is literally a culinary melting pot, creating unique crossroads where Latin, Cuban, Caribbean, Italian, American, Asian and many more rich cultures meet and intersect on your plate! The cultural roots here run deep. I don’t recommend following an exact map to Miami’s culinary scene, however there are some hidden gems that I’ve discovered over the years and I wanted to share these. When you plan your next trip to Miami, mix with locals and wander! Step outside your comfort zone and try new cultural dishes! Become a foodie nomad! I promise, you will not leave disappointed. Below are some of my favorite places to eat in no particular order:
For All My Bohemian Beach Club Lovers – Nikki Beach Miami
Nikki Beach Miami is a stunning garden-like beach club tucked away in South Beach Miami. I recommend visiting here for brunch, if you want to chill and relax, or if you like live music. You should book reservations ahead of time via sites like OpenTable since they book pretty quickly on weekends. The cabanas are comfortable and provide lots of room for people not looking to be in the middle of everything. They provide towels and comfortable pillows along with table side service at a fair price. Parking can be a bit pricy, so I recommend catching an Uber here if you’re in the area.
Nikki Beach Club Video Review:
Dinner Party on the River – Kiki on the River
Kiki on the River is the perfect spot to visit if you want to have fun, experience tasty and unique drinks, and enjoy good music! The staff was very accommodating and interactive! Everyone in our group received a sailor’s hat and tambourine so we could have fun during dinner. The food here is just okay, not the best I’ve had in Miami, but their staff far makes up for it with ambience and experience. We took my friend here before she got married, and they made everything so special for her. It’s the perfect place to bring someone to celebrate something special, or to have a fun night with your friends! Reservations are strongly recommended.
For All My Upscale Trend Lovers – Swan
Swan Miami is a great upscale location to visit for lunch, brunch, or dinner if you’re visiting for the first time. If you visit this location for dinner, part of the restaurant transitions with a live DJ in the evening. The decor of this restaurant is very chic, living up to its location in Miami’s Design District. The food and drinks are okay, with eclectic European dishes. I enjoyed their ceviche and caviar pasta, but overall I felt this place was overrated. If you’ve never been to Swan, you should absolutely visit, but I would not place this location in my top 10 for Miami.
If Your Love Seafood, Visit – A Fish Called Avalon
A Fish Called Avalon is located on the famous Ocean Drive strip on Miami Beach. If weather permits, they have outdoor entertainment, the seafood is excellent and fresh, and the waiter let us in on a little secret that I thought was a bit of a bluff. They claim to have the best Key Lime Pie in the USA! Now being that I am from the south, this is quite a bold statement to make. However I must say, the rumors are very true! Be sure to check out their Key Lime pie for yourself!
To All My Sushi & Thai Lovers – Lemongrass
I am a huge fan of all things sushi and dumplings! Just outside of Miami, in a cute little area called Boca Raton, you will find one of the best sushi gems in the area – Lemongrass! The service was excellent, the variety of dumplings will blow your mind and all of the dumplings here were handmade. When my girlfriends and I visited here, it was hard to decide if the Thai food or the sushi plates were the star of the show.
If You’re Looking For a Good Cocktail by the Pool – Broken Shaker
If you still want to hangout near South Beach, but want a break from all of the hustle and bustle of tourists, I recommend escaping to the Broken Shaker in the afternoon to enjoy a nice cocktail by the pool. The atmosphere is very laid back and picturesque. There are string lights by the pool, colorful chairs, and secluded tropical landscaping that will make you want to take a million pictures. I recommend making a reservation in advance on OpenTable.
If You Want Cuban the Way Grandamama Makes it, Visit – Versailles
Wow, this is the one Cuban gem that left my girlfriends and I speechless one afternoon. We ordered so much food, that our waiter told us to stop! lol! You cannot leave Miami without visiting Versailles. This place is also highly recommended by local Cubans, who rave that all of the dishes taste “like home”. Their menu is very extensive and the prices are very reasonable. There were so many yummy dishes here, that I cannot recommend just one! This restaurant is also located in the Little Havana neighborhood, so feel free to explore this vibrant area as well!
For All My Versace Fans Who Love Italian Food – Gianni’s
If you want to dress up one night, and enjoy a fascinating dinner experience on South Beach, then I recommend visiting Gianni’s at The Villa Casa Casuarina. This famous Italian restaurant is located within the home of former legendary fashion designer Giovanni “Gianni” Versace. The service and architecture of this location is absolutely amazing! If possible when making your reservation, try to request a table outside by the pool for the ultimate ambiance experience. The pasta dish I ordered was sublime, as it was fresh handmade pasta! If you’re unable to make a dinner reservation, then I recommend trying a lunch reservation instead!
Enjoy Chinese at Hakkasan, within the Fontainebleau Hotel
If you’re looking for a trendy, chic, and upbeat restaurant that makes impressive Chinese food, then Hakkasan should be on your must visit list! Hakkasan has a very high service standard, and this standard pulls all the way through to their dishes. One of my favorite proteins to order here is the duck or lobster. This restaurant is also famously known for their spin on traditional dim sum and the truffle fried rice. The prices here are a bit on the high end, but worth the investment if you’re looking to treat yourself.
For All My Taco Lovers! – Bodega Taqueria y Tequila
The Bodega is a truck-style fun place to hangout with your friends in South Beach and enjoy some great tacos. The Carne Asada was my favorite taco from here and the guacamole was pretty good as well! Seating is limited, so if you come later in the evening or late at night, you may have to eat outside or stand to enjoy your tacos. The Bodega is also known for their great happy hour. I recommend checking their website for the latest happy hour times. You won’t be disappointed!
For the Ultimate Brunch Experience – The Rusty Pelican
Located just outside of Miami Beach in Key Biscayne, The Rusty Pelican is a lovely upscale waterfront restaurant known for its amazing views, fresh seafood, indulgent tapas, and fantastic cocktails. My first visit to The Rusty Pelican was for a girl’s pre-wedding weekend brunch and it was very impressive. During my second visit, the service and atmosphere still did not disappoint. If weather permits, I recommend booking reservations outside with a waterfront view. Some of my favorite dishes to order were the Short Rib Empanadas and the Crispy Whole Local Snapper.
If You Want to Rent Cabanas and Have Lux Downtown Views – Altitude at SLS
If you’re in the mood for a chill brunch downtown, start your day off by visiting Fi’lia downstairs of the SLS Brickell. Next relax by a beautiful pool under a reserved cabana. This famous rooftop pool offers amazing panoramic views of downtown Miami. If you visit their website, you can book a Day Pass for yourself and your group! They have a pretty light menu with salads, pizza and other poolside top eats. The cocktail menu is also great, and bartenders are willing to make special drinks upon request as well! This is the perfect location for a girls day!
Calling All Crab Lovers! – Joe’s Stone Crab Restaurant
If you love King Crab Legs, Oysters, Lobster Rolls and of course, Stone Crabs, I recommend stopping here before leaving Miami! This restaurant is known to have a line at times, so I recommend making tipping or making friends with the host to be seated early ((wink)). The Stone Crabs served here are so fresh and a great experience.
We All Say Ice Cream! – Icy n Spicy
If you’re craving an afternoon milkshake, soft serve ice cream, or an artsy looking ice cream creation for your Instagram, then, I recommend dropping into Icy-n-Spicy. During my last visit, they did not have a menu displayed, so I recommend looking on their website in advance to see all of the flavor options and toppings they have. In speaking with one of the servers, all of their ice cream is homemade! My favorite flavor from my visit here was the Lavender and I also recommend trying the famous 24K Gold Madagascar Vanilla Ice Cream.
Best Popsicle You’ll Ever Have! – Cielito Artisan Pops
If ice cream isn’t your thing, why not try an artisan crafted popsicle instead?! Located in the iconic Westwood neighborhood, Cielito offers a huge selection of popsicles flavors, made with real fruit, unique toppings and they have vegan options as well. I recommend looking this place up in advance as well before visiting because they have sooo many selections to choose from!
The Chinese Version of the Melting Pot – Da Tang Zhen Wei
This restaurant is literally a hidden gem. It’s tucked away inside of the Four Ambassadors, and is a great place to visit if you’re looking for authentic Chinese food (which is so hard to find!). Da Tang Zhen Wei is a hot pot restaurant that allows you to pick your broth, meat and vegetable ingredients, and unique dipping sauces. If you’re not interested in trying their famous hot pot on the menu, there are also yummy finds like the peking duck or dumplings.
If You’re Looking for Great Peruvian Food, Visit – La Mar by Gaston Acurio
Another spot for an upscale dinner with an amazing view is La Mar by Gaston Acurio! I recommend this spot for special occasions and celebrations. I ordered the ceviche and it was fresh and full of flavor. The empanadas here are also very good. I also suggest looking the menu up in advance since it can be a bit difficult to understand at first glance. The service and vibe here will not disappoint.
A Celebrity Favorite for Steak – Prime 112
On any random night, you may literally spot a celebrity at Prime 112. One evening, my friends and I spotted super model Gisele Bundchen. I asked the waitress how often they see celebrities here, and she stated all the time and at random times. There’s more to this restaurant than just an occasional star siting. If you choose to visit here, I recommend sharing the bone-in filet with truffle butter or the 5 cheese truffle macaroni and cheese. All of the dishes served here were literally amazing and the atmosphere is very energetic!
Enjoy an Upscale Outdoor Indoor Asian Experience – Komodo
The food and service at Komodo are nothing less than phenomenal! If you visit at night, be prepared to have sensory overload! I recommend ordering a lot of small plates and sharing. We ordered the sticky ribs, salmon tacos, duck lettuce wraps, dumplings and more. My favorite dish of the night was the Garlic King Crab Lo Mein!
I’m going to stop into all of these places the next time I’m in Miami. There’s such an amazing food scene there.
Oh my lordy! Where would you even start! I love that you’ve given such a diverse range of restaurants to try as I’m sure we crave for different cuisines and types of restaurants each time. Although I have to say I have a little Versace in me too and would love Gianni’s! Thanks for the recommendations!
wow, such a beautiful place to visit. let me add to my bucket list. Thanks for sharing
After reading through all the options here, there is no doubt in my mind about the tremendous variety and quality of the food on offer around Miami. The melting pot you referred to is so evident and I really look forward to indulging a bit in the culture as well as the food when I’m in the area.
I have been to Miami many times, but still love going back! It especially sounds good right now, after the ice- cold weather we had in Texas.
Oh, Miami sounds and looks amazing! I would love to be there and check out some of those spots.
These meals look fantastic. Next time I visit Miami I’ll check out at least one of these restaurants, guaranteed. Probably the one in Little Havana as I have a feeling I’ll love Cuban food.
Oh my my… all these restaurants look too good. It had been years seen I had been to Miami.. These reviews are really good!
Yummy all these plates look delicious! I would love a food tour across Miami to try these restaurants out.
Wah! I was just searching on the internet for this list! thanks for putting this together, it helped a lot.
Lemongrass is one of the restaurants I want to try in Miami! I’m a big Thai food lover so I think I will really like it.
Reading this makes me crave so much! Drooling over the pictures and yeah I want to try them all too! I wish traveling is as easy as before. Hopefully everything would be better soon so we can travel back again normally.