Best Italian Restaurants in Miami

Italian cuisine has long held a special place in the dining scene of Miami and Miami Beach. From cozy neighborhood trattorias to fine dining establishments, the destination offers are a mix of places to enjoy all types of Italian food, including handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas and classic regional specialties.

Many restaurants stay true to  traditional ingredients and preparations, while others are blending local flavors and putting out inventive spins on old favorites, adding a fresh twist to Italian cuisine in Miami. These are a few of our favorites, from a MICHELIN-awarded strip-mall nook to a multi-level supper club with live music.

Boia De

One of the most sought out reservations is located in a strip mall near Little Haiti. Cozy and creative Boia De is the only Italian restaurant in Miami with a MICHELIN star. If you can't book a table in advance, try walking in around opening time to grab a seat at the bar, or cross your fingers for a last-minute cancellation. 

Signature dishes include Luci’s Chopped Salad and the Lamb Ribs Fra Diavola made with urfa yogurt and spicy cucumber pickles. Vegetables feature bold creations like crispy Brussels sprouts made with miso and dashi. With just 30 seats, the restaurant’s casual and funky vibe is complemented by low-ABV cocktails and a mostly natural wine list. 

Casa Isola Osteria

Chef José Mendín is well known for his from-scratch cooking in the Sunset Harbour pocket of Miami Beach, first at Pubbelly Sushi, where he was nominated for 5 James Beard Awards. Casa Isola Osteria is his breezy Italian concept in the same neighborhood.

Here, Mendín offers up flavorful staples like garlicky linguini with vongole made with little neck clams and baby heirloom tomatoes; as well as delightfully unexpected fusions, as in the corn gyoza “agnolotti” made with beef soy broth and parmesan foam.

Dolce Italian Restaurant

Located inside the Gale South Beach, Dolce Italian Restaurant features breakfast, happy hour and dinner specials that can be enjoyed inside or on the charming plant-filled a patio overlooking Collins Avenue.

Dinner at Dolce in South Beach includes classics like seafood tagliatelle, veal Milanese and a can’t-miss lobster ravioli with generous chunks of lobster meat. Happy hour features discounted favorites like meatballs and fried calamari, along with refreshing cocktails like the Italian Paloma.

dōma

This sleek jewel box of an Italian restaurant in Wynwood has wine bottle-lined walls and a comfortable garden out back. The menu at dōma features a mix of classic and modern Italian cuisine, including a good selection of crudos and traditional pasta. Order the candele alla genovese, served table-side with a beautiful mountain of slow-cooked beef ragu and topped with parmesan cheese fondue.

Ferraro’s Kitchen

Venetian chef Igor Ferraro has been cooking Italian standards in Miami for more than a decade at the warmly lit Ferraro’s Kitchen. Located in the Upper East Side, this family-owned spot distinguishes itself as a quiet island for conversation, with a lovely garden and prompt, understated service.

The extensive, locally sourced menu and award-winning Italian wine list offer outstanding value. Standout dishes include the Fritto Veneziano made with fried calamari, shrimp and zucchini; and the handmade pappardelle pasta, dressed with a sauce of wild boar. Ferraro’s also has an educational component for budding enthusiasts, with wine tasting and pairing events hosted regularly.

Luca Osteria

This mainstay Coral Gables restaurant created by acclaimed chef Giorgio Rapicavoli mixes Italian inspiration with a twist of Miami flavor. Luca Osteria's warm, white-washed space features beamed ceilings inside and outdoor seating on the leafy pedestrian walkway of Giralda Avenue.

The menu opens with an assortment of new riffs on spritz cocktails, and the show-stopping pasta menu features Roman classics like Amatriciana, which is made with guanciale (cured pork jowl), tomatoes and chiles. Don’t skip an order of the famous patate fritte, truffle potatoes topped with parmigiano fundata and a golden egg yolk. 

Piola

With locations in Mid Beach, Brickell and Doral, Piola Italian Restaurant is famous for its indulgent and properly crisp pizza. Pies run the gamut, from the classic Margherita to a Honolulu version with pineapple, making it a stand-out as one of the destination’s best Italian pizza restaurants.

A healthy selection of pastas, such as the Lasagna Rina made “Pasticcio”-style with meat sauce and bachemal, are on offer with salads and a curated list of wine and beer. Bonus: All pies and pastas can be ordered gluten-free.

Sparrow Italia

Wynwood hotspot Sparrow Italia is an elegant, bi-level space with banquettes, chandeliers, dim lighting and a small stage for sultry live performers. The kitchen puts out new riffs on traditional dishes, as in the half-pound A5 wagyu meatball served with a side of arrabbiata pasta, and Mikey’s Spicy Rigatoni alla Vodka with Mozzarella di Bufala and Calabrian chili. Sparrow also offers meat courses as shareable dishes for the table, and the bar and lounge area feature pizza by the slice.

The Big Cheese

The Big Cheese restaurant, in South Miami, has been serving up pizza and other classics in casual, old-school digs for more than 40 years. Pile into a cozy booth to watch the game on the big-screen TVs, and immediately put in an order of garlic rolls. 

Menu highlights include hefty sub sandwiches like meatball, eggplant and chicken parm, along with baked pastas, such as ziti ricotta made with a Parmigiano and ricotta blend and meat sauce. They’re perhaps most popular for the thin and crispy pizzas. Try one of the specialty pies, or customize one to your liking.

Torno Subito

Chef Massimo Bottura has been the darling of the culinary world since his Modena restaurant, Osteria Francescana, became known as the world’s best. Now, he brings his classic Emilian flavors – wildly reimagined – to Torno Subito in the Miami Design District.

Tightly composed plates, such as 3 different age statements of Parmigiano Reggiano, dive deep into the cultural cornerstones that have long made the chef’s central Emilia Italian region famous for its food. Torno Subito’s playful and innovative nature comes forth in dishes such as cacio e pepe with a Florida-inspired citrus sauce. For a guided tour of Bottura’s talents, go for one of the multi-course tasting menus.

Explore more Italian restaurants in Miami.