Miami’s Best International Restaurants

Greater Miami and Miami Beach is an international hub with a melting pot of cultures, and there’s no better way to get a taste of the local diversity than through its cuisine. With strong ties to Cuba and Latin America, the destination is chock-full of flavors to sample from those regions. But you’ll also find Caribbean culinary influences, from Haitian to Jamaican, Bahamian and beyond. Authentic Asian, Greek, Mediterranean, French and Italian restaurants feature strongly here as well. Dive in with our full guide to the best ethnic food and international cuisine in Miami.

Cuban & Latin American

Versailles

When it comes to Cuban food, start your gastronomic exploration in Little Havana at the iconic Versailles Restaurant, family-owned and operated since 1971. Not only does it function as the unofficial town square for Miami's Cuban diaspora, it serves delicious favorites from empanadas to stuffed plantains, croquetas and, of course, the classic Cuban sandwich made with sweet ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles and yellow mustard pressed on crusty Cuban bread.

Café La Trova

James Beard Award-winning celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein presides over the kitchen at Café La Trova with longtime collaborator, the celebrated mixologist Julio Cabrera, behind the bar. This dream team created a festive and stylish destination for elevated Cuban cuisine accompanied by live music nightly. We can’t get enough of dishes like lobster croquetas, skirt steak ropa vieja and whole boneless stuffed branzino, all of which pair perfectly with one of Cabrera’s rum-based cocktails.

Amazónico

For upscale South American fare in a theatrical setting in Brickell, Amazónico has emerged as a new hotspot. Inspired by the vast Amazon region with Asian twists, dishes range from hamachi crudo and toro tuna tartare with caviar to wagyu empanadas, wok-fried arroz chaufa with duck, octopus a la parilla and charcoal grilled chimichurri steak. Pair your meal with tropical cocktails or fine wine and you’re in for a magical night out.

Haitian & Caribbean

Chef Creole

Anchoring Little Haiti, Chef Creole highlights signature Haitian recipes with a focus on seafood, courtesy of beloved, longtime owner Chef Wilkinson Sejour. The restaurant’s cuisine showcases traditional Caribbean flavors in dishes like whole fish, seafood criollo stew and platters of fried lobster, shrimp and fish, as well as the Haitian staple fried pork griot with spicy pikliz sauce.

Clive’s Café

A Miami classic for Jamaican cooking for over 40 years, Clive’s Cafe is a down-to-earth restaurant in Little Haiti with a Bob Marley mural on its façade. Here, traditional Jamaican dishes, like jerk chicken, brown stew and oxtail, take center stage. Dig into mile-high plates of curry goat, cow foot, conch stew or vegetarian callaloo served with 2 sides, like rice and peas, steamed cabbage and mac and cheese. Savor your plate, sip a Red Stripe and enjoy the reggae music from an old-school radio.

Bahamian Pot Restaurant

With a focus on seafood, the Bahamian Pot Restaurant near Little Haiti specializes in conch. This is the place to sample conch fritters, cracked conch and fresh conch salad marinated in lime with diced peppers and onions. The flavors will transport you to those crystal clear waters of the Bahamas.

Pan-Asian

KYU Miami

After a brief hiatus, KYU is back in Wynwood in a stylish industrial space dishing up wood-fired pan-Asian cuisine. It’s the kind of place to bring a group and order one of everything. Highlights include roasted cauliflower with goat cheese and shishito-herb vinaigrette, Korean fried chicken and Chilean sea bass in a brown miso butter. There’s also hamachi crudo, tuna crispy rice and pork belly bao buns. For dessert, good luck choosing between Mom’s Coconut Cake and KYU’s signature cinnamon rolls with chai frosting.

Jaya at The Setai

Meaning “victory” in Sanskrit, Jaya at The Setai is a celebration of South Asian cuisine in Miami Beach, drawing inspiration from Thailand, Vietnam, India, Korea, China and beyond. Book a table in the elegant dining room or beneath the palms in the Zen courtyard and delight in dishes that range from an Indian Thali platter to traditional Chinese dim sum and Jaya’s signature Peking duck.

Tropical Chinese

A legendary mecca for Hong Kong-style dim sum brunch in Westchester, Tropical Chinese has a cult following – and for good reason. Tasty morsels are served in the traditional style on carts that roll through the dining room. Just point out which ones you want: shrimp shumai, beef dumplings, stuffed tofu, stuffed bell peppers, veggie spring rolls, roasted pork buns, orange beef, five spice chicken and so much more.

Greek & Eastern Mediterranean

Laurel Miami Beach

Situated inside the boutique Balfour Hotel in South Beach, Laurel Miami Beach is an airy Mediterranean restaurant serving tantalizing mezze and larger dishes highlighting Greece and Turkey. Prepare to feast on miza dips like hummus and walnut muhamarrah with warm house-baked pita before moving on to bites like spicy lamb cigars and halloumi fries, fresh salads and kebabs.

Mandolin Aegean Bistro

Set on a sunny garden patio in the Miami Design District and shaded by white umbrellas, Mandolin Aegean Bistro is a longtime favorite with Miami's fashion set. It serves wonderfully fresh and bright Greek and Turkish dishes, and offers the perfect atmosphere to sip rosé and nibble on an appetizer of hummus, fava bean puree and tzatziki with soft, fresh pita bread. The grilled catch of the day is always a smart option. Don't skip a piece of the honey-drenched baklava with Turkish coffee or mint tea for dessert.

Italian & French

LPM Restaurant & Bar

LPM Restaurant & Bar – an offshoot of the original La Petite Maison in Nice, France – is Brickell’s go-to destination for upscale French Riviera-inspired cuisine. The bright and airy dining room is clad in gleaming white tile, with copper chef’s racks and an open kitchen where tubs of fresh, colorful produce are proudly displayed. All your favorite classics are here, from escargots to haricots verts and steak frites, as well as a selection of pastas and Miami-inflected dishes, like yellowtail carpaccio with citrus dressing.

Carbone Miami

New York City’s Major Food Group has made a major splash in Miami with Carbone. Situated in the posh South of Fifth neighborhood in Miami Beach, this buzzy Italian restaurant with lush interiors by Ken Fulk is the place to see and be seen. With dishes like the Caesar alla ZZ and spicy rigatoni vodka reaching cult status, plan ahead to snag a coveted reservation.