Miami's Popular Dining Areas

Greater Miami & Miami Beach is home to a wealth of popular dining areas. From celebrity chef-helmed hot spots, hip local haunts and buzzy new openings to a wide array of Cuban cuisine, take your pick from the best restaurants in Miami’s most-exciting neighborhoods.

Celebrity Chefs and Local Favorites in Miami Beach

Top Hotel Restaurants

Celebrity chef-helmed hotel restaurants are a staple of the Miami Beach dining scene. For over-the-top glamour, head to Faena Miami Beach hotel in Mid Beach, where Los Fuego By Francis Mallman is helmed by Argentinean asado grillmaster Francis Mallman and serves outrageously flavorful steaks. At The Miami Beach EDITION, also in Mid Beach, Matador Room, by MICHELIN three-star chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, offers a sophisticated and wide-ranging menu of Caribbean-inflected dishes with everything from his cult classic arroz con pollo to crudos, tacos and pizza.

Chef José Andrés has a substantial footprint in South Beach, with upscale Mediterranean mezze spot Zaytinya at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach as well as casual, Florida-inspired Aguasal at the new Andaz Miami Beach. In 2026, Andrés plans to relaunch his acclaimed upscale, inventive Spanish restaurant The Bazaar by José Andrés at the Andaz.

Other top hotel restaurants include the newly relaunched The Shelborne by Proper's stylish lobby bar for sophisticated bites and cocktails; Cleo for Mediterranean at the Balfour; and the alfresco Lido Bayside overlooking Biscayne Bay at The Standard.

Local Favorites in South Beach

Macchialina in South Beach is an enduring go-to for its creative and sumptuous Italian food paired with an excellent wine list. Homegrown chef Niven Patel has made his first foray into South Beach with Paya, an ode to island cooking spanning the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and Spain. Longtime local hot spots include Pubbelly Sushi, and Lucali for Brooklyn-style pizza.

More Than Just Thrilling Art in Wynwood

The Wynwood Arts District has come into its own as a serious foodie neighborhood, with new restaurants opening all the time. One of the pioneers of the restaurant scene, MICHELIN-recommended KYU, is back for version 2.0 with its celebration of Pan-Asian, wood-fired barbecue in a hip industrial setting. Neighborhood newcomers include New York City’s legendary Parisian bistro Pastis, Doya for upscale Aegean, and Uchi and Double Knot for high-end sushi and Japanese. Neighborhood standbys range from Panther Coffee to Coyo Taco, Zak the Baker and Asian food hall 1-800-LUCKY.

Great Eats By Design in the Miami Design District

The Miami Design District is a mecca for luxury shopping, public art and fine dining. Michael's Genuine® Food & Drink put the neighborhood on the map in 2007 and is still going strong with its seasonal farm-to-table cuisine and classic dishes. Another popular neighborhood anchor is Mandolin Aegean Bistro, which transports diners to the Greek Islands with its white-washed alfresco patio and fresh Mediterranean cuisine. Hot new reservations include the sleek, clubby Korean steakhouse COTE Miami and Los Angeles import Mother Wolf for delicious Roman-style pasta in a theatrical setting.

International Cuisine in Downtown Miami & Brickell

Brickell, Miami’s financial district, has evolved into a cutting-edge dining destination. Dining and shopping go hand in hand at Brickell City Centre, with casual options ranging from Casa Tua Cucina food hall to Motek for Israeli-Mediterranean and Tacology for playful, crave-worthy Mexican. Indulge in upscale South American cuisine at Quinto at EAST Miami, the shopping center’s luxurious, skyscraping anchor hotel. Other Brickell hot spots include Claudie for a taste of the south of France and clubby Pan-Asian spots Komodo and Gekko, which is partly owned by rap star Bad Bunny.

Downtown Miami has long been a destination for nightlife, and now it’s also an exciting dining destination. Zuma Miami, inside the Kimpton EPIC hotel, serves upscale Japanese cuisine (and a lavish weekend brunch) inside a gorgeous dining room. There’s also NIU Kitchen for refined Spanish tapas and Soya e Pomodoro, a beloved destination for classic Italian that feels like a hidden gem. Other recommended restaurants include Tâm Tâm for playful Vietnamese, Mangrove for speakeasy-style Jamaican and ViceVersa, an Italian aperitivo bar with excellent pizza and raw bar selections.

History & Fine Food in Coconut Grove

Coconut Grove, Miami’s most historic neighborhood, is experiencing a renaissance with a slew of new restaurants, hotels, shopping and condos. Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove hotel is home to rooftop Bellini, serving upscale Italian fare. There are also classic destinations like GreenStreet Cafe, which is open all day and has ample sidewalk seating; Jaguar for ceviche and Pan-Latin cuisine; and Monty’s Raw Bar, the ultimate post-boating destination. Or try MICHELIN one-star Ariete for modern takes on Cuban cuisine and Glass & Vine for lunch, dinner and brunch in Peacock Park.

Romantic Dining in Coral Gables

Fittingly known as The City Beautiful, Coral Gables boasts wide avenues, Mediterranean Revival architecture, lush landscaping and plazas with fountains. It’s one of Miami’s most-desirable dining destinations, especially along Giralda Plaza’s pedestrian streetscape, where you’ll find neighborhood staples like Talavera Cocina Mexicana and Threefold Cafe. Caffe Abbracci has been a Coral Gables institution since 1989, serving traditional Italian comfort food. Discover Beauty & the Butcher for creative New American cuisine, Kojin for experimental fusion cuisine by a husband-and-wife duo, Shingo for intimate omakase (with a MICHELIN star to boot) and Luca Osteria for crave-worthy Italian by local celebrity chef Giorgio Rapicavoli.

Explore Cuban Cuisine in Little Havana

Of course, a visit to Miami isn’t complete until you’ve explored Little Havana's exciting food scene. Here, you’ll find Cuban bakeries, grocery stores, fruit stands and coffee windows. Versailles is a classic. Family-owned and operated since 1971, not only does it function as the unofficial town square for Miami's Cuban diaspora, it also serves delicious Cuban classics, like ropa vieja (stewed beef with spices) with black beans, rice and sweet plantains. Cafe La Trova is a relative newcomer. This festive modern Cuban restaurant evokes Old Havana with live music and cantinero-style bartenders by the dynamic duo of James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein and celebrated mixologist Julio Cabrera.

Ball & Chain is a refurbished 1930s-era dancehall that once hosted musicians like Billie Holiday. Today, it’s home to some of the best mojitos in town, modern Cuban cuisine and live music. And for a sweet treat, don’t skip Azucar Ice Cream Company for a scoop of their Abuela Maria, made with guava, cream cheese and served with a galletas Maria cookie. It’s Miami in a cup (or a cone).

Keep exploring and savoring. Discover Miami’s international dining scene.