Elastika
The Miami Design District: A Culinary Wonderland Where Wallets Go to Diet
By Maria Rodriguez | Jan. 24, 2025
I've eaten my way through more Miami neighborhoods than my cardiologist would approve of, but the Design District? It's like someone decided to cram all of South Florida's culinary prowess into a few glitzy blocks. But if you’re wondering which spot to hit to show off that new purchase from the Fendi store, we have you covered, with the list below of the Design District’s best restaurants.
The name sounds like a Marvel superhero, but trust me, the food here is anything but stretchy or rubbery. This place pulls off menu changes like a runway model swaps outfits. Either way, the constant evolution keeps things interesting, and their cocktails are potent enough to make you forget about the damage you're doing to your wallet.
If you can't afford a trip to the Greek Isles (and after dining in the Design District, who can?), Mandolin is the next best thing. This charming spot feels like it was plucked straight out of Santorini and dropped into the middle of Miami. The grilled octopus here is so tender, you'll swear it volunteered to jump on the grill itself.
Let's talk about the OG of the Design District dining scene. Michael Schwartz opened this joint back in 2007, and it's been drawing in the crowds ever since. It's like that cool uncle who never seems to age – still hip, still relevant, and still cooking up a storm. The pig ear salad here is a textural rollercoaster that'll make you question why you ever thought ears were just for listening. And don't get me started on their wood-fired pizzas – they're so good, you might just forget you're in Miami and not Naples.
Imagine if a Korean barbecue joint and a high-end steakhouse had a love child – that's Cote. This Michelin-starred spot is where you go when you want to feel fancy while still getting to play with your food. The Butcher's Feast is a meat parade that'll make you question why you ever bothered with vegetables. And let's be real, any place that cooks your dinner in front of you at the table is basically an adult version of playing restaurant.
Major Food Group may be better known for Carbone out on the beach, but here they’ve taken Italian classics and put them in a space that feels very Design District, full of pastel hues and cushy furniture, looking like the sitting room of an eccentric Moroccan prince. The spicy lobster capellini pictured here is the kind of dish that makes you want to hug the chef and then immediately ask for the recipe. Spoiler alert: they won't give it to you.
Mother Wolf, the Roman-inspired eatery from pasta maestro Evan Funke, roared into the Design District with a culinary spectacle that's part ancient Roman feast, part Miami glamour scene. The dimly lit dining room buzzes with energy, serving up Funke's signature handmade pastas (made in a hermetically sealed room) alongside short rib meatballs and a wine list that could make Bacchus himself raise a glass. While the experience can be as unpredictable as a roll of the dice, Mother Wolf is one of the Design District's most sought-after dining destinations, where the atmosphere is as carefully crafted as the food.
For those of you who actually like your veggies, Le Jardinier is your green paradise. This Michelin-starred spot proves that plant-based cooking can be just as decadent as its meaty counterparts. The seasonal tasting menu is like a garden party in your mouth, with each dish looking more like a work of art than something you're supposed to eat. It's the kind of place that'll make you want to hug a farmer.
From the same Canadian restaurant group that brought us Byblos and Amal (also pretty great), Sofia took over a corner of Jungle Plaza and outfitted the space with the prettiest pastel tables and chairs. In a city where brunch can feel like the night at the club has continued into the morning, Sofia’s is like the well-dressed version of that. Handmade pastas are the highlight at dinner, but anything you order here will be as pretty as the art surrounding it.
Now, if you're looking to blow your paycheck on a meal that'll impress that art dealer from Luxembourg, this is your spot. The only two Michelin-starred restaurant in Florida, L'Atelier is like the Beyoncé of the Design District – it's got all the glitz, glamour, and talent to back it up. Sitting at the counter watching the chefs work is like front-row seats to a culinary ballet. Just be prepared for your wallet to feel a lot lighter afterward.
For the indecisive eaters out there (you know who you are), MIA Market is your culinary playground. This upscale food hall is like the United Nations of cuisine – you can hop from sushi to pasta without ever leaving the building. It's the perfect spot for when your friend group can't agree on what to eat, or when you're just feeling particularly gluttonous.
MC Kitchen has been holding it down in the Design District longer than some of these designer stores have been in business. Chef Dena Marino's Italian-inspired menu is like a love letter to her Aspen roots and Italian heritage. The wild mushroom fonduta is so good, it might just convince you that fungi are the new filet mignon.
Tacombi, the Mexican street food joint that started as a VW bus in Playa del Carmen, brought its bodega-meets-house-party vibe to the Design District in December 2021. The space is a charming mishmash of thrift-store aesthetics, with a green and yellow tile floor that looks plucked from a laundromat and church-basement folding chairs, serving up tacos, tostadas, and esquites that'll make you forget you're in a designer-label neighborhood. While the al pastor might not be the more well-known choice, the Cali-style fish taco and the corn esquites are so good, you might just declare Tacombi a Miami original, hipster origins be damned.
Peppi's Pizza, the brainchild of Below Deck Down Under alum chef Ryan McKeown, opened its doors in December 2024 in Miami's Design District, taking over the former Old Greg's space. The eatery offers a unique blend of New York-style pizzas and Philadelphia-inspired hoagies, with McKeown boasting about his 72-hour fermented pizza dough that creates a sourdough variation of the traditional New York style. By day, Peppi's serves up pizza by the slice and hoagies, while the evening brings table service and an expanded menu of Italian-inspired dishes, including a creative take on 'fish and chips' and pasta that McKeown claims is better than Carbone's rigatoni.
If you've got a sweet tooth the size of South Beach, Tablé is your new happy place. Antonio Bachour's desserts are so pretty, you almost feel bad eating them. Almost. But trust me, one bite of his intricate creations and you'll forget all about your Instagram feed. The weekend brunch here is like a choose-your-own-adventure of sweet and savory delights.
One of the best meals I’ve ever had was the night I was a guest at ZZ's Club. So why is it last on this list? It’s member’s only status means it’s not open to the riff-raff. You’ll need a member to take you—and to invite you to membership if you want to spend the $10,000 to join and then $3,500 yearly. All that dough means access to visiting sushi chefs, plus some of the finest Asian-fusion dishes in town, like a steak katsu sando that hopefully justifies that entry fee.
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