The Best Miami Beach Restaurants: Here’s How to Avoid the Tourist Traps
Macchialina
By Eric Barton
Jan. 20, 2025
As a local long before South Florida became Pharrell-level cool, I've watched Miami Beach evolve from nothing more than dusty delis to a culinary mecca. Sure, tourists flock here for the sun-kissed shores and eat at tourist traps (hint: avoid any place where there’s somebody out front pushing laminated menus in your piehole). But us locals? We come to the beach for the food. I've celebrated milestones at these tables, nursed setbacks over cocktails, and watched chefs transform from rookies to culinary rock stars. Let me take you on a non-stop-delicious tour of Miami Beach, a place where glitz and glamor and also good cooking are very much on the menu.
After a renovation in 2024, this Italian darling has gone from cozy to cool without losing its soul. Chef Michael Pirolo's handmade pasta still steals the show, but now you can savor it in a space that feels like your stylish friend's living room. The four-course tasting menu at $70 is highway robbery – in the best way possible.
Chef Niven Patel, the culinary wizard behind Ghee and Erba, has conjured up yet another masterpiece with Paya. Tucked away just east of Sunset Harbour, this island-inspired gem is where Patel's farm-fresh produce meets Caribbean and Indian flavors. From the tangy papaya salad with shrimp to the otherworldly grilled cheese with truffle brie and mango jam, each dish feels like inspiration. Don't miss the crispy tripletail in coconut curry or the peri peri chicken. And if you think caviar doesn't belong on dessert, the guanabana ice cream will make you a believer.
Thomas Keller's outpost is a time machine to 1950s glamour, but with a playful twist. The Maine lobster thermidor is so photogenic, it deserves its own Instagram. But it's the lively atmosphere that keeps me coming back – who knew fine dining could be this fun?
Jeremy Ford's Michelin-starred spot feels more like the coolest dinner party in town than a stuffy award-winner. The eight-course tasting menu at $175 is a culinary rollercoaster that'll swerve from fancy fine-dining plates to dishes that are both reinvented and familiar, like unbelievably airy puffs that’ll take you back to childhood grilled cheeses.
Imagine dining in a chic living room that spills out into a fairy-lit courtyard. Now add some of the best empanadas in Miami and a black rice dish with pork belly that's more addictive than your favorite Netflix series. That's Orilla for you – a garden oasis where the food is as good as the vibe.
6. Kissaki
This NYC transplant brings affordable omakase to South Beach with a side of nightlife vibes. It's not your grandmother's sushi joint – think fusion flavors and beats low enough for conversation. Pro tip: Hit their happy hour for $10 martinis and $5 sushi.
Better than the overhyped New York imports, Casa Isola is the real Italian deal in Sunset Harbour. The carpaccio comes blanketed in truffles like a Milanese winter, and their rigatoni alla vodka might just make you forget about that other famous pasta place. It's like nonna opened a restaurant, but with better lighting.
Eastern Mediterranean cuisine gets the South Beach treatment here. By day, it's all sun-drenched charm; by night, it transforms into a sultry culinary lounge. From Turkish dumplings to sumac-braised lamb shoulder, every dish is a flavor bomb wrapped in Miami glam.
This centenarian institution is where Miami Beach celebrates life's victories, big and small. Yes, the stone crab claws are legendary, but let me let you in on a secret: the fried chicken and burger are the unsung heroes of the menu. Come for the seafood, stay for the electric atmosphere of perpetual celebration.
Hidden down an alleyway inside the Esmé Hotel, this omakase experience is where traditional sushi meets Miami flair. Mojo and mamey sapote find their way into nigiri in ways that'll make you question everything you thought you knew about Japanese cuisine. Two hours fly by like a Miami minute.
Yes, it's in a mall, but don't let that fool you. Makoto's spicy tuna crispy rice is the stuff of local legend. This upscale Japanese spot lures discerning diners from across the city with its robata grill and sushi that’s well sourced and also creative—this is the place, after all, that invented the crispy rice nigiri you now see everywhere.
After a $40 million facelift, the historic Paris Theater is now home to Queen, where dining meets drama. With aerial acrobats swinging overhead and a Japanese steakhouse menu below, it's a sensory overload in the best way possible. Splurge on the $195 omakase counter in the balcony for the full "I'm living my best life" experience.
This New York import has become Miami royalty faster than you can say "spicy rigatoni vodka." Yes, it's a scene, but the food lives up to the hype. The tableside caesar salad is a performance art piece, and the veal parmesan could feed a small country. Come hungry, and don’t skip the spicy rigatoni; even it is wildly overpriced, it’s the dish that started a downright trend.
Tropezón is an Andalusian-inspired gem on the otherwise too-touristy Española Way. The snug dining room might feel a tad tight, but that just adds to the cozy, dimly lit charm. Dropping in at the bar for a sherry and slices of jamón carved from a leg displayed nearby is a fine stop on a Miami Beach tour. For a more secluded night, request a window table where you can watch the bustling street scene outside, pretending you're on a Spanish getaway
Brother's Keeper on Alton Road is a nostalgic dive bar that blends neon Miami retro vibes with unexpectedly stellar cocktails and elevated bar bites. The collaboration between Lost Boy & Co. and QP Tapas has resulted in a spot where you can sip a fancy martini served with an umami croissant, munch on gourmet chili cheese fries, and pretend you're in a time warp – all while consulting a Magic Eight Ball for your next drink order.
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