Pao by Paul Qui
$$$Asian
Damien Hirst's giant sculpture of a gilded woolly mammoth resides famously behind the lavish Faena Hotel. Such scale and grandeur is also the norm in this restaurant, overlooking the iconic attraction. Pao’s oval room is capped with a gold-dome ceiling that's centered around yet another statue by Hirst—a golden unicorn perched on a platform looming large over the stylish guests.To be clear, this spot is more than just good looks and its short menu knits together a range of influences. Many of them are Asian, as in dishes like scallop aguachile with pineapple and black lime or a bao with smoked
Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann
$$$$Argentinian, Steakhouse
“Theatrical” barely begins to describe the scale and style of Francis Mallman’s restaurant set inside the FAENA Hotel. Much like the hotel itself, the director of Moulin Rouge is responsible for such décor elements as leopard-print booths, striking red-cushioned seats and flashes of gold that appear on everything from the bar to the carpet.Known for open-fire cooking, Chef Mallman is not outmatched by the room’s design, delivering an asado experience that rivals the city’s best steakhouses. Beets buried under coals for eight hours and festooned with pistachio yogurt and garlic chips are a must
Hakkasan Miami
$$$Chinese, Contemporary
Finding Hakkasan means wading through the lobby of the Fontainebleau—a historic, if riotous, hotel in Miami Beach swimming with beach bodies and night owls. The restaurant’s signature imperial style is on display, featuring dramatic lights, sleek marble tables and ornate wooden slat dividers. Its clubby beats are a constant reminder that you are never far from the party.High quality seafood figures prominently on this carte, among a selection of Cantonese classics and contemporary interpretations. Steamed dumplings highlight scallop, shrimp, spinach and crab; while plucky prawns arrive in a de
Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza
$$pizza
This boldly named pizzeria comes from Italian-born Chef and co-owner Renato Viola. Located steps from Lincoln Road Mall, this South Beach original is hidden away on the ground floor of an office building. There are choices to be had on this menu—from the thin-crust, 13-inch pizzas, available plain or with toppings, and the smaller 8-inch pies, to "Extraordinary" signatures like the Ginger Lilliam, a thin crust pie with a layer of bright, pureed tomato sauce, mozzarella and a stracciatella spread with a delightful, if staggering, amount of fresh chopped ginger. It reflects the chef's passion fo
🕐 Su 12:00-21:45; Mo-Th 11:30-21:45; Fr 11:30-22:45; Sa 12:00-22:45
Macchialina
$$$italian
Locals and residents are devout fans of this cozy spot, filling the space nightly. The setting features tufted leather banquettes tailed by a charming covered patio area. The bar is graciously attended to and pours an almost all-Italian wine list that's bolstered by house-infused grappa in flavors like chai tea and chamomile.The menu is concise, so it's easy for diners to focus on the best attributes of this kitchen team—that largely being the house-made pasta. Think of supple strands of spaghetti slicked with pomodoro sauce or cacio e pepe. Other highlights include the hearty veal parmigiana.
🕐 Su-We 18:00-23:00; Th-Sa 18:00-23:30
Estiatorio Milos
$$$Greek
This "Greek God" has been a beacon of seafood excellence for the glamorous diners of South Beach since opening its doors in 2012. Some don’t even need a menu and prefer to order based on a guided tour to the back, where all manner of fish and crustaceans gleam on packed ice.With fresh seafood arriving multiple times a week, the kitchen tends to keep preparations simple. Sashimi of any type is a good first step, though we’re partial to the bigeye tuna with yuzu kosho and dill. Thin slices of fried zucchini and eggplant mounded around creamy tzatziki are also worth an order. Grilled whole fish b
Joe's Stone Crab
$$$seafood
When Joe Weiss opened his lunch counter in 1913, Miami Beach didn’t even have paved roads, and customers had to take the ferry to cross over. One century later, as high-rises and shopping districts blossom all around, this restaurant has endured as one of the city’s prime attractions. Celebrities, politicians and locals alike make a beeline to this crustacean hot spot, now open year-round. And if the dedicated parking lot across the street is any clue, waits for a table here can get lengthy. Boiled, chilled and served with a signature mustard sauce, stone crab claws are the signature dish (the
Taquiza
$mexican
When Steve Santana launched his humble taco stall in 2014, he probably didn’t imagine just how popular it would get. The web developer-turned-chef was one of the first in the city to nixtamalize, grind, press and griddle his tortillas in-house, and now look—the breezy location in North Beach is central command for a recognized brand that sources corn from small farms in the Midwest and supplies restaurants across the city. Signature blue corn tortillas wrap around a host of fillings, like melting lengua or fried mahi, all garnished with radish, onion and served with sharp salsas (ask for the c
Torno Subito Miami
$$$$Italian, Contemporary
The name translates from Italian to "I'll be right back," and return in short order this restaurant has; having relocated to the Design District. Chef Massimo Bottura's Torno Subito can be found in a stunning space, housed in The Moore, and hotel and private club. Warm and vibrant, it's flooded with natural light and punctuated by pops of color. Playful design aside, this is a serious kitchen that honors Chef Bottura's signature vision for modern Italian cuisine. While the tortellini drawn from his childhood favorite is on offer, swing for one of the dishes with a local twist, such as the caci
Sushi Yasu Tanaka
$$Japanese, Sushi
Advanced bookings, high price tags and dinner-only appear to be the usual foundations for sushiyas these days. Thank goodness then for Chef Yasu Tanaka, who brings his celebrated skills to this casual corner inside the MIA Market in the heart of the Design District. Nigiri is the sole focus of his carte, offered in multiple sets, made with top-quality fish flown in several times a week and adorned with clever garnishes. Exquisite bites, such as a chopped toro with pickled radish hand roll, arrive in a flash so that speedy diners can be out the door in under 20 minutes.There is no ceremony or s
Walrus Rodeo
$$$American, Italian
With no proper stove or gas oven on site, the team behind Boia De in Buena Vista brings wood-fire cooking to this rambunctious corner spot just a few doors down. And in an unexpected turn, it’s vegetables, not meat, that seem to get top billing on this finely honed menu. Carrot tartare with carrot top salsa or schmaltz-roasted maitake mushrooms with heirloom beans exemplify delicious sophistication. Even the lamb ragù lasagna is a light-hearted, garden marvel: The pasta sheets are made from mustard greens. There is, of course, some meat, as well as pizza, but it's the charred quail which recal
Hiyakawa Miami
$$$Japanese, Sushi
Is there a dining room cooler than Hiyakawa Miami? Probably not. Modern art hangs throughout the space that is art itself, with the counter and tables under an arch of backlit, undulating wood slats. This intimate stage glows at the bottom of an apartment building in trendy Wynwood.Top-quality seafood flown in from Japan and beyond meets creative flourishes like cured egg yolk and Okinawa salt. A multicourse omakase is available at the counter and in the dining room, and the a la carte offers a range of items in addition to nigiri, sashimi, and maki. Don't sleep on the Sakana Kara Age, or frie
ViceVersa
$$$Pizza
Outside it may be sunny and bright, but step inside ViceVersa, just off the lobby in the Elser Hotel, and it's a different mood entirely. Dark wood and rich green walls enhanced with pops of color from framed art lend a sultry moodiness to a room that's buzzing with activity. Most are here for the crispy, thin Neapolitan-style pizza, which is a focus of the tightly edited menu, but raw bar selections like royal red shrimp with a punchy cherry bomb relish and a smattering of appetizers (think salads and meatballs) with a bold Italian-minded approach are equally worthy of attention. All good thi
Niu Kitchen
$$$Spanish
If anybody is going to blast Snoop Dogg over the speakers, it might as well be this restaurant in downtown Miami. With glossy concrete floors, a dark, dim interior and a handful of come-as-you-are servers, it's an effortlessly cool spot. The cooking speaks volumes, designed for groups and based around Spanish tapas. Follow the hype and start with the much-talked-about charbroiled oyster, branded tableside with a hot coal and paired with ponzu and rice vinegar-mayo. Branzino tartare with white garlic cold soup, hearty paellas and other seafood-forward dishes showcase big flavors and quality pro
Zak The Baker
$Bakery, American
Look for the color-splashed facade to find this all-day operation which is the brainchild of baker Zak Stern. He grew up in Miami, then apprenticed at a number of organic farms in Sweden, France and Israel before returning to his hometown to fulfill his culinary dreams. The crux of his kosher menu is baked, as in breads and pastries, along with sandwiches, soups and salads. The likes of avocado toast, a frittata sandwich and crispy local fish on brioche sate the legion of ravenous fans who descend upon this Wynwood favorite. Save room for something sweet, say the seasonal concha.
Azabu Miami Beach
$$$$Japanese, Sushi
寿司
Ossobuco Miami - Steak house
$$$Contemporary, Steakhouse
牛排馆