Eat & Drink

Restaurateurs Javier Ramirez and Leo Monterrey first imagined the space on NW 29th Street as a Thai kitchen, but ultimately decided to go with classic Cantonese fare inside a Miami-fied take on a Chinese restaurant. With its brightly painted exterior and salsa-infused playlist, Palmar — Spanish for “palm grove” — indeed reflects the Magic City’s tropical elements. But don’t be fooled: This spot is Chinese cuisine at its best. An early à la carte menu offered a number of modern takes on classic dishes — immediately identifiable as Chinese, but with ingredients that fell outside the traditional cuisine. A few such dishes can still be found on the well-composed menu overseen by executive chef Pedro Lara. The lineup moves from dim sum, rice, and noodles to heartier entrees such as Szechuan beef in a velvety sweet and tangy sauce. But dumplings — handmade and stuffed with everything from eggplant and lamb to scallops and pork — steal the show at Palmar, along with savory crab and veggie versions of Filipino-style lumpia. The fried rice is also notable, arriving in mountainous heaps flecked with confetti-like nibs of cooked egg and diced scallions. Peking-style roasted duck, served tableside, is, as the menu notes, an experience.

Born as a food truck in 2017 and quietly reimagined as a brick-and-mortar restaurant during peak lockdown days, La Santa Taqueria has emerged as a surging hotspot for those seeking authentic tacos. Chef Omar Montero’s meat options — whether familiar al pastor or less well-known triple-decker campechano — are uniformly stellar. But so are his more interesting seafood and vegetarian options, like the softshell crab, the wild mushroom, and the sweet potato. At prime time, there’s frequently live music, and it’s almost always hard to get a table. That’s because in addition to great street eats, there’s usually a drink special going on here, from $40 Tulum beer buckets on Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. to “Besito a Besito” Fridays, when you can order margaritas or palomas for $6 each from 4 to 7 p.m.

When Luis and Evelyn Villanueva decided to open a Mediterranean restaurant, they envisioned a casual place that could potentially grow into multiple locations. But just before opening Tur (stylized TUR) Kitchen in late 2020, they changed course, bringing a fine-dining concept with a plethora of Med-kissed cuisine to Coral Gables. Chef Nelson Fernandez — the man behind much of today’s menu — died earlier this year, but his passion lives on through the dishes at Tur, named for the wild goat of the Caucasus. Executive chef Christian Chirino’s team continues where Fernandez left off, creating a flurry of dishes that take diners on a gastronomic journey along the coasts of Spain, France, Italy, and Greece to Morocco, Turkey, Israel, and the Middle East. Ingredients are painstakingly sourced to emulate the most authentic flavors: Cauliflower arrives from Syria, prawns are sourced in Italy, and even chickpeas come from Egypt. Twice a week, the restaurant receives fresh turbot from the waters off the coast of Spain that’s then roasted whole. The menu abounds with region-specific recipes: The Wagyu tartare is a French tradition, while “Chicken Moruno,” served with an airy, vanilla-infused celery root purée, is a popular Moroccan-style dish, and the braised leg of lamb is cooked the way you’d find it in the Middle East. From Turkey comes a list of pides — canoe-shaped flatbreads stuffed with ingredients such as braised lamb, cremini mushrooms, goat cheese, and curry oil.

You know you’ve reached verifiable foodie status when the notion of leaving your $250 multi-course dinner menu in the hands of a complete stranger sounds like money well spent. Bonus if that dinner comes with a speakeasy twist. That’s exactly what you’ll get at Miami Beach newcomer Nossa Omakase. Discreetly located behind Koa Poke, Nossa has been thrilling diners with its reservation-only 16- to 18-course experience. Once your seating is booked, you’ll receive instructions on how to access your clandestine destination, a speakeasy-themed den with only 14 seats. Inside, Japanese-Brazilian executive chef Max Kamakura will lead your multi-course journey. Kamakura is a classically trained, third-generation sushi chef, and his version of omakase touches on traditional elements while hinting at his Brazilian background and extensive travels. At the posh circular sushi bar where Kamakura holds the spotlight, every seat is the best in the house. Expect lots of smoke, some fire, and a tableside show as plates are finished before your eyes with such lavish ingredients as freshly shaved truffles, caviar, and edible gold. Menu highlights include smoking lobster sashimi, uni and black truffle-topped crispy rice, A5 Wagyu nigiri, and chutoro nigiri topped with caviar. Nossa recently debuted a monthly Wagyu and Whiskey Night, an indulgent 13-course meal highlighting the best of Miyazaki prefecture Wagyu alongside prime beef cuts aged in-house.

Chef/owner Tyson Cole opened the original Uchi — the name means “home” in Japanese — inside a refurbished bungalow in Austin, Texas. His goal was to create the “perfect bite” with every dish via an upscale, albeit non-traditional, approach to Japanese cuisine. At his eight-month-old Miami location, the mission remains the same. It’s best demonstrated with the popular hama chili: raw yellowtail snapper, Thai chili, orange supreme wedges, ponzu, and olive oil; a single bite marries spicy, sweet and savory all at once. If you’ve come for the sushi, however, you’re in luck. Much of the menu is dedicated to makimono (sliced sushi rolls), sushi and sashimi, and Toyosu selections — an extensive list of fresh fish flown directly from the Tokyo market of the same name. With a single sliver of kamasu (red barracuda), ebodai (butterfish), kisu (Japanese whiting), or kurodai (black bream), Cole manages to carry you off to the streets of Japan, proving that good sushi can — and should — be an exploratory experience. If you’re looking to experiment further, try one of three different omakase options, a choice of six- or ten-course chef’s tasting menus, or a vegan version of the same.

You’ll know you’re at Paperfish when you see the restaurant’s red torii gates between the towering buildings of Brickell and South Miami Avenue. More than simple décor, these structures are said to symbolize the division between the home of the gods and the Earthbound sacred shrines they protect. Paperfish itself is a shrine of sorts to Japanese dining, from the traditional Eastern-style steam-cooked rice to the uber-fresh selection of sushi, sashimi, and nigiri. The Tokyo-inspired izakaya offers one of Miami’s most authentic Nikkei experiences, highlighting the interplay of Peruvian flavors with Japanese technique, along with a touch of Florida flair. Think zensai appetizers like Wagyu bao buns accented with wasabi mayo, ebi krab salad, and chives; raw bar items such as the Nikkei ceviche, which pairs fresh tuna with crispy quinoa, watermelon, and a shoyu marinade; or tokusen entrees like the pulpo robata, which marries tender octopus and mashed edamame.

When it comes to culinary trends, this was the year of the osteria. And none did it — or continues to do it — better than Osteria Morini. Located at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar and overlooking the Collins Canal, Morini features corporate executive chef Bill Dorrler’s andchef de cuisine Julio Cesar Ramos’dishes, which stem from the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. Whether you’re going rustic withprosciutto and mortadella meatballs, savoring a reinvented pasta course with ricotta gnocchetti, black kale pesto, tomato conserva, and smoked ricotta salata, or indulging in ultimate sophistication with a pistachio-crusted, dry-aged duck breast with fennel, citrus celery root purée, the big flavors of Morini will stay with you — and bring you back again and again.

Miami is a melting pot, but it’s a helluva lot easier to find a good Cuban sandwich or empanada than it is to find a decent plate of chicken tikka masala. Bombay Darbar in Coconut Grove, however, offers an authentic Indian dining experience in a luxurious atmosphere. Whether it’s a traditional vegetarian dish, a spicy curry, or even a mango lassi you crave, Bombay’s got it, and got it good. After years of success, the restaurant eventually relocated to a larger location to accommodate its customers. It remains a hit and a favorite among Indian food aficionados.

Tucked in the center of downtown Miami, Meraki beckons with its warm ambiance and virtually hidden location away from the fray. Diners aren’t here for frills or fuss. They come for the homey feel of the whitewashed space, dotted with flowers, lamps, and blue and gold accents, a vibe that’s just the ticket for dates, groups of friends, or a girls’ night out. Tried-and-true dishes of kebabs, seafood, and moussaka share the menu with specials and family platters. A list of Greek wines contains the perfect ride-along for any choice, and the Greek fries, roasted veggies and other sides are delicious. Meraki also operates a second location on Main Highway in Coconut Grove.

At Semilla, fresh-from-the-oven baguettes are served with terrine de foie gras and Granny Smith apple jelly just to get things going. Frederic Joulin and his wife Laetitia have been running this French comfort-food restaurant since 2013 and host one of the best South Beach happy hours. The bistro-style cooking is carried out in an open kitchen that allows guests to see what’s happening behind the line as classic, delectable dishes — moules marinière, boeuf bourguignon, and New York steak au poivre come together. It’s the kind of place one goes for dinner but stays for the evening, enjoying the sounds of lounge music and sipping the wine.

Miami locals Sakhone Sayarath and her partner in business and life, Curtis Rhodes, launched Lil’ Laos as a pop-up at Midtown Garden Center in 2016 to satisfy Sayarath’s craving for a taste of home. Following several subsequent pop-ups amid the pandemic last year, they found a permanent space in the Citadel food hall in Little River and expanded to full-time. Laotian cuisine shares many culinary similarities with Thailand, its neighbor to the west, but dishes at Lil’ Laos are channeled through Sayarath’s memory of her Laotian mother’s home cooking, then articulated by Rhodes’ hands in the kitchen and onto the plate. All so we may partake of brightly flavored gems like the lemongrass chicken (ping gai), dark meat chunks kissed with a coconut-curry sauce and served with sticky rice and a transcendent side of sweet and spicy papaya salad, transcendent in its own right thanks to the umami-rich, fish sauce-based dressing. And “Crispy Rice” (nam tod khao), a ball of marinated rice that’s deep-fried until golden, then crumbled and mixed with fresh herbs and topped with cubes of Spam-like Lao sausage. And beef jerky – one of Sayaranth’s favorite snacks – marinated overnight and deep-fried the way her father used to prepare it. Try the pork ribs and the chicken wings and you’ll never think the same way about barbecue again. Lil’ Laos may well be the only restaurant in all of South Florida that specializes in authentic Laotian dishes. If that places it in a category of its own, so be it.

Editor’s note: Owing to a misunderstanding regarding supposed limitations on “Best of Miami” categories, this item was originally tailored to run as “Best Thai Restaurant” – a category in which it clearly does not belong. In order to right that wrong, the headline has been changed and the blurb rewritten.

NW Second Avenue in Wynwood is known for its eye-popping murals, selfie-obsessed pedestrians, and all-around chaos, but some of the juiciest and most flavorful jerk chicken and oxtail in the city can be found in an inconspicuous eatery just a block north of the hustle-bustle, where a headless mannequin painted in the colors and pattern of the Jamaican flag marks the entrance. Ian Curtis, AKA Chef Slim, runs the kitchen, while his wife, Nadine Patrice, sees to the front of the house. The turquoise walls are dotted with canvases depicting Bob Marley and George Floyd, along with uplifting messages, imbuing the space with a warm, laidback vibe not unlike that of a friend’s dining room. Other Caribbean classics are served here, including curry goat roti, fish cakes, Jamaican patties, and conch fritters. Dinner arrives in heaping portions, alongside rice and beans, and sweet plantains. Just don’t drop in on a Monday. Every chef is entitled to a day off.

A Brazilian joint at the Village Restaurant & Shops in downtown, Bar da Vila is a great place to feast on richly flavored classics like picanha skewers and feijoada. But what separates this spot from other Brazilian restaurants in town is its lively and welcoming ambiance. It’s an ideal spot to grab a drink, catch up with friends, and listen to live music on weekends. Need further inducement? The prices are as friendly as the atmosphere. Try the stroganoff, prepared with your choice of meat in a tomato cream; or marinated sea bass with a nut crust and açaí reduction; or the picanha burger served inside cheese bread with bacon, mozzarella cheese, and caramelized onions. Oh, and a caipirinha to drink. Always order a caipirinha.

Searching for cooking that has breadth and depth at once? This is your place. Michelin-starred chef Alain Verzeroli’s menu includes constant refreshes of straightforward vegetarian dishes that are remarkable in their fresh simplicity. Maybe today is the day for summer gazpacho, made with avocado, a sweet dash of Bing cherries, and a creamy layer of fresh ricotta? Or a plate of summer corn tortellini, crowned with chanterelle mushrooms and hazelnuts to savor over a mix of chamomile-infused tequila blanco, green chartreuse, ginger, and lemon? It’s all good. The interior is a nod to the Design District’s sleekness — a nice stretch of bar, an outdoor dining area done in white and green, and a fancy, light-filled interior. The best part is the intimate outdoor space, which is open on warm summer evenings allowing you to experience Miami’s epicenter of trendiness from a serene and satiated remove.

If Holi Vegan Kitchen had a motto, it would be “Anything you can cook, I can cook vegan —and better.” The casual eatery offers a list of everything you could want to eat, only vegan. Tacos? Check! Quesadilla? Check! Burgers? Four different kinds, to be exact (a Beyond burger, an Impossible burger, a black bean burger and a lentil burger — $13 to $16). Holi has meatball heroes, Italian sausage sandwiches, pizzettas, pancakes, and scrambles. Everything is made to order, so it’s fresh and delicious. And if you want to go the “healthy vegan” route, Holi’s got you covered with smoothies, salads, bowls, and fresh-pressed juices. So take your carnivorous bestie and see what they think: You might just have a new date for Meatless Monday.

According to Cote owner Simon Kim, steakhouses should be more fun. So he created Cote, a concept that combines the fun and excitement of Korean barbecue with the upscale ambience of a traditional New York steakhouse. Here the focus is on prime meats, each grilled at the table Korean barbecue-style. The Miami menu mirrors the NYC flagship’s selection of American and A5 Japanese Wagyu sourced from the Miyazaki prefecture; cuts are dry-aged for a minimum of 45 days in the restaurant’s red-light dry-aging room and seasoned with a proprietary blend of British Maldon salt, Himalayan pink salt, and Korean thousand-day sea salt. If you like your steak rare, you’ll get a chance to see it in all its marbled glory; each table is fitted with its own smokeless grill, and dry-aged cuts are presented raw before being cooked to order. In a change of pace from heavier steakhouse sides, meats are served alongside light pickled vegetables and a variety of Korean condiments, from the house kimchi to a ssamjang dipping sauce used in lettuce wraps. In true steakhouse form, the full menu includes shareable appetizers, including a wedge salad, steak tartare, shrimp cocktail and full caviar service. Feeling fancy? Try Kim’s favorite, the “Butcher’s Feast” — a selection of four different meats served with an assortment of the restaurant’s savory sides, pickled vegetables, rice, and dessert.

Given our weather, raw bars and seafood joints are perfect for the Miami lifestyle. Add a Mexican coastal inflection, like chef Scott Linquist does at Como Como, and we just fall head over palate. Located at Moxy South Beach, Como Como, brought to us by the team behind Coyo Taco and 1-800-LUCKY, reinterprets the multifarious cuisine of Mexico’s coastline with dishes like oysters dressed with a variety of special “aguas,” house-smoked fish dip, and daily selections of fish and seafood charred over the restaurant’s centerpiece fuego — a fire station forged out of copper and wrought iron — including a whole boneless branzino marinated with achiote, oranges, habaneros, and oregano wrapped in a banana leaf, or whole butterflied snapper served open-face with two marinades: jalapeño cilantro garlic butter and ancho chile garlic butter. You’ll never want to go-go to anywhere but Como Como again.

In a city rife with upscale, overpriced, over-dressed rooftop options, Mike’s at Venetia is the poor man’s take on sky-high views, with a side of seriously laid-back. This longtime Irish dive bar on the roof of an apartment building near the Venetian Causeway offers an uber-casual vibe thanks to its ninth-floor perch overlooking Biscayne Bay and the downtown Miami skyline. It’s the perfect spot to put away a few happy hour beers and some equally affordable fried pub fare, all while relishing the fact that you didn’t spend half your paycheck just to be a few extra feet above sea level. If you’re looking for more of a mood, Mike’s has that, too. You can go fancy with a date and a meal of steamed mussels and rib-eye steak or watch your favorite local team on one of Mike’s two dozen TVs. Keep this place in mind whenever you want all of the above minus the dress code, overpriced everything, and a parade of Insta model photo shoots.

Start with the fact that this signature Spanish restaurant, run byexecutive chef Sergio Chamizo,is located in the iconic National Hotel Miami Beach. Add that this historic property has recently been reinvented as an adults-only resort. Then throw in the design, which offers a choice between art deco inside and tropical landscaping on the outdoor terrace. There’s your recipe. Now, let’s eat. Dine on charcuterie and tapasor share any of the four rice dishes for two. Or split a whole oven-baked dorado. Any way you look at it, with no minors on the scene and the Miami moon rising overthe infinity pool, all meals here lead to true romance.

Pilo’s Tequila Garden is a newcomer to Wynwood, but that doesn’t mean they don’t know what they’re doing here. Pilo’s first location, Pilo’s Street Tacos, has served authentic Mexican street food in Brickell since 2017. Pilo’s Tequila Garden opened in February as a new concept from owner Derek Gonzalez. The restaurant’s tequila garden was inspired by Gonzalez’s childhood in Mexico City, where the concept of the jardín is ingrained in the culture. “It’s very well known in Mexico City. You go and have coffee, beer, drinks, dinner, or lunch in a garden,” Gonzalez says. The booze part comes in thanks to his family’s longtime involvement in the tequila business. This being Wynwood, the nightlife aspect plays a starring role but the bar food still stands out, and not only because there’s a captive audience in need of something substantial to soak up the tequila. Pilo’s menu includes various tacos like El Costeñito (grilled or beer-battered shrimp with pickled red onion, pineapple, and avo-crema on flour tortillas), appetizers like elote and chips and guac; and entrées like quesadillas, burrito bowls and alambres. The main kitchen shuts down at 10 p.m., but Pilo’s continues to offer a limited late-night menu until 11:50 p.m.

It takes a lot of confidence for a bar stationed on Little Havana’s historic Calle Ocho to proclaim itself “La Casa del Mojito.” At Old’s Havana Cuban Bar and Cocina, that chutzpah is justified. The quintessential Cuban highball would be nothing without its freshly muddled mint and high-quality rum, and that’s what Old’s Havana is more than prepared to offer its patrons each day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (midnight on weekends). If you’re in the mood for the authentic old-school flavor, consider asking that your mojito be prepared with an aged rum. Old’s Havana stocks 29 options of aged rum at the bar. Or if you’re the sort who likes to go rogue, you can try your luck with one of six flavored mojitos, which range from raspberry to coconut to passionfruit.

Into adventurous eating? Head to Wynwood eatery Bakan, where taco toppings and proteins come in the form of crispy grasshoppers, pan-fried agave worms, and butter-sautéed ant eggs. For some, the caviar of edible insects is a delicacy, but the more squeamish among us will demand a top-notch margarita to wash it all down with. From its cacti-lined outdoor patio and bar to the open kitchen where you can watch tortillas being hand-pressed, Bakan has a way of spiriting you to Mexico. And with a selection of 500-plus mezcals and tequilas on the menu, the margaritas can be equally transportive. Keep it basic with the Clasica, your choice of mezcal or tequila shaken with a simple combination of orange liqueur and fresh lime juice, or choose a fruitier option, like the Sera Melon, Sera Sandia, a mezcal margarita with fresh lime juice, sweetened with nothing but watermelon and served in a goblet-sized glass. But if you’re feeling fancy, splurge on the signature La Ambiciosa, a combination of tequila, Grand Marnier, and lime juice spiked with a homemade lemon verbena simple syrup.

At Bacon Bitch, the word “bitch” isn’t just part of the name. It’s also scattered throughout the menu — an ode to all the badass women out there who use the word as a source of empowerment. But whether you’re a bad bitch or just a hungry and thirsty one, there’s a B-word menu item for you. The Main Bitches are massive breakfast sandwiches served on fresh-baked croissants topped with eggs and bacon from Niman Ranch, while Naked Bitches comprise plates like chicken and waffles or steak and eggs. Amid a number of aptly named signature drinks, the 24-ounce Hangover Bitch stands out: At $30, the massive Bloody Mary is a meal in itself, a combination of vodka and the house Bloody Bitch mix that balances a fried egg-topped cheddar cheese-stuffed hash brown with Niman Ranch bacon, olives, and a lemon wedge. If that doesn’t permanently remove your hangover — and resting bitch face — nothing will.

Esotico partner Daniele Dalla Pola loves tiki, from the movement’s storied past to its bevy of beverages infused with exotic juices and served in their very own style of glassware. And what other cocktail canon blends multiple rums in a single libation? Dalla Pola has traveled the world in search of tiki inspiration, and his Miami bar and restaurant — decorated in glowing pink neon and plenty of greenery and bamboo — delivers Polynesian pop in spades. Traditional tiki recipes are painstakingly re-created, prepared with fresh-squeezed juices, specialty rums, and house-made mixes, and served in custom glasses designed by Dalla Pola himself. Sure, you could order Esotico’s twists on the mai tai or piña colada, but you’d be missing out on the real stars of the show, like the Missionary’s Downfall, a wildly herbaceous drink that blends brandy and rum with fresh mint, or Dan’s Special, a daiquiri from Don the Beachcomber that combines passion fruit, lime, and the house-blend spiced rum. A line of limited-edition mugs lets you take the tiki to go: Try the Elvis-themed chalice with Esotico’s King Ta Moko, a blend of gin, passion fruit, ginger orgeat, and fresh citrus.

Let’s be real: Happy hours that end at 6 p.m. are worthless in a town that has its own informal time zone, AKA “Miami Time.” So when five o’clock strikes, head to Mama Tried, where happy hour extends until a humane 8 p.m. At the retro-styled watering hole run by a group of people who love bars, patrons can imbibe $7 craft cocktails like daquiris, French 75s, and old-fashioneds from a list that rotates daily. Well drinks and the “whiskey of the day” are poured at $5 a pop, alongside beer and wine specials that range in price from $3 to $7. Pro tip: Mama’s daily happy hour is offered daily —as in seven days a week. So get happy, already.

The qualities of a good dive bar run counter to evolution. The best ones refuse to adapt to gimmicky trends like Tulum-inspired décor, liquid-nitrogen mocktails, and regular mopping protocols. Perhaps no dive bar has stayed more the same over the years — defying survival in a town of rising seas, rents, and cocktail prices — than Happy’s Stork Lounge, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it bar attached to a liquor store in a nondescript strip mall on the 79th Street Causeway. It’s dark and smoky inside, with wood paneling from the Reagan administration and a silver-hued cash register rumored to have once held dollar bills bearing Frank Sinatra’s fingerprints (when Ol’ Blue Eyes played at the former piano bar next door). Happy-hour prices likewise hark back to the previous millennium: $4 well drinks and domestic beers from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Require more bona fides? Happy’s boasts the only liquor store open until 5 a.m. for miles around, and the bar side regularly fills with late-working industry folks until close. The only clues that you have not accidentally stepped into an awesome, boozy time machine and unfortunately remain fixed in the 21st Century: the digital jukebox and flat-screen TV that’s broadcasting Heat games or NASCAR races.

Spending the afternoon or evening at the Broken Shaker is akin to going to a backyard pool party — but with craft cocktails instead of cheap beer and White Claw. Located on the grounds of the Freehand Hotel on Indian Creek Drive, the bar is an ideal spot to take cocktail-inclined friends or out-of-towners in search of a quintessential Miami hideaway. All the specialty cocktails featured on the menu are priced at $14 and delectable, but the bartenders here won’t hesitate to shake you the drink of your choice. So stake out a sun chair around the pool, sip a cocktail or three — and don’t forget to peek at the menu. If you’re in the mood for poolside bites, the shawarma fries are not to be missed. This Miami Beach must-visit is a far cry from the typical mosh-pit atmosphere that dominates the entertainment district.

Over the past few years, The Wilder has become the foremost spot for destination drinking in Broward County. South Florida hospitality veteran David Cardaci and his wife, Vanessa, used their travels as inspiration for the unique watering hole, carving the club into three sophisticated spaces: a hotel lobby-like front bar, perfect for sipping a classic cocktail while chatting up the bartender; a sun-dappled, grotto-esque outdoor patio that evokes European elegance; and a dimly lit lounge space that hosts a variety of weekly events from burlesque shows to live music, including a popular jazz night. There are plenty of nooks and crannies here for cozying up or grab a seat at the long back bar. The libations roster mixes OG cocktails like the rum-forward tiki-style West Indian Handshake with a rotating selection of seasonal picks filed under “Adventurous.” Drinks are smartly paired with upscale bar bites such as goat-cheese croquettes and dayboat fish ceviche.

Come for the reasonably priced happy hour, stay (the night) for the MiMo gay-centric hotel. Nestled snugly in a South Beach district teeming with a LGBTQ+ community and businesses, Gaythering is a bar unlike any other in the region. The smaller, more intimate setting offers a little somethin’-somethin’ for everyone Monday through Saturday (though the bar is open Sundays as well): karaoke with the hilariously sardonic Karla Croqueta on Monday, half-off well booze on Tuesday, trivia on Wednesday, bingo on Thursday (“better than a rubber glove hand job!” the event flier boasts), and “Bears and Hares” on Fridays for the scruffier and hare-ier among us. If you stop in outside of peak business hours, spend some time in the adjoining lounge (equipped with a separate bar) that’s just as cozy with its invitingly plushy armchairs and couches as it is titillating, with framed vintage photos of peen and compelling homophile-movement literature and art. Gaythering is in a class of its own.

Juan Chipoco’s stylish outpost in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood blends Peruvian and Japanese cuisine into dishes that are packed with color, texture, and flavor. Eclectic iterations of ceviche and tiraditos (fine slices of fresh fish bathed in leche de tigre and other reductions) are a good place to start, and the list of nigiri and rolls offers something for everyone. Some entrées to seek out on your visit: the duck rice steamed in black beer, and the filet mignon, which is covered in an exotic blend of coffee, cardamom, and star anise. The ambiance is as eye-catching as the food, with textured gray walls dressed up with koi fish designs, gold leaf, and shelves lined with books, family portraits, and antiques from Chipoco’s home.

Barbecue and beer are a match made in heaven, so when we’re craving a cold one and some mouthwatering grub, we hightail it to Gorilla City. Back in November 2019, former brewer and self-trained pit master Julian Uribe opened Gorilla City Meats & Sandwiches inside Tripping Animals Brewing Co., aiming to combine the of two worlds under one roof. And that’s precisely what he did. While Uribe always recommends his melt-in-your-mouth brisket, which he’s spent years perfecting, other recommendations include the hearty “Pavo” sandwich, layered with smoked turkey, cranberry slaw, and a garlic aioli and the “Carolina,” a sammie stuffed with pulled pork, Carolina gold sauce, and a carrot slaw. Don’t neglect your sides: Tack on an order of mac ‘n’ cheese or potato salad —and wash it all down with one of Tripping Animals’ sour beers for an afternoon well ingested. (Note: The taproom and restaurant are closed on Mondays.)

A super-citrusy pale ale that gives Miami’s other area code legit street cred, 786’s substance pairs nicely with an aesthetically pleasing can design that pays homage to old-school Miami postcards. Despite clocking in at 5.5 percent alcohol by volume, 786 is perfect for beach and pool parties. It’s a smooth craft beer made with Hialeah Cuban spice by the crew at Unbranded Brewery in the LEAH Arts District of La Ciudad que Progresa. By the time Unbranded set up shop in February 2020 in a nondescript, 30,000-square-foot warehouse with stark white walls and a rustic minimalist interior, founder and University of Miami philosophy doctoral candidate Zachary Swanson had been home-brewing beers for a decade and a half. Swanson has parlayed that experience into creating sudsy concoctions that capture Miami’s fluorescent vibes — and making it hip to claim the 786.

Cuba’s oldest brewery is now Miami’s newest with the completion of Wynwood’s Cervecería La Tropical. The custom-designed complex is the realization of a passion project spearheaded by the company’s CEO, Manny Portuondo, whose family purchased the land on which the original Cuban brewery once stood. The result is a sprawling 28,000-square-foot space that houses a production brewery, taproom and restaurant, as well as a live-music stage and outdoor botanic gardens that honor the brewery’s past. Brewmaster Matt Weintraub will deliver more than 20 rotating beers, anchored by the 4.5 percent ABV La Original, a Vienna-style amber lager whose recipe dates back to 1888, and Nativo Key, a 4.5 percent ABV session IPA with tropical notes of mango, passion fruit, and pineapple. Drawing from a Latin-Caribbean palette, chef Cindy Hutson has crafted an equally Miami menu, ranging from tapas, flatbreads, and sandwiches to her own spin on a frita burger, topped with chorizo, ground pork, shoestring potatoes, and tomato marmalade on brioche. You’ll be grateful for such hearty fare when sampling the brewery’s Tropilina, a high-octane tropical double IPA with hints of citrus, pineapple, guava, and grapefruit.

Co-owners Alby Cespedes and head brewer Jaime Medina named their brewery after Marie Waite, the legendary 1920s South Florida rum runner who outran the Coast Guard smuggling booze across the Florida Straits. Spanish Marie is known for its small-batch brews, with a seven-barrel system that produces a wide variety of beers ranging from IPAs and funky fruited sours to barrel-aged stouts. Cool down with the Guava Guerra imperial blonde ale conditioned with fresh guava; take a trip back in time with the Ecto Cooler, a Hi-C-inspired sour ale brewed with tangerine, orange, and lemonade that pours an electric green; or try the recently released Machete Spills, a fruited gose aged for more than a year in mezcal barrels. They’re all available inside the Spanish Marie taproom, where a robust food menu offers made-to-order pizzas, tacos, and creative bar fare. In keeping with its Prohibition-era origins, the ten-seat tasting room is open only on select days and accessible by a secret door in true speakeasy style. An Alby-designed beer garden rounds out the options at this West Kendall brewery.

Most sports bars in Miami have one thing in common: disappointed sports fans. It makes sense, then, that you’d want a sports bar that can make even the worst game seem bearable. That’s where Black Market Miami comes in. Founders Erick Passo and Mike Mora say they often reminisce about the memories made at the Bayside Hooters, now the site of their new 8,000-square-foot space equipped with more than 40 TV monitors (many of them outside) and an open-air bar overlooking the nearby marina. The vibe could erase any sore loser’s bad mood, and fewer bar fights is always a good thing. Unlike most hole-in-the-wall sports bars, Black Market has more to offer than just TVs. It also serves some seriously crafty cocktails, including a smoked Old Fashioned and a bubbly-topped mezcal margarita alongside a variety of draft craft beers. The food menu is generous, too, with a mix of casual and upscale options.

If you fawn over small-batch French red wine, have a preference for naturally bubbly pét-nat, or salivate over Slavic white wines, then Margot Natural Wine Bar is for you. BarLab founders Gabe Orta and Elad Zvi have had a love affair with natural wine for years but were hard-pressed to find the labels they loved in Miami. Inspired by wine bars they’d visited across Europe offering innovative, biodynamic vino, they created a concept that put the focus on unique, niche-style wine makers thinking outside the box. Following a successful summer pop-up at Nikki Beach, Margot — named for Ernest Hemingway’s granddaughter — now has a permanent home inside downtown’s historical Ingraham Building. Set in an airy, high-ceilinged space, Margot has one of the city’s most extensive natural wine lists, which will change with exclusive, special-edition releases. The menu comprises more than 80 options — think orange-hued skin contact white wines and Sicilian reds with natural fizz — with a small selection available by the glass. A $30 wine flight takes the guesswork out of ordering, presenting a daily-changing selection of three wines sourced from the world’s wine-making regions. Pair them with Margot’s seasonal small plates prepared tapas-style by 27 Restaurant chef Jimmy Lebron.

For nearly a quarter of a century, Miss Saigon has supplied Coral Gables with delicious Vietnamese cuisine. The extensive menu offers a half-dozen varieties of pho and ten versions of the rice noodle bowl known as bun. Vegans will have to make some decisions, too — though you can’t go wrong with the unique and exquisite seitan watercress. Entrées range in price from $11 to $22, but bargain seekers should stop by for the weekday “Luncheon Special”: an entrée, plus rice and a soup or salad for about $10.

No matter if the good weather decides to stick around, there’s one corner of Miami where it’s perennially summer: Seaspice. The scene at the airy white boathouse rumored to have been owned by the billionaire founder of Trans World Airlines, Howard Hughes, is straight out of Saint-Tropez. Sure, it would be great to get away to the French Riviera, but Seaspice’s outdoor patio along the Miami River is a wonderful place to nosh onMediterranean-inspired fare like octopus carpaccio, ceviche, and seafood risotto while sippingsignature cocktails like the “As Good As It Gets” and the “Beckham’s Club.” Sit back, relax, and dream as you watch 60-foot yachts drop off their owners for a decadent meal.

If you haven’t been to the fourth floor of Brickell City Centre recently, you’re missing more than a Florida megamall shopping experience. The pan-Asian brewpub Est. 33, brought to Miami by the creators of Thailand’s famed Singha beer, expertly pairs grilled and barbecued dishes, from barbecue brisket Thai nachos to salmon belly satay to beer-brined pork belly, with tropically designed beers such as a toasted rice amber lager, the Brickell Brown, and, of course, Singha. Sit in the patio’s beer garden with your pandemic pups or in the open-air restaurant itself — it makes no difference. Your entire satisfied body walks out wafting the smoky, spicy essences that enticed you in the first place, leaving you calculating just how soon you’ll be back for more.

Monique Messer and Keon Lewisopened Groovin’ Bean to be more than a simple coffee shop. Sure, you can get a great latte or a banana smoothie and relax, but this coffee bar, located in the center of historic Overtown, is also meant to be a community hub. Groovin’ Bean offers free Wi-Fi and a comfortable place to work, gather, or just read. Instead of the usual coffee-bar doughnut, have a warm beignet. If you’re hankering for a midday treat, by all means try the banana pudding frappé: It’s like a Starbucks frappuccino married a banana cream pie in a Vegas wedding ceremony. On the weekends, Groovin’ Bean hosts live music and spoken-word performances. Oh, and did we mention that Groovin’ Bean also has wine, beer, and cocktails? Let’s see your strip-mall chain coffee shop compete with that!

An unforgettable dish we tasted at Zitz Sum perfectly encapsulates what chef/owner Pablo Zitzmann is doing at his new restaurant, a culinary mashup of Asian, Mexican, Latin American, and Italian influences: the pork in brodo, a hybrid dumpling-tortellini riff on wonton soup. Ground pork shoulder is flavored with aromatics, then tucked into a tortellini-like wrapper and plunged into a Japanese dashi broth infused with Parmesan rinds and a touch of soy. Native Colombian Zitzmann’s love affair with Asian cuisine dates back to his days at Nobu under chef Thomas Buckley and stints in Hong Kong, Japan, and Hawaii. He returned to Miami in 2014 and opened No Name Chinese. That spot closed in 2019, but Zitzmann revived its Instagram account during the pandemic to launch a home-based takeout service. Success propelled him and wife/partner Natalia Restrepo to open their Coral Gables restaurant earlier this year, with chef de cuisine Guido Parodi bringing an Argentinian-Italian element to the mix. Although the menu changes frequently, the best of Zitz Sum can be found in dishes like Parodi’s charred cabbage, brined in a sweet and salty liquid and charred over Japanese charcoal, then mopped with an onion purée and chile vinaigrette and topped with shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano and dry miso. Another Italian-Asian-Latin blend: shrimp har gow served in the chef’s stew-like ragout flecked with minced pork and garnished with fresh cilantro.

TheSunday late-morning meal at Jaya is a luxurious mix of Indian, Thai, Chinese, and Indonesian specialties, a riot of color and flavor served in the main dining room and in the hotel’s refined courtyard, anchored by a stone-filled pond and equipped with a retractable awning. The lavish buffet, accompanied by a live smooth-jazz soundtrack, is a feast of specialty delights — butter chicken, lamb samosas, masala fish, barbecued and grilled meats. Make it all even better with a bottomless cocktail option and multiple visits to the dessert station. Brunch runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is priced at $95 per adult and $45 per child 12 and under.

Pura Vida locations throughout Miami are all-day breakfast hangouts, inviting spaces with a vibe that’s peak tropical Miami: bright décor, plenty of greenery, and outdoor patios overlooking the street. It’s easygoing breakfast fare, served through the evening. Start off with a hearty bowl, wrap, or salad, and finish with a chia parfait or a fruit salad, and you’ve got the perfect satisfying meal. Fresh juices pack in plenty of produce, and the blended drinks sub in superbly for dessert.

Yellow Green Farmers Market is more than a market: The sprawling, 100,000-square-foot weekend venue is a destination all its own. You could spend an entire Saturday or Sunday here shopping for everything from farm-fresh produce, local honey, and baked goods to spices, hummus, and quail eggs. Start your adventure with a coffee or fresh-pressed juice, then shop to your heart’s content. The market hosts local farmers and artisans, and their prices are much lower than those at the supermarket, so don’t be surprised if a week’s worth of veggies costs around $20. Hungry for lunch? Options include barbecue, Cuban sandwiches, ceviche, wood-fired pizza, Thai food, and more. When you’re done shopping, relax under one of Yellow Green’s massive tiki huts with a cold beer or wine from one of the on-premises bars and listen to live music. Yellow Green could be one of the best things to happen to South Florida.

Asian grocery stores vary widely in the scope of their products. While many small markets in South Florida carry specific ingredients — be it chewy rice cakes for tteokbokki, pickled mustard greens for your homemade dan dan noodles, vibrant seaweed salad, or a huge selection of instant noodles — what’s available often depends on the nationality of the store’s owners and regular shoppers. But Foodtown doesn’t seem to adhere to any specific region or demographic; it stocks an extensive array of, like, everything. The produce section rivals that of Whole Foods in terms of assortment, though for a fraction of the cost. Cilantro, culantro, Thai basil, and mung bean sprouts all cost less than a dollar per bundle. Oyster, enoki, king trumpet, beech, and shiitake mushrooms are also readily available on the cheap. The tofu shelf is overwhelming, as is the seafood section, which offers standard grocery fare like salmon fillets along with more exotic items (see: shark meat; live frogs). The cafeteria in back offers some seriously delicious and seriously cheap samosas, and Cubanos are sold alongside mooncakes at the bakery counter to the right of the cash registers. If you’re looking for an eclectic, affordable shopping experience, get yourself down to Foodtown.

We’re almost tempted to give Hiyakawa this award on design alone. The overarching, concentric wood structure is like the ribcage of a whale, and you’re lucky enough to be dining in the belly of it. And dining you are: on some of the most imaginative Japanese cuisine in the city — which is a pretty bold statement to make, given how much of it has arisen this past year. These dishes come courtesy of a vastly experienced team, including proprietor Alvaro Perez Miranda of Wabi Sabi and executive chef Masayuki Komatsu, who prepare no more than 50 meals per night using traditional techniques with boutique, seasonal ingredients. They also invite guest chefs for residencies, including Alex Chang from the original Vagabond and Anthony Inn, chef/partner of New York City’s renowned Satsuki and Suzuki restaurants. Watch the restaurant’s social channels for announcements — reservations disappear as a fast as a bite of omakase.

The South of Fifth neighborhood in Miami Beach has truly turned into a place where diners go for an expensive, dress-up dining experience — which is why Abbalé Telavivian Kitchen, or Abba, is such an unexpected surprise. The eatery is inside a tiny white house with a porch filled with bougainvillea and comfortable benches festooned with tufted pillows. The homey and charming setting is perfect for chef Samuel Gorenstein’s menu. Gorenstein, best known for making fresh seafood accessible at My Ceviche, partnered with Omer Horev, founder of Pura Vida Miami; the restaurant’s name comes from the Hebrew word for “father,” and it celebrates the food that the owners share with their families at home. Start with the Holy Grail ($6) of tahini, grated tomato, and green harissa served with fire-baked pita before digging into a shakshuka ($18), a baked Mediterranean egg dish, or a roasted local fish ($32). Abba’s Mediterranean dishes are perfect for Miami’s climate, served in a beautiful setting.

For those in search of awe-inspiring Mexican fare, chef/owner Pablo Salas’s two-year-old establishment inside the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort offers a definitive step above what passes for “Mexican” in South Florida. Lona ticks all the boxes, serving upscale cuisine in a festive cantina setting. The restaurant’s combination of high-end fare, laid-back atmosphere, and approachable price points — not to mention a picturesque waterfront setting — is a winning one. If you judge a Mexican restaurant by its tacos and tequila, you’ll love Lona’s taco flights and tequila-themed tasting room. Guests can choose from starters such as crabmeat-studded guacamole, queso fundido, Mexican ribs coated with a guajillo-caramel dry rub and roasted with adobo, or tuna tostadas with chipotle aioli, soy, ginger, serrano pepper, crispy leeks, and sesame seeds. A variety of traditional Mexican items such as tacos and enchiladas make up a large part of the menu alongside options such as lobster quesadillas — but the chef’s specials are the show-stealers here. Try the Arroz Cremoso con Langosta — butter-poached Maine lobster, chili oil, and truffle over risotto — or the salmon mole, an unusual pairing of the rich sauce with piloncillo squash, roasted peanuts, and crema fresca.

When Alex Karavias opened Meraki Greek Bistro in early 2017, downtown Miami got a go-to spot for affordable taverna fare. But Karavias had always kicked around the idea of an American-style diner, and late last year he and chef/partner Giannis Kotsos doubled down downtown with the Miami Diner. The décor is retro, from the black-and-white checkered floor to the booths and barstools, vintage memorabilia and the refurbished Seeburg jukebox — albeit with a significant splash of Miami Vice pink and blue and a strong hit of neon. The diner is open late on weekends and serves breakfast all day, every day. There are plenty of non-breakfast options, though —chicken wings, coconut shrimp, burgers, subs, salads, pasta dishes and entrées like steak and eggs and Greek lemon chicken. Milkshakes come in all the classic flavors, but the adventurous diner diner might want to try “The Munchies,” made with mint chocolate chip ice cream infused with CBD oil and finished off with a brownie or a mint chocolate Kit-Kat. If milkshakes aren’t your beverage of choice, there are soda floats, local craft beers, and, of course, coffee. The partners have also opened a second location on Alton Road in Miami Beach.

Nino Pernetti’s indoor/outdoor Italian restaurant has stood fast for three decades as its neighborhood changed, sticking to a formula of warm, inviting service and a steadfast menu of classic and contemporary Italian dishes. Abbracci is always filled with locals (including families) who know to order well-executed options like carpaccio di tonno, vitello tonnato, red snapper al cartoccio, and Pernetti’s homages to his daughters, tortellini Tatiana and agnolotti Katerina.

Minty Z is a fresh and fun addition to the diverse culinary community of Coconut Grove, offering fully plant-based/vegan Asian-fusion plates with a specialty in dim sum. The new restaurant is a creation by New York expatriates Alex Falco, the chef and creator behind the delicious vegan dishes, and his wife, Minty Zhu, the restaurant’s namesake. The couple introduced their vegan dishes at the Coconut Grove Farmers Market, where they connected with locals and tested the waters. The full-service restaurant, located just across from the Grove’s Grand Avenue post office, opened this past December, giving the 305 a much-needed solution to a lack of vegan dim sum options. “Asian food has a lot of varieties and we had this passion to create something new,” shares Zhu. “As you know, Asian food is mostly based on meat.” It should go without saying (though too often it doesn’t): Vegans and nonvegans alike will enjoy this delicious cuisine.

Palat staked its claim to a corner of Buena Vista in 2018, and its modern spin on traditional Italian fare has been a hit ever since. Chef Pippo Lamberti’s small-plates concept encourages diners to sample and share multiple dishes at once — an Italian tapasfeast of sorts that includes salads, crostini, and meatballs, as well as hearty entrées of sea urchin with squid-ink pasta and crabmeat, house-made beet ravioli, and charred octopus with artichoke and rosemary pesto. The cacio e pepe gets dressed to the nines with the addition of black truffle — what else could you ask for?

Simple ingredients and preparations are the essence of this modern Greek restaurant by chef Michael Mina, situated on the ground floor of the Aventura Mall. The indoor/outdoor space combines all that you expect to find in an excellent restaurant: a stellar menu, seductive cocktails, intimate ambiance, and exceptional service. What’s not to love? The menu includes everything from simple, classic appetizers to lavraki (sea bass), fagri (Mediterranean snapper), Maine lobster pasta, and other fish-based entrées to a hearty entrée of lamb chops. Begin your meal with a hummus plate at the cozy bar before moving on to complete the experience in the rustic dining room, a neutral palette set off by white wall planks and hanging modern lights amid pops of blue. Don’t leave without a taste of baklava or bourbon-vanilla rice pudding.

On the banks of the Little River canal — and surprisingly out of earshot of the honking traffic on Biscayne Boulevard and the 79th Street Causeway — this Argentine restaurant boasts milangas, swordfish steaks, a 36-hour beef rib, and front-row seats to watch manatees and paddleboarders drift idly by. The intimate dining room is a three-dimensional Pinterest board of geometric tiles, whimsical wallpaper, wood paneling, and a curvilinear ceiling. Outside, everything is green: the tiles, the tables, the ferns spilling out of their pots, the bougainvillea that crawls up the trellis. Patrons lucky enough to snag canal-front tables get dinner and an aquatic show starring plummeting seabirds, leaping fish, and sun-kissed fishermen plying their dinghies.

It was one of the first and most high-profile COVID-related losses, and it hit us hard. Maybe not as hard as it hit chef-proprietors Cindy Hutson and Delius Shirley. But nearly so. After just over two decades of serving high-end Caribbean dishes like Bahamian-style conch chowder, Red Stripe Mediterranean mussels, and jerk-brined T-bone pork chops in Bacardi Oakheart guava sauceto appreciative customers in Coral Gables, Ortanique’s “Cuisine of the Sun” set. But because chef Hutson and life partner Shirley pretty much define the word “resilience,” there was to be a new dawn and a new day. Hutson signed on to create the menu at the newly opened Cervecería La Tropical in Wynwood. To which we say, as we have throughout the pandemic, gracias a Dios for beer.

You’ve heard about Carbone. You’ve seen the famous rigatoni on your Instagram feed. You’ve heard about the pricey dishes and the month-long wait to snag a reservation. But here’s the thing: Carbone is actually worth all the hype. The restaurant is beautiful, the plates are hand-painted in Italy, the waiters are practiced in the old-school art of gently kibitzing, and the rigatoni is everything your friends say it is. So if you have a birthday or anniversary or promotion coming up, there’s only one place you want to be taken for your momentous day: Carbone. Start with the best baked clams outside of Brooklyn ($25) before your steaming plate of spicy rigatoni vodka ($33) arrives. Go ahead, take a hundred pictures of the perfect pink pasta before digging into the divine dish. Order another glass of wine — hell, order another bottle. And be sure to end the night with Carbone’s homemade limoncello. In short, go crazy: It’s your night, someone else has the check, and you’ve got 100 new Instagram likes.

When South Florida restaurateur and Wilton Wings founder Gary Bouvier discovered that the unique space at 1818 East Sunrise Boulevard — the former home of Canyon restaurant beside the Gateway Cinema — was available, he didn’t hesitate to pounce. Today, much of the intimate interior remains the same, from the dimly lit ambiance and amber-hued walls to the window-backdrop banquettes and eight-seat bar. What has changed is the focus, with an upscale, European-minded menu created by executive chef/partner Gastón Campaña. Before arriving in South Florida to work at Valentino Cucina and StripSteak by Michael Mina, Campaña traversed the globe, cooking his way across Argentina, Spain, Thailand, and Germany. His travels earned him a wealth of experience, as well as a Michelin star; Gastrothèque will showcase his talents with dishes featuring high-end cuts of beef, pork, and lamb alongside seafood and handmade pasta. While some will rotate seasonally and specials will change weekly, several of Campaña’s greatest hits will be permanent fixtures. The Spanish-style octopus is a beautiful plate, with crispy-charred tentacles atop a cloud of whipped potato purée accented with chorizo aioli and studded with dehydrated Kalamata olives. And Campaña’s Bolognese is a tangled marvel of handmade fettuccine smothered in a hearty Marsala-spiked sauce that combines long-braised veal, pork, and beef. The icing on this cake might be the fresh-baked, oversized sticky bun the chef recommends for dessert.

Miami has a love affair with croquetas, for good reason: The little fried cylinders are pure joy. Most croquetas are filled with ham, chicken, or cod, but if you want to up your game, Dos Croquetas Croqueta Bar will knock your socks off with its out-of-the-ordinary flavors. The small Westchester eatery offers croquetas filled with creamy bacon mac and cheese, bacon cheddar burger, buffalo chicken, and roasted chicken. For the ultimate experience, though, try the 305, filled with picadillo, sweet plantains, and queso. How do they pack all that flavor into a tiny two-bite morsel? Call it magic, or the work of the talented duo behind the place, Alec Fernandez and Vicky Carballo. There are croquetas here for vegetarians and vegans, as well. A flight of six croquetas runs $11.99, and individual ones are $1.99 each. Want to spread the love? Dos Croquetas sends precooked, frozen croquetas anywhere in the U.S.; the grateful recipient just needs to heat and eat.

One of the most striking features of this chef’s namesake restaurant isn’t the view into the open kitchens or the oceanfront vista just outside, but the $6.5 million statue of a golden unicorn by Damien Hirst. It’s mirrored by the extravagant $32 unicorn that you can actually eat — a spike-wielding sea urchin resting on a bed of tri-colored grilled sweet corn flavored with chile de árbol and a heady sake aioli. Pair it with the piña colada/Moscow mule mix that arrives in a solid copper unicorn-shaped goblet for a magical experience. Across Miami are dozens of fancy hotels anchored by fancy restaurants helmed by big-name chefs. But none are quite like Faena’s Paul Qui, a Manila-born chef who quickly climbed the ranks to culinary stardom after a 2011 Top Chef win followed by a James Beard Best Chef: Southwest award. Since 2015, Qui has offered his unique modern Asian cuisine at Pao; playful takes on Filipino dishes nod to Japanese, Spanish and French fare, from the signature kinilaw (a Filipino-style hamachi ceviche in a Thai chile- and vinegar-spiked coconut-milk leche de tigre) to the fried chicken brined in fish sauce for an umami punch. But no matter how you slice the popular Wagyu tenderloin adobo — or any dish here, for that matter — one thing is certain: This is the work of a classically trained chef who can uplift even uni to unicorn status.

The indulgent lobster-and-cheese grits from C Food Shack Miami give new meaning to the term “food coma.” The dish arrives steaming: three-cheese grits topped with tender fried crawfish bits smothered in a homemade sofrito gravy and pico de gallo. The only place to get it? The Lincoln Eatery. Located just steps from Miami Beach’s famed pedestrian shopping area, this 10,000-square-foot grab-and-go market concept offers a casual respite from the high-end, overpriced establishments nearby. But it’s the selection of more than a dozen artisan vendors — like C Food Shack — that makes it truly special. Each place is unique to the market, offering an authentic homegrown taste of Miami. So whether you’re craving a vegan burger from Plant Theory, sushi pizza from Tyo Sushi, a ceviche platter from Cilantro 27, or towering cake- and candy-topped milkshakes from the Market Milkshake Bar, this is the only place you’ll find it. The cherry on top (pun intended) might be the eatery’s rooftop terrace, Sky Yard, which is open Thursday through Sunday nights.

Miami barbecue hit a home run with La Traila, a former pop-up that transitioned to a brick-and-mortar location earlier this year. Founded by Austin native and pit master Mel Rodriguez and Miami native/Buffalo Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie, the Miami Lakes restaurant offers up 305-inspired craft barbecue at its finest. Meats are available by the pound, from smoked pulled pork and the house jalapeño cheddar sausage to “dino” beef ribs and Texas-style brisket. Latin twists come into focus in specialty items like the pork spare rib croquettes and dishes that nod to Rodriguez’s Mexican heritage. In particular, the Tex-Mex-inspired Brisket y Queso empanadas and Texas Frito Pie are not to be missed. But the most alluring menu item might be the Brisket Sundae, a fair-food-and-taco-stand mashup presented as a cup layered with mac and cheese, baked beans, and creamed corn, then topped with smoked brisket, cotija cheese, crema, and house sauce. Vegans will enjoy the All Natural — smoked pulled jackfruit finished with pickles and onions and tossed in a house-made barbecue sauce. Up early? La Traila’s breakfast tacos will start your day right.

No one knew quite what to think when Taco Stand, a mini-chain based in San Diego, planted itself smack in the middle of Wynwood in late 2017 to join Miami’s burgeoning taco culture. What began as a hole-in-the-wall interloper quickly grew into a go-to for in-the-know locals, who flock to the little eatery for its extensive menu of San Diego street-style tacos — from steak to pollo asado to carnitas to al pastor, shrimp, fish, nopal, even mushroom — all of them mouthwateringly seasoned and generously portioned into house-made corn tortillas. These days buyers must now beware of lines stretching out the door into the painted streets. The tacos are delicious and sold at a wallet-friendly price point (less than $4 a pop on average), the ambiance bright and welcoming. You can order in advance for takeout or delivery, but nothing quite compares to stepping up to the register and ordering amid the aromatic symphony of grilled meats and spices. Pair your meal with Mexican sodas, sangrias, or beers — those last available in import or local craft form. Open daily from 10 a.m. till 10 p.m. (midnight on Friday and Saturday).

When your favorite meal is far from home, you take matters into your own hands and make it yourself. And if you’re really ambitious, you share it with the masses. That’s the route that homesick Neil Sullivan took when he decided to open Hapa Kitchen and Eatery inside Time Out Market. His focus: Hawaiian comfort food. Sullivan’s island-inspired menu is an ode to everything he eats when in Oahu, crave-worthy dishes that combine Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Spanish, Portuguese, and American cuisine. That includes some of Hawaii’s popular lunch eats and hangover-curing grub, from pineapple-mango gazpacho and kalua pork to garlic furikake fried chicken and Loco Moco — white rice smothered in mushroom gravy and topped with a hamburger and a fried egg. While Sullivan imbues each dish with a little island love, there’s nothing more authentic than his signature poke. While the dish may be familiar to mainlanders as raw fish over rice with an endless array of toppings, in Hawaii it’s far simpler. That’s how you’ll find it at Hapa, where you’ll get uber-fresh ahi or octopus prepared in a simple shoyu-based marinade with a touch of sea salt and seaweed, available in quarter-, half-, or full-pound options.

Hot dogs are widely considered all-American fare, but it wouldn’t be Miami if you couldn’t try one with a Latin twist. At Los Perros, you can scarf down a Colombian-style dog at almost any hour of the night. The Kendall location out past the turnpike is the OG, but there’s now a Los Perros in Miami Gardens and another in Coral Point Plaza. That last hole in the wall serves sizzling hot dogs from noon until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from noon till 1 a.m. every other day of the week. And don’t let the shop’s looks deceive you: Los Perros may be no frills, but it’s full of flavor. Try the “SuperPerro” ($6.57), a customer favorite that’s a plain ol’ grilled dog topped with crushed potato chips and a house-made pink sauce. And while we’re not suggesting you go on a bender, be sure to see for yourself why Miamians hail Los Perros dogs as the ideal hangover food. Bonus: No matter what variation you opt for, Los Perros’ artisanal rolls are thick and fluffy — the better to accommodate any quantity of toppings.

Located across the street from the iconic former Firestone property on Flagler Street, La Leonesa is a throwback to 1980s Miami when Central American immigrants and Cuban exiles came together under the common cause of anti-communism. It’s not as well-known as other fritangas in Little Havana, but La Leonesa’s food and service are utterly on point. The grilled meats are rich and juicy. The gallo pinto (sautéed Nicaraguan rice and beans) is the perfect combination of soft and crunchy. The plantains are caramelized and plump. The fried cheese is deliciously gooey. One container is plenty for a single sitting with plenty to spare for leftovers. The staff behind the counter is attentive and efficient at keeping the line moving. And they put in long hours to make sure el pueblo de Miami is well-fed. La Leonesa is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. till 10 p.m.

If the requirements for a good piece of fried chicken is a golden crust, a satisfying crunch when you bite into it, and tender, juicy chicken inside, then Root & Bone is tops in its class. Chefs Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth first brine their chicken in the most Southern of all beverages: sweet tea. The tea imparts moistness and adds sweet and smoky notes to the bird, which is fried and then dusted with a hint of lemon. That tiny hit of acid makes the flavors pop; after all, what better foil for sweet tea than a hit of lemon? The chicken ($19 for a half, $36 for a whole) is offered for lunch, brunch, and dinner, and is served with Tabasco honey. Don’t forget to order some biscuits and watermelon pickles for the ultimate Southern feast.

Marcus Samuelsson and Derek Fleming were set to bring Harlem sensation Red Rooster to Overtown when the pandemic closed down restaurant dining rooms in Miami. Almost immediately, the restaurant’s chef, Tristen Epps, and team started making meals for people who lost their jobs during the pandemic. That’s indicative of the spirit of this restaurant, which is alive with history and soul. Sitting directly in the footprint of the Clyde Killens Pool Hall, the restaurant stands on the shoulders of legends like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald. Their auras are present in the memorabilia on the walls and in the air. Chef Epps prepares food that speaks to Caribbean, Southern, and African roots with dishes like fire-roasted Wagyu oxtail ($105 to share) and shrimp and grits. The food is satisfying, the cocktails are potent, but the sum of the experience is more than its parts. Part history lesson, part glimpse into the future, Red Rooster stands on the precipice of the Overtown that once was and what it’s poised to reclaim as Miami’s Black cultural hub.

There are so many places for chicken wings in Miami, but the absolute best are by chef Timon Balloo, who opened Balloo Wallah just a few months ago. This virtual restaurant offers Indian street food like chicken tikka masala and samosas, but the wings are a revelation. These oversized Mumbai-spiced gems are tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, and flavored with a slightly sweet, fragrant sauce that leaves the slightest tingle on your lips to keep things interesting. The taste is hauntingly familiar yet exotic — like a cross between Cantonese spareribs and rich spices from the Caribbean. Six wings cost $13.95, but get two orders, because you won’t be able to stop eating them.

Melanie Schoendorfer — the self-proclaimed “sausage queen of Miami” — and her husband, Jason, know their meats. The couple first came on the South Florida food scene in 2013, offering house-made smoked sausages, specialty bacon, and handcrafted artisan sandwiches via pop-ups at the Pinecrest Farmers Market and local breweries. What began as a grassroots side hustle turned into a full-fledged business in 2018, when the duo opened the brick-and-mortar Babe’s Meat & Counter in Palmetto Bay, expanding the menu with a curated selection of high-end specialty meats. Today, a butcher counter doubles as a breakfast and lunch spot, offering charcuterie, sausages, and sandwiches built around premium cuts. But the most popular menu item is the burger. Each week, the house meat blend changes slightly, explains Jason. While each five-ounce patty starts with prime chuck and brisket, an assortment of top-quality trimmings — a hint of prime Angus here, a bit of American Wagyu there — makes for a delicious final mixture. In another nod to zero waste, trimmed fat is set aside for frying oil, creating the ultimate beef-fat fries to go with the burgers. It all adds up to Miami’s best, with each patty cooked to order on the grill, then topped with American cheese, house-made pickles, and sriracha mayo, and fitted into a fluffy Martin’s potato roll.

There’s something magical about a little pocket of savory corn flour filled to the absolute brim with as much meat, cheese, avocado, or whatever the heck else you want — and Doggi’s Arepa Bar provides just the right kind of alchemy. With a laundry-list menu of arepas ranging from the classic “Reina Pepiada” to the more adventurous “arepa de pulpo” (octopus), Doggi’s offers a wide selection of scrumptious mouthfuls that will have you spilling some of their contents on your plate only to scoop them up when you’re done for an after-meal treat. There’s a vegan and vegetarian section of the menu, and plain cheese arepas for those of us who aren’t lactose intolerant or who’re willing to pay with few abdominal cramps. The crispy texture of the Doggi’s arepas make every bite a pleasure to enjoy, and the flavors require no sauces or toppings — though you may as well sample the sauce spread Doggi’s has available.

There’s only one thing better than a scoop of ice cream to cool you off after a long Miami day, and that’s an alcohol-infused scoop of ice cream. That’s the sentiment that Matias Aubi and his friend Rafa Ramsa had when they decided to marry some of the world’s best spirits with quality ice cream. Sit at Aubi & Ramsa’s “bar” and choose between such flavors as “Kentucky Crème Brûlée” (an organic vanilla-pudding ice cream made with Maker’s Mark bourbon and caramelized sugar) and a passionfruit margarita sorbet made with Casamigos tequila. The ice creams and sorbets come in personal-sized 3.7-ounce servings ($7 to $10) or shareable pints ($20 to $26). In addition to the Design District shop listed above, there are locations in Wynwood, Aventura Mall, and at Hard Rock Hollywood. Delivery is available.

Ever gone to a doughnut shop and wished your delicious morsels of fried dough were a little more…badass? That’s the central idea behind LuchaDough, a professional wrestling-inspired pop-up shop that sells gourmet doughnuts with a hardcore twist. Co-owners Christian Aparicio and Nicole Gallego, AKA Señor and Señorita LuchaDough, travel to different locations every weekend — usually breweries and venues staging wrestling matches — to sell their “squared circle” doughnuts, which are adorably reminiscent of a wrestling ring. While the company’s branding and signature tagline (“Delicious F’n Donuts”) lean in to the edgy side, their gourmet products are anything but unsophisticated. The “Trailblazer” doughnut ($4.25), made with maple-bourbon glaze and cayenne candied bacon is a high-class blend of sweet, salt, and spice on an airy brioche. For diehard Miami flavor fans, LuchaDough offers the “MVP” ($4), filled with guava cream cheese and topped with white chocolate and Biscoff cookie crumbles. For info on where LuchaDough will show up and throw down next, check its Instagram Stories @luchadough for hours and location. They sell out quickly, so show up early!

Used to be you couldn’t throw a rock in Miami without hitting a bagel. But over the years many of the town’s historic delicatessens have closed down. Not Bagel Cove. For close to 30 years, the Aventura deli has offered a consistently hearty, delicious, chewy circular bread product with a hole in it. Whether you choose pumpernickel, poppyseed, whole wheat, or their available-Fridays-only “Challagel” — an unhole-y (literally, there’s no hole in it) combination of bagel and challah — theirs is the rare bagel that you can enjoy without a schmear. Plain bagels go for a buck a pop, and you save a dollar if you take home a dozen. The takeout window is open every day from 6:30 a.m. till 10 p.m., the dine-in deli’s hours are 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Derek Kaplan loves to eat, and he loves feeding people. At 15 years old, he was already a talented baker and perfected the key lime pie for which he’s best known. Today, the retired City of Miami firefighter owns one of Miami’s premier bakeries. There’s a reason there’s regularly a line out the door. At Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop, the cakes are moist, the cookies are soft-baked, the cheesecakes are decadent, and the pies are, well, legendary. With an expansive menu of more than 50 flavors of pies, cakes, cookies, bars, brownies, and cheesecakes, it’s always difficult to choose what to order. But each sweet treat you try will be just as delicious, if not more scrumptious, than the last.

Eight-year-old Raw Jūce isn’t built on a fad foundation, nor is it riding any bandwagon. Instead, the founders of this South Florida-based business got into juicing for all the right reasons: to fight disease via a raw-food diet. Today, Raw Jūce’s mission remains the same: to educate the public on the benefits of juicing while making it easy to adopt a produce-filled diet with its line of fresh-pressed, conveniently bottled juices. Made daily, all of Raw Jūce’s signature drinks aim to maximize nutritional density, thanks to cold-pressing, a method said to deliver long-lasting bioavailability — not to mention the best possible flavor. There are over a half-dozen options in a rainbow of colors, including the aqua-tinged Electro Fuel, made with Blue Majik photosynthetic algae. Or keep it OG with Raw Green, a veggie-forward combo of parsley, spinach, romaine, kiwi, lemon, kale, green apple, chlorella, ginger, and probiotics. In addition to juice, you’ll find vibrantly hued açaí bowls that fuse ingredients such as goji berries, honey, mango, strawberries, and bee pollen, as well as an array of smoothies, raw oatmeal, salads, and yummy vegan desserts like cashew-butter cups.