When you thought Miami couldn't pack more culinary punch, three new spots have crashed onto the scene with international flair. This week’s standouts deliver South American flavors and music-driven dining experiences that might have you booking tables before finishing this article.
Cotoa delivers refined Ecuadorian dishes, from coastal crudes to Amazonian specialties, in an intimate 24-seat dining room.
Cotoa photo
Cotoa Brings Michelin-Recognized Ecuadorian Cuisine to North Miami
Chef Alejandra Espinoza will take her Michelin Guide-recognized Ecuadorian cooking from downtown Miami’s the B1oom food hall to her own dedicated space in North Miami, opening April 19. Named after a towering Andean volcano and a legendary princess, Cotoa delivers refined Ecuadorian dishes, from coastal crudes to Amazonian specialties, in an intimate 24-seat dining room.Cotoa is a sister concept to Espinoza's award-winning restaurant Somos in Quito, which ranks among Ecuador's best by the World's 50 Best. Check out signature dishes like "Humita de la Abuela" (cornbread with palo santo butter) and a chocolate lava cake inspired by the Cotopaxi volcano. 12475 Sixth Ct., North Miami; 786-328-1460; cotoa.rest.
The caféis decked out in pastels and tableware from Ecuadorian artists, creating the perfect backdrop for Casa Nané’s popular cookies
Casa Nané photo
Casa Nané Drops First U.S. Outpost in Brickell
What began as a weekend baking hobby in Ecuador has landed in Brickell as Casa Nané opens its first American location inside Maizon Brickell. Founded by pastry chef Jeanet Hanze (the "Nané" behind the name) and husband Christian Stagg, this marks the sixth location for a concept that began in 2013 and grew into a five-restaurant mini-empire across Ecuador.The 1,800-square-foot space is decked out in pastels and tableware from Ecuadorian artists, creating the perfect backdrop for Casa Nané’s popular cookies, which come in flavors like s'mores and coconut dulce de leche. Beyond sweets, the menu features all-day brunch with traditional dishes such as tigrillo (mashed green plantains with cheese and eggs) and Ecuadorian ceviches with mahi-mahi in citrus and peanut base. 1130 SW Second Ave., Brickell; 305-944-9815; casanane.com.
Mad Records Café Turns Up the Volume on All-Day Dining in MiMo
Mad Radio has transformed from nightlife hotspot to round-the-clock dining destination with the debut of Mad Records Café's new food program by chef Diego Pasqualicchio. Housed inside the former Selina Miami Gold Dust Motel, this Colombian export debuted as a bar-lounge last September. It is now bringing day-to-night dining to its two-level riverside space that doubles as a café, vinyl shop, and DJ hub.The menu shifts throughout the day—from morning egg scrambles and buttermilk pancakes to evening smashed cheeseburgers and thin-crust pizzas. Brunch features bottomless Aperol Spritz while the soundtrack comes from rotating DJs whose sets are broadcast via the Mad Radio app and later uploaded to YouTube. 7700 Biscayne Blvd., Mimo; madradio.co.
