16 Best Restaurants in South Beach

South Beach has always been a place where legends are made, and nowhere is that more obvious than in its dining scene. Here, century-old institutions still pull crowds night after night, serving dishes that have defined Miami for generations, while a new wave of restaurants continues to push the city forward with bold, global flavors. It’s a rare mix where history and reinvention exist on the same block, each feeding off the other in a way that feels distinctly Miami.

And right now, it all feels electric again. From white-tablecloth icons to buzzy newcomers that are nearly impossible to book, South Beach is firmly back in its groove, balancing nostalgia with a fresh, modern energy. Whether you’re chasing a classic stone crab dinner or your next favorite reservation, this stretch of Miami Beach is once again one of the most exciting places to eat in the city.

Call Me Gaby

This neighborhood spot feels like a transportive escape, channeling the charm of a French Riviera villa right in South Beach. The restaurant leans into simple, ingredient-driven Italian cooking, with many products imported directly from Italy. Pizza is the star, with dough fermented for 72 hours and topped with everything from classic San Marzano tomatoes to pistachio crumble and mortadella. Beyond pizza, housemade pastas, vibrant salads, and a strong wine list make it a well-rounded favorite for date nights and long, leisurely meals. 22 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 305-531-4800; callmegaby.com.

Carbone Miami

Carbone is one of South Beach’s toughest reservations, and for good reason, delivering classic red-sauce Italian dishes in a lively, see-and-be-seen setting. The spicy rigatoni vodka is the standout, with perfectly cooked pasta coated in a creamy, slightly spicy sauce that keeps diners coming back. From tableside Caesar salad to indulgent veal parmigiana, the entire experience feels over-the-top in the best way, especially when paired with the generous complimentary starters. 49 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; carbonemiami.com.

Estiatorio Milos

Greek cuisine is rooted in simplicity and quality ingredients. At Estiatorio Milos in South Beach, there’s something new to discover on every visit. The fish selection changes daily depending on what fishermen haul in. The day’s catch is prepared to your liking and priced according to weight. There’s nothing newfangled here, but when it comes to top-notch seafood, Milos is in a league of its own. One of the restaurant’s specialties is melt-in-your-mouth, charcoal-broiled octopus seasoned with white balsamic vinegar and olive oil produced by the owner’s sister in Greece. 730 First St., Miami Beach; 305-604-6800; estiatoriomilos.com.

Joe’s Stone Crab

For more than a century, crowds have flocked to Joe’s Stone Crab for fresh seafood. Founded in 1913, the restaurant is older than the city of Miami Beach, which was incorporated two years later. Over the years, Joe’s has become a multimillion-dollar business; it was named the second-highest-grossing independently owned restaurant in the United States by Restaurant Business. Though Joe’s boasts a wide selection of fresh seafood and steaks and employs full-time fish and meat butchers to cut perfect pieces of flesh, it’s the stone crabs that lure customers from around the globe. The claws, served with the restaurant’s signature mustard sauce, are the reason multiple generations have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, and just a Thursday evening at Joe’s. 11 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 305-673-0365; joesstonecrab.com.

The Joyce

The Joyce is one of South Beach’s most intimate dining experiences, tucked along Española Way with a warm, dimly lit charm. The space feels like a beautifully curated living room, where every detail invites you to slow down and settle in. With a small number of tables and a focus on seasonal, thoughtful dishes, the menu still makes room for standouts like the Joyce Cheeseburger, a griddled double cheeseburger with Joyce sauce, onions, pickles, and a brioche bun that has quietly become a must-order. 448 Española Wy., Miami Beach; thejoycerestaurant.com.

Las’ Lap Miami

Las’ Lap Miami was one of the most exciting new restaurant openings of 2025, delivering a rare combination of atmosphere, intention, and truly memorable food. Highly acclaimed chef-partner Kwame Onwuachi brings Afro-Caribbean depth to the menu, with dishes like escovitch crab claws, Wagyu griot, jerk mushroom yakitori, and roti-paired caviar that feel both playful and deeply rooted in tradition. The cooking is bold and layered, balancing heat, acid, and richness in a way that rewards repeat visits rather than just first impressions. In a year packed with splashy debuts, Las’ Lap Miami stood out for pairing nightlife energy with food that could easily carry the room on its own. 2216 Park Ave., Miami Beach; 786-622-2833; laslapmia.com.

Lucali

At first sight, Lucali, the Miami outpost of Mark Iacono’s famed Brooklyn flagship, looks like a regular pizza joint. Furnishings are unassuming – mismatched tables and chairs, an open kitchen, a working bench manned by T-shirted pizzaiolos – but by candlelight, everything glows. Men in white, sweating, use empty wine bottles to roll dough. Pizza makers take their time prepping pies for the wood-burning oven. Crusts eventually emerge thin and blistered, their surfaces puffed by blackened bubbles of golden dough. Melted buffalo mozzarella and shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cocoon smooth tomato sauce (a secret recipe available as a side dish). Such attention to detail – and the resulting pies – earned Lucali a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation in 2022. 1930 Bay Rd., Miami Beach 305-695-4441; lucali.com.

Macchialina

This gem has earned its place as one of Miami’s most beloved Italian restaurants over the past 25 years, thanks to chef Michael Pirolo, who brought years of experience cooking in Michelin-starred kitchens across Italy before opening this intimate, pasta-focused spot on Alton Road. His menu is focused and deceptively simple, yet every dish from tagliatelle ai funghi and spaghetti con vongole to the coveted short rib and Taleggio lasagna delivers bold, soulful flavors that highlight pristine ingredients and precise technique. A true Miami classic that has won countless New Times “Best Of” awards, Macchialina remains cherished for its hospitality, timeless atmosphere, and unwavering devotion to the magic of great pasta. 820 Alton Rd., Miami Beach; 305-534-2124; macchialina.com.

Mila

Mila may be the highest-grossing restaurant in Miami, but what keeps people coming back is how consistently delightful, energetic, and genuinely delicious it is, whether you’re there for brunch on the breezy terrace, omakase in the private dining spaces, or cocktails at the buzzing bar. Since opening in 2020, Riviera Dining Group has nailed the blend of flash and flavor, pairing its dramatic rooftop setting and stylish design with polished food and hospitality rather than gimmicky ones. Even with its party-leaning vibe and lively crowds, Mila remains one of those rare South Beach destinations that delivers a memorable experience at any time of day. It also marks a defining moment in Miami’s dining history, launching during a period of uncertainty in 2020 and not only surviving but thriving as the city’s restaurant boom took shape around it. 1636 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach; 786-706-0744; mila-miami.com.

The Piano Bar

The Piano Bar captures a sense of Old Miami glamour, with palm trees, rotating art, and sweeping views of Ocean Drive framed by giant windows. By day, it feels like a quiet escape, but at night, it transforms into a lively social hub with live jazz performances nearly every evening. Guests can enjoy dishes from LT Steak & Seafood alongside craft cocktails, local Panther Coffee, and a well-rounded selection of wine and beer. With its warm service, elegant atmosphere, and timeless charm, it’s the kind of place that feels both like a hidden gem and a step back in time. 1440 Ocean Drive,
Miami Beach, at The Betsy Hotel; thebetsyhotel.com/dine/piano-bar.

Puerto Sagua

Since 1962, Puerto Sagua has held its ground in South Beach along Seventh Street and Collins Avenue, dishing out no-frills, authentic Cuban comfort food. From 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week, locals and tourists alike line up for masitas de puerco with arroz moros y yuca, ropa vieja with maduros, and other classics that taste just like abuela’s best. In a neighborhood where most old-school joints have been remodeled into trendy hotspots, its classic Cuban recipes and homestyle vibe make it a true Miami Beach institution. 700 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-673-1115; puerto-sagua-restaurant.club.

Prime 112

Prime 112 stands as one of the most iconic and culturally defining restaurants Miami has ever produced, a place whose legacy stretches far beyond the past 25 years and into the city’s DNA. Opened in 2004 by restaurateur Myles Chefetz inside the historic Browns Hotel, it reinvented the American steakhouse with a chef-driven menu, an electric, high-octane dining room, and an atmosphere where indulgence, glamour, and great food collide. With its dry-aged steaks, truffled lobster mac and cheese, Kobe beef sliders, and martinis poured ice-cold and to the brim, Prime 112 remains one of Miami’s most coveted reservations and a landmark of the city’s dining culture. 112 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach; 305-532-8112; mylesrestaurantgroup.com.

Stubborn Seed

Stubborn Seed cemented chef Jeremy Ford as one of Miami’s most important culinary voices, bringing an unapologetically ambitious tasting-menu experience to South Beach when the city was still defining its modern fine-dining identity. A Top Chef season 13 winner and former executive chef at the Matador Room, Ford delivers meticulous, story-driven dishes that balance precision, creativity, and local ingredients, whether enjoyed through the six- or nine-course tasting menus or at the bar with elevated à la carte bites. The restaurant’s commitment to crafting the “perfect bite” earned it a Michelin star in 2022, which it has maintained ever since, solidifying Stubborn Seed as a destination for diners who crave both artistry and intensity on the plate. 101 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 786-322-5211; stubbornseed.com.