Miami’s 2016 Eater Award Winners

Restaurant of the Year: Pao by Paul Qui

Faena Hotel

“Celebrity chef” driven restaurants aren’t exactly rare in Miami. But a well executed one that helps heighten our food scene and has locals talking? Now that’s almost unheard of — until now.

Earlier this year, Top Chef champ and James Beard award-winning chef, Paul Qui, opened his first concept outside of his hub of Austin, Texas right here in Miami. Taking up shop in the opulent Faena Hotel, his equally as opulent Pao by Paul Qui serves a high-brow mix of Filipino, Japanese and Texas barbecue cuisine, creating a unique dining mishmash that the Magic City never seen before in a see-and-be-seen setting that we are more than familiar with.

Restaurant of the Year People’s Choice: Ariete

Chef of the Year: Michael Lewis of KYU

KYU Miami

There is no doubting that KYU’s Michael Lewis has an impressive resume. He’s worked under the tutelage of David Bouley, Eric Ripert, and Jean-Georges, and even ran the kitchen one of Miami’s most popular restaurants, ever: Zuma. But with the opening of KYU in early 2016, Lewis’ cooking skills are now on everyone’s radar. Infusing barbecue flavors into an Asian-style fare at KYU, he has helped create a menu that is unique and approachable all at the same time.

Chef of the Year People’s Choice: Giorgio Rapicavoli of Glass & Vine

Design of the Year: Quinto La Huella

EAST Miami

It comes as no surprise that Quinto La Huella — the flagship restaurant at the extravagant EAST, Miami hotel inside the $1 billion Brickell City Centre — is a show stopper. But instead of going over-the-top with its decor, the restaurant juxtaposes the feelings of a concrete jungle with a South American oasis, creating an ambiance of understated elegance that makes everyone in the city want to be there.

Design of the Year People’s Choice: Glass & Vine

Bar of the Year: Pawn Broker

The Langford Hotel

Miami has finally gotten onboard with the rooftop bar trend, and we couldn’t be happier. The stand out of the bunch (and of the year) is Pawn Broker, atop the renovated Langford Hotel in Downtown Miami. Run by the Pubbelly boys, it serves as their first foray into the bar scene and proves that they can dish out cocktails as well as they dish out cuisine.

Bar of the Year People’s Choice: Pawn Broker

Pastry Chef of the Year: Antonio Bachour

SoGoodMagazine.com

It’s nearly impossible to talk about Miami’s growing culinary community without mentioning Antonio Bachour, the undisputed king of the Miami’s pastry scene. This year the sugar mastermind opened his first stand alone venture, Bachour Bakery + Bistro, where he creates his almost-too-beautiful-to-eat masterpieces for his droves of hungry fans. And while he may be insta-famous throughout the world, Miami is still the only city you can get your hands on his delicious desserts — at least for now.

Pastry Chef of the Year People’s Choice: Dallas Wynne, Ariete