Located inside the ritzy Bal Harbour Shops where what’s on the plate is more important than who’s sitting in front of it sounds almost as implausible as a half-off sale at Gucci, but thanks to chef Makoto Okuwa it’s the real deal. In addition to the pristine sushi and nigiri, Makoto’s modern Japanese dishes and bincho charcoal robata have hungry shoppers coming back for more.

Oozing with 1950s glamour, the Surf Club Restaurant by Thomas Keller boasts nostalgic American cuisine with the world-renowned Keller touch. Start the night with a stiff martini or a well-chosen wine from the restaurant’s impressive selection of vintages. The throwback cuisine goes with the old-school feel of the space, with items like beef Wellington, Caesar salad, roast chicken, and a can’t-miss ice cream sundae.

This North Beach waterfront restaurant features a variety of traditional tacos like pastor, chicken, and lengua served on handmade blue-masa corn tortillas so good that it now supplies them for half of the restaurants in town. But a trip to Taquiza isn’t complete without an order of the totopos — homemade tortilla chips, which come out warm, “fluffy,” and perfectly fried and are worth the visit by themselves. (There’s a second location at 1351 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL.)

What started as an incredibly popular weekend bagel pop-up has turned into a full blown brick-and-mortar outpost with just as strong of a following. The counter-service restaurant offers a variety of creative hand rolled bagels, schmears, and bagel sandwiches filled with everything from thick cut bacon and eggs to a nod to the Miami favorite, pastelito, made with guava marmalade, cream cheese, and potato sticks. Orders are strictly made online.

This small, charming restaurant tucked away in a strip mall lets its owners and culinary duo Luciana Giangrandi and Alex Meyer show off their extensive fine dining backgrounds. The menu features some of the most creative dishes in the Magic City like crispy potato skins topped with stracciatella, caviar, and a hard boiled egg; baked clams with ‘nduja; or lamb ribs. Whatever your order, it’s all paired with hard-to-find vintages and natural wines, which have made this a gem that everyone seems to be seeking out.

Housed in the ultra-swanky Design District, this bright, Art Deco-inspired restaurant boasts a vegetable-filled menu from executive chef Alain Verzeroli, a longtime protege of Joel Robuchon, one of the world’s most Michelin-starred chefs and restaurateurs. The dishes are just as beautiful and colorful as their surroundings and always showcasing classic French technique using seasonal produce.

From its days inside the former St. Roch Market, this Japanese-Peruvian restaurant has grown into a larger space all its own in the Design District’s Palm Court. Led by a brother, sister, and father team lovingly referred to as the “Chang Gang,” Itamae is an ode to combining their Peruvian heritage with Japanese classics. Think a curated selection of specialty maki and rolls, sashimi, and rice bowls served alongside tiraditos and ceviches.

Part of the culinary empire of James Beard winner Michael Schwartz, Amara at Paraiso not only boasts some of Miami’s best waterfront views but has solid Latin-influenced dishes to boot. Using Schwartz’s farm-to-table ethos that gained him national notoriety at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, the menu is filled with items like crispy octopus, short-rib-filled empanadas, and fresh out of the oven yucca balls. Perfect for large groups, make sure to grab a patio drink before or after the meal to soak in all those enviable water views.

That bread offered at nearly every restaurant in town? Odds are Zak baked it. In addition to a successful wholesale business, the popular kosher baker also boasts his own successful standalone shop. Expect his signature breads in addition to an assortment of soups, bagels, sandwiches, and pastries.

An aptly named omakase-style restaurant that is literally hidden behind a taco shop in Wynwood. Once guests enter with a numeric code (provided when the reservation is made) they encounter an intimate, eight-seat restaurant serving up a 18 dish menu featuring small Japanese appetizers, sashimi, and nigiri all made with seasonal ingredients brought in from Japan. The move is to pair it with sake, sochu, and wine to wash it down with. Make sure to reserve early as seats book out months in advance.

Get a taste of Spain’s Basque country at Leku, the chic on-site restaurant at the Rubbell Museum. The Allapattah restaurant offers a wide-ranging menu of dishes that are as eye-pleasing as the art inside the museum like creamy croquetas, whole branzino, beet tartare with olive oil caviar, and the must-order Iberico ham that sits on a puffed cracker. Pair the meal with one of its many gin and tonics on the restaurant’s always perfectly breezy garden to round out the meal.

A modern take on the classic seafood restaurant by Blue Collar chef Danny Serfer and partner Ryan Roman. This Edgewater restaurant, described by critics and guests as a “plain and fancy” oyster heaven, it also features plenty of other seafood items, as well as non-sea dwelling options like prime rib, chicken, and its famous veggie board.

Style is what sets Byblos apart from its South Beach neighbors. From the decor to the menu, every detail conveys Eastern Mediterranean sophistication at Byblos. Eats range from small to large plates and feature inspired dishes like Middle Eastern fried chicken and seared cauliflower prepared with duck fat and tahini sauce. The show stopping spirit-infused cold tea service is a must, and perfect for a group, offering creative cocktails theatrically poured out of beautiful tea pots.

After almost a year-long hiatus from its Downtown Miami location due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jaguar Sun has returned to its original outpost with a refreshed menu merging its staples with favorites from its pop-up Sunny’s Steakhouse. A well-thought out beverage menu is still at the core of Jaguar Sun, but its small but mighty kitchen is still putting out some of the best upscale comfort food in town. The pastas are a must order, but don’t skip out on the Parker house rolls topped with honey butter, the wagyu beef tartare, or the kouign amann housed ice cream sandwich for dessert.

NIU Kitchen has teamed up with its sister restaurant, Arson — conveniently located next door. They’ve combined the best of both menus including the eclectic Catalan cuisine of NIU, including its famous clams and gazpacho, with the best of Arson’s menu like many of its Josper-grill prepared dishes. An extensive wine list, featuring natural wines from around the world completes the menu.

Chic, minimalist hotspot and local favorite that overlooks the Miami River, Zuma offers an internationally acclaimed style of modern Japanese cuisine in the heart of Downtown. The Miami location of this chain was the first U.S. location and has been open for more than 10 years, but it’s still going stronger than ever. Whether you are looking to casually scope out the celeb scene at the lounge, hang out at the bar, taste a little bit of everything during its weekend brunch, or dine dockside, this restaurant is still the place that Miami’s chic-set still flocks to.

The Miami institution prides itself in discovering the tasty crustacean some 100+ years ago and is still serving them every season in its iconic South Beach location. This season, Joe’s has added a new 1,400-square-foot outdoor area for those wanting to dine outside on its claws and classic sides like hash-browns and creamed spinach or dishes like fried chicken and key lime pie. Joe’s has even offered a few nightly reservations on Resy, a first for the famously no-reservation restaurant. Don’t want to spend time waiting? Then head next door to Joe’s Takeway and eat the same caliber claws at home.

High-end, Hong Kong-based restaurant Hutong boasts a colorful outpost in the Magic City. The filled with vibes restaurant offers classics like Peking duck, which uses a recipe said to have been developed over one hundred years ago for the Emperor, and unique dishes like dumplings filled with everything from roséChampagne, to prawn and black truffle. It’s also an excellent place for strong cocktails and top-notch of people watching.

Beloved Brickell institution the River Oyster Bar has returned to the neighborhood in a much larger and airier space just a block away from its original location. Expect the same seafood-centric fare that made it a neighborhood favorite for so many years like its gnocchi tossed with crab and truffle, simply grilled fish, spicy tuna tartare, and of course, plenty of its namesake oysters.

The brainchild of James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein and cocktail master and cantinero Julio Cabrera, Cafe La Trova is an ode to Miami’s Cuban culture. Housed on Calle Ocho in the epicenter of Little Havana it really is two spaces in one. In the front guests can sip on classic Cuban cocktails that are served by bartenders dressed in bow ties and jackets while swaying to live music and dining on dishes like paella croquetas and lechon con chicharrones. While in the back a fun take on 80s cocktail culture means the team is pouring updated spins on drinks like the cosmo which keeps the party going well into the night.

For more than 40 years people have been flocking to this Little Havana spot for the original frita Cubana packing all the Cuban style beef, sauteed onions, and crispy shoe string fries that can fit inside a fluffy Cuban Roll. The no frills diner style setup offers a feeling of years past, with most of the burgers and sandwiches ringing in under $5. Complete the meal with some corn or malanga fritters for a proper experience. 

Sure, Cuban sandwiches aren’t exactly hard to come by in Miami. But ones that create lines out of the door? Well that’s another story. Sanguich quickly gained a following for its modern takes on classic Cuban sandwiches like the Cubano, pan con lechon (a Cuban version of a pulled pork sandwich), pan con croqueta (ham, Swiss, and croquetas housed inside Cuban bread), and pan con bistec (a thinly cut seasoned steak sandwich topped with onions and potato sticks) that appease even the most stringent of sandwich purists. Everything inside the sandwiches, from the pork to the ham to the mustard, is made in-house, which adds a special touch to the commonly found sandwiches. Pair the sandwiches with one of its five batidos (aka milkshakes) with flavors like trigo, mamey, and banana and enjoy a proper Miami meal.

Located on Brickell Key inside the Mandarin Oriental, La Mar is Gaston Acurio’s temple offering a combo of well-executed upscale novo-Andean fare and Asian-Peruvian fusion dishes. You’ll find classics like lomo saltado, local offerings like yellowtail snapper, and several ceviche options. Make sure to grab a table on its expansive patio for some of the best views of the Miami skyline in town.

Chef Monica Leon’s beloved Cuban tacos found a permanent Coral Gables restaurant; though you can still visit the taco truck in Design District. Not only does the restaurant serve up its Cuban tacos filled with everything from chicken to gator, it also offers croquetas, bowls, quesadillas, and empanadas — all of which pair perfectly with its signature herby green sauce, so make sure to order extra.

This chic Brickell restaurant boasts high-end French brasserie fare with Mediterranean touches. Guests can expect to dine among the socialite and business crowds, who are all in search of one thing: delicious food. Stars of the menu include the creamy burrata, fresh yellowtail carpaccio, and butter and herb soaked traditional escargot. Don’t forget to save room for light-as-air cheesecake.

Led by chef Michael Beltran, this Coconut Grove mainstay features a menu of inventive yet hearty comfort-food dishes with a Cuban flair that reflects Beltran’s upbringing. Highlights include the grilled oysters drenched in bone marrow butter, on-the-bone pastrami-style short rib, and a duck press meant for two. It’s an ideal option for a hungry group.

Possibly one of the most glamorous restaurants in Miami this Michelin-starred, D.C. import has been wowing crowds since its debut. It boasts a menu filled with pristine seafood and house-made pastas (which are all offered in gluten-free varieties) such as short rib agnolotti. Guests will also find heartier dishes like lamb rack, branzino, and perfectly cooked steak paired with an extensive wine selection. For those looking to impress a date or celebrate a special occasion, Fiola is guaranteed to make the night memorable.

This Indian restaurant from Niven Patel features dishes made mainly from ingredients from Patel’s farm in Homestead like smoked lamb neck, green millet, ghost pepper cheddar naan, and more. Plus there’s a $55 tasting menu available that is a feast of the restaurant’s best items.