The 20 Best Restaurants in Miami

Miami Beach's most famous restaurant, serving stone crab claws since 1913 — the claws, hash browns, and key lime pie earn the hype. Caveats a friend owes you: claws run market price, the dining room takes no reservations, and it closes each summer roughly August to mid-October. Joe's Take Away next door runs year-round.

Ball & Chain is a historic 90-year-old bar and Cuban restaurant on Calle Ocho that pulls you in with live salsa music, a fan-mist entrance, and an infectious dance-floor energy that has strangers up on their feet within minutes. Come for the mojitos and classic Cuban dishes, and if you can make it on a Wednesday, the free salsa lesson runs 9–10pm before a live band takes over. The place gets loud and very busy, so if you're noise-sensitive or want a quiet dinner, look elsewhere.

The self-declared 'world's most famous Cuban restaurant' and the political heart of Cuban Miami since 1971 — presidents campaign here, and exile history was argued over its cafecito. The dining room food is solid, not transcendent; the real magic is the ventanita window and the bakery. Caveat: expect tour buses and a wait at peak times.

A gloriously chaotic open-air Cuban market where locals actually eat: fresh tropical juices, pan con lechon, and hot food sold by the pound for cheap. The original on West Flagler is the one worth the drive. Caveat: it's loud, lines are vague, and a little Spanish (or confident pointing) goes a long way.

A Peruvian restaurant on Lincoln Road with a striking interior — hand-painted tiles, a sushi bar, and real design ambition. Go for the ceviches (the Trilogía sampler is a standout), the seco chiclayano, and the octopus, which has inspired at least one cross-country return trip. Portions are generous. One honest caveat: food temperature has been inconsistent, with at least one diner noting dishes didn't arrive at the right temp.

An open-air waterfront bar and grill on the marina in Coconut Grove, where the bay views and relaxed atmosphere are as much the draw as the food. Standouts from reviewers include the Mahi Tacos, duck and shrimp surf n turf, Peruvian half chicken, arepitas, salmon, and calamari. Service is consistently praised as warm and attentive — staff even speak Spanish for guests who need it — but given the popularity and special-occasion crowd, reservations are strongly recommended to avoid a wait.

A tiny, family-run Cuban restaurant on Calle Ocho where the owner Lauren works the front of house and her parents cook everything from scratch in the kitchen. Order the mojitos (repeatedly called the best reviewers have ever had), ropa vieja, shrimp stew with rice and sweet plantains, empanadas, flan, or tres leches cake. It's intimate and cozy to the point that it can be hard to get a table — regulars half-joke they'd rather keep it a secret to avoid the wait.

MILA is a high-end rooftop restaurant on Miami Beach serving Asian-Mediterranean small plates, best known for its lavish Sunday brunch with curated food stations — the oysters and seafood station in particular draw serious praise. On the regular menu, go for the tuna crispy rice, hamachi rolls, salmon crispy rice, and truffle pasta, washed down with margaritas or Palomas. One honest caveat: a few guests note the à la carte menu feels limited in variety, leaning more toward drinks and small bites than a full meal.

A second-generation Cuban restaurant and bar on Calle Ocho that doubles as a live music venue, with music starting at 7pm every night — bartenders have been known to grab instruments and join in. Order the expertly crafted cocktails made with fresh, house-prepared ingredients (the mojito is a natural starting point) and classic Cuban food like empanadas. Prices run on the higher side, so budget accordingly.

Fiorito is an Argentine parrilla in Little Haiti that genuinely feels like a Buenos Aires corner spot, anchored by a famous Messi mural outside. Go for the grilled meats — entraña, vacío — plus the handcut fries, provoleta, empanadas, and the house-made pastas (ravioli and pappardelle are standouts); finish with the flan mixto. They don't take reservations, so arrive early, and parking is tight enough that they offer valet.

A classic Cuban diner on Collins Avenue serving hearty, old-Havana cooking since 1962, a rare authentic holdout amid touristy South Beach. Order the Cuban sandwich, ropa vieja, fried pork chunks, and a café con leche. The caveat: it's a well-worn, no-frills diner with brusque efficiency, so come for the generous, genuine food rather than the decor.

The best Cuban sandwich in Miami, full stop — a small Little Havana counter where everything is house-made: the lechon, the ham, the pickles, even the mustard. Croqueta preparada and batidos round out a short, disciplined menu. Caveat: it closes at 6 PM daily, so this is a lunch mission, not a dinner plan.

The go-to for Haitian food in Miami for over 25 years, famous enough that Anthony Bourdain filmed here. Order the griot (fried pork), whole fried snapper, conch, and a side of rice and beans with pikliz. It's a no-atmosphere order-at-the-counter spot, and seafood is priced by market weight, so the fish plates run higher than the rest of the menu.

Wynwood's go-to taco counter: fresh-pressed tortillas, solid al pastor, and a not-so-secret bar hidden behind a door in the back. Open past 2 AM, so it doubles as the neighborhood's late-night kitchen. Honest caveat: it's a polished mini-chain at Wynwood prices, not a hole-in-the-wall taqueria.

A waterfront seafood institution on the Rickenbacker Causeway with a postcard view of the downtown Miami skyline across Biscayne Bay, long the go-to for proms, anniversaries, and sunset cocktails. Come for the view and the raw bar, stone crab in season, and the weekend brunch buffet. The honest caveat: you're paying a premium for the setting, so treat the food as good-not-transcendent and reserve a window or patio table at golden hour.

A lively Brickell restaurant set inside a historic former firehouse with a rooftop overlooking Miami's skyline. Reviewers rave about the croquettes, churrasco with chimichurri, short ribs with mashed potatoes, and frozen sangria — the staff (ask for Christina, Dayana, or Austin at the bar) consistently earns praise for knowledgeable, personable service. Caveat: it's popular enough that reservations are strongly advised, as walk-ins depend on last-minute cancellations.

A beloved Cuban restaurant on Calle Ocho in Little Havana that consistently outshines pricier Miami Beach spots. Order the slow-roasted pork shank, the Churrasco with chimichurri, the Cuban sandwich, or croquetas — servers like Gipsia and Sheilla are known for steering you right with personal recommendations. There's a lively back courtyard with music and beautiful outdoor seating. Arrive earlier in the day if you want easy seating, as it draws steady crowds.

A mac & cheese-focused comfort food spot near Wynwood where the owner — Chef Teach — is known to personally come out, remember regulars by name, and even create allergy-safe dishes on the spot. Must-orders are the jerk shrimp and chicken mac & cheese, Rasta Pasta with shrimp, catfish entrée, truffle fries, and the honey cornbread (which sells out, so go early). Seating is limited and waits can stretch — expect 20+ minutes to get seated and served when it's busy.

Chef Michael Beltran's Michelin-starred flagship sends Cuban soul through a French-technique lens: expect the pastrami-style wagyu short rib, tableside canard a la presse, and the cult foie gras. The tasting menu is where the kitchen shows off. Honest caveat: this is a $$$$ splurge with tight seating and reservations that vanish fast, so it's a plan-ahead special-occasion night, not a walk-in.

A beloved Uruguayan restaurant with strong Italian influence in Coconut Grove that doubles as a market, café, bakery, and gelato counter — making it a worthwhile stop any time of day. Must-orders include the dulce de leche gelato, branzino, milanesa, focaccia, and the rogel for dessert. Service is generally warm and personal, though at least one visit produced an overcooked steak served wrong and a bill pushing $100+ for a solo lunch, so budget accordingly.