Miami, Florida is a foodie wonderland! If you’re visiting Miami, check out these restaurant and dish recommendations to make your stay memorable.
I’m not sure how Miami does it. When I was researching the best places to eat in Miami, I got a little concerned that my list was growing and growing! Miami is a foodie city that I don’t hear about enough, so this is going to be a long post to make up for it.
With only four days in Miami, I didn’t have enough time to fully indulge, but I did get a handful of great meals and plenty of recommendations for my next visit to Miami.
Must-Try Foods
Many of the “must-try” foods are Cuban because of the vibrant Cuban culture and influences. Other recommendations are dishes Miami does especially well.
- Cuban Sandwich aka Cubano – Let’s start with the obvious! Did you know this sandwich originated in the U.S.? It’s a pressed sandwich with ham, roasted pork, swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard.
- Cortadito – Also known as Cuban coffee or Cuban espresso, this drink is like an espresso with equal parts steamed milk. It usually includes sugar.
- Croquetas – This is a breaded and fried snack, similar to a fried mozzarella stick, but the filling is usually mashed potatoes or meat.
- Empanadas – This fried pastry is usually stuffed with spinach, ham with cheese, or pork.
- Arepa – This dish involves corn flour patties as “buns” and usually with meat in between. It reminds me of an English muffin sandwich.
- Mofongo – This is a popular Puerto Rican dish that includes fried plantains and is mashed with other ingredients into a ball. A sauce is poured over it and the dish is topped with protein.
- Stone Crab – The majority of stone crab claws are harvested in the tip of Florida. Did you know they only take one claw from the crab and it regenerates in a year? They are usually eaten cold and served smashed since the shell is very thick.
- Fried Snapper – This is usually a whole fried snapper!
- Key Lime Pie – Be sure to get a slice of this pie! Key limes from Key West, Florida make this pie famous.
- Pastelitos – This sweet or savory pastry is similar to a turnover.
Casual Miami Restaurants
Looking for a quick but good meal? No reservations required, though sometimes recommended. Check out some of these restaurants for a more casual breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Bodega Taqueria y Tequila – These tacos are fantastic! Psst, they taste even better late night. 😉
Café Versailles / Versailles – Their menu is huge and you’ll be able to find lots of Cuban dishes. Versailles is the sit-down restaurant while Café Versailles is more casual.
Jimmy’z Kitchen – We came here specifically for mofongo! It was a huge and hearty dish.
Joe’s Stone Crab – This was my first time having stone crab! It was very tasty. The main restaurant is more formal but if you’re in casual clothes, especially if you’re coming from the beach, go to Joe’s Take Away next door. You’ll order at the counter and find a table.
Las Olas – Since this café was right outside our Airbnb, we went here daily for cortaditos and Cuban sandwiches, and empanadas. All of it was so good! O Group has a few restaurants in Miami.
Rosetta Bakery – This Italian bakery will give you all the heart eyes with its pretty pastries and interior design.
Wynwood Kitchen & Bar – This is a restaurant surrounded by art! They have a solid menu also. We tried the short ribs, guacamole, and deviled eggs.
Be sure to check out these restaurants also:
- 27 Restaurant – Global-inspired American fare
- Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop – Cuban food
- La Latina – Venezuelan food, get your arepas here
- Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink – New American food
- Taquiza – Mmm tacos!
- Yardbird – Farm-to-table Southern food
Fancier Miami Restaurants
If you’re looking for a nice meal in Miami, you’ve got options. You probably want to make a reservation for these.
La Mar – Located at the Mandarin Oriental hotel, this Peruvian Asian fusion restaurant was very impressive. Highly recommend the lobster ceviche and the crab causa.
Also, check out:
- Byblos – Eastern Mediterranean cuisine
- Ce.viche – Peruvian cuisine
- KYU – Sushi and Japanese food
- Mignonette – Seafood and oyster bar
- Sugarcane Raw Bar – Small plates and fancy cocktails
- Upland – Italian-inspired cuisine
Don’t Forget Dessert in Miami
Y’all know this is my favorite category! Cake, pie, and ice cream, Miami’s got it and it is good!
Bunnie Cakes – These cakes are vegan?! One taste and I knew how they’ve earned all their recognition. These are even better than some non-vegan cupcakes I’ve had, and their bakery is adorable!
Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop – Where else would I try key lime pie?! I usually don’t like tart pies but this one was so smooth! Easily the best I’ve ever had.
Azucar Ice Cream Company – I’m not sure how Cuban ice cream differs from American ice cream but I do know that Azucar Ice Cream Company makes good ice cream! Their famous Abuela Maria flavor is vanilla ice cream with guava, cream cheese, and Maria cookies.
Looking for more sweets? Here you go:
- B Bistro + Bakery
- Icebox Cafe
- Karla Bakery
- Milani Gelateria
- Mojo Donuts + Fried Chicken
- The Salty Donut
- Zak the Baker Bakery
Best Breweries in Miami
I would not have guessed Miami is a brewery town but theirs can definitely hold their own. We visited three on this visit and enjoyed all of them!
Concrete Beach Brewery – This place was hopping and not only because of their beers. I loved the design and set-up of this brewery. The TangeRICA, an IPA, was my favorite.
Wynwood Brewing Company – I love that their tap handles are spray paint cans decorated by artists. Be sure to try the Simcoe SMASH.
Abbey Brewing Co. – Located on Miami Beach and next door to Yardbird, this brewery happened to be the place we heard the best playlist our entire time in Miami. They also brew some good beers, including the Hop Lab, an IPA.
Also, consider:
- J. Wakefield Brewing
- Veza Sur Brewing Company
- Wood Tavern – Not a brewery but a bar to try different breweries
- Miami Brewing Company – A little far out of town but you can find their cans in town.
Bottoms Up – Cocktails in Miami
MO Bar + Lounge – We stopped here after dinner at La Mar downstairs and had some solid cocktails. The ambiance is cool and classy and you’ll find a beautiful view of Miami on the patio.
Find more cocktails here:
Re-Fuel with Green Juice
Miami Food and Drink Map
Use this handy map to help you plan your trip and find good eats in Miami!
Restaurants – blue
Breweries – orange
Desserts – coral
Cocktails – yellow
Green Juice – green
The long weekend trip was definitely not enough time to eat my way around Miami but I’m looking forward to going back for more Cuban food.
Have you been to Miami? What did you eat there?
Want more about Miami? See:
- Recommendations of things to do in Miami (including bachelorette party tips)
- Miami Travel Guide
P.S. Want to check out some other foodie U.S. cities? See my foodie guides for Chicago, Nashville, or Charleston.
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