Sunday Good Times: Miami's Best Restaurants Fall 25 + Interview with @MrEats305
Once a dining scene built on bottle service and borrowed concepts, Miami has found its soul.
There was a time when Miami dining was defined by outsiders. The food scene was flashy, transient, and seasonal, a supporting act to nightlife and real estate. People came here to party, not to eat. But that Miami is gone. Over the last five years, a quiet revolution has taken root in the kitchens, bars, and backstreets of this city. It’s been led partially by big hospitality groups or imported concepts, but more by locals, lifers, and a new generation of chefs who see Miami not as a layover, but as home.
Today, Miami’s food culture feels evolving, world-class and beginning to be deeply local. The restaurants here aren’t copying New York or chasing Michelin stars; they’re building something uniquely Floridian. The best chefs are as fluent in Latin comfort food as they are in Japanese technique or Parisian service. They care about design, detail, and sourcing. There’s an emotional intelligence to dining in Miami now, a soulfulness that transcends the plate.
The result is a city in full bloom: one where great food doesn’t just exist but thrives in every corner, from hidden strip malls to beachfront hotels, from all-day cafés to after-dark institutions. Miami has found its rhythm. This is the moment where our culinary identity catches up to our cultural one.
Here are the restaurants defining that identity right now, the ones setting the standard, shaping the taste, and giving Miami its long-overdue seat at the global dining table.
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Best Food: Boia De
Still the crown jewel of Miami’s indie restaurant movement. Boia De’s intimate strip-mall setting hides one of the city’s most consistently inventive kitchens, where every dish feels personal and precise. The plates may be small, but the flavors—and the feeling—are huge.
Favorite Items: Baked Clams, Crispy Potato Caviar, Tagliolini Nero, Tiramisu
Best Experience: Sunny’s Steakhouse
Retro romance meets modern hospitality. Whether you’re in the garden under the string lights or tucked into a booth inside, Sunny’s delivers that ineffable feeling of Miami nostalgia reimagined for now. It’s warm, charming, and quietly perfect.
Favorite Items: Parker House Rolls, Martinis, Agnolotti, Bucatini, Kouign- Amann Ice Cream Sandwich, Green Ghoul
Hottest Coolest Place to Be: The Joyce
It’s the restaurant that everyone’s already talking about because its delicious, intimate, and filled with the people you want to be around. The Joyce blends cultural cachet, the best art in the world from owner Andre Sakhai aka @jewpanesebaby, and culinary chops with creativity and fun from James Taylor, serving a menu that matches the energy of the crowd: magnetic, a little chaotic, and totally irresistible. It’s a sign of whats coming for Miami, courtesy of one of my favorite hotels, the Esme.
Don’t Miss: Sunday Chinese, Off the Menu Specials (Can you say Crunchwrap?), and Arguably the Best Burger in Miami
Best Imported Steakhouse, and Maybe Imported Restaurant: Cote
At Cote, every steak tells a story. Simon Kim’s temple to dry-aged perfection is for people who think about marbling the way artists think about brushstrokes. It’s a place where precision meets play—the lighting, the pacing, the energy all tuned to a higher frequency. Kim and his team are relentless about quality and creativity, and it shows: each table feels like a stage, each bite a moment of theater. The result? A steakhouse that’s as spiritual as it is sensory.
Insider Tip: Cote has the best lunch in the Miami Design District and the quality does not miss a beat.
Best Clubstaurant (With Great Food): Papi Steak
Theatrics aside, Papi Steak remains the rare see-and-be-seen spot that’s also genuinely delicious. Behind the steak parades and sparklers, there’s serious cooking happening, steaks (kosher butchered meats) seared to perfection, sides that overdeliver, and a sense of occasion few places can replicate. David Grutman is the master of Miami and David Einhorn has created the ultimate alter-ego. This place always delivers big and is getting renovated before season, so it’s about to deliver even bigger.
Don’t Miss: Wagyu Pastrami, Glatt Kosher Tomahawk, Truffle Kosher Chicken
Best Handrolls: Pari Pari / Nami Nori / Midorie
The new wave of sushi handroll bars in Miami feels like a study in contrasts and culture. Pari Pari brings a distinctly French precision to the art of sushi—clean lines, perfect rhythm, and quiet confidence. Nami Nori, Pharrell’s stylish New York import in the Design District, adds polish and playfulness, with a touch of celebrity gloss.
And Midorie, the homegrown original from Lagowitz and crew, keeps things grounded, casual, warm, and unmistakably Miami.
Together, they mark the rise of the New Handroll Movement: global technique, local flavor, and just the right amount of cool.
Pari Pari
Nami Nori
Midorie
Best Sushi: Aoko
It’s the best sushi in Miami, period. The young chefs behind Aoko are cool, confident, and obsessed with their craft. Their combinations are inventive without trying too hard, the fish is always pristine, and the presentation is artful in that effortless way. The room has that perfect low-key vibe, stylish but relaxed, with just the right energy. It’s sushi done by people who really care, and it shows in every bite.
Aoko
Best Fancy Burger: Pastis
Yes, it’s a French bistro. Yes, it serves one of the city’s most refined burgers. The Pastis burger is proof that luxury can be casual, juicy, balanced, and perfectly Parisian-by-way-of-NYC. And there is another one coming to West Palm.
Don’t Miss: Best lunch and brunch in Wynwood. Perfect place for Friday afternoon cocktails that turn into a night.
Pastis
Best Dirty Burger: Babe’s Meat Counter
No frills, no filters, just meat done right. Babes’ burger is an ode to the art of indulgence, messy, smoky, and utterly satisfying. This is where cheat days become traditions. Go south to Babe’s in Palmetto Bay, where you will always find something indulgent and perfectly delish.
Babe’s Meat Counter
Best Mediterranean: LPM
On any given day, the best restaurant in Miami. Still the class act of Brickell, LPM delivers Riviera glamour without pretense—where every detail feels effortless and every dish unforgettable. The cocktail program is unmatched (the Tomatini alone deserves its own award), the Sancerre pours perfectly, the chicken is to die for, and the fish is exquisite. Every vegetable is a masterclass, even the pastas sing, and dessert—French toast and apple tarte tatin—is pure bliss. Miami’s best, full stop.
Don’t Miss: The Tomatini, Lentils, Baby Chicken, and their perfectly cooked bread with one of the best olive oils we have ever tasted.
La Petit Maison
Best Private Clubhouse & Dining Room: ZZ’s Club
The city’s most discreet power room—and easily its most decadent. From pristine raw fish to buttery caviar toast, dry-aged steaks to hand-rolled cigars, everything at ZZ’s is designed and priced for personal service. The sushi is artful, the steaks rival the country’s best, and the cocktail list reads like a billionaire’s bar cart. There’s even a private sports bar tucked inside, where champagne flows as freely as conversation. Every inch of the place feels tailored, intentional, and quietly electric. Miami’s ultimate power dining room—if you’ve been invited, you’ve already made it.
Don’t Miss: Open to the general public for lunch.
ZZ’s Club
Best Food for Best Value: Walrus Rodeo
Boia De’s sibling is no longer the sidekick. With wood-fired pizzas, fresh pastas, and funky vegetables, and an atmosphere that feels more creative studio than restaurant, Walrus Rodeo proves casual dining can still be deeply inspired.
Walrus Rodeo
Top Italians: Mother Wolf, Carbone, Casa Tua, Macchialina, Luca Osteria, Il Gabbiano
At this point, Miami might as well be 33% Italian. Between the spritzes, the burrata, and the perfectly al dente rigatoni, we’ve reached a kind of beautiful pasta saturation. From the Roman confidence of Mother Wolf and the cinematic glamour of Carbone to Casa Tua’s garden intimacy, Macchialina’s neighborhood soul, Luca Osteria’s refined simplicity, and Il Gabbiano’s old-school waterfront power moves—there’s no clear “best.” Just an endless, delicious argument that reminds us: Miami doesn’t just do Italian. Miami is Italian.
Mother Wolf
Rome in the Design District—carbonara, amatriciana, and gricia done with unapologetic precision and swagger. A love letter to La Cucina Romana.
Carbone
Big-night energy and that infamous spicy rigatoni—Italian-American classics turned high drama on Collins Ave.
Casa Tua
Candlelit, villa-by-the-garden romance. Handmade pastas in one of Miami Beach’s most intimate dining rooms.
Macchialina
Neighborhood cult favorite where handmade pasta is the headline—don’t miss the signature cavatelli.
Luca Osteria
Coral Gables charm with chef-driven finesse—pasta al limone, truffle pastas, and short-rib ragù that overdelivers. lucamiami.com+2Resy | Right This Way+2
Il Gabbiano
Old-school power lunch on the bay—white-tablecloth service and classic pastas with waterfront views.
Top 6 Pizza’s: Marc’s Artisanal, Lucali, La Leggenda, Miami Slice, Eleventh Street
Five different moods, one shared obsession: perfect dough. From Lucali’s Brooklyn-by-the-beach heritage to Miami Slice’s late-night swagger, La Leggenda’s classic Neapolitan devotion to Eleventh Street’s sourdough street charm, Miami’s pizza scene is in full renaissance. Each of these spots has its own ritual, its own rhythm—the way the crust blisters, the sauce sings, the cheese stretches just so. Whether you’re chasing nostalgia or nuance, this is the short list that matters.
Marc’s Artisanal
A newcomer with an old soul. Every pie here is a love letter to simplicity—fermented dough, local produce, and a chef’s touch that turns restraint into art.
Lucali
The cult classic that made pizza feel romantic again. Candlelit tables, paper-thin crust, and a sauce so balanced it borders on spiritual.
La Leggenda
An ode to Naples in the heart of Miami Beach. Authentic, wood-fired, and fiercely traditional—where every Margherita feels like a ceremony.
Miami Slice
The modern icon. High heat, high energy, and slices that taste better after midnight. If you know, you know.
Eleventh Street
Sourdough pies with neighborhood swagger. Funky, chewy, local, and proud of it—where fermentation meets finesse.
Best Iced Coffee & Iced Matcha: Sunshine Coffee, The Miami Iced
Yes, we are biased, but that’s because we spent 10+ years figuring out the best way to Iced Coffee and 5 years playing around with Iced Matcha. That's what it took to create Miami’s new signature drink. The Miami Iced is both an aesthetic and an addiction, smooth, slightly sweet, and no extra sugar, and perfect for morning or afternoon. It’s coffee culture Miami style, born, raised, and roasted in the 305. And it also comes in flavors, Banana Baby, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cookie Milk, and Matcha’s like Baby Blue Vanilla and Strawberry Flower.
Don’t Miss: The Sunshine Sando (Miami Beach’s Best BEC), the Brown Butter Focaccia Cinnamon Roll, & the Spicy Tuna Toast
Sunshine Coffee
Best All-Day Café & Healthy: Pura Vida
Bright, breezy, and genuinely good for you. Pura Vida’s empire keeps expanding, first to Palm Beach, then to New York and Los Angeles, and for good reason, it’s the rare healthy spot that doesn’t feel (or taste) like homework. All day breakfast, smoothies, acai bowls, and matcha that make wellness feel like pleasure. Our personal favorites are the Bali Crunch Acai, the Jen’s Herb Salad, and the Seared Ahi Tuna Platter. We have also recently heard amazing things about their new healthy soft serve that launched in Coconut Grove.
Don’t Miss: The Sunset Harbor location is the best people watching and networking in Miami. Stay long enough and you will never know who you will see.
Pura Vida
Best Cuban Coffee: Suite Habana or Tinta y Café
Old Miami soul, pure and simple. Whether it’s Suite Habana’s design-forward take on tradition or Tinta’s cozy charm, both deliver the jolt and joy that keep this city running.
Suite Habana is a love letter to old Havana wrapped in modern Miami style—sleek, sunlit, and soulful, where the cafecito is rich, the pastelitos flaky, and every detail feels intentional. Tinta y Café, on the other hand, is pure nostalgia: a family-run café where buttered toast meets perfect cortaditos, art fills the walls, and everyone feels like a regular. Together, they capture the two sides of Miami’s heart—refined and timeless, buzzing and familiar.
Suite Habana
Tinta y Cafe
Best Latin Bakery: Caracas
Caracas Bakery is a Venezuelan café and pastry shop in Miami that blends nostalgia with indulgence. Locals come here for the cachitos—soft, slightly sweet rolls stuffed with ham and cheese—but stay for the sweet pastries like the gooey Nutella Cruffin, flaky almond croissant, and sticky golfeado. There’s always something fresh coming out of the oven, and while seating can be limited, the warm smell of butter and coffee makes even a quick stop feel like home. Grab a box to go and enjoy it at the nearby park or on your drive down Collins.
Don’t Miss: Masters of the simple things, Pan Con Tomato, Soft Scrambled Eggs, or just fresh-baked bread with butter and jam. Obviously get the pastelitos, golfeados, and Cachito de Jamon.
Caracas Bakery
Best Non-Latin Bakery: True Loaf
True Loaf is a neighborhood bakery in South Beach that takes its craft seriously. Everything here is made from scratch, and you can taste it, especially in the perfectly crisp, buttery croissants that many consider the best in Miami. They also make excellent breads, like their country sourdough and baguettes, along with sandwiches that are simple but satisfying. It’s the kind of spot where locals line up early, the smell of fresh pastries fills the air, and everything feels just a little slower, in the best way.
Don’t Miss: The mini sandwiches on ficelle. Usually sold out by 11 am, they are some of the tastiest in Miami.
True Loaf
Best Gourmet Sandwiches: Chevre
Chèvre, from chef Mario Naar, is proof that sandwiches can have soul. What started as a humble Coral Way shop has become a Miami obsession—thinly sliced jamón, world-class cheeses, and golden pan de cristal turned into edible architecture. Now, Naar is bringing his cult-favorite concept to Coconut Grove in collaboration with The Ziggurat, where Chèvre will anchor the building’s sales center with a full market and wine bar. Expect signature hits like The Spaniard, La Italiana, and the “world-famous” grilled cheese, plus that burnt Basque cheesecake everyone talks about. It’s design meets decadence—where real estate and real taste finally overlap.
Don’t Miss: Lunch in the wine bar. Perfect place for an afternoon sandwich, wine, and a soccer game.
Chevre
Best Bagels: El Bagel
El Bagel is Miami’s hometown bagel shop that finally gave the city the chewy, hand-rolled bagel it deserved. What started as a pop-up out of a vintage truck became a cult breakfast destination, where the lines are long but the reward is real. The vibe is casual, the bagels are perfect, and somehow it all feels distinctly Miami—warm, sunny, and worth the wait.
We Hear: A new flagship is heading to Little River.
El Bagel
Best Splurge: The Surf Club Restaurant by Thomas Keller
Thomas Keller’s Surf Club Restaurant, tucked inside the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club in Surfside, is a master class in timeless luxury. The Michelin-starred dining room channels the glamour of the club’s 1930s heyday with its wood-paneled walls, terrazzo floors, and low, golden light, while Keller reimagines classic Continental dishes, think Caesar salad tossed tableside, lobster thermidor, and beef Wellington, with his signature precision. It’s formal yet relaxed, polished without pretense, and easily one of Miami’s most refined dining experiences, where old-school elegance meets modern perfection.
The Surf Club Restaurant by Thomas Keller
Best Brunch: Sunday Brunch on the Bay at Casadonna & Caviar & Champagne at The Setai
Equal parts theater and therapy. Casadonna’s brunch is pure Miami mythology—the kind of sun-drenched spectacle where the rosé never stops, the oysters glisten like jewelry, and the crowd looks like they were cast for the occasion. On any given Sunday, you’ll see yachts pulling up to the dock as DJs spin and champagne flows—a waterfront ritual that blurs the line between meal and moment.
Across town, The Setai’s Caviar & Champagne Brunch is its quiet counterpoint—an ode to refinement over revelry. Think crystal flutes, live jazz, and service so smooth it feels like meditation. It’s where the city’s insiders recharge—unhurried, elegant, and perfectly chilled.
Casadonna
The Setai
And Now, a Couple of Words on Dining with Mr. Eats 305
Miami’s dining scene has always been split between two states of mind: imported and inherited. On one side, there’s the curated glamour of Miami Beach—concepts with global PR and Michelin dreams, born elsewhere and reinterpreted for the tropics. On the other, there’s the native soul of the city—Cuban-born, Kendall-raised, steeped in memory, and flavored by generations that built Miami long before it became a destination.
Mr. Eats 305 lives in that second world. His Miami isn’t branded—it’s bred. It’s the ventanita at midnight, the pastelito before work, the family spot that’s survived three hurricanes and two booms. Where outsiders chase novelty, he sees continuity. Where others see a scene, he sees a lineage.
Together, these two worlds—imported aspiration and native authenticity—define Miami today. It’s a city constantly negotiating its appetite: luxury or legacy, influence or inheritance, show or substance. The truth, of course, is that the magic lives somewhere in between—where a Kendall kid and a Beach transplant can sit down, break bread, and agree that Miami has finally learned to taste like itself.
Watch the full interview at the link below:
The Only Constant Is Change
If there’s one thing we know about Miami, it’s that it never stays still. Restaurants here open, peak, and evolve at the speed of a tide shift—pulled by the gravity of hype, heat, and hustle. But that’s also what makes dining here thrilling. Every month brings a new contender, a new name, a new flavor rewriting the rules of what Miami can be.
This list isn’t definitive. It’s a snapshot—a moment in time when Miami feels like the center of something big, something beautiful, something finally its own. The truth is, someone’s already in a test kitchen right now, quietly plotting to knock every one of these names off the list. And when they do, we’ll be first in line, fork in hand, ready to taste what’s next.
Keep your SPF high and your standards higher.
See you at the beach.
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PS. You can write off your subscription, it’s a cost of doing business in the MIA.