City: Miami Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1657 Michigan Ave.
2. News Cafe
City: Miami Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (305) 538-6397
Address: 800 Ocean Dr.
Description: What started in 1988 as an unassuming sidewalk cafe with a news kiosk has turned into a 24-hour, people-watching landmark. While tourists may have replaced the models that formerly populated the restaurant, it is still worthwhile to grab an outside table for prime people-watching real estate. Service is slow and sometimes surly, but the menu is consistent. The Middle Eastern combo platter, which comes with fresh pita and generous servings of hummus, tabouli, and baba ghanouj, still draws rave reviews. Breakfast is served 24 hours a day making it an ideal stop for late-night pancake hankerings. For those who are flexible with timing, avoid the cafe at peak hours as waits can be long and frustrating.
3. Charlotte Bakery
City: Miami Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (305) 535-0095
Address: 1499 Washington Ave.
Description: Empanadas are the staple at this local beach bakery. Chile native Gladys Jofre opened her doors in 1996, though her expertise dated back to the 1960s when she opened her first bakery in Santiago. After living in Caracas and Venezuela, operating similar empanada businesses, Jofre integrates these eclectic flavors into the menu, which is separated by location: Venezuela, Argentina, and Chile. The bakery has been featured in Food Network Magazine and is a local favorite for consistent and affordable empanadas. Catering services are also available.
4. Bar-B-Que Beach
City: Miami Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (305) 538-7201
Address: 1555 Washington Ave.
Description: One of the newest contenders to the Miami BBQ scene, Bar-B-Que Beach has a devoted South Beach following. Baby back ribs, beef, and chicken are rubbed to perfection, smoked until succulent (precisely 14 hours over smoldering wood) and served with two Southern sides. If you are looking for something lighter, there are also several fish options, burgers, and even salads. The restaurant sometimes posts unannounced specials on their Twitter so be sure to check their page often. There is also a full-service bar, which regularly hosts DJs and holds a popular karaoke night on Friday.
5. Big Pink
City: Miami Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (305) 532-4700
Address: 157 Collins Ave.
Insider Pick:
Description: Big Pink is a Miami darling, especially with the late night (or early morning) crowd with a craving for big portions of grease. Pink is open until 4 a.m. and resides across the street from Opium nightclub. Brunch fanatics also flock to the restaurant for every imaginable dish in plus size in addition to their scrumptious sweet potato fries. There’s free delivery from 9 a.m. to midnight and 1 a.m. on Fri and Sat so ordering in on the beach is an option for those who can’t make it there.
6. David’S Cafe
City: Miami Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (305) 534-8736
Address: 1058 Collins Ave.
Description: Those who have a thing for Cuban coffee must stop by David’s Cafe for a cup or two during a visit to Miami Beach. David’s is a local favorite and attracts coffee drinkers on the go as well as hungry beachgoers seeking a hearty breakfast meal. After being opened in 1977 by Cuban immigrants, this spot became an instant favorite and is now open 24/7 to prove it. Aside from coffee and breakfast, David’s serves dinner and lunch anytime. A second location is at 1654 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach (305-672-8707).
City: Miami Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1418 Ocean Dr. at the Penguin Hotel
8. Nikki Beach
City: Miami Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (786) 515-1130
Address: 1 Ocean Dr.
Description: Nikki Beach’s legendary brunch has very little to do with food and a lot to do with being seen. While being surrounded by half-naked men and women does little for most appetites, the all-you-can-eat brunch buffet has a variety of pastries, egg dishes, as well as salads and sushi rolls that are extremely appetizing. There is a dining room indoors, but it’s best to sit outside in order to get the full Nikki Beach experience. Although the crowd certainly thinks it’s A-list, it is in fact mostly tourists, albeit attractive ones.
9. Palace Bar And Restaurant
City: Miami Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (305) 531-7234
Address: 1200 Ocean Dr.
Description: The Palace is best known as being home to some of the best drag shows in the city, but it’s also a restaurant especially revered for its Sunday brunch. The restaurant fare consists of traditional American-style grub: salads, mozzarella sticks, sandwiches, wraps, and burgers. Every day until 2 p.m. traditional breakfast is served, but the Sunday Brunchic, which runs weekly from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., costs $29.99 flat per person and includes drag entertainment, unlimited mimosas, and choices from the traditional breakfast menu: eggs, french toast, fruit, the works.
City: Miami Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1766 Bay Rd.
11. 8 Oz. Burger Bar
City: Miami Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (305) 397-8246
Address: 1080 Alton Rd.
Description: The house mix for the standard 8 oz. burger consists of a unique blend of Himalayan sirloin, tri-tip, short rib, and chuck. This spot has been voted one of the top spots for a burger in Miami and always sticks with the highest quality beef. Salads and small snacks like deviled eggs and fried olives can also be found on the menu and there are a variety of drinks, including $5 drink specials throughout the week. The bar has several microbrews on tap and a range of imports in bottles. There are also classic cocktails and several with innovative twists like a lavender mint mojito and a Bloody Mary made with bacon-infused vodka. It’s an ideal late-night snack spot as they stay open until midnight (open at 11 a.m.) from Sun through Wed and until 2 a.m. on Thurs through Sat (open at 11 a.m.).
12. Shake Shack
City: Miami Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (305) 434-7787
Address: 1111 Lincoln Rd.
Description: New York chef Danny Meyer recently opened an outpost of his popular New York burger joint in the Herzog and de Meuron–designed 1111 building. Besides the legendary Shack burger (a sirloin and brisket mix), there are hotdogs, deep-fried mushrooms for vegetarians, fries, and frozen custards, which feature new flavors throughout the week. Sadly, the long lines that the New York locations are infamous for have also migrated south.
13. Clarke’S
City: Miami Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (305) 538-9885
Address: 840 1st St.
Description: Pretty much the antithesis to the South Beach nightlife scene, Clarke’s is the place to escape the overly slick crowds and cozy up to a pint. There is plenty of hearty pub grub that spans the globe (and the pond); American fare includes Buffalo wings, chili, and burgers, and English fish and chips, bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie are also on the menu. The restaurant’s brunch menu offers a traditional Irish breakfast (complete with grilled tomato, beans, and sausage) along with familiar breakfast staples like eggs Benedict and French toast and $5 Bloody Marys.
14. Tap Tap Haitian Restaurant
City: Miami Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (305) 672-2898
Address: 819 5th St.
Description: Tap Tap is a hybrid restaurant, art gallery, and cultural center, which is a local Haitian favorite in the city. Admire the colorful, original artwork by Haitian artists along the walls and enjoy Haitian culinary specialties such as malanga fritters (a native root vegetable) and pieces of grilled goat.
15. Jerry’S Deli
City: Miami Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (305) 532-8030
Address: 1450 Collins Ave.
Description: Miami is not the only American city you’ll find Jerry’s, but it’s worth a mention to honor its generous portions of deli grub. There are more than 600 items on the menu, so every visitor will find something to his or her liking. This is a deli, so triple-decker sandwiches are taken quite seriously: A few deli staples include the roast turkey and bacon club and the baked salmon on a bagel. Almost anything you can imagine has a place on the gigantic menu, so it is always a go-to place for families or groups of picky eaters.