Restaurants

You won’t be deprived of any cuisine in this diverse city, which has an unsurprising number of Latin restaurants complemented by everything from upscale American food and street food to buffets and cuisine from almost every corner of the world.

The Latin flavor of the city pervades almost every neighborhood, but this isn’t to say that other cuisine types aren’t worth trying. In fact, Miami plays host to a slew of culinary events throughout the year in which celebrity chefs debut innovative creations, which ultimately set the stage for international culinary trends that permeate the world of gastronomy. As a result of this, Miami as a whole offers an eclectic mix of food, including a variety of fusion restaurants, which reflect the diversity of the city and its flavors.

Being home to some of the most innovative cuisine in America, Miami is still accessible to those with big and small budgets. While those with larger wallets have their pick of top-notch restaurants, those on tighter budgets also have a variety of options to choose from as well. It’s as easy to spend $30 for a delicious dinner for two, as it is to spend $300. Neighborhoods like Little Havana and Little Haiti are full of tasty cultural gems and not just because the food is cheap. Many of the city’s dining destinations are cultural experiences within themselves. Visitors should try at least one of the city’s Cuban restaurants to understand the influence of Cuban culture in Miami. The city’s access to fresh, local fish should also be taken advantage of whether you splurge on seafood at Joe’s Stone Crab or just grab a fish sandwich at Garcia’s.

Overview

Most visitors come to Miami for sun and sand, but visiting local restaurants is an ideal way to get to know the city. Some neighborhoods can be defined by their restaurant selection—on Calle Ocho (8th Street) in Little Havana, Cuban and various types of Latin food are ubiquitous and will yield the closest thing to an authentic Cuban restaurant aside from visiting the island.

This list is in no way a comprehensive inventory of every restaurant (or every good restaurant, at that) in the city. In fact, there are dozens (possibly hundreds) more that are not listed. This strategy is partially to highlight neighborhoods (i.e., Miami Beach), which are the most frequented and accessible areas of the city. Other areas such as Kendall attract fewer tourists but still offer dining options that make going out of the way worthwhile.

Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order by cuisine. Within certain neighborhoods (i.e., Miami Beach or Coconut Grove) it’s easy to walk from almost any given restaurant for dinner, let’s say, to a bar, club, or lounge afterward. In other neighborhoods (i.e., Little Havana) a car or public transportation is almost necessary to get around before or after. Many restaurants offer free parking for patrons but keep in mind that fancier restaurants, especially those in Miami Beach or Coconut Grove where parking space is limited, will yield an additional parking expense. Some restaurants require reservations, which are noted in the applicable listing, while others encourage patrons to waltz in anytime.

It is usually safe to assume that major credit cards and debit cards are accepted at most establishments. Notes have been made where cash-only is the policy. Nonetheless, for those who only have one method of payment, it is best to call in advance and check with the restaurant specifically as policies may change frequently. Further, it is also safe to assume that street food vendors or any informal establishment is cash-only.