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Tours in Miami |
Miami boasts a huge range of restaurants catering to all tastes and pockets. The selected restaurants have been divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments.
As well as a 7% state sales tax, the municipality of Miami Beach levies an additional 2% on restaurants (to help the homeless). These taxes are not included in menu prices but are added to the bill at the end. A few places also include a service charge in the bill but this is not common. It is normal to leave a tip of 15-20% for service.
The restaurants below have been grouped into four different price categories:
$$$$ (over US$70)
$$$ (US$35 to US$70)
$$ (US$20 to US$35)
$ (under US$20)
These prices are for an average three-course meal for one person with a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent; they do not include taxes, service charge or tip.
Gastronomic
A Fish Called Avalon
In the heart of South Beach's art deco district, this streetside patio restaurant is ideal for people-watching along bustling, palm-lined Ocean Drive. Latin-Caribbean music adds to the festive and romantic atmosphere for indoor or outside diners. Fresh seafood is delivered daily and all dishes are crafted with Chef Joe's touch for sensuous, tropical textures and flavours, earning A Fish Called Avalon the Zagat rating for Best Seafood Restaurant. Try the Florida snapper au poivre with mango relish, cilantro-cured swordfish, rack of lamb or sea-salt crusted New York strip, with recommended wine pairings. Desserts are light and fruity, and easily followed with a port or dessert wine.
700 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
Tel: (305) 532 1727.
Website: www.afishcalledavalon.com
Price: $$$$
Baleen Miami
Cross a small bridge from Coconut Grove to the private Grove Isle for Miami's most romantic dining experience. Whimsical monkeys, flaming torches and candlelit elegance add to the exotic atmosphere and food. Dine at intimate tables overlooking Biscayne Bay, enjoying the warm night breezes, or bask in oriental elegance amid chandeliers of hanging monkeys, candlelight and billowing gauze drapes. There is an extensive wine list for any palate or purse, from US$29-1,500. Begin with monkey bread and dipping spices from the Orient. The chef's lobster bisque is not to be missed. His inspired creativity with organic produce and fresh-caught seafood is memorable, earning the AAA Four Diamond Award for the past four years. This is a real treasure hidden away on its own secluded island.
Four Grove Island Drive
Tel: (305) 860 4386.
Website: www.groveisle.com
Price: $$$$
Chef Allen's
Chef Allen's is an ideal restaurant for a special occasion. Chef-owner Allen Susser is counted among America's most respected chefs, celebrated for his innovative New World and ‘Floribbean' cuisine. The stylish art deco restaurant, with its contemporary artwork, fresh flowers and pink neon lighting, surrounds a glass-enclosed kitchen. Here, you can watch Allen create masterpieces from his nightly changing menu, such as pistachio-encrusted black grouper with mango, leeks and coconut rum or tamarind chilli BBQ dry-aged prime sirloin steak with smoked onion mashed potato and mango ketchup. Reservations recommended. No lunch.
19088 North East 29th Avenue, Aventura
Tel: (305) 935 2900.
Website: www.chefallens.com
Price: $$$$
Norman's
One of America's most celebrated chefs, Norman Van Aken is considered by many to be the originator of ‘New World cuisine' - a blend of Latin, Caribbean, Asian and American cooking, and his restaurant is one of Florida's finest. Among the highlights from a daily changing menu are the starter of yucca-stuffed crispy shrimp with a sour-orange mojo and the main of Elysian Fields Farm lamb loin and sausage with roasted garlic cake, grilled lettuce and violet mustard emulsion. All the exquisite dishes are served from an open kitchen in ultra-modern surroundings to a chic clientele of food aficionados. Reservations recommended.
21 Almeria Avenue, Coral Gables
Tel: (305) 446 6767.
Website: www.normans.com
Price: $$$$
Prezzo Restaurant and Martini Bar
Elegant black-and-white decor, a piano bar and nightly entertainment create a lively yet intimate atmosphere for casual dining. Located in North Miami's Aventura district, Prezzo's menu has taken on a distinctly Mediterranean and world cuisine flavour under the direction of new owner and chef, Kal Abdulla. Speciality Martinis and an expanded wine list please the most sophisticated palates. Starters, such as juicy pan-seared scallops or tuna tartare with mandarin oranges, jalapenos, pine nuts, cilantro and sesame oil, simply melt in the mouth. After tantalising choices of seafood, roast duck or mouth-watering steak, the perfect signature dessert is the caramelised crème brulée with fresh berries. Diners can then adjourn to the outdoor patio for a high-end cigar or hookah.
18831 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura
Tel: (305) 931 5775.
Website: www.prezzofl.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Business
Aaria
The signature restaurant of the ultra-luxurious Acqualina Resort (see Hotels), Aaria offers both indoor and outdoor dining overlooking a tropical oasis to the turquoise waters of the Atlantic glistening under a South Florida sun. Delectable fresh Mediterranean coastal cuisine is served alfresco on the verandah, under soft tropical breezes and the soothing sound of splashing water. Special items include crab cake sandwich on jalapeno brioche, and the grilled coriander spiced mahi-mahi with a truffle vinaigrette. For dinner choose from the light tapas menu if you can resist such dishes as grilled baby conch mariscade or coriander-dusted ahi tuna with a watermelon Martini. Chef Peters serves complimentary delicacies to those sipping at the 6m (20ft) bar.
Acqualina, A Rosewood Resort
17875 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach
Tel: (305) 918 8000.
Website: www.acqualinaresort.com
Price: $$-$$$
Capital Grille
This upscale, New York-style steakhouse is a popular restaurant for power lunches and dinners and is conveniently located in the heart of the Financial District of downtown Miami. Specialities include dry-aged beef and succulent seafood, while the service is notoriously formal. There is live music in the evenings from Tuesday to Saturday. Reservations are recommended. No lunch weekends.
444 Brickell Avenue, Brickell Village
Tel: (305) 374 4500.
Website: www.thecapitalgrille.com
Price: $$$$
Cascade Restaurant
Expect casual poolside dining at the 61-hectare (150-acre) Biltmore Hotel estate (see Hotels). The restaurant overlooks the largest pool in the Continental US, surrounded by rows of statues, palms, waterfalls and Italianate buildings. The relaxing setting is regularly enhanced with synchronised bathing beauties, live jazz and a Sunday brunch and pig roast. The menu focuses on fresh seafood, tropical fruit, Caribbean dishes and healthy, organic spa cuisine. Highlights include the Caribbean-style bisque, marinated grouper ceviche, Florida stone crabs and char-grilled churrasco steaks.
Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables
Tel: (305) 445 1926.
Website: www.biltmorehotel.com
Price: $$-$$$
China Grill
The name is misleading. There are no mini pagodas and Chinese dragons on the walls here, as this buzzing, atmospheric restaurant specialises in ‘world cuisine,' combining ingredients, flavours and techniques from around the globe. Menu highlights include irresistible treats like the crispy duck with caramelised black vinegar sauce or the grilled garlic shrimp with black fettuccini and red curry coconut sauce. It is especially popular for business lunches and with the ‘beautiful people' of South Beach. Reservations recommended. No lunch weekends.
404 Washington Avenue, South Beach
Tel: (305) 534 2211.
Website: www.chinagrillmgt.com/chinaMI
Price: $$$$
Smith and Wollensky's
One of a national chain who boast ‘a steakhouse to end all arguments,' this restaurant has a Miami Beach location that offers spectacular views of the ocean and downtown skyline and unbeatable dry-aged prime steak. Menu highlights include a mustard crusted tuna and steak. Try the crackling pork shank and firecracker apple sauce, recently voted 'Dish of the Year' by USA Today. The Deco Bar and warm decor create a relaxed atmosphere. Attire is business casual. Open every day for lunch and supper. Reservations recommended.
1 Washington Avenue (at South Pointe Park), Miami Beach
Tel: (305) 673 2800.
Website: www.smithandwollensky.com/miami_beach.htm
Price: $$$$
Trendy
1220
Located at the Tides, one of South Beach's most glamorous art deco hotels (see Hotels), this beautiful, minimalist restaurant is decorated almost entirely in white, with crisp linens, candles and fresh flowers on all the tables. The food is equally simple and uncluttered, focusing on fusion or ‘progressive American' cuisine, such as lobster gazpacho and grouper in a curry-ginger broth. There is a small but select wine list to complement the menu. Reservation recommended.
Tides, 1220 Ocean Drive, South Beach
Tel: (305) 604 5130.
Website: www.tideshotel.com
Price: $$$$
Café TuTuTango
This hugely popular café-restaurant, at the heart of the action in Coconut Grove, is decorated to resemble an artist's loft in Spain, with dozens of original paintings on the walls. Diners lounge in comfy armchairs or at sturdy wooden tables, entertained by artists poised at easels, strolling musicians and magicians, while chefs at three open kitchens prepare an adventurous menu of hot and cold tapas-style dishes. The choice is bewildering, ranging from pizzas, kebabs, BBQ wings and ribs to specialities such as alligator bites, hurricane shrimp fritters and Cajun chicken egg rolls, all washed down with a jug of sangria, ‘Matisse Margarita' or ‘Picasso punch.' Reservations are not accepted.
CocoWalk, 3015 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove
Tel: (305) 529 2222.
Website: www.cafetututango.com
Price: $$$
Morada Bay Beach Café
Experience the laid-back atmosphere of the Keys and a perfect tropical sunset at Morada Bay, where you can sip on exotic illuminated cocktails while sitting barefoot at tables on the white sand beach. The American-Caribbean menu offers the best seafood in the Keys, with excellent tapas such as grouper ceviche and Thai-style dolphin fingers with a tropical fruit salsa. The conch chowder is a must. Nightly specials may include lobster or yellowtail snapper, and the chef's recommendations are a sure bet. There is an impressive wine list for every occasion. The casually elegant bistro set in the sand, along with its upscale sophisticated neighbour Pierre's, is West African plantation style, with wide verandahs and plantation shutters. It is a romantic beachside café, even while children play in the sand and diners relax in white Adirondack chairs. The renowned full moon parties, which draw revellers from far and wide every full moon, feature live bands on the beach, a DJ, firewalkers and jugglers.
MM 81, 81600 Overseas Highway, Islamorada
Tel: (305) 664 0604.
Website: www.moradabay-restaurant.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Pearl Restaurant and Champagne Bar
The Euro-suave Pearl Restaurant and Champagne Bar is the hip and trendy spot for the beautiful people on South Beach's southernmost tip. Lounge on the all-white leather shell-shaped chairs and couches around the champagne bar under space age orange and violet lighting. Dine on caviar and lobster while sipping champagne in this exotic utopia, where celebs and models pursue the hedonistic lifestyle. Dishes on the Asian fusion menu, featuring fresh seafood and tropical flavours, are truly a work of art. Once the tables are cleared, Pearl transforms into one of Miami's top nightclubs, its hot and sensual beat pulsing till dawn. It is open weekends only, Friday-Sunday, 1900 to 0500.
1 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
Tel: (305) 538 1231.
Website: www.nikkibeach.com/portimao
Price: $$$-$$$$
Wish
Wish is one of South Beach's culinary hotspots, located in The Hotel - an art deco boutique hotel with interiors by fashion designer Todd Oldham. Executive chef Michael Bloise brings his unpretentious eclectic cooking style to Wish, fusing classic American and contemporary Asian cuisine. His flavoursome dishes might include tuna tartare with picked ginger sorbet or the five-spiced pork chop with spicy sweet potato and edamame hash, and red curry dijon. The unusual outdoor-indoor restaurant provides a choice of alfresco dining in a lush tropical garden setting or in the colourful, cosy Persian-inspired restaurant.
The Hotel, 801 Collins Avenue, South Beach
Tel: (305) 674 9474.
Website: www.wishrestaurant.com
Price: $$$$
Budget
Johnny Rockets
The pastel-coloured art deco buildings of South Beach provide a suitably light-hearted backdrop for Johnny Rockets diner, one of the most popular breakfast venues in the district, with its sensational cooked breakfasts served on the pavement terrace in full view of all the film-star wannabes, supermodels, tourists, joggers and rollerbladers cruising on Ocean Drive. The rest of the day, this classic diner, decked out with old jukeboxes and a Harley Davidson, serves old-time favourites (hamburgers, hot dogs, salads and club sandwiches) along with milk shakes, ice cream sodas and hot fudge sundaes.
728 Ocean Drive, South Beach
Tel: (305) 538 2115.
Website: www.johnnyrockets.com
Price: $-$$
Little Havana
Proof positive that there is authentic Cuban food outside Calle Ocho, witness Little Havana in North Miami Beach, a friendly, popular choice with locals. Open daily for lunch and supper, enjoy such menu items as lobster-stuffed yucca pastry or the masas de puerco, a tender, crispy fried pork dish that is a favourite among patrons. Some dishes are big enough for two and all items are reasonably priced. The entire brightly lit dining room is non-smoking.
12727 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami Beach
Tel: (305) 899 9069.
Website: www.littlehavanarestaurant.com
Price: $
News Café
A cult address - as it is the place where Gianni Versace drank his last cup of coffee shortly before he was murdered on his own doorstep just two blocks away. This trendy, European-style café of minimalist decor is one of South Beach's coolest hangouts. It is an ideal place to while away the hours - all 24 of them in fact. (The adjacent News Store is conveniently stocked with magazines and newspapers.) The menu boasts everything from eggs Benedict to bagels and ice cream sundaes, and there is also an excellent wine list. The signature ‘News Cake' is a must for chocoholics.
800 Ocean Drive, South Beach
Tel: (305) 538 6397.
Website: www.newscafe.com
Price: $$-$$$
Shorty's Bar-B-Q
Located in a log cabin in South Miami and decorated with mounted boar and caribou heads, saddles and cowboy hats, this barbecue house is a veritable institution. The informal, fun menu is served at long wooden picnic tables, with specialities including barbecued ribs and chicken (slow-cooked over hickory logs and smothered in Shorty's own spicy barbecue sauce) accompanied by fries, coleslaw and garlic bread or such sides as barbecue beans, corn on the cob and chilled, thirst-quenching beers.
9200 South Dixie Highway, South Miami
Tel: (305) 670 7732.
Website: www.shortys.com
Price: $
Versailles
Versailles is where the local Cuban community of Little Havana come to eat simple, authentic cooking from their home country. Large, lively and brimming with immigrant optimism, this is one of Miami's most ornate budget eating places and a landmark on Calle Ocho, with tuxedoed waiters and an elaborate decor of mirrors, murals and chandeliers. The sopa de platanos (plantain soup) and ropa vieja (beef stew) are especially tasty, and the café cubano (a thimble-sized cup of exceedingly strong, sweet black coffee) is reputedly the strongest shot of caffeine in South Florida.
3555 SW Eighth Street, Little Havana
Tel: (305) 444 0240.
Price: $$-$$$
Personal Recommendations
Big Pink
At the heart of the South Beach hustle, this upscale, modern diner and sports bar serves classic all-American fare to a young, hip crowd. Living up to its name, everything is pink - the bar stools, the lamps, the Plexiglas tables... even the menu, which consists predominantly of pizzas, burgers, pasta and salads, all served in hearty, value-for-money portions. The real speciality here, however, is the TV dinner - a six-compartment metal tray loaded with satisfying comfort food.
157 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Tel: (305) 532 4700.
Website: www.bigpinkrestaurant.com
Price: $$
DiLido Beach Club
Dine right on the Atlantic beachfront and watch South Beach's young and beautiful soaking up the South Florida sun. The Moroccan-inspired 140-seat restaurant is a romantic setting at night under hanging lanterns, swinging hammocks, gauzy white drapes and palm trees. A flamenco guitarist plays romantic melodies on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, the perfect accompaniment to the Ritz-Carlton's light and healthy Mediterranean and Pacific Rim style cuisine, and, of course, delicious South Beach diet options. Small plates are available and every dish is a work of art.
Ritz-Carlton, South Beach
One Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
Tel: (786) 276 4033.
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/SouthBeach
Price: $$$
Grass
Located in the newly fashionable Design District, Grass is an outdoor restaurant/lounge whose decor blends Caribbean and Indonesian influences with cutting-edge contemporary design, offering patrons a gorgeous dining and lounging alternative to the South Beach scene. The menu keeps the focus on freshness with such dishes as Malaysian mixed seafood ceviche, or the tamari ginger marinated skirt steak. The restaurant turns into a lounge with bottle service later in the evenings and the door policy is strictly enforced at weekends. Casual Chic is the order of the day. Reservations are required.
28 NE 40th Street, Miami
Tel: (305) 573 3355.
Website: www.grasslounge.com
Price: $$$$
Nemo's
Not only does this ultra-chic restaurant count among America's best, it also represents the epitome of South Beach cool. Chef Michael Schwartz's eclectic menu blends Caribbean, Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences with his seafood-oriented cooking to produce signature dishes such as steamed Mediterranean mussels with tomato-harissa broth, sticky black rice and garlic chips; wok-charred salmon with four-sprout salad, toasted pumpkin seeds and soy-lime vinaigrette; and key lime and white chocolate cheesecake flan for dessert, served with a drunken tropical salsa. The bright colours of the jewel-studded restaurant create the perfect backdrop for the sophisticated cuisine, while the tree-shaded terrace tables offer a more relaxed seaside atmosphere.
100 Collins Avenue, South Beach
Tel: (305) 532 4550.
Website: www.nemorestaurant.com
Price: $$$$
Texas de Brazil Churrascaria
Flaming torches and a Latin American atmosphere announce Texas de Brazil as the hot spot gateway restaurant to Dolphin Mall, west of Miami International Airport. This steakhouse extraordinaire brings to Miami the Brazilian tradition of gaucho-dressed (South American cowboys) carvers roaming the restaurant with skewers of sizzling flame-broiled cuts of juicy Angus beef, lamb, pork, chicken and Brazilian sausage. Flip your card from green to red and the carvers give you a break from their sumptuous servings. Graze the 40-item salad bar, complete with soups, starters and roasted vegetables. If steak is not your thing, start with the lobster bisque and order Australian lobster tail and shrimp cocktail a la carte. Dessert, espresso and a hand-rolled cigar make the perfect finish. The impressive wine list can tempt the most discerning palate. Valet parking is available. Children under six eat free.
11401 NW 12th Street
Tel: (305) 599 7729.
Website: www.texasdebrazil.com
Price: $$$
As well as a 7% state sales tax, the municipality of Miami Beach levies an additional 2% on restaurants (to help the homeless). These taxes are not included in menu prices but are added to the bill at the end. A few places also include a service charge in the bill but this is not common. It is normal to leave a tip of 15-20% for service.
The restaurants below have been grouped into four different price categories:
$$$$ (over US$70)
$$$ (US$35 to US$70)
$$ (US$20 to US$35)
$ (under US$20)
These prices are for an average three-course meal for one person with a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent; they do not include taxes, service charge or tip.
Gastronomic
A Fish Called Avalon
In the heart of South Beach's art deco district, this streetside patio restaurant is ideal for people-watching along bustling, palm-lined Ocean Drive. Latin-Caribbean music adds to the festive and romantic atmosphere for indoor or outside diners. Fresh seafood is delivered daily and all dishes are crafted with Chef Joe's touch for sensuous, tropical textures and flavours, earning A Fish Called Avalon the Zagat rating for Best Seafood Restaurant. Try the Florida snapper au poivre with mango relish, cilantro-cured swordfish, rack of lamb or sea-salt crusted New York strip, with recommended wine pairings. Desserts are light and fruity, and easily followed with a port or dessert wine.
700 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
Tel: (305) 532 1727.
Website: www.afishcalledavalon.com
Price: $$$$
Baleen Miami
Cross a small bridge from Coconut Grove to the private Grove Isle for Miami's most romantic dining experience. Whimsical monkeys, flaming torches and candlelit elegance add to the exotic atmosphere and food. Dine at intimate tables overlooking Biscayne Bay, enjoying the warm night breezes, or bask in oriental elegance amid chandeliers of hanging monkeys, candlelight and billowing gauze drapes. There is an extensive wine list for any palate or purse, from US$29-1,500. Begin with monkey bread and dipping spices from the Orient. The chef's lobster bisque is not to be missed. His inspired creativity with organic produce and fresh-caught seafood is memorable, earning the AAA Four Diamond Award for the past four years. This is a real treasure hidden away on its own secluded island.
Four Grove Island Drive
Tel: (305) 860 4386.
Website: www.groveisle.com
Price: $$$$
Chef Allen's
Chef Allen's is an ideal restaurant for a special occasion. Chef-owner Allen Susser is counted among America's most respected chefs, celebrated for his innovative New World and ‘Floribbean' cuisine. The stylish art deco restaurant, with its contemporary artwork, fresh flowers and pink neon lighting, surrounds a glass-enclosed kitchen. Here, you can watch Allen create masterpieces from his nightly changing menu, such as pistachio-encrusted black grouper with mango, leeks and coconut rum or tamarind chilli BBQ dry-aged prime sirloin steak with smoked onion mashed potato and mango ketchup. Reservations recommended. No lunch.
19088 North East 29th Avenue, Aventura
Tel: (305) 935 2900.
Website: www.chefallens.com
Price: $$$$
Norman's
One of America's most celebrated chefs, Norman Van Aken is considered by many to be the originator of ‘New World cuisine' - a blend of Latin, Caribbean, Asian and American cooking, and his restaurant is one of Florida's finest. Among the highlights from a daily changing menu are the starter of yucca-stuffed crispy shrimp with a sour-orange mojo and the main of Elysian Fields Farm lamb loin and sausage with roasted garlic cake, grilled lettuce and violet mustard emulsion. All the exquisite dishes are served from an open kitchen in ultra-modern surroundings to a chic clientele of food aficionados. Reservations recommended.
21 Almeria Avenue, Coral Gables
Tel: (305) 446 6767.
Website: www.normans.com
Price: $$$$
Prezzo Restaurant and Martini Bar
Elegant black-and-white decor, a piano bar and nightly entertainment create a lively yet intimate atmosphere for casual dining. Located in North Miami's Aventura district, Prezzo's menu has taken on a distinctly Mediterranean and world cuisine flavour under the direction of new owner and chef, Kal Abdulla. Speciality Martinis and an expanded wine list please the most sophisticated palates. Starters, such as juicy pan-seared scallops or tuna tartare with mandarin oranges, jalapenos, pine nuts, cilantro and sesame oil, simply melt in the mouth. After tantalising choices of seafood, roast duck or mouth-watering steak, the perfect signature dessert is the caramelised crème brulée with fresh berries. Diners can then adjourn to the outdoor patio for a high-end cigar or hookah.
18831 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura
Tel: (305) 931 5775.
Website: www.prezzofl.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Business
Aaria
The signature restaurant of the ultra-luxurious Acqualina Resort (see Hotels), Aaria offers both indoor and outdoor dining overlooking a tropical oasis to the turquoise waters of the Atlantic glistening under a South Florida sun. Delectable fresh Mediterranean coastal cuisine is served alfresco on the verandah, under soft tropical breezes and the soothing sound of splashing water. Special items include crab cake sandwich on jalapeno brioche, and the grilled coriander spiced mahi-mahi with a truffle vinaigrette. For dinner choose from the light tapas menu if you can resist such dishes as grilled baby conch mariscade or coriander-dusted ahi tuna with a watermelon Martini. Chef Peters serves complimentary delicacies to those sipping at the 6m (20ft) bar.
Acqualina, A Rosewood Resort
17875 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach
Tel: (305) 918 8000.
Website: www.acqualinaresort.com
Price: $$-$$$
Capital Grille
This upscale, New York-style steakhouse is a popular restaurant for power lunches and dinners and is conveniently located in the heart of the Financial District of downtown Miami. Specialities include dry-aged beef and succulent seafood, while the service is notoriously formal. There is live music in the evenings from Tuesday to Saturday. Reservations are recommended. No lunch weekends.
444 Brickell Avenue, Brickell Village
Tel: (305) 374 4500.
Website: www.thecapitalgrille.com
Price: $$$$
Cascade Restaurant
Expect casual poolside dining at the 61-hectare (150-acre) Biltmore Hotel estate (see Hotels). The restaurant overlooks the largest pool in the Continental US, surrounded by rows of statues, palms, waterfalls and Italianate buildings. The relaxing setting is regularly enhanced with synchronised bathing beauties, live jazz and a Sunday brunch and pig roast. The menu focuses on fresh seafood, tropical fruit, Caribbean dishes and healthy, organic spa cuisine. Highlights include the Caribbean-style bisque, marinated grouper ceviche, Florida stone crabs and char-grilled churrasco steaks.
Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables
Tel: (305) 445 1926.
Website: www.biltmorehotel.com
Price: $$-$$$
China Grill
The name is misleading. There are no mini pagodas and Chinese dragons on the walls here, as this buzzing, atmospheric restaurant specialises in ‘world cuisine,' combining ingredients, flavours and techniques from around the globe. Menu highlights include irresistible treats like the crispy duck with caramelised black vinegar sauce or the grilled garlic shrimp with black fettuccini and red curry coconut sauce. It is especially popular for business lunches and with the ‘beautiful people' of South Beach. Reservations recommended. No lunch weekends.
404 Washington Avenue, South Beach
Tel: (305) 534 2211.
Website: www.chinagrillmgt.com/chinaMI
Price: $$$$
Smith and Wollensky's
One of a national chain who boast ‘a steakhouse to end all arguments,' this restaurant has a Miami Beach location that offers spectacular views of the ocean and downtown skyline and unbeatable dry-aged prime steak. Menu highlights include a mustard crusted tuna and steak. Try the crackling pork shank and firecracker apple sauce, recently voted 'Dish of the Year' by USA Today. The Deco Bar and warm decor create a relaxed atmosphere. Attire is business casual. Open every day for lunch and supper. Reservations recommended.
1 Washington Avenue (at South Pointe Park), Miami Beach
Tel: (305) 673 2800.
Website: www.smithandwollensky.com/miami_beach.htm
Price: $$$$
Trendy
1220
Located at the Tides, one of South Beach's most glamorous art deco hotels (see Hotels), this beautiful, minimalist restaurant is decorated almost entirely in white, with crisp linens, candles and fresh flowers on all the tables. The food is equally simple and uncluttered, focusing on fusion or ‘progressive American' cuisine, such as lobster gazpacho and grouper in a curry-ginger broth. There is a small but select wine list to complement the menu. Reservation recommended.
Tides, 1220 Ocean Drive, South Beach
Tel: (305) 604 5130.
Website: www.tideshotel.com
Price: $$$$
Café TuTuTango
This hugely popular café-restaurant, at the heart of the action in Coconut Grove, is decorated to resemble an artist's loft in Spain, with dozens of original paintings on the walls. Diners lounge in comfy armchairs or at sturdy wooden tables, entertained by artists poised at easels, strolling musicians and magicians, while chefs at three open kitchens prepare an adventurous menu of hot and cold tapas-style dishes. The choice is bewildering, ranging from pizzas, kebabs, BBQ wings and ribs to specialities such as alligator bites, hurricane shrimp fritters and Cajun chicken egg rolls, all washed down with a jug of sangria, ‘Matisse Margarita' or ‘Picasso punch.' Reservations are not accepted.
CocoWalk, 3015 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove
Tel: (305) 529 2222.
Website: www.cafetututango.com
Price: $$$
Morada Bay Beach Café
Experience the laid-back atmosphere of the Keys and a perfect tropical sunset at Morada Bay, where you can sip on exotic illuminated cocktails while sitting barefoot at tables on the white sand beach. The American-Caribbean menu offers the best seafood in the Keys, with excellent tapas such as grouper ceviche and Thai-style dolphin fingers with a tropical fruit salsa. The conch chowder is a must. Nightly specials may include lobster or yellowtail snapper, and the chef's recommendations are a sure bet. There is an impressive wine list for every occasion. The casually elegant bistro set in the sand, along with its upscale sophisticated neighbour Pierre's, is West African plantation style, with wide verandahs and plantation shutters. It is a romantic beachside café, even while children play in the sand and diners relax in white Adirondack chairs. The renowned full moon parties, which draw revellers from far and wide every full moon, feature live bands on the beach, a DJ, firewalkers and jugglers.
MM 81, 81600 Overseas Highway, Islamorada
Tel: (305) 664 0604.
Website: www.moradabay-restaurant.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Pearl Restaurant and Champagne Bar
The Euro-suave Pearl Restaurant and Champagne Bar is the hip and trendy spot for the beautiful people on South Beach's southernmost tip. Lounge on the all-white leather shell-shaped chairs and couches around the champagne bar under space age orange and violet lighting. Dine on caviar and lobster while sipping champagne in this exotic utopia, where celebs and models pursue the hedonistic lifestyle. Dishes on the Asian fusion menu, featuring fresh seafood and tropical flavours, are truly a work of art. Once the tables are cleared, Pearl transforms into one of Miami's top nightclubs, its hot and sensual beat pulsing till dawn. It is open weekends only, Friday-Sunday, 1900 to 0500.
1 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
Tel: (305) 538 1231.
Website: www.nikkibeach.com/portimao
Price: $$$-$$$$
Wish
Wish is one of South Beach's culinary hotspots, located in The Hotel - an art deco boutique hotel with interiors by fashion designer Todd Oldham. Executive chef Michael Bloise brings his unpretentious eclectic cooking style to Wish, fusing classic American and contemporary Asian cuisine. His flavoursome dishes might include tuna tartare with picked ginger sorbet or the five-spiced pork chop with spicy sweet potato and edamame hash, and red curry dijon. The unusual outdoor-indoor restaurant provides a choice of alfresco dining in a lush tropical garden setting or in the colourful, cosy Persian-inspired restaurant.
The Hotel, 801 Collins Avenue, South Beach
Tel: (305) 674 9474.
Website: www.wishrestaurant.com
Price: $$$$
Budget
Johnny Rockets
The pastel-coloured art deco buildings of South Beach provide a suitably light-hearted backdrop for Johnny Rockets diner, one of the most popular breakfast venues in the district, with its sensational cooked breakfasts served on the pavement terrace in full view of all the film-star wannabes, supermodels, tourists, joggers and rollerbladers cruising on Ocean Drive. The rest of the day, this classic diner, decked out with old jukeboxes and a Harley Davidson, serves old-time favourites (hamburgers, hot dogs, salads and club sandwiches) along with milk shakes, ice cream sodas and hot fudge sundaes.
728 Ocean Drive, South Beach
Tel: (305) 538 2115.
Website: www.johnnyrockets.com
Price: $-$$
Little Havana
Proof positive that there is authentic Cuban food outside Calle Ocho, witness Little Havana in North Miami Beach, a friendly, popular choice with locals. Open daily for lunch and supper, enjoy such menu items as lobster-stuffed yucca pastry or the masas de puerco, a tender, crispy fried pork dish that is a favourite among patrons. Some dishes are big enough for two and all items are reasonably priced. The entire brightly lit dining room is non-smoking.
12727 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami Beach
Tel: (305) 899 9069.
Website: www.littlehavanarestaurant.com
Price: $
News Café
A cult address - as it is the place where Gianni Versace drank his last cup of coffee shortly before he was murdered on his own doorstep just two blocks away. This trendy, European-style café of minimalist decor is one of South Beach's coolest hangouts. It is an ideal place to while away the hours - all 24 of them in fact. (The adjacent News Store is conveniently stocked with magazines and newspapers.) The menu boasts everything from eggs Benedict to bagels and ice cream sundaes, and there is also an excellent wine list. The signature ‘News Cake' is a must for chocoholics.
800 Ocean Drive, South Beach
Tel: (305) 538 6397.
Website: www.newscafe.com
Price: $$-$$$
Shorty's Bar-B-Q
Located in a log cabin in South Miami and decorated with mounted boar and caribou heads, saddles and cowboy hats, this barbecue house is a veritable institution. The informal, fun menu is served at long wooden picnic tables, with specialities including barbecued ribs and chicken (slow-cooked over hickory logs and smothered in Shorty's own spicy barbecue sauce) accompanied by fries, coleslaw and garlic bread or such sides as barbecue beans, corn on the cob and chilled, thirst-quenching beers.
9200 South Dixie Highway, South Miami
Tel: (305) 670 7732.
Website: www.shortys.com
Price: $
Versailles
Versailles is where the local Cuban community of Little Havana come to eat simple, authentic cooking from their home country. Large, lively and brimming with immigrant optimism, this is one of Miami's most ornate budget eating places and a landmark on Calle Ocho, with tuxedoed waiters and an elaborate decor of mirrors, murals and chandeliers. The sopa de platanos (plantain soup) and ropa vieja (beef stew) are especially tasty, and the café cubano (a thimble-sized cup of exceedingly strong, sweet black coffee) is reputedly the strongest shot of caffeine in South Florida.
3555 SW Eighth Street, Little Havana
Tel: (305) 444 0240.
Price: $$-$$$
Personal Recommendations
Big Pink
At the heart of the South Beach hustle, this upscale, modern diner and sports bar serves classic all-American fare to a young, hip crowd. Living up to its name, everything is pink - the bar stools, the lamps, the Plexiglas tables... even the menu, which consists predominantly of pizzas, burgers, pasta and salads, all served in hearty, value-for-money portions. The real speciality here, however, is the TV dinner - a six-compartment metal tray loaded with satisfying comfort food.
157 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Tel: (305) 532 4700.
Website: www.bigpinkrestaurant.com
Price: $$
DiLido Beach Club
Dine right on the Atlantic beachfront and watch South Beach's young and beautiful soaking up the South Florida sun. The Moroccan-inspired 140-seat restaurant is a romantic setting at night under hanging lanterns, swinging hammocks, gauzy white drapes and palm trees. A flamenco guitarist plays romantic melodies on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, the perfect accompaniment to the Ritz-Carlton's light and healthy Mediterranean and Pacific Rim style cuisine, and, of course, delicious South Beach diet options. Small plates are available and every dish is a work of art.
Ritz-Carlton, South Beach
One Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
Tel: (786) 276 4033.
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/SouthBeach
Price: $$$
Grass
Located in the newly fashionable Design District, Grass is an outdoor restaurant/lounge whose decor blends Caribbean and Indonesian influences with cutting-edge contemporary design, offering patrons a gorgeous dining and lounging alternative to the South Beach scene. The menu keeps the focus on freshness with such dishes as Malaysian mixed seafood ceviche, or the tamari ginger marinated skirt steak. The restaurant turns into a lounge with bottle service later in the evenings and the door policy is strictly enforced at weekends. Casual Chic is the order of the day. Reservations are required.
28 NE 40th Street, Miami
Tel: (305) 573 3355.
Website: www.grasslounge.com
Price: $$$$
Nemo's
Not only does this ultra-chic restaurant count among America's best, it also represents the epitome of South Beach cool. Chef Michael Schwartz's eclectic menu blends Caribbean, Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences with his seafood-oriented cooking to produce signature dishes such as steamed Mediterranean mussels with tomato-harissa broth, sticky black rice and garlic chips; wok-charred salmon with four-sprout salad, toasted pumpkin seeds and soy-lime vinaigrette; and key lime and white chocolate cheesecake flan for dessert, served with a drunken tropical salsa. The bright colours of the jewel-studded restaurant create the perfect backdrop for the sophisticated cuisine, while the tree-shaded terrace tables offer a more relaxed seaside atmosphere.
100 Collins Avenue, South Beach
Tel: (305) 532 4550.
Website: www.nemorestaurant.com
Price: $$$$
Texas de Brazil Churrascaria
Flaming torches and a Latin American atmosphere announce Texas de Brazil as the hot spot gateway restaurant to Dolphin Mall, west of Miami International Airport. This steakhouse extraordinaire brings to Miami the Brazilian tradition of gaucho-dressed (South American cowboys) carvers roaming the restaurant with skewers of sizzling flame-broiled cuts of juicy Angus beef, lamb, pork, chicken and Brazilian sausage. Flip your card from green to red and the carvers give you a break from their sumptuous servings. Graze the 40-item salad bar, complete with soups, starters and roasted vegetables. If steak is not your thing, start with the lobster bisque and order Australian lobster tail and shrimp cocktail a la carte. Dessert, espresso and a hand-rolled cigar make the perfect finish. The impressive wine list can tempt the most discerning palate. Valet parking is available. Children under six eat free.
11401 NW 12th Street
Tel: (305) 599 7729.
Website: www.texasdebrazil.com
Price: $$$
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