Hi guys! I’m going to put together a full city guide to Miami as part of my Insider’s Guide Series. But, for today, I want to blog about where to eat when you are in Miami Beach, Florida. When you’re in a city fit to burst with food options, it helps to have some guidance in deciding where to begin. I was there a little over a year ago on a girl’s getaway and I still haven’t stopped thinking about the meals we had. I’m sharing a couple of places for breakfast, brunch and lunch, and a handful of places for unforgettable dinners.
We all know that Miami is a hub for culture, nightlife, and of course food. So many diverse ethnicities intersect in this Floridian hub, yielding a rich cuisine full of spice, flair, and flavor. One of my favorite parts about scouting this vibrant city was sampling some of their amazing restaurants. Without question, every meal we ate was incredible. We were there for four days, and if you’re just visiting briefly, here are the top restaurants worth venturing from the Miami vacation home rental for.
Miami Beach Restaurant Guide
BREAKFAST
| guava cream cheese donut at the Market Cafe |
Market at EDITION. This is a really charming cafe and bakery located in the Miami Beach EDITION. The Market at EDITION has a fabulous breakfast menu with a full complement of cold pressed juices and coffee drinks expertly made by a barista. My favorite things are the cappuccino and the guava cream cheese donut. Other must have things on the menu are the Omelet with Spinach and Goat Cheese, Patatas Bravas Tomato and Arugula Salad and the French Toast with Caramelized Apples or Peaches and Bacon.
| Market at EDITION’s french toast |
All Day. For the coffee fanatic. All Day has been voted the #1 coffee shop in Miami, but don’t be confused by this quaint cafe’s name: All Day doesn’t refer to it’s hours of operation. Start your day off right with a classic combination of eggs and coffee. The caffeinated concoctions are unlike any other diner that you’ve been to (the cold brew is truly out of this world). This may be due to the fact that an alum of Panther Coffee is at the helm as barista.
In terms of egg dishes, the pan con croqueta is a classic that you simply can’t miss. All Day is truly the best in terms of getting your caffeine fix for the day and filling up on an authentic Miami breakfast.
BRUNCH/LUNCH
Olla. Olla is a great brunch destination according to many. For starters I would order the guacamole mashed to order, warm chips and salsa, and the frito sandwich (fried chicken, chipotle raja, garlic mayo lettuce, onion, tomato and pickles). Finish your meal with the churros and “dulces.” They are also open for dinner and I’ve heard the margaritas are tart and fresh! Here is a link to the menu. Absolutely everything sounds yummy.
Mignonette. There’s no way a list of places to eat in Miami is complete without a seafood spot. Enjoy the freshest fish and shellfish the coastal city has to offer at Mignonette. It’s not all pomp and flash here, either: Sure, you can get a towering platter of raw seafood, but you can also order a satisfying po’boy or shrimp cocktail.
Did you know that Mignonette is a classic sauce made to eat with oysters, simple recipe:
-
¼ cup red wine vinegar
-
1 tablespoon minced shallot
-
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
-
12 large oysters, freshly shucked
Lunch is served from 12:30-3:30 PM Monday-Friday so make sure you get there in that short time span in order to indulge in your fair share of oysters and other fare from the sea. This is the place to go when you’re not necessarily looking for an adventure and just want a good quality meal.
DINNER
| dragon fruit ceviche from the bazaar |
The Bazaar. When you do crave adventure, though, chef Jose Andres’ the Bazaar is the place to go. While sticking to Spanish tradition with an array of classic tapas, there’s definitely plenty of contemporary flair and fun to be had here. Between the fanciful dishes and even more creative cocktails (looking at you, liquid nitrogen caipirinha), you’ll find that the hours fly by when dining at the Bazaar. Voted Opentable’s Top 100 Hottest Spots in America 2017.
| Kim and Kanye at Prime 112 |
Prime 112. If you want to dine where the mega-stars do, go to Prime 112. On our first evening in Miami, we ran into Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West having dinner there (I took some discrete photos). They were joined by a bunch of other people, including Kim’s sister Khloé and an entire film crew. They were filming Keeping up with the Kardashians (we had to sign waivers, ha!) and we found out that they were there for Kanye’s Saint Pablo Tour on September 16th, 2016. Celebrity sighting aside, the meal was absolutely delicious. Prime 112 is known as one of the best steakhouses in the area and while I don’t eat a lot of red meat I figured “when in Rome.” The steak was cooked perfectly and practically melted in my mouth. Here is a link to their menu and reservations are a must!
| the mojito at Havana 1957 with a fresh mint sprig and a stick of cane sugar |
Havana 1957. Miami is well known for it’s strong Cuban influence and Havana 1957 is a new chain of Cuban restaurants unlike other traditional Cuban restaurants. It sets itself apart by creating a unique dining experience that allows you to experience what the glamour of old Cuba during the 1950’s was. We dined at the Havana 1957 Española Way. Definitely make a reservation at this chain of restaurants when visiting Miami for authentic Cuban food – and order the Mojito!
Upland. I haven’t eaten at Upland, but it comes highly recommended by my friend Kirstin. Here is a link to their menu. I like how they have separated the food into one-two-three, meaning that you pick one from each section to round out your entire meal. If I was eating there, I can tell you that I would order the Little Gem Salad (1), Crispy Parisian Gnocchi (2) and the Creekstone Farms Skirt Steak (3). For dessert I’d have to go with the Ricotta Cheesecake! Good news for us East Coasters, in addition to Miami, they have a restaurant in NYC as well.
The list of wonderful places to eat in Miami can truly go on and on. However, tackle these three in a day and you’re off to a pretty solid start with your trip. Our one word of advice: Try not to get too full.