Where to Eat and Drink in Miami

The best restaurants in Miami are spread across neighborhoods rather than one dining strip, so the smartest way to choose is by area and craving. Go to Little Havana for Cuban food, South Beach for stone crabs and people-watching, and the Design District, Little River, Brickell and Coconut Grove for the city's chef-driven and Michelin-recognized dining.

Where should you eat in Miami, area by area?

Match the neighborhood to the meal. Little Havana is cheap, casual and Cuban; South Beach is busy and tourist-heavy, with a few true institutions; the mainland neighborhoods north of downtown and around Brickell are where most of the newer, more ambitious kitchens are. Use this table as a starting point.

What should you eat in Miami?

Start with Cuban food: a cafecito or colada from a walk-up window, a pressed Cuban sandwich, croquetas and guava pastelitos. Then add Florida stone crab claws in season, and fresh fish like grouper or snapper. Miami's large Latin American communities mean Colombian, Venezuelan, Peruvian and Argentine cooking is easy to find, too.

When is stone crab season?

Florida's stone crab season runs from October 15 to May 1. Claws are sold cooked and served cold, usually with mustard sauce. Joe's Stone Crab at 11 Washington Ave reopens for its 114th season on October 16, 2026; its counter-service Take Away next door is the quicker option if you skip the wait for a table.

When is Miami Spice?

Miami Spice Restaurant Months usually runs through August and September, with three-course prix-fixe menus at participating restaurants. In 2026 it was extended to October 31 for the first time, with lunch and brunch at $40 and dinner at $50 or $65. It is the cheapest way to try upscale places, so check the 2027 list next summer.

Michelin restaurants in Miami

The Michelin Guide covers Miami as part of its Florida selection, and the 2026 list was released in May 2026. Miami and nearby cities have more than a dozen starred restaurants, led by L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon in the Design District with two stars. Book these weeks ahead, particularly in winter.

Brunch, rooftop bars and budget eats

• Brunch: Weekend brunch is a big deal in Brickell, Wynwood and Coconut Grove, from bottomless parties to quiet bayfront tables. Reserve for Sunday.
• Rooftop bars: Most sit on top of hotels in South Beach, Brickell and downtown. Expect a dress code on weekends and cover or minimum spend at the busier ones.
• Budget: Cuban bakeries and coffee windows, Latin lunch counters and food trucks keep a meal under $15. Little Havana is the easiest area for cheap, filling food.

Tips for eating out in Miami

• Read the menu and the bill before tipping: some restaurants, especially in tourist areas, add an automatic service charge or gratuity.
• Dinner runs late. Tables before 7pm are easier to get.
• Want someone else to plan it? Our Miami food tours cover Little Havana, Wynwood and South Beach.