The Resy Hit List: Where In Miami You’ll Want to Eat Right Now

A food hall turned brick-and-mortar, Cotoa is whipping up Ecuadorian cuisine like South Florida has never seen. Honoring chef Alejandra Espinoza’s heritage, the menu explicitly calls out the inspiration for many of the dishes — from specific regional dishes, to Ecuador’s diversity of seafood and tropical fruit, to the chef’s own grandmother’s cornbread recipe. Espinoza takes these Ecuadorian classics and provides a progressive twist. Expect unusual flavor combinations like sweet plantain-stuffed tortellini and goat ragu inspired by the country’s traditional goat stews.

Recoveco has quickly outgrown its modest name (meaning “nook” in Spanish) as South Florida diners have discovered the culinary treasures created by co-chef/owners Nicolas Martinez and Teresa Gallina (the duo honed their craft in prestigious Miami kitchens like Alter and Itamae). Their intimate, open-kitchen restaurant defies easy categorization; the concise menu is unbound by cultural borders, allowing Martinez and Gallina to venture where few Miami chefs dare — think perfectly executed grass-fed beef tongue or heritage chicken served with feet attached … dishes that are challenging and inexplicably delicious. The bold approach might not aim for mass appeal, but it delivers a dining experience that lingers in your memory.

Itamae AO is the more intimate and interactive iteration of the original Itamae, which had become one of Miami’s best restaurants in its five-year run spanning from food hall stand to full-service restaurant. (And which you can still revisit for a limited time at Maty’s.) The new version run by chef and owner Nando Chang is a Nikkei-style omakase counter with only 10 seats, located right next to sister restaurant Maty’s, run by Nando’s sister Valerie Chang. Melding Japanese techniques with Peruvian influences, the eight-course omakase menu features plenty of seafood in the form of dry-aged fish, sashimi, and nigiri, alongside Peruvian bites like anticuchos (skewers) and aguadito (soup).

Proof that there’s enough room in town for two Carbones, this sister of the world-famous red sauce joint puts its focus on wine. Inspired by Italy’s enotecas, Vino offers a 600-plus bottle wine list alongside Carbone signature dishes like spicy rigatoni and tableside Caesar, plus new pastas exclusive to this concept. Of note, their housemade spaghettini Bambini is a grown-up version of the basic butter noodles that are a childhood staple, except made here with butter and aged Parmigiano-Reggiano. Don’t forget to end your meal with an enormous cannoli sundae for the table, made with cannoli soft-serve topped with chopped pistachios and shaved chocolate, plus a ring of freshly fried cannoli shells. Pro tip: The bar is open to walk-ins and serves the full menu.

With Miami’s café culture on the rise, this charming neighborhood Latin diner from the Miami Slice folks has quickly become a favorite breakfast spot. Tina in the Gables serves a soigné all-day brunch, which means that instead of your classic plate of ham and eggs, here you’ll find dishes like Sunny Side Duck with sunny-side up duck eggs and smoky duck breast bacon. And on the lunch-y side, hearty protein plates like juicy picanha and rotisserie chicken please everyone at the table no matter the time of day. It’s a cozy spot, and everything from their basic brown-rimmed plates to the classic wooden chairs with woven seats will make you feel like you’ve walked into a family member’s living room.

More info here.

Amara delivers on the Miami waterfront promise that so many restaurants can’t: enviable views with the food to back it, thanks to legendary local chef Michael Schwartz’s take on Latin American cooking. With its rare east-facing perch on Biscayne Bay, Amara transforms a meal of bold local flavors into a postcard-perfect experience. The indoor-outdoor space makes the most of its bayfront location, creating that quintessential Miami moment when sunset cocktails transition seamlessly into dinner. We especially love the breezy patio complete with seating on the sand that feels like your own secret stretch of beach. It’s the rare spot that works equally well for impressing out-of-town guests or for locals seeking a delicious reminder of why they live here.

Klaw serves up the ultimate surf-and-turf dinner in one of Miami’s most impressive settings: the historic Miami Women’s Club building in Edgewater, with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay. The steakhouse and seafood restaurant is known for its tank of live Norwegian king crab and premium dry-aged beef, so you’re destined for a meal that hits instant special-occasion territory. Steak cuts are proudly sourced from around the U.S. as well as the Hyogo prefecture of Japan, from which kobe beef hails. Pro tip: The rooftop terrace has become a sunset ritual for locals (and your cheat code to experiencing Klaw for slightly less of a splurge).  

Whether you’re in the mood for a full meal or simply some leisurely sips of wine, this Wynwood mainstay always promises a fun time with multiple concepts in one. You get a full restaurant with a cozy 28-seat bar where diners can watch chefs craft fresh pasta by hand, a charming enoteca lined with naturalish wines selected by Miami wine expert Karina Iglesias, and even an al fresco patio for aperitivo. The menu eschews meat entrees in favor of four main categories: red sauce pasta, white sauce pasta, more pasta, and not pasta (namely the appetizers). And with a Michelin-starred Italian chef leading the kitchen, each handmade pasta plate is executed to perfection. The inviting outdoor courtyard is ideal for an aperitivo.

Somehow this sushi sanctuary in Edgewater remains a relative secret compared to other sushi hot spots — perhaps because there’s no sign marking its entrance. Inside, Aoko’s inviting wood accents, gentle lighting, and soothing soundtrack all welcome you in for an almost-meditative meal of pristinely prepared raw fish. The à la carte menu consists of fresh nigiri and sashimi by the piece, or maki and temaki by the roll, but Aoko also offers excellent omakase options for under $100. Make your way to the bathroom to smell their signature housemade scented candles, which you can also purchase and take home with you.

Is it a bar? Is it a restaurant? It’s all of the above. Over Under has carved out a loyal following by perfecting the essentials – great drinks, a killer smash burger, and a casual, come-as-you-are vibe that feels refreshing in Miami these days. Comfort-style bar food is crafted with local Florida ingredients. That means hickory-smoked local mahi-mahi fish dip, Treasure Coast oysters, and crispy Florida alligator bites. Don’t miss the Miami-famous cheeseburger (the menu calls it “world-famous” — and fine, we’ll give it to them), and check their social media for updates on happenings from karaoke nights and DJs spinning to guest chef collaborations and pop-ups. 

 Find more info here.

As Wynwood has evolved from eclectic arts district to buzzy hot spot, Kyu has remained a Miami must-try by blending a range of Asian flavors with American barbecue techniques that make their wood-fired dishes feel both familiar and exciting. The industrial-meets-cozy vibe is the perfect backdrop for this culinary exploration, as the open kitchen’s flames provide both visual drama and a glimpse into the careful technique behind each plate. The famous roasted cauliflower and coconut cake have achieved cult status, and their slow-cooked meats like duck breast burnt ends and sweet soy brisket are delectably smoky and tender. And Kyu is also committed to sustainability by raising money to plant trees to help offset their wood consumption from the wood-burning grill.

This neighborhood gem, tucked away from South Beach’s tourist crowds, offers that rare combination of technical precision and heartfelt hospitality that makes regulars. Chef Frederic Joulin, who honed his craft in Parisian kitchens, brings understated elegance to French comfort classics, like the impossibly fork-tender beef Bourguignon, and snails served atop bone marrow. The restaurant’s unpretentious setting — wooden wall paneling, and a welcoming central bar — creates the perfect backdrop for food that prioritizes substance over showmanship. Their secret weapon might be the warm, crusty baguette, a must-order for sopping up the rich, wine-laced sauces.

Israeli-born chef Michael Solomonov (of Philly’s Zahav) blends ancient Israeli cooking traditions with the modern energy of Miami and Tel Aviv at 1 Hotel South Beach’s signature restaurant. Here, the experience centers around sharing — start with salatim, a colorful spread of salads and dips that arrive with freshly baked breads, before exploring the mezze selections that showcase the kitchen’s creative approach to vegetables and small plates. For heartier appetites, the al ha’esh (“from the fire”) section delivers smoke-kissed proteins that honor Israel’s grilling traditions. Go with a group; a communal adventure makes it more fun.

When you’re looking for sushi that’s anything but standard, Miss Crispy Rice is both fun and delicious. This sushi counter is known for their laid-back omakase experience that centers around our personal favorite part of any sushi menu — namely, the crispy rice and hand rolls. The fish is flown in from Tokyo’s markets and dry aged in-house to make every bite flavorful and tender, and the resulting plates range from simple to gourmet, like classic spicy tuna crispy rice or a signature hand roll of pork belly, fatty tuna, and caviar. For the full tasting menu experience, be sure to book a reservation at the 16-seat Omakase Bar for lunch or dinner. Alternatively, the Kaisedon Bar offers an express service which includes chirashi bowls and dumplings. 

That neon pink exclamation mark, hovering as a marquee over an unassuming strip mall in Little Haiti, remains iconic — the beacon to draw you into one of Miami’s most important restaurants. Chef duo Alex Meyer and Luciana Giangrandi continue their modern take on Italian plates so good that reservations vanish immediately. (We have tips to help.) Which should come as no surprise when you consider their culinary training in kitchens ranging from Scarpetta and Carbone to Eleven Madison Park. It’s an intimate and adorable space, where you’re as likely to be seated at the counter as you are at a table. Your servers will keep it fun and friendly while you partake in some of the best pasta and Italian-ish plates in town.

It’s one of life’s few guarantees that when you’re sitting under a thatched tiki hut, looking out at the water, all your problems melt away. And thanks to the team at Gramps in Wynwood, we’ve now got Gramps Getaway, a casual waterfront locale in Key Biscayne that feels like it’s been a Miami staple forever. Here, under a palapa with a view of the city skyline and the bay, the beer is cheap, the frozen drinks are strong, and the throwback tunes make you forget what’s going on with the rest of the world beyond your seaside dock. And what about the food? You’ll find Miami bar essentials like coconut shrimp and jerk chicken wings, alongside amped-up options like charred broccoli salad and watermelon-cucumber salad with Thai basil and roasted peanuts.

Find more info here or call 305-465-2482.