The Ultimate Miami Rankings
Alrighty. So I spent a summer here working for SB Architects, and was able to do some exploring. Here’s my list of the 10 best restaurants, bars, and things to do:
Restaurants (fancy):
Cote Steakhouse: It absolutely lives up to the hype. A Michelin-star Korean steakhouse in a sexy space ticks off all boxes. AND, its sneaky not crazy expensive.
Boia de: If you can snag a reservation, at any time, take it. This is some of the best Italian food I have EVER had!
Joia Beach Club: Want to feel like you’re in Tulum without leaving downtown? Go here. Feet in the sand, views of the skyline, amazing house music, and great food.
NIU Kitchen: Spanish tapas to die for with amazing wines. An absolute must visit.
LPM: An upscale yet creative French-Mediterranean fusion with professional and fun staff (plus, you get full tomato and knives and lemon on the table before you even sit down. Wonderful).
Rusty Pelican: It isn’t “fancy” per se, but its definitely more on the upscale side. Some of the best views in the city, and sneaky delicious food. Come for brunch and you may make some lizard friends!
River Oyster Bar: Come for the happy hour. Great great great seafood!
Doya: Great Middle Eastern food with wonderful design and a great location in Wynwood.
Marion Miami: Amazing sushi and a show, with all the sparklers, dancers and smoke machines your heart desires.
Macchialina: One of the hottest restaurants in Miami, this place serves up some of the best Greek food in the city.
Honorable Mention: Carbone: Its basic, but it was really damn good. People watching here is fascinating, and the service was great. Get the baked clams, Caesar salad and spicy rigatoni.
Honorable Mention: Lira Beirut: This is also a fantastic new Middle Eastern spot on the edge of Wynwood, absolutely worth checking out and trying as much of the menu as possible!
Avoid: Gekko, Komodo, Kikis (for the food) - these places are insanely overpriced and not that great.
Restaurants (not fancy):
Sanguich: In a land full of Cubanos, this one wins.
Monty’s Coconut Grove: A very non-Miami vibe right on the water with some seriously legit seafood.
Graziano’s Mercado: This place has a little bit of everything Latin, and its nice and cheap!
La Sandwicherie: There are quite a few of these all around Miami - its the spot for big ass sandwiches and fun service.
Miami Slice: Some of the best pizza I have ever had, and I’m not joking at all. Is it CHEAP? Not quite. But its a grab and go place so it makes it to this list.
La Carreta: Legendary Cuban food.
Versailles Bakery: Also legendary Cuban food - but ideal for breakfast as well.
CVI.CHE 105: I love ceviche, and this place hit the spot. I ended up getting this delivered quite frequently.
Lobster Shack: Grab a damn good lobster roll and enjoy it on South Beach. Bang bang.
Yambo: This one gets put in the list purely because of its wild design. The food is Nicaraguan and solid enough, service is definitely too slow though.
Honorable Mention: Julia and Henry’s: A new food hall in downtown Miami, this place wins for Instagrammability. It’s not actually that cheap, and portion sizes are all over the place.
Honorable Mention: Original Daily Bread: Come and enjoy some fire middle eastern food for super cheap in the back of a grocery store.
Drinks:
E11even: Look. Its basic, but its the best. Just go and marvel at the insanity of it all.
Rosa Sky: One of the better rooftop bars in Brickell, this place is a haven for the gram.
Sugar: Another popular rooftop bar in Brickell, the views here are great and I loved the design. It can get hectic and is a bit overpriced, but its Miami, what do you expect.
Lagniappe: This wine and cheese place with an expansive backyard has become THE place to go for a pregame (which occasionally becomes the whole game).
Over Under: This place was really cool in like a subtle way - also their burgers are next level.
Coya Wynwood: Yes, this is a Mexican fast food spot. But look a bit closer, and its a really cool speakeasy in the back.
Regatta Grove: Newly opened down in Coconut Grove, this place is huge, with food stalls, multiple bars, areas to hang and play, and beautiful views.
The Wharf: Same people as Regatta Grove, and same vibe. Big space with big bars and lots of seating.
Socialista: This place gets SCATHING reviews on Google, and yet I ended up here twice. If you get past the supposedly racist and prejudice bouncers, you’ll find great music and wonderful design. But getting a drink may take you 30 minutes and hurt your wallet.
LIV: Its basically a Vegas nightclub, but they bring in some really big names so its worth it for that.
Honorable Mention: Club Space: Oh boy. This place is wild. Go out for dinner, grab a drink, go to sleep until 6, and go to Space at 7 am, because why not?
Honorable Mention: Kiki’s: Yes, its a restaurant, but no, you do not go here to eat. You go here for the vibes, and the vibes are wild.
Things to do:
Take the Brightline to one of the other Floridian cities. Its a beautiful train and an organized system, and going to places like Fort Lauderdale is totally worth it.
Treat yourself to a beach chair at places like the 1 Hotel, Fountainbleau, or W South Beach. These are the big 3 hotels on South Beach (you could argue SLS as well), so take advantage of them.
Check out the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Its a beautiful property with stunning grounds and definitely worth a visit.
Drive to the keys - even if its just Key Largo. But if you’re really committed, make the whole drive to Key West at least once.
Play a round of golf at the Miami Beach Golf Club. Its a beautiful course, just be sure to have extra water with you.
Institute of Contemporary Art is free and in the ultra cool Design District, definitely worth checking out.
Walk around South Beach and enjoy the Art Deco architecture
Walk around Wynwood and hop into the cool thrift stores and marvel at the walls covered with spectacular artwork.
Shop at Brickell City Center and enjoy this wonderfully designed, indoor-outdoor mall.
Get some coffee and feel the boho vibes at Upper Buena Vista.
Honorable Mention: Rent a boat because its the only way to get chicks in this damn city.
And there you have it. The ultimate Miami guide for you. I have mixed feelings about the city. Its a bit Vegas, a bit New York, and lot of fake. But its a great place to visit and certainly growing at a crazy pace. Who knows, maybe I’ll be back here calling this place home once again.