Jess’s family lives in Miami, so we are there a lot, and we specifically spend most of our time in Brickell, which is in downtown Miami. There are two essential restaurants in Brickell, Miami: Osaka and Il Gabbiano. Everywhere else can wait.
Craving the beach? Check out our Maui Guide.
Don’t know what to pack? Here’s Jess’s Packing List.
Top Restaurants
Overall: Highly Recommend
Service: 8.5/10 Atmosphere: 8.5/10 Food: 9.5/10 Beverage Program: 8/10
If the idea of torched foie gras on a piece of sushi excites you, then Osaka is the place of you. Nestled in downtown Brickell, this Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant offers some of the best food in the world in a comfortable, lively setting. This is the one restaurant we try to visit multiple times, every single trip to Miami. They are closed Mondays and reservations typically open up six-weeks out (and they fill up), so best to book early. However, the bar seating is usually first come first serve, and they offer the whole menu there as well as some incredible signature cocktails. The bartenders are lovely as well (but don’t go without trying at least a little food). Also- heads up- this is a rich meal.
Overall: Highly Recommend
Service: 9/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Food: 8.5/10 Wine: 8.5/10
Il Gabbiano is one of the best places in Miami for lunch. This is partly because of the view and partly because it has some of the best Italian food in the area (this is the location we chose to celebrate our wedding, after all). They start you with a little parmesan, a little salami, some bread (try the long crispy crackers), while you sip on your Aperol Spritz and enjoy the ocean breeze. This is the perfect place to order fresh seafood and pasta, and spend an afternoon. We prefer lunch over dinner, and they stay open between meals- which is great for a late and long lunch. They are closed Sundays and take reservations by phone or email (Andrea is a good server if you want to request someone). If you are on a boat in the area, they have a dock where you can be dropped off and picked up.
Overall: Recommend
Service: 8.5/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Food: 8.5/10 Beverage: 7/10
Yet another Uchi outpost with consistently good sushi and service. Uchi restaurants are always a solid choice. Reservations are recommended, and the happy hour (which is not usually our thing) is one of the best in Miami.
Top Bars
Service: 7.5/10 Atmosphere: 8.5/10 Beverage Program: 8/10
This might be our new favorite spot for a pre-dinner drink in Brickell. Owned by Bieber with outposts in LA and LV, this Miami Delilah has live music every night starting at 7 (elegant jazz piano and old-school vocals) in a tastefully designed environment (think an art-deco yacht club). The bartending staff is very professional, and they have a solid wine list if you would rather start your evening off with a great bottle (and maybe a snack). It opens at 6pm and is closed Mondays. We highly recommend making a reservation, even if it is not busy, just to make check-in easier. It’s a great place to take friends or coworkers for an early drink- careful, we heard it gets packed at night and becomes almost nightcluby (so we’d stick to opening time).
Overall: Highly Recommend
Service: 9/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Beverage Program: 9/10
With one of the best lychee martini’s we have ever had (#1 goes to Mr. Chow Beverly Hills), The Setai offers a perfect location on South Beach with a wonderful bartending staff and comfortable bar seats. Make sure to get there early to secure a spot and dress to impress.
Overall: Worth One Visit
Service: 7/10 Atmosphere: 9.5/10 Food: 2/10 Beverage Program: 7/10
There is a reason Sexy Fish is in the bar category, and that is the food quality. However, Sexy Fish’s design is certainly one of a kind and absolutely worth a visit to see. Also, it is pretty fun at night. It is worth making a reservation by the bar around 9pm or later (call to request the bar area) and getting a bottle of champagne, watching the crowd and admiring the impressive architecture. On weekends there might be a minimum.
Overall: Highly Consider… but only if you want to stay up until morning
Service: 8/10 Atmosphere: 10/10
While we are almost hesitant about putting this on our ‘elevated’ travel recommendations, we just can’t help ourselves. This is likely the only nightclub we will ever recommend, let alone visit. Yes… this is a nightclub, not a bar. And, no, there are no mixologists or anything of the sort. Imagine Cirque du Soleil, mixed with Spearmint Rhino Vegas, mixed with 1Oak back in it’s heyday. Round up a large group of friends and get a table. Stay on the lefthand side once you enter. Things start picking up after 11pm. You can order chicken nuggets to your table, too.
More Restaurants & Bars...
Overall: Worth A Visit
Not rating
We’re not rating this because we haven’t been in a bit. Still, Ball & Chain is our recommended place for a cubano and Cuban music. Located on Calle Ocho, this indoor & outdoor venue provides ample space for dancing and makes some excellent mojitos. If you want the full ‘Miami’ experience, it is worth a stop.
Overall: Worth A Visit
Not rated
If you’re craving an afternoon bite and want a good cocktail to go with it (using fresh juice only), bartaco in Wynwood offers great small plates and a wide array of tacos (Jess loved her shrimp taco and mini caesar salad). This is a casual setting, with comfortable bar seating.
Overall: Maybe Worth A Visit
Service: 3/10 Atmosphere: 7/10 Beverage Program: 6/10
This South Beach outpost is a good spot to start an adventurous night out. The crowd leans younger, and this is a mostly outdoor spot. You are certainly not guaranteed a seat, but it can be a fun stop. We do generally go every time we venture to South Beach, so that says something.
Overall: Maybe
Service: 6/10 Atmosphere: 7.5/10 Food: 7/10 Beverage Program: 7/10
Cafe La Trova is consistently in the World’s 50 Best bar list (in 2024 it is 24th). This traditional Cuban spot on Calle Ocho does roll out some perfectly balanced cocktails, but it is pretty limited to traditional Cuban drinks, so we wouldn’t personally put it in our top 50. Rum lovers will be happy, as will people who like live music and dancing late in the evening. However, the bar stools are very uncomfortable and the bar staff isn’t wildly friendly. If you do go, go for happy hour when it is less busy and make sure to order the delicious ‘focaccia lechon sliders’ (skip the other bites). For a similar vibe, we prefer Ball & Chain.
Overall: Worth A Visit
Service: 7/10 Atmosphere: 7/10 Food: 7.5/10 Beverage Program: 6.5/10
This 1 Michelin-star Korean BBQ joint in Miami Design District is a meat lover’s paradise. We went for lunch and ordered the ‘butcher’s feast’, which is a sampling of a variety of (mostly dry aged) cuts and left us well past full (and unable to eat any more meat for a while). They do all the cooking for you, on a grill in front of you. The wine list is not a good value, but the bar program looks interesting. We might return, and the rating might improve. Here is what we would do differently next time: Simply order the bibimbop (the best), marinated short rib (our favorite meat), and the standard sides (most importantly the red leaf lettuce with ssam-jang) + kimchi (a must).
Overall: Worth A Visit
Service: 6/10 Atmosphere: 6/10 Food: 8/10 Beverage Program 6/10
Located in The Standard Hotel in Brickell- we kid you not- Fi’ila has some of the best pizzas in Miami. Stop for lunch and snag a bar seat overlooking the wood-fire oven, and make sure to ask for the pizza crispy.
Overall: Recommend
Service: 7/10 Atmosphere: 7.5/10 Food: 8/10 Beverage Program: 7/10
Another Brickell restaurant, Hutong offers (so far) our favorite peking duck in Miami. We prefer it for lunch, as it is less busy, and the bar is a very comfortable place to eat. In addition to the peking duck, we recommend the xiao long bao… but do skip the dumpling that is black with gold leaf on it.
Overall: Recommend
Service: 7/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Food: 8/10 Beverage Program: 6.5/10
This Wynwood spot is trendy and usually very busy, so recommendations are necessary. They have a few locations around the world (Mexico City is our favorite) and this is definitely a top one. The Korean Fried Chicken is a must, but we have never had a bad dish on the menu. The bar is comfortable but small, so it fills up fast.
Overall: Recommend
Service: 7/10 Atmosphere: 7.5/10 Food: 7.5/10 Beverage Program: 7/10
Mastro’s is one of the new kids on the block in Brickell, and it might become one of our regularly visited spots. This indoor & outdoor venue is great on days with good weather, as it is next door to Il Gabbiano and sits overlooking the water. The bar is comfortable and there is often live music. The downside is that a majority of the tables are extremely close to each other, so if you don’t want to sit at the bar that might be a problem. When we went, the bartenders were new but enthusiastic. We recommend the Italian chopped salad. We also suggest making a reservation, unless you are looking to pop by for a quick drink around opening (5pm every day).
Overall: Worth A Visit
Service: 7/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Food: 8/10 Beverage Program: 7.5/10
Novikov has two outposts- London and Miami- and we enjoy both. The Miami location is focused on seafood and asian cuisine, and we prefer visiting for lunch (dinner service can get packed, but that can also be fun!). This is another Miami restaurant where we have never had a bad dish.
Novikov Miami might be the only restaurant that we tell you: do not get bar seats. While we are sure there are some good bartenders… we have somehow had very bad luck 6+ times. Stick to a table, and make sure to secure a reservation (even if you think it’s not busy). The table servers are good, as is management.
Overall: Recommend
Service: 8.5/10 Atmosphere: 8.5/10 Food: 9.5/10 Beverage Program: 8/10
What can we say? When we love a place… we love a place. If you can’t make it to a full dinner at Osaka, it is worth stopping by the bar to try a delicious cocktail and a snack. We recommend the tuna foie.
Overall: Worth A Visit
Service: 6/10 Atmosphere: 6/10 Food: 7/10
While we prefer their old location, River Oyster Bar still provides the same fresh seafood in downtown Brickell, and it is a good spot for a casual lunch in the area.
Overall: Worth A Visit
Service: 5.5/10 Atmosphere: 7.5/10 Bar Program: 6/10
This rooftop bar above the East hotel is a great location for afternoon drinks, assuming the weather is nice.
Overall: Highly Consider… if you want to sing Blink 182 remixes at the top of your lungs
Service: 3/10 Atmosphere: 7.5/10
Located in Coral Gables, and definitely a younger spot, the bar is a perfect place for drinks with friends (and is pretty much standing room only). Everyone is usually friendly and happy to be there, and the DJ is well-known for blasting music Millennials have been craving to hear for far too long.
Overall: Worth A Visit (if you are on Key Biscayne)
Service: 8/10 Atmosphere: 6.5/10 Food: 6.5/10 Wine Program: 8.5/10
A 15 minute car ride from Brickell and located on Key Biscayne, Vinya is one of Jess’s family’s favorite places. This wine store/restaurant hybrid offers pretty good food and a unique wine shop, so you can pop a bottle there and enjoy a cheese tray before venturing back to the city (or the Ritz Carlton, down the road). They have a high-end wine room, where we treated ourselves to a delicious 2010 Cheval Blanc. Don’t forget the normal shelves though- Jess’s dad took home several bottles of 2010 Solaia that someone underestimated the value of.
Hotels
Hotel Beaux Arts is really in the perfect location in downtown Brickell, walkable to all of our favorite restaurants. Located in the upper floors of a Marriott, Hotel Beaux Arts is a separate boutique hotel that offers art-themed suites (we stayed in the Miro and it was lovely). In addition to the great location, they also have good gym facilities (though a nice hotel bar is definitely lacking). If there is a downside, it is that the pool area is not great (it was closed for a private function when we were there, so we could only see it out the window). However, because of the quality of rooms and the perfect location, this is our top choice.
Brickell is our favorite area to stay in Miami, and the Four Seasons is in a great location. If you are looking for a hotel with a great pool and gym facilities, this is your place. The pool service is excellent (but not at the actual pool bar, better to get loungers). The gym is the Miami Equinox, which gets busy… but is large and has all the equipment you need. Downsides: The rooms are outdated (especially the carpet), the bar isn’t great, there’s a brunch on Sunday which draws large crowds, and the shower pressure is so high it’s painful.
A fifteen minute car ride from downtown Brickell is Key Biscayne, where Jess’s family lives. The Ritz there is great for a beach vacation- offering everything from beach access to tennis courts. The ocean view suites have a memorable view, for sure.
Not recommended.
Aside from location, the best thing about EAST Hotel is its rooftop bar. Gio and I really did not enjoy our stay there, for a list of reasons, but mostly due to the service (they put us in the wrong room and wouldn’t change it) and very small annoying details (ex. if you take the stairs, your room key will only let you into your own floor- not the gym or lobby- otherwise you will be locked in the staircase).
For those that enjoy booking with the SLS group, it should be noted that they have 2 very different hotels in Brickell- The one on 1300 S Miami has our absolute favorite pizza in Florida (at Fi’lia restaurant), but the hotel itself is… unique (think mirrors on the ceilings above the beds). The SLS LUX is classier.
If you are looking for South Beach hotels, The Setai has come highly recommended by friends (though many of the rooms are small). The bar is amazing, and it is the perfect vibe for a high-end South Beach stay. (In the past, we stayed at the COMO, which has since closed).
Tourism & Travel Notes
Our top recommendation for places to stay in Miami is in downtown, specifically Brickell. We have found it to be the nicest area, especially if you choose hotels close to restaurants such as Il Gabbiano. Wynwood is an up-and-coming design district, famous for it’s graffiti artwork and modern restaurants such as Kyu and Uchi. South Beach is a little too wild and crowded for us, so we rarely visit unless we are going to a specific new restaurant for a night out.
Do not expect amazing service in Miami because a 20% Auto-grat is included almost everywhere (check your bill), so there is no real incentive to provide great service. We especially notice this with bartenders. However, newer restaurants and newer staff seem to provide better service as a trend. And, if you go into Miami with low expectations for service, many places will pleasantly surprise you (or at least meet your expectations).
Lyft is much better than Uber in Miami (and usually at least half the price).
Many Miami locals highly urge to avoid taxis due to safety concerns. It is much better to use Uber, Lyft, or hire a private driver.
For private transfers throughout Florida and within the greater Miami area, Jess’s family recommends Legacy Car Miami. Their email is [email protected], and they can be called or texted anytime at (305)399-3780.
If you are going to a nice restaurant in Miami, adhere to the world-wide dress code of no sandals and no shorts… but also beware of shoelaces at night. It is a ridiculous rule, but we have noticed that in Miami (and sometimes London), a ‘no shoelace’ dress code is enforced.
Jess and her family did a graffiti experience through Wynwood Art Walk Tours, and they had a lot of fun creating their own graffiti art (you can purchase your own canvas to work on and take home, if you ask). Jess’s sister and mom also highly recommend the graffiti golf cart tours, which are a nice way to explore the Wynwood art scene.
Notable Places Visited & Not Reviewed
Carbone: This South Beach outpost is our least favorite of the Carbone spots (Vegas is #1). There are better places in Miami. Skip. Edge Terrace: The Four Seasons bar is fine for a stop, but the service can be extremely hit or miss. Joe’s Stone Crab: We have not been in a long time, but it can get touristy. Katsuya: We prefer other sushi spots. Komodo: Oily peking duck. Mr. Chow’s: Not the best Chinese food, but they make a great lychee martini. Nikki Beach: Deeply avoid. Rusty Pelican: Not very clean. Taqueria El Mexicano: Used to be a favorite, but after renovations and restaffing, we are afraid they’ve passed their heyday. Zuma: We always have such a hard time with Zuma menus and figuring out what sounds good to us, this is no exception. Restaurants on Key Biscayne: Not much worth venturing out for aside from Vinya, but if you are staying on KB don’t hesitate to get in touch with us, and we will send you a shortlist.
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