While Miami may not have been on your radar in the past as a destination for food and drink, the city has fine-tuned its food scene, now known to offer a wide range of international cuisines. In 2023, this diverse dish destination was ranked “2023 Food City of the Year” by Bon Appétit, with Forbes reporting that the variety reflected in Miami’s food is rooted in their multicultural population.
Miami was once home to a rogue group of South Florida chefs who pushed culinary boundaries with indigenous ingredients but has transformed into the hot spot for Michelin-starred restaurants, James Beard Award winners, and a host of internationally recognized chefs like Donatella Arpaia, Michelle Bernstein, and José Andrés.
But the heat really turned up for Miami chefs when Gianni Versace decided to grace the city with his fashionable presence in South Beach, followed by celebrities like Madonna, Sylvester Stallone, and Lenny Kravitz who all headed to Magic City for a taste. Celebrities may be going south to tickle their taste buds in Miami for its power to bring together a delectable roster of Latin flavors from around the Caribbean and South America. Magic City is just that—magic, a celebration of simmering flavors that highlight everything Miami has to offer.
While you have many choices for delicious cuisine in Miami, below are some of the hot spots you won’t want to miss.
- Bandeja Paisa: Located in West Miami, you can start your day off right with a café con leche and one of their generous breakfast dishes like Calentado Paisa, a platter of rice with beans, avocado, sweet plantain, scrambled eggs, corn patty with cheese, and a selection of meat. You will feel energized for the day getting the right start at this Colombian restaurant.
- Puerto Sagua: This quintessential Cuban eatery prides itself on capturing the essence of Cuban flavors. Taking traditional dishes and blending in fresh, flavorful ingredients leaves you with an unforgettable experience. Award-winning chef and humanitarian José Andrés recommends trying this restaurant’s tortillas de huevos.
- 1-800-Lucky: Lunchtime can be hectic, especially when you need to grab lunch quickly but do not want to sacrifice your taste buds for another round of fast food. Many Miami workers head to Magic City’s food halls to gather for a bite in a hub that’s sure to have something for everyone. 1-800-Lucky is a 10,000-square-foot food hall in the style of a hip, Asian market, and vendors are ready to whip everything from ramen to Vietnamese sandwiches for you to dive into.
- Casa Tua Cucina: When you are craving Italian cuisine, Casa Tua Cucina has you covered. With an open Italian kitchen and 10 food stations, you will find the finest ingredients and a vast selection of Italian wines (the perfect partner for those taking a half day).
- Boia De: You will definitely want to book ahead for a night at this Michelin-star restaurant that is doing very surprising things with Italian dishes. Make sure you bring a friend with you to share a variety of delicious dishes here like beef tartare, crispy polenta, lamb ribs fra diavola, and tiramisu.
Whether you are ready to live your foodie dreams while spending a day in Miami or want to experience the nightlife at some downtown clubs like E11even and Space, Magic City is brimming with flavor and ready to share it with the world.
