Art Basel is the unofficial kick-off to the holiday dining scene in Miami and Miami Beach. Welcome to both first-time visitors and those who make the annual trek to view art, drink, dine, and generally have a good time. Notwithstanding the traffic and crowds, Miami Art Week has quite the buzz.

All of the Miami Beach hotels have top restaurants and prices to match. Scarpetta, StripSteak and Pizza Burger by Michael Mina and Hakkasan at The Fontainebleau , Mr. Chow at The W South Beach, Pao by Paul Qui and Los Fuegos at Faena and Jean Georges, The Matador Room at the EDITION, NOBU in the Nobu Hotel Eden Roc,  are all popular and top picks where chances are you will have a delicious albeit expensive meal. 

So by request, here are our MIAbites suggestions for dining while in Miami.  

1.     Classic Miami- Popular for consistent and well-prepared dining options and excellent service. These are the "sure-things" in town, popular with tourists and priced accordingly.

2.   Buzzy Hot Spots or Trending- Opened in the last few years or so or are the popular hot spots to check out. Innovative and creative chefs abound. 

3.    Casual or Quick Bites- Lunch or more casual for dinner but fun places with good food.

Many of the top spots have secured “buy outs” by groups during peak days and times so always check first.

Reservations are probably mandatory and may require multiple calls to secure, so be prepared to be flexible with times and days.  HINT: Call directly as many restaurants will block out peak times online or have cancellations.

Classic Miami:

Design District/Midtown/Wynwood/MiMo:

Mandolin-4312 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137 305 576-6066

BlackBrick aka Midtown Chinese- 3451 NE 1st Avenue #103 Miami, FL 33137
305 573-8886

Blue Collar -Biscayne Inn, 6730 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138 305 756-0366

SUGARCANE Raw Bar & Grill – 3252 NE 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33137  786 369 -0353 

Michael’s Genuine- 140 NE 40th St. Miami, FL 33137. 305 676-0894

Miami Beach:

Byblos- 1545 Collins Ave. Miami Beach FL 33139 305 508 5041

Hakkasan- The Fontainebleau 4441 Collins Ave. Miami Beach, FL 33140 786 276-1410

Cecconis- 4385 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Casa Tua- 1700 James Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305 673-1010

Prime 112 and Prime Italian - 112 and 101 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305 532-8112

RED South Beach - 801 South Pointe Drive. Miami Beach, FL 33139 305 534-3688

Joe's Stone Crab- 11 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139  305 673-0365

Juvia- 1111 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305 763-8272

Macchialina- 820 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305 534-2124

Milos- 730 1st St. Miami Beach, FL 33139 305 604-6800

Le Zoo- Bal Harbour Shoppes 9700 Collins Ave. Bal Harbour

Buzzy Hot Spots or Emerging: 

Design District/Midtown/Wynwood/Overtown/Edgewater/MiMo/Allapattah:

Boia De- 5205 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137 305-967-8866

Contessa- 111 NE 41st St, Miami, FL 33137

Doya- 347 NW 24th St. Miami, FL 33127

Dōma- 35 NE 26th St, Miami, FL 33137

MaryGolds Brasserie at the Arlo- NEW- 2217 NW Miami Ct., Miami 33127

Hometown BBQ- 1200 NW 22nd St #100, Miami, FL 33142

Le Jardinier & L’atelier de Joël Robuchon- Paradise Plaza- 151 NE 41st St, Miami, FL 33137

Leku -1100 NW 23rd St. Miami, FL 786 464 0615

Mignonette- 210 NE 18th St, Miami, FL 33132  305 374-4635

Red Rooster -920 NW 2nd Ave. Miami, FL 33136 305 640 9889

Swan- 90 NE 39th St. Miami, FL 33137 305 704 -0994

Miami Beach:

Abbale Telavivan- 864 Commerce St. Miami Beach, FL 33139 305 902 3477

Blue Ribbon- 336 21st St. Miami Beach, FL 33139

27 Restaurant in The Freehand Miami- 2727 Indian Creek Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Mila- 1636 Meridian Ave. Miami Beach, FL 33139 786 706 0744

Pubbelly Sushi- 1424 20th St. Miami Beach, FL 33139 305 531 9282

Stiltsville-1787 Purdy Ave. Miami Beach, FL 786 353 0477

Stubborn Seed- 101 Washington Ave. Miami Beach, FL 786 322 5211

Planta- 850 Commerce St. Miami Beach, FL 305 397 8513 (Vegan)

Carbone- 49 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Casual or Quick Bites:

Design District/Midtown/Wynwood/Edgewater/MiMo

1-800-Lucky- Asian food hall at 137 NW 23rd St. Miami, FL 

Coyo Taco- 2300 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127 305 573-8228 and Brickell location at 999 Brickell Ave. 

Harry's Pizzeria- 3918 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33127 786 275-4963

La Sandwicherie- 169 NW 23rd St. Miami, FL 33127 786 409-2390

Love Life Cafe- NEW pop up at Sacred Space 105 NE 24th St 33137 305 456 4148

Zak The Baker- 405 NW 26th St, Miami, FL 33127

Miami Beach:

La Sandwicherie- 229 14th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305 532-8934

The Lobster Shack - 40 South Pointe Dr. Miami Beach, 33139 305 763-8230

True Loaf Bakery- 1894 Bay Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139 786 216-7207

TimeOut Market- 1601 Drexel Ave, Miami, FL 33139

Market- The EDITION 2901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140
786 257- 4600

Taquiza- 7450 Ocean Terrace and 1351 Collins Ave. Miami Beach, FL 33139

There is also many top spots in downtown Miami like Edge Steak House in the Four Seasons,  La Mar at The Mandarin Oriental and Zuma, in the Epic Hotel, downtown and Brickell at Kaori and La Petite Maison and Novikov for Asian.

And Coconut Grove has emerged as the newest hot spot for dining with Ariete, The Key Club, Sadelles and the Bayshore Club.