The best restaurants in Miami Beach to book right now

What is it? The joint venture of brother-sister duo Michael and Jacqueline Pirolo, chef and sommelier, whose respective talents have yielded magic on the residential west side of South Beach. Famed for its pasta and wine program, this rustic-chic Italian restaurant has been a staple among locals and discerning visitors since opening in 2012. Its staying power is a testament to the consistently excellent food and warm, forward-thinking hospitality.

Why we love it: The seasonal menu changes frequently, but we can always count on the toothy housemade pastas, from the light and fresh spaghetti pomodoro to the shallot-spiked cacio e pepe. Aside from Jaqueline’s Michelin award-winning wine program, the cocktails—including an entire page of martinis and mini “bambini”-tinis—also hold their own.

Time Out tip: For the best value, go for the four-course chef’s tasting menu ($75 per person) and add the wine pairing ($55 per person).

Address: 820 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 6–11pm; Fri–Sun 5–11pm

Expect to pay: $150 per person, and you'll want to budget for a bottle of wine and/or cocktails—few can curate a beverage list as well as Jacqueline.

What is it? This dark, 60-seat spot is a collaboration between art collector Andre Sakhai and chef James Taylor, who has cooked at three-Michelin-starred Alinea. Legit works from the likes of Basquiat and Picasso line the walls of the dining room (and even the bathrooms) while hip-looking folks cozy up over deftly executed steakhouse classics with inventive twists—plus one of the best burgers in Miami.

Why we love it: The Joyce feels exclusive but not pretentious, and the deceptively simple menu is so tightly curated you basically can’t go wrong. Our favorite first bites were the thick-sliced hamachi crudo with bright hatch chile and lime, and the crunchy caviar latkes that melt into silky mouthfuls. Beverage director Andrew Herron has curated a masterful wine list that’s 100 bottles deep, while Japanese mixologist Takuya Mizuguchi’s cocktail menu is quirky and technically complex yet oddly approachable.

Time Out tip: For the ultimate high-low experience, order the namesake Joyce burger (the chef spent three years perfecting it) and the A5 filet mignon (expensive but incredibly rich and worth every penny). 

Address: 448 Española Wy, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Opening hours: Wed–Sun 6:30–10:30pm

Expect to pay: $100 or more per person, depending on whether you’re going for steaks and fine wine or keeping it more casual with apps and cocktails.

What is it? Anyone who lives in South Florida—and most people who've visited—knows Joe's Stone Crab as nothing short of an institution. It's a hallowed Miami Beach spot for birthday celebrations and anniversaries, where locals and tourists, celebrities and politicians, families and friends gather over a common love for the fresh-cracked crustaceans, festive ambiance and inimitable service.

Why we love it: It’s not just that Joe’s is the oldest restaurant on Miami Beach, continuously open since 1913. This gem has managed to remain relevant while retaining its old-school glamour and high-standard hospitality—a rare feat, especially in Miami. Our go-to order is a dirty martini, the fried chicken as a starter (trust us), a chopped salad and Lyonnaise potatoes to go with our claws.

Time Out tip: Joe’s doesn’t take reservations, so if you’re going for dinner, between 5 and 5:30pm is the sweet spot to avoid a wait. And if you’re wondering which size of claw is the best value, we got it straight from fourth-generation owner Stephen Sawitz: go for the selects! Also, wear the bib.

Address: 11 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Opening hours: Fri–Sun 11:30am–2:30pm, 5–10pm; Wed–Thu 5–10pm

Expect to pay: $100 to $200 per person, a range that hinges on your proclivity for stone crabs—available at market price. The chicken, thankfully, is always a reliable $8.95.

What is it? The Sunset Harbour outpost of Lucali, the famed Brooklyn-based pizza shop and wine bar, is perpetually slammed. Neither the limited menu—pizza, salads, a handful of signatures and sides, and two desserts—nor the higher-than-usual prices for a pie ($30 for plain cheese) deters crowds from stopping in daily.

Why we love it: To understand why no one can resist Lucali in all its costly and crowded splendor, simply dig in to a slice of the traditional pizza (which you can sprinkle with free fresh basil), the kale Caesar (the best around) and the warm Nutella dessert pizza (sprinkled with powdered sugar, no less). 

Time Out tip: Looking for cocktails? Head next door to Bay Club, the chilled neighborhood bar connected to Lucali, where live music, comedy, and karaoke—plus happy hour deals on Lucali faves like meatballs and wings—make it a go-to for locals. 

Address: 1930 Bay Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Opening hours: Sun–Thu noon–11pm; Fri, Sat noon–midnight

Expect to pay: $30 to $50 per person

What is it? Chef Niven Patel's fun and amazingly flavorful homage to island cuisine. This hidden gem in South Beach is beautiful, laidback and frequented by chic locals who appreciate quality ingredients and warm, consistent hospitality.

Why we love it: More than any of his previous restaurants, Paya is a stellar representation of the award-winning chef’s bright, creative and locally sourced sensibility, with nods to his Indian roots. Order the incredibly juicy and herbaceous duck lumpia, which you’ll be instructed to wrap in butter lettuce leaves before dipping into the spicy, sweet and sour jeow sum sauce. The tender tamarind lamb chops in jerk-spiced yogurt and the lemongrass-glazed daily catch (ours was gray tile fish) were also highlights.

Time Out tip: The dining room is gorgeous, but Paya’s lush poolside terrace is arguably even more of a vibe. Get even deeper into the vacation state of mind with a stiff tropical cocktail, like the very smooth Island Negroni made with dark rum and coconut-washed Campari.

Address: 1209 17th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Opening hours: Sun–Thu 5:30–10pm; Fri, Sat 5:30–11pm

Expect to pay: $50 to $100 per person 

What is it? A Michelin star and the top prize on Top Chef have made Jeremy Ford something of a celebrity. But his home base in South Beach isn’t quite as fancy as all that, feeling more like a party (in the best way). At the base of Stubborn Seed’s buzzy ambiance is a well-executed menu of inventive and seasonally driven new American dishes from a passionate and pioneering local talent.

Why we love it: Inspired by whatever is local and fresh, chef’s ever-changing menu is filled with whimsical things like mango kimchi-spiked wagyu beef tartare and turnip foam-topped Florida oysters. But Stubborn Seed’s focus on sustainability isn’t virtue signaling—Ford’s turned it into his way of life, implementing vegetables and herbs cultivated on his own Redlands farm, with his own hands, into each dish and even the cocktails.

Time Out tip: Choose from two elevated tasting menus—six courses for $125 or nine courses for $175—or go a la carte for a less intensive experience.

Address: 101 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Opening hours: Sun–Thu 6–10pm; Fri, Sat 6–11pm

Expect to pay: $100 to $150 per person; The tasting menu is also an excellent choice and will set you back about $250 per person with a glass of wine and tax and tip.

What is it? Philadelphia’s influential Israeli chef Michael Solomonov lands in South Beach with Aviv, the flagship Mediterranean restaurant of the eco-chic 1 Hotel. Expect to share mezze (small plates) such as tuna boorekas, warm stuffed dates and haloumi baklava, made with spiced beef and spicy honey. These will follow a feast of salatim, small cold dishes like salads and spreads that have become a hallmark of Solomonov's restaurants.

Why we love it: From spicy fennel to Moroccan carrots, sumac-drenched cabbage and twice-cooked eggplant, the salatim showcases the very essence of Solomonov’s bold flavors and techniques. The on-site charcoal grill features dishes like lamb merguez and a vegan mushroom shishlik with green onions, hazelnuts and Castelvetrano olives. Drinks likewise embrace Middle Eastern flavors, as in the zhoug, a spicy twist on the classic margarita.

Time Out tip: The lush, linen-draped vibe of the dining room extends outside to Aviv’s breezy terrace, though note that this patio doesn’t actually face the ocean. 

Address: 2341 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Opening hours: Sun–Thu 7–11:30am, 5–10pm; Fri, Sat 7–11:30am, 5–11pm

Expect to pay: $50 to $100 per person

What is it? Nestled in South of Fifth, this all-day spot from the same owners as Pura Vida dishes out some of the best Israeli nosh in the city under a wall of magenta bougainvilleas on the front patio.

Why we love it: Try the avo egg feta open-faced toast on a massive Jerusalem bagel or the authentic shakshuka served in a warm tomato-onion-pepper braise and sprinkled with Moroccan spices. During dinner, the mezze and salads like crunchy cauliflower and crispy haloumi and grapefruit are all highly shareable. We’re also fans of the open-fire section, which includes a whole branzino served with preserved lemon tapenade, herb salad and charred tomato.

Time Out tip: If you don’t have time to sit down for brunch, order the buttery and flakey egg and feta bureka from the pastry case and stroll down the street to South Pointe Park.

Address: 864 Commerce St, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 11 am–4:30pm, 5–9:30pm; Fri 11am–4:30pm, 5–10pm; Sat 10 am–4:30pm, 5–10pm

Expect to pay: $50 to $100 per person

What is it? A cozy French café that was seemingly plucked from the streets of Paris and set on charming Española Way. Be sure to grab a seat outdoors to people watch—a Euro crowd tends to gather here. 

Why we love it: Quintessentially French, with the relaxed service to prove it, A La Folie serves solid crepes and croques at all hours of the day. It’s the ideal place to soothe a hangover (the soup-bowl-sized lattes will bring you back to life) or wile away the hours with a glass or two of chilled rosé.

Time Out tip: The back patio, dubbed Bar Derrière, is a speakeasy-style natural wine bar specializing in biodynamic, organic and sustainable wines, though you’ll also find cocktails and beer on the menu. It’s a laid-back and more affordable spot to drink in the area.

Address: 516 Española Wy, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 9am–11pm

Expect to pay: Around $30 per person

What is it? A sultry, retro-futuristic dining room where you’ll find excellent interpretations of regional Chinese cuisine courtesy of David Schwartz, a Michelin Guide Toronto Young Chef Award recipient, and executive chef Braden Chong. Mimi is the fourth restaurant and first U.S. venture for Big Hug Hospitality, responsible for Toronto favorites Mimi Chinese, Sunny’s Chinese and Linny’s.

Why we love it: The dim lighting, glossy red banquettes and cozy windowless space make Mimi an ideal spot for a date or intimate group gathering. Dishes are elevated and interesting, like the Guangdong-style shrimp toast, made with fried bread, red vinegar, and hot mustard mayo, and the Four Foot Belt Noodle in a savory-sweet bean sauce, cut tableside with scissors.

Time Out tip: If you’d rather let someone else take the wheel, the $98 chef’s tasting menu is offered daily.

Address: 1575 Alton Rd, unit 2, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Opening hours: Wed, Thu 6–10pm; Fri, Sat 6–11pm; Sun 5–11pm

Expect to pay: $100 to $150 per person