The best new restaurants in Miami to try right now
You rule the city’s food scene: You’ve wined and dined at the best restaurants in Miami, and if someone wants to know where to get brunch in Miami, you’re their go-to egg master (and pancake master… and mimosa master!). The coffee shops in Miami? They know your name, they know your order and they know you mean business. But there’s always something new to discover, and new to learn—that’s part of the reason you love the Magic City. Stay up to date—and stay reigning supreme—with our guide to the best new restaurants Miami is welcoming to town right now.
Best new restaurants in Miami
Bakan
What is it? Lush and tropical, this Mexican restaurant features a magical outdoor dining area lit by bamboo lamps. Expect serious Tulum vibes in the heart of Wynwood.
Why go? There’s literally a mescal pairing for every dish. With 200 options of the agave-based spirit to choose from, you’d be a fool not to pair your organic blue corn tortilla tacos with one of these smokey sips.
Sushi by Boū
What is it? A super exclusive omakase den from New York City’s prolific sushi chef Mike, featuring a fun sake dispenser.
Why go? The 17-course, 60-minute tasting accommodates just four diners at a time. It’s an intimate, personalized experience that goes down in none other than one of Gianni Versace’s former suites.
Café La Trova
What is it? The much-anticipated concept from James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein, her chef/restaurateur husband David Martinez, and nationally acclaimed cantinero Julio Cabrera is a delightful throwback to old Cuba.
Why go? Indulge in nostalgia as Cabrera’s cocktail menu takes you back in time from pre-Revolutionary Cuba to present-day Miami. Paired with Bernstein’s small plate selection of Latin-inspired bites and the live Trova music, it’s a satisfying a visit to the island.
Astra
What is it? Wynwood’s hot new rooftop bar and restaurant is an expansive Greek concept with a retractable roof and panoramic views of Downtown.
Why go? If a trip to Mykonos is out of the question, this will do. Astra’s Mediterranean-inspired menu and Greek beach club vibes satiate the need for an island vacation.
Café Dior
What is it? Sitting atop the third floor of the Dior boutique in the Miami Design District is this seen-and-be-seen coffee shop, doling out French pastries and decorated espresso drinks.
Why go? This is the place to caffeinate when you’re decked out in designer fashion or wiped out from a luxury shopping spree.
Root & Bone Miami
What is it? South Miami’s outpost of Jeff McInnis’ and Janine Booth’s delicious Southern restaurant with locations in New York City and inside the Shelborne South Beach. Head here to satiate all of your cravings for deviled eggs, flaky biscuits and other down-home American staples.
Why go? Fried chicken, obviously. McInnis might’ve left his mark on Yardbird but there’s nothing like biting into a succulent piece of battered and fried poultry made by the genius himself.
PEZ MIAMI
What is it? Popular Tijuana-based chef Javier Plascencia takes his talents to Downtown, where his signature seafoodcentric concept and assorted tequila selection are quickly causing waves.
Why go? For delicious tacos that won’t wreck your diet and small production wines you won’t find elsewhere. Baja-Med cuisine is unlike any Mexican food, offering unexpected surf-and-turf combos like pork and octopus and lighter takes on usually heavy dishes such as sopes.
La Placita
What is it? James Beard-nominated chef José Mendin’s taps into his Caribbean roots for his first wholly Puerto Rican concept stateside—lest you couldn’t tell by its loud-and-proud exterior. The gist is simple: approachable Puerto Rican food elevated and innovated in a way that only chef Mendin could.
Why go? Purists, cover your eyes. Zero in on the Mofongo Shop, a have-it-your-way take on the country’s national dish, made up of mashed fried plantains and pork. Theirs can be customized with sweet plantains, ropa vieja and so much more.
Kaido
What is it? This sleek, Japanese-inspired cocktail lounge in the Miami Design District features upmarket drinks by French master mixologist Nico de Soto and sumptuous small plates by James Beard-nominated chef Brad Kilgore.
Why go? A first-rate dining experience. While a crisp shiso Negroni and an order of the mouthwatering Iberico ham dumplings over a delicate Chinese vinegar sauce will cost you a small fortune, it’s one you should be willing to pay for flavors so complex and mouthwatering as these.
Delicious Raw
What is it? A healthy fast-casual spot in super fit Sunset Harbour. Redundant? Maybe. Worth a visit? Most definitely. The menu at this Florida-based mini-chain features an assortment of made-to-order bowls best enjoyed from the comfort of their expansive patio.
Why go? Your favorite cheat meals made wholesome using fresh, plant-based ingredients. Try the vegan pad Thai or the Nobl burger topped with smoked aioli, truffle-infused garlic dijon and yummy roasted veggies. Bonus: the vegan brioche bun is made in-house too.
The Jim and Neesie
What is it? A cozy lobby bar inside the hip new Generator Miami winning over diners with its novel tableside cocktail program as much as with its American comfort food.
Why go? Ex Matador Room chef Daniel Roy is the reason you’re making dinner reservations at a bar—he's elevating snacks and paring down entrees to complement the eclectic drink offerings. Don’t miss the spicy roasted carrots, meaty oysters dressed in a honey, cucumber and mint mignonette, and the crispy octopus over a rich romesco sauce.
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