The best new restaurants in Miami to try right now
Fresh out of ideas? Find inspiration in the best new restaurants Miami has to offer, plus new cafes and buzzy bars.
December 2019: We’re closing out the year with an impressively diverse lineup of new Miami restaurants, whose locations spread beyond the expected foodie neighborhoods like Wynwood. The city known for its Latin fare welcomes Greek bistro Amaranthine in Miami Shores and high-end Chinese restaurant Hutong in Brickell. While over in Coconut Grove, Michael Beltran partners with Justin Flit for Italian-seafood concept Navé and star chef Lorena Garcia opens her first local restaurant, CHICA.
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
Amaranthine
What is it? A modern Greek restaurant in the heart of sleepy Miami Shores, Amaranthine is a neighborhood restaurant worth traveling to.
Why go? Wednesday night is pasta night, when bowls of house-made eggplant lasagna, pillowy gnocchi and stuffed ravioli are all $11. Popping in on another night? Try the pasticcio starter layered with mashed potatoes, skirt steak and a dreamy truffle sauce.
CHICA by chef Lorena Garcia
What is it? Celebrity chef Lorena Garcia helms this splashy, Vegas-style restaurant that replaced long-time neighborhood spot Soyka.
Why go? For Latin food with so much flair. CHICA’s gigantic menu moves through South America serving the continent’s greatest hits: Argentine parillada, Mexican tacos, Venezuelan arepas and more.
Hutong
What is it? The second U.S. outpost of the Hong-Kong–based restaurant serves upscale northern Chinese cuisine.
Why go? Find all your takeout favorites majorly elevated for a well-heeled crowd. Peking duck fans will not be disappointed in this bird—prepared for 24 hours and carved tableside for maximum effect.
Navé
What is it? Chefs Justin Flit and Michael Beltran partner on this Italian seafood concept adjacent to Ariete.
Why go? Pasta fiends mourned the end of Proof but Flit hasn’t skipped a beat. Fans of his tender ravioli and toothsome lasagna will be very impressed with the spaghetti with clams and the rigatoni covered in an earthy pesto sauce.
Gregory’s Diner
What is it? An all-American diner brought to us by the masterminds behind Greek powerhouse Mandolin Aegean Bistro. Its well-appointed, midcentury-designed space makes your favorite greasy spoon look like a ramshackle restaurant.
Why go? Tuck into home-cooked classics such as the braised heritage pork shoulder, the roasted quarter chicken and tender glazed carrots. Gregory’s might bill itself as a diner but it’s the kind of restaurant you won’t think twice about visiting for a special occasion or a date night.
Grail Sports Bar
What is it? Wynwood’s only sports bar also has the distinction of being owned by an award-winning chef and decorated mixologists. So the spot with dozens of TVs throughout doesn’t just promise a good view of the game, it ensures a great food and drink experience while you’re watching.
Why go? It’s easy for groups of friends where not everyone is interested in following the score but still want a cocktail and decent meal while pretending to watch.
Mama Joon
What is it? Effortlessly stylish and strewn with thoughtful design elements, this humble, veg-forward restaurant wows in the subtlest of ways.
Why go? A rainbow of classic and modern Mediterranean snacks and dips such as labneh, house-marinated chili feta and beet hummus known as Mama’s Mezze. The homey spread outshines any we’ve ever tried.
Dukunoo Jamaican Kitchen
What is it? A family-owned Jamaican kitchen helmed by a father, mother and their daughter, Dukunoo puts out modernized versions of classic island dishes.
Why go? The “Jerk stand,” featuring all kinds of iterations and combinations of Jamaica’s signature cooking style, takes a fun approach to the national dish. Mix it up with different proteins and sides and make it your own.
Papi Steak
What is it? David “Papi” Einhorn’s eponymous steakhouse, opened in partnership with David Grutman, is a cozy, velvet-strewn supper club brimming with celebs.
Why go? For fancy Jewish deli fare, like potato latkes and the best—and likely most expensive—wagyu pastrami you’ll ever try. It’s rich, marbleized perfection.
Le Jardinier
What is it? This futuristic-inspired, vegetable-forward restaurant from the team behind the late chef Joël Robuchon specializes in seasonal fare.
Why go? For beautifully composed dishes you’ll want to photograph as badly as you’ll want to eat them. Save room for the equally stunning desserts, made from fresh fruits and the highest quality chocolate.
Blind Barber
What is it? Nearly 10 years after opening its doors in New York City’s East Village—and expanding to Los Angeles and Chicago—the barbershop by day and speakeasy by night finally opens in South Beach.
Why go? The hidden bar trend may have come and gone but there’s still something sexy and fun about a secret entrance. Find it and you’ll be rewarded with stiff cocktails and a menu of indulgent grilled-cheese sandwiches.
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