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.
February 2020: Everywhere you turn these days, it seems there’s a new Nikkei spot opening in town. To wit, the best restaurants in Miami this month include two tasty Japanese-Peruvian places. Intimo by Juan Chipoco, a talented Peruvian chef with a mini local restaurant empire, opened in the South of Fifth neighborhood in the former Il Mulino location. Osaka, the Miami outpost of the internationally renowned restaurant from Lima, sits on the south side of Brickell. Modern, upscale and buzzy, the eatery fits right in with the neighborhood. For something totally different, we take you to Little Havana’s first rooftop bar and restaurant, Terras. It’s unique and delightful.
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
Osaka
What is it? Miami’s outpost of the acclaimed Lima restaurant brings up-market Nikkei cuisine to the posh Brickell neighborhood.
Why go? Sushi and nigiri that will blow your mind (and maybe your budget) with complex flavors and beautiful presentations that are finished off tableside.
Terras
What is it? Little Havana’s first rooftop bar is a charming, retro-styled deck lined with oversize umbrellas and comfy couch set-ups. At night, bistro lights make the whole space twinkle.
Why go? You’ve never sipped a mezcal cocktail on a Little Havana rooftop. Plus, its distinction as the neighborhood’s first means zero skyline obstruction.
Intimo
What is it? Chef Juan Chipoco expands his mini-empire of stellar Peruvian restaurants with this glitzy Nikkei spot in the South of Fifth neighborhood.
Why go? Chipoco leans into the Japanese-Peruvian trend with a smattering of reimagined sushi dishes, Japanese staples and Peruvian classics. For all its excess, the gilded spot (even the flatware is gold!) feels welcoming and, well, intimate.
InRamen
What is it? A casual spot touting made-to-order ramen available at fast-food speeds (and prices), now open in South Miami.
Why go? Watch your Chinese soba noodles pulled, stretched and molded to perfection right before your eyes as all ramen is made to order. There for the broth? Choose from 10 different soup varieties you’ll want to slurp down to the last drop.
Gitano
What is it? Mexico hippy vibes meets Miami tropical glam at this third location of the Tulum-based restaurant.
Why go? You still haven’t been to Tulum and need to know what the fuss is about. Miami’s Gitano faithfully follows the original as far as food and drink are concerned—from the signature grilled avocado and the banana leaf fish to the stiff tequila-based cocktails flavored with herbs from the restaurant’s garden.
Frohzen
What is it? Pastry chef Salvatore Martone’s innovative dessert shop puts forth a menu of sweet, whimsical treats that combine cake, baked goods and ice cream.
Why go? Enjoy pie on a stick, indulge in a Frankenstein cupcake with sprinkles and soft serve and try a fancy ice cream sandwich featuring a French macaron.
Meraki Greek Bistro – Coconut Grove
What is it? This Coconut Grove restaurant serves a menu of traditional Mediterranean fare in a bright, white-washed dining room with plenty of nautical accents to remind you of the Aegean.
Why go? Simple dishes where wholesome ingredients and vibrant, colorful veggies shine. Tuck into grilled octopus, tender gyros and Greek, honey-soaked desserts that taste just as authentically good on this side of the Atlantic.
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.
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.
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