Eric Barton

It's pretty much always a good time to go drinking in Miami. Sun's out? Grab some patio pounders at a waterfront venue. Trying to impress a date? We've got sexy hidden speakeasies galore. Catching up with friends? Miami's wine bars let you do so at leisure. Of course, we've also got plenty of places to drink when you're not drinking, where the low and no-ABV bevs are just as flavorful as their full-proof brethren. If you want to sip cocktails and party all night, well, you're in the right place. Wondering where to start? Here are our favorite bars in Miami, slinging drinks so good, you'll be hard-pressed not to order another round.  RECOMMENDED: The best wine bars in Miami for solid sips, moody vibes and great tapas, too

October 2024: It's technically fall, but it still feels a lot like summer in Miami. If you can handle the heat, this month brings a few fun outdoor foodie events, like the annual South Beach Seafood Festival. For a hint of those refreshing autumn breezes, try dining on the water or in the sky at a Miami rooftop restaurant this month. And it's only a matter of time before the snowbirds arrive, so be sure to get your reservations in early at this season's hottest new restaurants, too.  Our top places to eat in the city are a true mix of flavors and feels, from white tablecloth fine dining—like some of Miami’s best steakhouses—to tried-and-tested cheap eats in Miami that never, ever disappoint. And where there’s a solid cocktail there’s likely to be an epic dish that follows, so expect to run into some of Miami’s best bars on this list. Just as we've always done, Time Out’s local experts scour the city daily for great eats, great value and insider info. We emphasize fun, flavor and freshness at every price point, and update this list monthly with standout finds. If it’s on the list, whether it's a short-lived pop-up or a mega clubstaurant, we think it’s awesome and hope you will, too.

October 2024: Fall in Miami is in full swing and we can already barely keep up with the barrage of concerts, festivals, spooky season staples and Halloween parties—let alone all the adorable pumpkin patches, farmers and flea markets that make us feel like we're living in a Nora Ephron film. It's only a matter of time before the snowbirds arrive to take over our pristine beaches and top Miami restaurants. Get ahead of the chaos by perusing our up-to-the-minute guide to the best things to do in Miami right now. Locals and tourists can agree that the best things to do in Miami extend beyond ounging on the sand—though it goes without saying that spending some time on the best Miami beaches is fundamental to life in the 305. Aside from dabbling in our famous nightlife and exploring Miami's best bars, no trip would be complete without scoping out the booming culinary scene and our award-winning Miami restaurants. In between sunbathing, swimming and sipping cocktails, check off these essential Miami experiences, a mix of year-round attractions, seasonal events, cultural staples and exciting one-offs vetted by our expert editors and contributors. (We're a team of born-and-raised locals and passionate Miami transplants with an unhealthy aversion to staying home). By the way, this list is curated, as always, but isn’t ranked—we just couldn’t choose favorites.

Studies have shown that Miami knows how to brunch better than any other city. We should note that said studies were not conducted by proper research centers but rather by a team of hungover journalists in dire need of good eggs and a bloody mary. Over several years of indulging in breakfast-lunch hybrids in the early weekend hour of around 2pm (basically dawn in Miami), we have confidently determined the finest places to brunch in a city that makes brunch an unofficial sport (along with day drinking and al fresco dining). We're laying it all out below in our guide to the very best places to brunch in Miami, the unscientifically official Brunch Capital of the Planet.

It isn’t correct to say Little River is coming up anymore, because it’s very much arrived.  Though you can still expect to find excellent, authentic Haitian and Caribbean food from casual, longstanding spots in this mostly industrial neighborhood, these days, there’s so much more to explore in Little River.  In the winter of 2019, The Citadel food hall opened, promising to breathe new life into the area. And you know what? It did just that. Within a short walk, you can now find some of the city’s best Vietnamese, downright amazing sushi, pizza that rivals Napoli’s and a few burgers with the potential to become your new favorite.  Before your foray into this eclectic Upper Eastside pocket, get primed with our fresh dining guide below. We’re counting down the very best restaurants in Little River, an exciting district that’s very much full of good restaurants—and newly named among Time Out’s 38 coolest neighborhoods in the world. Keep an eye out. Some of Miami's most exciting restaurant openings of the season are coming to Little River in the next few months.

The South is packed with thrilling foodie destinations—few regions on the planet blend culinary quality and homely comforts like here, and Asheville, North Carolina, is very much at the forefront. Once known mostly for its mountains and art galleries, this town has become a foodie’s playground replete with restaurants that reflect the city’s creative spirit. Eating in Asheville is like wandering through a culinary Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, where each turn leads to something a little unexpected and a lot more delicious.  Even though you’ll find chefs here who are just as likely to serve foraged mushrooms as they are to smoke a trout until it’s practically butter, don’t expect a scene that takes itself too seriously. Dining in North Carolina’s creative hub means fully embracing both the quirky and the creative, while also indulging in traditional Southern standards. Whether you’re hunting for a hidden wine bar or craving a dish that was just plucked from the forest, follow our list below for Asheville’s best restaurants. This guide was updated by Asheville-based writer Eric Barton. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Asheville, North Carolina

Nowhere in Miami—and maybe even in any other city—does a neighborhood see more restaurant turnover than in Wynwood. Miami’s lovably gritty arts district regularly welcomes new multi-million-dollar restaurants as yesterday’s hotspots close their doors (usually just before the date of our reservation). Luckily, Wynwood gets overwhelmed by enough diners on your average Monday night to keep around two dozen good spots humming. Correction: these places are not just “good.” Many of our favorite restaurants in Miami can be found in the confines of this former swath of warehouses.  Trying to figure out which restaurants are still open and actually worth the money in Wynwood? We’ve combed the crowded, colorful boulevards and darker, less-trodden alleyways to bring you this up-to-date, locals-vetted guide to the best restaurants in Wynwood. RECOMMENDED: The best bars in Wynwood

Why is everyone vacationing in the same place? I often wonder this during travel spikes, scrolling social media to see people with nothing in common having the same experiences. Are we all spring skiers now? Is everyone actually having fun, or are we just yielding to a trend? It’s time we all dig a little deeper, skip the cookie-cutter trip and set off somewhere different. Forget what everyone else is doing! Let’s explore our own interests—and while we’re at it, do it where it’s not so crowded. To help you find the perfect underrated summer travel destination, we tapped our network of writers with plenty of experience discovering cool places. We’re showing new sides to cities and regions you already know and sharing choice spots that might be new to you. From wine tasting your way through Boise, Idaho, and encountering wildlife in Oakland, California, to ferry hopping in Southeast Alaska, these aren’t your typical summer escapes. A little less popular and still very exciting, these underrated U.S. destinations are calling your name this summer.

I was once on a barbecue team that competed in the Kansas State Championship, and I am proud to report that the judges awarded me the 41st best pulled pork out of about 300 entries. I realize that reliving my past near-glories puts me in Uncle Rico territory. But I say this more to make a point of my barbecue obsession, right down to smoke rings and regional dry rubs and the age-old sauce debate (Memphis molasses sauce, please). This explains why I’ve been able to compile this list below of America’s best barbecue. I'm an expert, obviously. From the long-smoked brisket of central Texas to the whole hog majesty of the Carolinas, this is where to find the best barbecue restaurants in America. RECOMMENDED: The toughest reservations in America—and how to get them

When the last of the day’s sunlight has passed and eerie shadows of night creep up the walls, they say it’s then that the ghosts rise to return to the places where they met their fate. Also, it’s about that time that many of us need a cocktail and a nice plate of food. When happy hour and interest in ghost sightings collide, it’s time to head to the most haunted bars and restaurants in America. Luckily, this country has many of them, thanks to its long history of gunfights and gambling debts and restaurant-based accidents (seriously, people, watch your step). Will a vision of someone long past appear before you as you dine at these spots? No telling. But we know this list includes infamous American bars and restaurants where eerie customers could be lingering long past the last call. RECOMMENDED: 👻  The most haunted hotels in America😱 The most haunted Airbnbs in the USA

The Wall Street Journal published an article recently with a headline that asked: “Wait, Is Fort Lauderdale…Cool?” To locals, this seemed both like confirmation of something they already knew and absurd. Because if that’s ever been an actual question, it was answered long ago. That’s especially true when we’re talking about the Fort Lauderdale restaurant scene. Sure, a generation ago, dining out here largely meant staid Las Olas restaurants serving vaguely continental cuisine. But now, the city has stellar restaurants spread from the sand's edge to the county's western reaches. To be sure, we visited the city’s chef-driven spots and hidden strip-mall gems and places as cool as, well, Fort Lauderdale itself. Follow our guide to the best restaurants in Fort Lauderdale to see just how cool this city has become. This guide was updated by South Florida-based writer Eric Barton. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Fort Lauderdale🏖️ The best beaches near Fort Lauderdale🏨 The best hotels in Fort Lauderdale🌴 The ultimate guide to Florida

Despite all the organic, farm-to-table bravado we flaunt on Instagram, we all find ourselves in that neon-lit McDonald's drive-thru, trying to rationalize ordering something other than the fries. This isn’t some love letter to the Golden Arches, nor is it a scathing takedown (well, maybe a little of the latter). Instead, consider this your guide to the most curious offerings on a breakfast menu that’s as predictable as it is perplexing. From “steak” masquerading as breakfast to the questionable fusion of fried chicken with syrup-scented carbs, these items are a testament to McDonald’s uncanny ability to ask, “But what if we did it anyway?”So, grab a napkin, lower your expectations, and join me on a culinary journey through McDonald’s breakfast menu. RECOMMENDED:🥖 The best Subway sandwiches, ranked🍔 All the Popeyes sides, ranked🌮 The best Taco Bell items, ranked

For a time, Sushi by Bou operated in a memorable spot: from a six-seat counter set up in Gianni Versace’s former bedroom in his infamous Miami Beach mansion. With that temporary setup in the rearview mirror, New York’s Sushi by Bou opened the 13th location of its speakeasy-style omakase theme in the SLS Brickell. Now, you can find what's perhaps the restaurant's most "Miami" location to date inside the artsy boutique hotel Arlo Wynwood, complete with neon signage, graffiti artwork and a portrait of Miami's own 2 Live Crew and Trina aka The Baddest B*tch on the wall. Sushi by Bou’s chefs hit all the notes that have made omakase popular, blowtorching their wagyu nigiri and handing guests single-servings of well-sourced sushi from an intimate, curtained-off counter that includes 14-seat seats, plus an eight-seat bar and cozy 14-seat lounge area where you'll also find fancy cocktails, imported sake and rare Japanese whiskeys. Choose between a 12-course, $65 experience or a 17-course, $125 experience—both of which breeze by for a sometimes-rushed but reliably delicious omakase experience. The restaurant is located inside the hotel's third-floor cocktail lounge, Higher Ground, so you can plan to grab a drink there before or after, too. 

If you’re a local who’s into food, you’ve heard of Recoveco, the tucked-away South Miami restaurant with a chicken dish pictured all over social media because it’s served with a foot, claws splayed out like the grasping hand of a macabre haunted house witch. But before we get into whether that chicken is good, I want to tell you about the shrimp. Because it’s a dish that sums up this restaurant well. Five waning moons of halved, chilled shrimp, each with a slice of avocado, a dainty wild chervil leaf and a thread of tropea onion. My initial thought: Did I just pay $24 for about 87 calories worth of food? But then I scooped up the sauce with the giant spoon they leave beside you all night (one of the quirks of this place). It’s white miso, according to the tiny menu (another quirk), and its unbelievably complicated—just like everything coming out of this kitchen. Recoveco opened behind Fox’s, in a space that feels simple, with laminated plywood furniture but also with serious big-city charm. In its early days, a lot of the buzz came from that chicken, which can be served without the foot. Like the shrimp, the $60 chicken looks tiny. But it’s also deceptively complicated, crispy skin seasoned with something mysterious, two sauces below, green mango and hoja santa, more interesting the more you try them.  It was the same with a celery salad under a bed of prettily shaved pecorino toscano and just-picked star fruit. It was true also for sausage-stuffed peppers with caramel chicke

Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli is behind many of our favorite things to eat in Miami. There’s his carbonara at Eating House with an egg yolk mixed in at the table. And the patate fritte at Luca with its, uh, egg yolk mixed in at the table.  But even his non-egg-yolk dishes make his two Coral Gables restaurants longtime favorites, especially among those who decide where to eat based on the quality of food and not necessarily the restaurant’s design.  Rapicavoli’s latest venture takes over the restaurant at the historic Mayfair House Hotel & Garden in Coconut Grove, and his recipe that’s worked elsewhere—serving things that taste good in otherwise plain spaces—translates well here, too. Although calling the Mayfair Grill “plain” is not entirely accurate. Inside, it’s a pretty simple-looking hotel restaurant. But out back, you’ll find tables scattered around a handsome fountain, with a leafy vestibule of the hotel rising above. (Consider coordinating your visit with the weather app if you prefer an outdoor ambiance.) As for the menu, this is a live-fire concept built around the hefty Josper grill setup just off the dining room. The dishes I had on a recent visit were done similarly to those at other Rapicavoli restaurants, like the avocado caprese, which subs out tomatoes for avocado chunks arranged around a nice hunk of burrata—a straightforward and quite excellent dish. The clams come in a broth worthy of the accompanying crusty bread, the shells serving as scooping vessels for earth

Up until recently, tasting menus in Miami offered something different from those of their European counterparts: recognizable dishes, generally not hidden under foams or emulsions, or served “deconstructed.” This was a good thing. That changed in August when famed chef Massimo Bottura opened Torno Subito Miami, a place that serves Euro-spec dishes of dainty proteins, complicated sauces and ingredients that have been aged and barreled and prepared for days. At times, the dishes at Torno Subito present a challenge of figuring out what’s below all the complexity—but the discovery ends up making the experience feel more special. Bottura is among the world’s most-awarded chefs. His Modena flagship carries three Michelin stars and spent years listed as the world’s best restaurant. Torno Subito Miami is the latest outpost of a concept he’s opened in Singapore and Dubai. Bottura brought chef Bernardo Paladini from Dubai to run the kitchen here, a strong choice considering that the restaurant earned a Michelin star while he was there.  Paladini’s first restaurant in the U.S. drops onto the rooftop of downtown food hall Julia & Henry’s. Torno Subito’s separate entrance is outlined by a whimsical, Ferrari-red bumper leading to a mirrored elevator to the top floor. The space is intended to evoke the lively Italian Riviera, albeit one from the late ’80s. Every primary color makes an appearance, a postmodern Memphis Group fever dream. The vibe inside and out on the terrace is fun and never

It used to be easy for the haters of Miami’s clubstaurants. Not long ago, the number of disco balls hanging over the dining room had a direct relation to the mediocrity of a restaurant’s food. Nowadays, though, you can actually eat well at some of those places where patrons take to dancing on tables.  For example, we’ve had quite good meals at Mila, Queen and, if you can get past the garish glass animal sculptures everywhere, even Sexy Fish. Perched on the Miami River, Mediterranean hotspot Casa Neos is the best spot yet for indulging in that clubby Miami vibe with an exceptional brunch or dinner. The latest restaurant from Riviera Dining Group is undeniably gorgeous, spanning two floors of Venetian plastered walls, rich, rustic furnishings and glass sliders that look out over a scenic strip of Miami’s laidback commercial waterway. Sunsets reflect in waves created by passing yachts, and the skyline of Brickell rises beyond. When I visited on a recent Friday, the plush booths and low-slung armchairs were utterly packed, with tables turning quickly and pretty people crowding the bar. Casa Neos would attract this crowd by the scene alone. But presiding over the menu is Michaël Michaelidis, a chef with French and Greek roots and a CV that includes a remarkable 26 Michelin stars at restaurants in Cannes, Monaco, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo. This helps give Casa Neos an edge over similar spots on the beach. Everything I had was spot-on, starting with the grilled blue prawns ser

I sat down the other night with a friend at Blue Collar, and he told me something I hadn’t realized. Twelve years ago, he went on a blind date at the diminutive MiMo restaurant, and that’s how he met his now wife. Of course, he’s not the only local with a little place in his heart for Blue Collar. It’s a restaurant we go to precisely because of its nostalgia. They folks here are friendly in a way you don’t see often around these parts, but the menu is also full of delicious, grown-up versions of familiar American favorites. Blue Collar recently vacated its original MiMo space of 12 years and moved directly across the street, which gave us a good excuse to go in and refresh our review. Now, there’s a much larger outdoor patio and bar where I spied a couple of Miami’s best chefs enjoying a before-service drink. Reassuringly, it felt like the whole neighborhood had stopped by for happy hour.  Inside, it’s more gussied up than the old spot, thanks to an impressive rainfall chandelier, pretty blue walls and brass and wood accents. My buddy and I ordered gimlets that came in cute coupe glasses, with cocktail shakers on the side for refills. We sipped them as we ate Latkes Royale—a tuxedo-clad version of the ones from Hannukah, with neon orange smoked trout roe, chives and crème fraiche. About then, Blue Collar chef/owner Daniel Serfer stopped by to say hello. Years ago, he’d given my pal recipes for some of the dishes they’d ordered on that blind date, so he could recreate them at

For years, Macchialina was a plainly dressed South Beach Italian restaurant serving food far more elevated than its digs. After a renovation and expansion earlier this summer, the neighborhood spot has reaffirmed its standing as a beloved institution on Alton Road—one that deserves a revisit if you haven’t stopped in lately.  The new look is familiar and rustic with exposed beams and sensuous details like a thick slab bartop, moody lighting and leafy tropical plants scattered throughout. Based on the dinner I had recently, what’s unchanged are the friendly atmosphere and excellent food from Queens-born chef Michael Pirolo. House-made pasta is still the star, delivered by servers who make everybody feel like regulars.  The entrance is a well-weathered gate that feels almost speakeasy-like. Follow a tight walkway down to the back where the courtyard has expanded. Inside, rows of tables and curvy banquettes draw your eye to the open kitchen. It’s not just that you’ll no longer have to apologize to the table next to you when getting up; this is a handsome, airy space that now lives up to the food. My table went with the four-course tasting menu ($70 per person) that arrives family-style. The $55 wine pairing turns up generous and drinkable pours. For our starters, the kitchen sent out burrata and cherry tomatoes on crusty bread, a soft-poached egg above sauteed greens and a delicate yet punchy crudo.  From there came pasta: spaghetti pomodoro that tasted like tomatoes just pulled

Brother’s Keeper on Alton Road could be a replica of what existed in the same spot four decades ago, with its neon tube lighting, a fish tank set into the back wall and a puffy cushion running along the bar’s edge. In the back, there’s a basic-looking pool table under the only bright light in the place.  I’d love it even if they only served Hot Pockets and four-buck Buds. But Brother’s Keeper is a collab between two teams that know how to sling proper drinks and food: Chris Hudnall and Randy Alonso of Lost Boy & Co. and chef Josh Elliott and Ellie Groden of QP Tapas. This means pretty much everything coming from the kitchen and bar is a dead-cold killer. Like, for instance, the martini service: I tried a spicy dirty number that comes with an umami-kicked croissant and a Manhattan with a bacon-wrapped date sidecar. If you’re unsure of what to get, ask the bar’s Magic Eight Ball—apparently, my third round was destined to be a beer and a shot. For the food, Elliott does gussied up (but not too much) bar classics, like a Frito pie with Whiz and vegan meat chili, a simple burger with crinkle fries, crispy A.F. wings, stuffed oysters, just about the best coconut shrimp I’ve had and—I forget what else. (Damn you, Magic Eight Ball!) This bar, Brother’s Keeper, might feel like a familiar, well-loved dive, but it’s clean and not shabby. Still, this isn’t a “nice” place. Like, your mom probably won’t be impressed. But you should do happy hour here. Then go late-night. And pretend, while

After getting its start in the back of a cocktail bar, Vice City now has its own spot in an unassuming West Kendall strip mall, where it cranks out Detroit-style pies wearing a crown where cheese and crust have formed crispy towers. While the toppings are a bit too sparse, the crust is a marvel of foamy and pillowy, thick and buttery, and downright springy.

Enjoying my very good vino tinto and pan con tomate at Barcelona Wine Bar brought up a fundamental Miami dining scene question: Does it matter anymore if a restaurant is local? It used to be that foodies, critics, pretty much everyone had a bias for supporting local chefs. But these days, the definition of a “chain restaurant” has evolved far beyond IHOP, venturing into the realm of fine dining. Barcelona Wine Bar in Wynwood joins what feels like a few thousand new upscale chain restaurants that have opened in Miami since the pandemic. The place is quite pretty with a gorgeous courtyard, and even though service can run spotty, the food is a long bocadillo better than many of our local tapas restaurants.  Based out of Connecticut, Barcelona Wine Bar now has a couple dozen locations nationally and is owned by the same company that runs the pretty decent Bartaco next door to its Wynwood digs. The space feels industrial with exposed AC ducts and concrete block walls but is made more cozy with bookshelves full of knick-knacks and leafy philodendrons. A circular bar up front gets boisterous at happy hour.  The paella verduras with asparagus and squash is a study in socarrat, the crispy bits that form along the pan’s edge. The menu is lengthy and full of Spanish dishes that stay traditional. The aforementioned pan con tomate is a garlic explosion with very fresh tomatoes. Albondigas meatballs swim in a peppery red sauce spiked with bits of jamón. And the paella verduras with aspara

Gramps Getaway is the waterfront bar Miami was oddly missing, a place with stellar views, the vibes of a boozy Sunday afternoon and (the real kicker) legitimately good food.  From the moment I walked under the thatched roof of the open-air spot inside the Rickenbacker Marina, I was taken. Speakers overhead played “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers and that full view of the downtown and Brickell skylines stood in a salty haze beyond the boats going by. A forklift cradled a yacht overhead as a group of yachties at the bar set the tone, ordering before-noon sidecars with their drinks. As a sister restaurant to the original Gramps in Wynwood (a go-to late-night dive bar), Getaway shares a similar party atmosphere but with more board shorts and flip-flops. Perched in the old Whiskey Joe's space near the Rusty Pelican, it’s now a regular stop for UM students and causeway commuters. Cocktails are slightly tweaked poolside drinks with some familiar items from mainland Gramps, like the Cucumber in Paradise and the Gramps Mule. The Paloma that kicked off my day was salty and fruity and hard not to suck down in big gulps.  A visit here ought to start at the Lazy Oyster window, a popup shack serving grilled oysters and rolls with lobster slathered in aioli or butter. The main menu is like what a fine-dining sous chef might serve at their backyard barbecue. We enjoyed the watermelon salad with still-warm toasted peanuts, lots of pungent basil and a savory fish sauce dressing. The burger will so

For years, Itamae served as a litmus test. Adventurous eaters would explore their limits with things like candied mushrooms atop spicy tuna, or a fresh catch sushi roll with a hairdo of shaved parm and swimming in leche de tigre. These unusual and highly original Japanese-Peruvian combinations always turned out to be wonderfully delicious. In May 2024, chef Nando Chang reimagined his family’s concept as Itamae AO, a fiercely personal omakase-style counter in Midtown that currently costs $213 including tax and tip per seat. And while the new Itamae still aims to challenge the adventurous, many of its tiny plates were simply not enjoyable to eat during our visit.  It began with my very first bite: ponzu with white grapes, an umami dropkick as salty as the dregs in a potato chip bag. The misses continued with a squid ceviche as chewy as bubblegum and eel that looked a bit like the remnants of another dish.  I searched for complexity in the 42-day dry-aged tuna slice, but could not find it beyond the potent fish market smell. Near the end of the multi-course meal, those candied mushrooms from Itamae’s previous life made an appearance in dessert, a custard that was overpowered by their earthiness.  You enter Itamae AO through a door in the bar at Maty’s, the restaurant helmed by Nando’s sister Valerie Chang, a newly crowned James Beard Best Chef winner. While passing through, I spotted the ceviche with tortitas corn fritters, one of Miami’s best dishes—a happy reminder of the Chan

Ah, fall. That magical, brisk and cozy time of year that lasts about six hours in Miami before it’s hot as hell again. Fall is also when new Miami restaurants tend to arrive en masse as chefs and hospitality groups get warmed up before The Coming Of The Season. This fall, we’re witnessing the continuation of a trend we’ve seen in Miami since the pandemic as major restaurant groups from across the globe plant roots in the 305. We’ll also be getting several reborn versions of local favorites, places we’ve definitely been missing. How do you plan for the fall restaurant arrivals? Don’t worry: As reliable as pumpkin spice everything this season, we’ve got you covered with our roundup of the most anticipated new restaurant openings this fall in Miami (listed alphabetically). RECOMMENDED: The 39 best restaurants in Miami right now Photograph: Courtesy Aviv 1. Aviv Miami Beach Philly chef Michael Solomonov returns to Miami with this Israeli concept on the ground floor of the 1 Hotel South Beach. The restaurant promises to “blend ancient charcoal cooking methods, mezze plates, easy-drinking cocktails” and offers an extensive wine list. Expected opening: October Rendering: Courtesy Casa Gianna 2. Casa Gianna Downtown Contemporary and traditional dishes will dominate the menu by chef David Caceres in the Gale Miami Hotel & Residences. There’s a piazza off the main dining room and also a caffè è pasticceria, which, essentially, is Italian for you’re about to gain 10 pounds. Expected

There was a time not long ago when a bartender in Miami fit a very specific stereotype: former Northerner, disheveled, probably at least half-drunk, and quite likely still matted with beach sand from last night’s adventures.  But Miami saw a revolution behind the bar in the past generation as a new crop of cocktail makers took things far more seriously. We’re talking places like the Broken Shaker (whose Miami founders recently sold to Generator Hostels), The Regent Cocktail Club, Jaguar Sun and Lost Boy. (We’re probably not even mentioning your favorite because, hell, we’ve got a lot of really good bars in Miami now.)  If you strike up a conversation with your barkeep (highly recommended), you might catch wind of something new influencing mixology in Miami lately: an influx from overseas. Bartenders from Italy to Japan come for a pop-up or bar takeover and end up making a permanent move. We spoke to a few of the most influential bartenders around Miami to find out how this very welcome foreign invasion is shaking up the local cocktail scene. Photograph: Anthony Nader - 52 Chefs You couldn’t talk about ‘Miami-style’ bartending previously, but now everybody knows it. It’s like a mix of everything that’s happening around the world. Julio Cabrera, Café La Trova Where he’s from: Born in Calimente, Cuba, in 1964, Cabrera grew up hearing stories about the bar his father owned before the revolution, a community gathering spot where factory workers would start the day with a coffee

While Bogotá is a cosmopolitan city full of panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and a thumping nightlife scene, I’ll admit I wanted to go for one reason: arepas. I’m fairly obsessed with the discs of corn and all the ways Colombians prepare them. There are the small, simple ones from the País region that serve as vehicles for salsa. Then there are the corn pancakes, sweet and doughy and oozing with cheese.  For those who might also share my passion for arepas, or simply want to check out Colombia’s vibrant capital city, there’s a brand new way to get there: The high-end Emirates Airlines just launched a daily, non-stop route from Miami, and I recently had the opportunity to experience the inaugural flight. Full disclosure: Emirates paid my way as part of its media rollout. Nonetheless, I’ve outlined my unfiltered takeaways below. TLDR: If you’re planning a trip to Colombia anytime soon, you might just want to book yourself a ticket if you can. Photograph: Courtesy the authorTime Out contributor Eric Barton on the inaugural Emirates flight from Miami to Bogotá 1. The only luxe way to reach Colombia Several airlines fly directly into Bogotá, but Emirates is the only one with a first-class cabin. The good seats on an Emirates plane are as nice as you’ve probably heard. Yes, you could fly economy roundtrip for around $350, but upgrading just might be the best part of your vacation. First class, where each seat is like a little apartment, will cost you the downpayment o

The James Beard Foundation last night named Miami’s Valerie Chang the South’s best chef, and it’s a reward not only for a talented young restaurateur but also a long-deserved recognition for an entire state. Chang’s award is the first time a Florida chef has won the Best Chef: South category since Michael Schwartz claimed the recognition way back in 2010—remarkably 14 years ago.  It’s a point Chang made from the podium at the awards ceremony in Chicago. “Miami—finally, we won! We got something for Miami!” Chang’s voice mixed with laughter and exuberance as she triumphantly held up the medal. Chang’s Midtown restaurant Maty’s is an homage to her heritage, her Peruvian immigrant parents and to her grandmother, the restaurant’s namesake. At the podium last night, Chang talked about the emotional rollercoaster of winning the award not long after losing her grandmother. “To my grandmother who passed away five days ago, and you know I named the restaurant after her, and I can't believe I'm standing here.” Her brother and business partner Nando Chang said in the comments of an Instagram post: “What a way to honor Maty. @chifitachang I love you very much and I’m so proud of you.” Photograph: Isa ZapataMaty's If you haven’t been to Maty’s, chances are it’s going to become harder to score a reservation after last night. But it's well worth whatever wait is required, with oysters bathed in a tangy leche de tigre, charred cauliflower with ocopa sauce and what's become the restaurant's

There’s a truth about Miami that maybe you didn’t know, something that’s developed over the last few years, pretty much out of nowhere: We now have a die-hard contingent of folks who will do whatever—brave the heat, long lines, uncomfortable seating and those daily hurricane-like rainstorms—just to eat something delicious.  Because of this, pop-up restaurants now thrive here. Those responsible for the pop-ups (both experienced chefs and young upstarts with no training) credit these people, the ones going above and beyond to discover Miami’s next best foods, with allowing them to do what they do.  There’s proof by the dozen across town, with many of Miami’s best restaurants growing out of pop-ups or humble food trucks. Among our favorites, Boia De, now a Michelin-starred restaurant, launched as a food truck serving fried chicken sandwiches; Zitz Sum, one of the city’s most awarded restaurants, started with a chef making dumplings in his home kitchen; Old Greg’s, some of the best pizza in town, began as a pandemic side project; and the new QP Tapas, technically still a pop-up, is among our favorite new restaurants this year.  The growth of these experimental, temporary restaurants and their committed followings has fundamentally changed the restaurant industry in Miami in ways that make it entirely better. How? Why? We spoke to the teams behind many of Miami’s pop-up success stories to find out. RECOMMENDED: Why is it so damn hard to open a restaurant in Miami? Photograph: Cou

It seems like every week there’s a new national outlet arriving in Miami to report on something we locals already know: This city is having a serious restaurant moment. It began well before pandemic lockdowns but, ever since, Miami has seen an influx of major restaurant groups clamoring for their piece, along with homegrown chef-owners carving out new concepts throughout the county. This season, there’s lots to be excited about, from (yet another) Miami omakase courtesy of the Itamae team to Klaw’s stylish new Italian neighbor. As the not-so-slow summer ends and fall picks up, here are our top Miami restaurant openings to bookmark on Google Maps this season from Wynwood to South Beach and beyond. RECOMMENDED: Every Michelin-Starred Restaurant in Miami Photograph: Courtesy Itamae Ao 1. Itamae Ao Much-loved Nikkei destination Itamae swaps its Design District digs for a new, 12-seat omakase-style counter next to sister restaurant Maty’s in Midtown. Brother-sister duo Nando and Val Chang were just named best new chefs by Food & Wine, so expect hard-to-get reservations from day one. 3255 NE 1st Ave Photograph: Courtesy Alpareno Restaurant GroupAlpareno Restaurant Group founders Mohamed “Mo” Alkassar and Chef Niven Patel 2. Erba Niven Patel, the celebrated Miami chef behind Ghee, Orno and Mamey, began this pasta concept as a pop-up way back in 2019. Ever since it’s been just on the cusp of reopening in a permanent home. This fall, Erba finally lands in Coral Gables with a menu

Vikram Thadani first came to Miami from Chile on vacation when he was 17, and he swore right then that someday he’d open a restaurant here. That was in 2002, and after opening four restaurants back home, he decided in 2021 he’d attempt to pull off his dream. Thadani settled on a space in Wynwood. He figured it would take six months to open. “Everyone laughed when I told them that,” he says.  Eighteen months later, after endless red tape and reams of paperwork thrown at him by the City of Miami, he finally opened his Indian restaurant, Rishtedar, in February. He can’t even calculate how many tens of thousands of dollars the delays cost him.  “That’s why I’m living in my car at Home Depot,” he says with a laugh. “Just kidding, just kidding.” Thadani’s experience is similar to stories I’ve heard over and over from chefs and restaurant owners in my 20 years covering the industry in South Florida. Miami’s inefficient and often beguiling bureaucracy can lead to months—sometimes years—of delays in even a simple restaurant opening, costing operators sometimes upwards of six figures. The reasons for the delays in Miami are often baffling, owners say. In Thadani’s case, one problem arose when the Post Office changed his restaurant’s mailing address. Suddenly, inspectors stopped showing up, leading to a two-week pause in the process—and adding to months of delays. Some might shrug this off as a problem suffered only by well-off restaurateurs. But it can also hurt workers who get stuck i

It’s after 2 o’clock in the afternoon when we hook up with Brittany Brave, and she’s just finishing up breakfast at Mamey in Coral Gables. She polished off a coffee, a mimosa, coconut water, tuna tostones, and grilled cheese bites—all with the desperate hope of beating the hangover. Having just barely answered the phone, she’s already apologizing profusely for sleeping through multiple alarms and jumping on the call late. “I don’t know what I was thinking scheduling a 10am Monday phone call.” You can’t blame her. The night before, 31-year-old Brave had headlined the Miami Improv for the first time, all part of what seems to be a major moment for this homegrown comedienne. In the past year, Brave has racked up headlining spots and accolades including being named by the Miami New Times as the city’s best comedian. Is this officially a thing? “Um, yeah, I am afraid—well, first off thank you for saying that—but I’m afraid to use language like that,” Brave says. “You never want to jinx it, and you never want to think you’re ahead of where you are.” Up until recently, she was a starving artist. “Sometimes literally starving,” she says. And as such, she doesn't want to ruin things. Brave grew up in west Kendall, the only child of a cosmetologist mom and sales manager dad. Her parents remain the funniest people she knows, she says, and she figured out early on that she loved making them laugh. Some of her earliest memories are of standing in the middle of the room at get-togethers an

Take a stroll through the lush grounds behind the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens and you’ll find yourself at a one-of-a-kind staircase. The steps are made of hardened coral called coquina, and they lead down into the murky depths of a mangrove forest. There are a couple of moorings at the bottom that look like barber poles, where you can imagine Venetian gondolas pulling up. While the stairs make a sweet backdrop for engagement photos, they’re also a harbinger. David Hardy, the horticulture manager at Vizcaya for a decade now, has watched as the bay waters creep up those stairs inch by inch. More and more every year, the rising waters also carry in plastic bottles, wrappers, netting—the detritus of society that, let’s be honest, doesn’t look great in a selfie. Photograph: David Hardy All that junk will vanish over the span of a day when a few hundred volunteers descend on Vizcaya to fish around 700 pounds of trash from that mangrove swamp. The efforts are part of Baynanza, a county-wide series of events with the goal of cleaning up Biscayne Bay and raising awareness around the constant challenge of preserving our local waterways. “This is truly critical,” Hardy says of Baynanza. “And the level of enthusiasm of the people who come out, and their concern for the environment—it’s encouraging to see how many people really care.” Since it began in 1982, more than 100,000 volunteers have shown up for Baynanza’s annual Biscayne Bay Cleanup Day and collected more than 500 tons of trash f

Most people know Carolina Isabela as Caro the Tour Guide, a personality she took on for social media to boast about all the cool things in Miami. But when we spoke, she had just returned home from Amsterdam and couldn’t stop gushing about all the epic bike rides there.  “It was the best.” And then drawing out words in a way that’s become something of her signature, she said: “ It was amaaaaazing.” She biked everywhere, slowly so she could take in the view of the Rijksmuseum and look for street food, stroopwafels especially. “Oh, my god. Amaaaaazing. I’m so mad I didn’t bring any back.” Considering how much Isabela likes to bike, it’d be easy to assume she’d be wistful about Amsterdam now that she’s back in Miami. But when asked about whether the Magic City could ever compare to bike-friendly Amsterdam, she’s nothing but optimistic. “Can Miami do it? Yeah, of course. Miami is only 126 years old. We’re babies!” she says. “Amsterdam has been designing their city for millennia. We’re just getting started.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miami’s Tour Guide - Carolina (@carothetourguide) Is Miami a bike-friendly city? Not all bike advocates share Isabela’s hopefulness, but Miami has certainly made progress in becoming a bike-friendly city. Thanks in part to efforts by the Transit Alliance Miami and local organizers, we recently gained bike path protectors along the Venetian Causeway as well as three new miles of Downtown bike lanes, with plans for even

Congratulations, you’ve booked a week’s vacation in Miami, the Magic City, a subtropical subparadise known for its sandy beaches and pumping nightclubs. Now forget everything you think you know. Ignore the online guides and the recommendations from the concierge (who gets paid to tell you to do the touristy things). On this list, we’re sending you elsewhere and warning you of the things in Miami you need to ignore. Don’t worry—there will still be croquetas and cafecito. 1. The food scene is legendary Call us biased, but with tons of celebrity chef-run restaurants and imported cuisines from everywhere in the world, Miami isn’t just having a moment. It’s downright one of the best restaurant cities anywhere. 2. Enriqueta's over Versailles Presidents have dined at Versailles, it’s true. And yes, it’s been there forever. If you want big plates of Abuela-quality Cuban food and don’t want to wait in line with cruise ship types, head instead to Enriqueta’s and squeeze in between construction workers and lunching lawyers at the tight counter. Jonathan P.Ellgen" data-width-class="" data-image-id="105807692" /> Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Jonathan P.Ellgen 3. Airboats are loud AF Riding on an airboat is proof that it’s a good rule to avoid any kind of trip into nature that requires earplugs. 4. Nobody rides the bus There’s nothing sadder than seeing a public-transportation-reliant European waiting for those tubes of human misery provided by Metrobus. Photograph: Shutterstock 5. Al

There’s an old saying that the best thing about Miami is that it’s so close to the United States. It’s true for the fact that this is a place that often feels very European, South American and Caribbean. It’s also true for the fact that Miami exists as a place different from anywhere else in this country, a Bermuda Triangle of weirdness, where the rules on what to wear and where to go and how to act just might change depending on your dance partner for the evening. How do you live in such a place? Here below is a guide on how to navigate America’s most delightfully foreign city. 1. The dress code is whatever It doesn’t matter if it’s the fanciest brunch spot in town or the jankiest corner deli. Look around the room and you might see a dude in a tank top and jellies next to a woman wearing a sparkling evening gown. If you want to wear it, you’ll probably be fine. 2. About that dress code, tho Even though you can wear whatever to pretty much everywhere, you’ll also walk into clubs and bars and restaurants where every single person looks dressed by their own personal shopper. ChrisGoldNY" data-width-class="" data-image-id="105877750" /> Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/ChrisGoldNY 3. Nudity is a thing Out on the sand of South Beach, topless is normal, and up at Haulover, it’s all coming off. Just try not to make eye contact. 4. If it requires a trip on I-95... ... the restaurant is almost surely not worth it. 5. It’s raining iguanas When it gets cold, giant reptiles just might st