South Beach

South Beach is home to dozens of first-rate restaurants. In fact, big-name restaurants from across the country have capitalized on South Beach’s international appeal and have continued to open branches here with great success. A few old standbys remain from the Miami Vice days, but newcomers dominate the scene, with places going in and out of style as quickly as the tides.

Alas, some are offensively overpriced. With very few exceptions, the places on Ocean Drive are crowded with tourists and priced accordingly.  But others are worth the investment. You’ll do better to venture a little farther onto the pedestrian-friendly streets just west of Ocean Drive.

Miami Beach, Surfside, Bal Harbour & Sunny Isles

The area north of the Art Deco District -- from about 21st Street to 163rd Street -- had its heyday in the 1950s when huge hotels and gambling halls blocked the view of the ocean. Now, many of the old hotels have been converted into condos or budget lodgings, and the bayfront mansions have been renovated by and for wealthy entrepreneurs, families, and speculators. The area has many more residents, albeit seasonal, than visitors. On the culinary front, the result is a handful of superexpensive, traditional restaurants as well as a number of value-oriented spots.

North Miami Beach

Although there aren’t many hotels in North Dade, the population in the winter months explodes due to the onslaught of seasonal residents from the Northeast. A number of exclusive condominiums and country clubs (including William’s Island and Turnberry) house a demanding clientele, many of whom dine out nightly. And the ever-expanding Aventura Mall keeps on adding restaurants for all tastes and budgets, though they do err on the higher side of things lately. Among the most popular restaurants at the mall, and we’re talking sit down, not food court: Serafina Miami, Pubbelly Sushi, Tap 42, and, yup, Cheesecake Factory.

Downtown Miami

Downtown Miami is a large, sprawling area divided by the Brickell Bridge into two distinct areas: Brickell Avenue and the bayfront area near Biscayne Boulevard. Massive (over)development has transformed a once sleepy banking district into a bustling day and night destination, with outdoor shopping centers like the original Mary Brickell Village and the swanky Brickell City Centre. These are very walkable day or night, but you probably shouldn’t walk from the Brickell area to the bayfront area at night—it’s quite a distance, but there’s always CitiBikes to ride during the day. Convenient Metromover stops adjoin the areas, so it’s better to hop on the scenic sky tram (it’s closed after midnight) or take an Uber. Also sizzling in this area is the Miami River district,  a 5.5-mile river flowing from the Miami Canal through the epicenter Greater Downtown Miami to Biscayne Bay. A recent spate of development has brought with it high end condos and celeb-saturated restaurants.

Midtown: Edgewater, Wynwood, and the Design District


Midtown Miami is the collective name for the uber hip Wynwood and Edgewater neighborhoods on the outskirts of downtown Miami proper. Located north of Downtown and south of the Miami Design District, the area  roughly bound by North 20th Street to the south, I-195 to the north, I-95 to the west, and Biscayne Bay to the east, is a restaurant lover’s mecca, with both uber high and some seriously excellent budget spots.

Little Havana

Little Haiti is the small, but culturally rich heart of Miami’s Haitian community west of Biscayne Boulevard between 54th and 52nd Streets and minutes away from Wynwood and the Design District. Because of that, gentrification is in the works, much to the dismay of locals. South of Little Haiti and north of the Design District is Buena Vista, a mostly residential neighborhood with some hidden gems. Located along Biscayne Bay between downtown Miami and Little Haiti, Miami’s Upper East Side, also known as the MiMo district (Miami Modern) and the Biscayne Corridor (which is a fancy way of saying Biscayne Boulevard, really, all the way from 50th to 79th Street), is full of funky shops, restaurants and bars, and has been in a similar transition as Little Haiti for the last decade.

Key Biscayne

Key Biscayne has some of the world's nicest beaches, hotels, and parks, yet it is not known for great food. Locals, or "Key rats" as they're known, tend to go off-island for meals or takeout.

Coconut Grove

Coconut Grove was long known as the artists' haven of Miami, but the rush of developers trying to cash in on the laid-back charm of this old settlement has turned it into something of an overgrown mall. Still, there are several great dining spots both in and out of the confines of Mayfair or CocoWalk.

Coral Gables

Coral Gables is a foodie's paradise -- a city in which you certainly won't go hungry. What Starbucks is to most major cities, excellent gourmet and ethnic restaurants are to Coral Gables, where there's a restaurant on every corner, and everywhere in between.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.