Edible DC's Quick Guide To Miami
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Fly South to Miami to Visit One of America’s Best Food Cities
By Tim Ebner
Miami may very well be the “it” food city in America right now, and for good reason — Magic City is on a roaring pace for restaurant openings, giving many people hope for a future where restaurants, shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic, can spring back to life quickly. Right now, the sense of energy in Miami’s dining capital is everywhere and it’s also alluring to chefs.
Yes, José Andrés and his team at The Bazaar have been a long-time fixture. But he’s also joined by more recent newcomers like Philadelphia’s Stephen Starr. And most recently, the Carbone crew from New York City.
The dining scene also looks a lot different than it did a few years ago. What was once reserved for curbside parking in Wynwood is now the most coveted streatery for al-fresco dining. Meanwhile, in the ultra-chic Design District, you’ll find sleek architecture, modern art and Michelin-star powered chefs waiting to serve you.
This energy extends even further south into Brickell, the financial district, home to some of the city’s trendiest hotels and waterfront dining (sorry South Beach). Of course, the allure of South Beach is always on — thanks in part to a few standbys and newcomers adding to this party-all-day-and-night atmosphere.
Finally, yes, we know, it’s hot in Miami ... especially if you’re planning to take a trip this summer. But with the restaurant scene so red hot, and airfare and hotel rates starting to cool off, we can’t imagine a better time to fly South. Here’s where you should eat, stay and play while you’re here.
The Bazaar by José Andrés
South Beach
Fresh off your flight from Washington, DC, you’re obligated to snag a seat (if you can) at The Bazaar by José Andrés. The main dining room features an opulent chandelier made from seashells, or opt for a table outside — the patio overlooks the SLS South Beach pool, and definitely go for a small sample of most of the menu. Dishes not to be missed are the José taco — Iberico ham stuffed with Ossetra caviar — and the tortilla de patata — a traditional Spanish tapa, served in a “new way.” For this dish, Chef de Cuisine Karla Hoyos serves up an egg cooked exactly to 63 degrees, and served in a jar with potato foam and crispy potato flakes. Mix together then slurp up all the savory goodness.
Le Jardinier
Design District
Fresh, bold, and flavorful — these are the three words that describe one of the latest additions to Miami’s Design District. Le Jardinier (French for the gardener) feels almost like a modern, tropical brasserie with plenty of outdoor garden space. The menu is rooted in classic French technique led by Chef Alain Verzeroli, a Michelin-starred chef who has created a menu, where seasonal fruits and vegetables play the primary role sometimes accompanied by sustainably raised seafood and meats. You should rely on the sommelier’s pick for a wine pairing — most bottles come from the bottle shop upstairs and are French wines, sourced from small producers with responsible farming practices.
La Mar
Brickell Key
Sitting on the patio of La Mar you feel as if you’re floating in a sea of ceviche that comes with a stunning view of the Miami skyline. This restaurant is situated inside the Mandarin Oriental Miami, on a tiny island named Key Brickell, in Miami Harbor. It's a destination to celebrate any type of occasion. Chef Diego Oka hails from Peru and takes dishes to intricate and detailed levels. One of his latest creations, yucca mochi, pays tributes to Nikkei cuisine, the Peruvian-Japanese style of cooking you’ll commonly find in Lima. His mochi comes plated with orange syrup and zest, then it’s topped with an assortment of fresh blueberries, making this one of the most delicious and sensory desserts in all of Miami.
KYU
Wynwood
Recently, nominated by the James Beard Foundation as one of the best new restaurants in America, KYU continues to turn up the heat, from the piping hot bowl of Thai fried rice president and mixed tableside in an oven-fire stone pot to infamous roasted cauliflower head served in a blended sauce of goats cheese, shishito peppers, and herb vinaigrette.
You might want to go all-in and order up the tasting menu. The kitchen calls the shots, but it usually involves their signature Korean fried chicken and wagyu smoked brisket — two dishes sure to induce the “meat sweats.” KYU’s strategy is also a scenic spot to take in Wynwood’s world-renowned street art, as well as the see-and-be-seen nature of this hip neighborhood.
BAKAN
Wynwood
It almost feels as if you’ve escaped to Tulum at this Mexican-style restaurant serving tacos and tostadas alongside an array of mezcals and margarita cocktails. One of the long-time favorites at BAKAN is the “Verde que te quiero verde” (translation: green, how I want you green). That drink, of course, is green, and mixes agave tequila with cilantro and lime juice. Another inventive cocktail is the “Matcha-rica” a refreshing summer-hued cocktail with encantadora matcha mezcal, passion fruit, and yuzu.
Sweet Beach
South Beach
Sunday Funday is taken to new limits at the backyard barbecue and drinks hangout brought to you by the team from Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Company — located just down the street in South Beach. The outdoor pop-up concept is called Sweet Beach and is located in a comfortable palm tree-lined courtyard — the Shelborne South Beach’s Oasis Garden. Find boozy and flavorful cocktails on the menu, like a watermelon margarita and Negroni frappe, that match perfectly with street-style food, including Mexican elote, New England-style lobster rolls served as mini-sliders, and a churrasco banh mi sandwich. This pop-up is open Thursday through Sunday.
La Cerveceria La Tropical
Wynwood
This is the most exciting brewery to open in Miami in 2021. La Cerveceria La Tropical comes from owner Manny Portuondo, who is the great-great-grandson of Federico Kohly the original founder of Cerveceria La Tropical, Cuba’s oldest brewery until his family was forced to flee the country in 1960. The original brewery in Cuba looks more like a wild jungle today — it has sat unoccupied for decades. Manny’s vision was to recreate the experience of La Tropical in its early glory days smack dab in the middle of Miami.
The experience is complete with live music, a tropical garden, cold and crisp beers, served straight from the tap, plus a menu of delicious Cuban cuisine, including the Frita Cubana, a beef and chorizo sandwich topped with shoestring fries and tomato marmalade on a brioche bun. Pair it with their session beer, the Nativo Key, with notes of mango, passion fruit, pineapple, lemon, and lime making it refreshingly easy to drink.
Kimpton EPIC Hotel
Miami Riverfront / Brickell
Looking for an epic, suite-style stay in the heart of downtown Miami? Kimpton’s EPIC Hotel offers oversized rooms, each with a private balcony. That’s in addition to two large pools that come with the option to reserve cabanas, and an outdoor restaurant and pop-up concept — new this summer from Executive Chef Alex Oliver.
His menu is a mix of Mediterranean-style dishes and large-format cocktails which you can order with a primetime view of the Miami riverfront and Brickell skyline. The 45-seat seasonal restaurant features dishes from Spain, Italy, and Greece. Bartender Benny Hernandez has put together punches that come served to share and feature seasonal ingredients that tie into the energetic climate of Miami summers.
The Shelborne South Beach Hotel
South Beach
Those looking for an ocean-side stay in South Beach should book this budget boutique situated on Collins Avenue, between some of the best-known eating and drinking this stretch of sand has to offer. The Shelborne South Beach Hotel is Art Deco-inspired opulence and has also been hard at work bringing in some of the local food and drink options from the surrounding neighborhood, including a new coffee pop-up, called Cafecito, from the beloved shop David’s Cafe. The cafe served Cuban cuisine for over 44 years, and the family-owned, small business now operates in the hotel’s lobby, providing a classic Miami experience throughout the summer. That’s in addition to the pop-up bar hosted by Sweet Liberty in Shelborne’s backyard.
