With the Miami Open 2023 (March 19 – April 2) right around the corner, we’re sharing some of the best places for visitors to dine while in town for the grand tennis even
Miami Beach
Casa Bufala
Sunset Harbour’s Casa Bufala is a first-class Italian trattoria and pizzeria complete with a handcrafted cocktail bar.
Designed to evoke the welcoming spirit of traditional Italian casas, the restaurant draws in guests with its warmth and hand-painted, contemporary Italian artwork by Neapolitan artist Antonio Montariello.
Casa Bufala serves a selection of gourmet wood-fired pizzas freshly prepared in-house with buffalo mozzarella, as well as antipasti, pasta, calzones, and more.
A daily happy hour from 4-7 p.m. pays tribute to Italy’s cultural ritual of aperitivo.
Kosushi Miami
Located in Miami Beach’s affluent South of Fifth neighborhood, Kosushi Miami is known for its authentic yet contemporary take on traditional Japanese cuisine by five-time Michelin-starred Chef George Koshoji.
For appetizers, guests can choose from small cold or hot dishes while watching their orders being delicately prepared at the interior’s centerpiece sushi bar.
The exclusive cocktail selection features drinks like Shokobutsuen, with ginger-infused Roku Japanese gin, basil, cucumber, and lemon, as well as a curated list of wine and sake showcasing flavor profiles for every palate.
Villa Azur
The chic French supper club Villa Azur is a classy culinary and lifestyle experience with a fresh and flirty vibe – a must-try when visiting Miami.
Guests are transported into a world of European elegance where they can pair their dinner with a sophisticated and lavish evening of live music, entertainment, and art that parallels the glamour of the French Riviera.
Menu highlights include the cognac-flamed Pâtes à la Meule pasta served tableside.
Downtown Miami
The Deck at Island Gardens
The Deck at Island Gardens is Miami’s most treasured waterfront restaurant.
From innovative brunch bites to a weekday Sunset Happy Hour, private cabana service, and more, this unparalleled setting is the perfect space to dine and dance the day – or night – away.
Guests can sit comfortably at reservable full-size dining tables or cabana lounges while enjoying a decadent menu of fresh seafood, brick-oven pizzettas, pastas, meats, large plates, desserts, and more and taking in the mega views of Downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay.
Verde at PAMM
Located at Pérez Art Museum Miami, Verde offers sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and boasts an elevated menu of seasonal-inspired dishes with locally sourced produce.
The modern-casual restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating, featuring an expansive terrace with lush vegetation cascading from the canopy’s overhang.
The patio, which leads to the entrance to the museum’s sculpture garden and Maurice A.
Ferré park is a scenic outdoor experience for diners looking to bask in the South Florida weather and immerse themselves in the city’s cultural offerings and views of Downtown Miami.
Food@Science Café at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Come for the science; stay for the food. Visit Food@Science at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science for a science-inspired lunch while enjoying Downtown Miami’s Maurice A. Ferré Park.
After exploring the showstopping oculus lens aquarium, watching an eye-opening show at the planetarium, or digging for dinosaur bones at the Dino Explorers Mini-Camp, aspiring scientists can munch on some brain food to power through the day.
The café elevates the Frost Science experience by offering themed menu items related to the museum exhibitions.
Brickell
Sushi by Bou at SLS Brickell
Sushi by Bou at SLS Brickell combines high-end omakase experiences with a fun, speak-easy environment.
The timed omakase (30- and 60-minute options) is served at intimate 4- to 12-seat counters and features the freshest fish, both locally sourced and brought in from all over the world.
Seasoned sushi chefs serve guests directly, guiding them through the meal for a truly exclusive experience.
The elegant cuisine is complemented by a selection of handmade cocktails, imported sake, and rare Japanese whiskeys.
Midtown Miami
Italica Midtown
Italica Midtown adds a modern and colorful twist to traditional Italian cuisine, featuring a customized spritz bar where dozens of bottles of Aperol line the walls.
The flavor-forward menu features Mediterranean-inspired pastas, risottos, seafood, gourmet pizzas, and more.
Lunch specials are available weekdays from noon-4 p.m. with a selection of one-, two- and three-course options.
Happy hour is daily from 4-7 p.m., while the Golden Hour experience, which includes an array of complimentary passed bites and select shots, takes place from 6-7 p.m.
On Saturdays and Sundays, brunch offerings include 2-for-1 cocktails, $25 bottomless Gambino Prosecco, and a rotating schedule of live entertainment.
Negroni Bistro & Sushi Bar
Known as a favorite local hot spot in Midtown Miami, Negroni Bistro & Sushi Bar is the first and only Miami location of the renowned brand from Latin America.
With a menu of fusion dishes from Peru to Tokyo, Negroni presents a Nikkei sushi bar that offers a special variety of rolls, nigiri, tiraditos, and ceviches.
The overarching menu also features an array of diverse comfort fares, such as antipasti, salads, and burgers.
Relax on the outdoor patio or by the elegant indoor bar for homemade negronis, spritzes, and tonics.
Wynwood
ASTRA Rooftop
ASTRA is the ideal open-air rooftop restaurant and lounge for spectacular sunsets, Greek-emphasized Mediterranean cuisine, live entertainment, and more.
Sip on fine wine and handcrafted cocktails while making new friends and taking in sweeping 360-degree views of Wynwood, the most Instagrammable spot in the area.
Come for Sunset Hour and Happy Hour to taste $10 cocktails and wines by the glass and $14 bar bites, including a Greek take on calamari and homemade lamb meatballs with tzatziki sauce and pita.
The Moon
Curated by the creator of ASTRA, The Moon in Wynwood are an oasis of warm colors, eclectic furniture, and a laid-back vibe with nightly themed live entertainment, shows, and DJs.
The Mediterranean menu offers fresh ingredients that exceed all expectations, including $8 and $12 bar bites during the sophisticated happy hour from 6-8 p.m., as well as $7 beers, $12 cocktails, and $10 wines by the glass.
Or, visit during weekend brunch for the Phyllo Tart or Lobster Benedict.
Lunch and dinner find include Greek favorites, from Musaka to Grilled Lamb Chops.
Coral Gables
KAO Sushi & Grill
With roots in Buenos Aires, KAO Sushi & Grill serves top-level fusion cuisine, combining Japanese and South American flavors with European tapas.
Located on Miracle Mile, KAO brings culinary delights on every level, thanks to masterfully crafted creations that make it one of the top foodie destinations in the Gables.
Its modern and artsy dining room and bar evoke an elegant ambiance while also being family-friendly.
Guests can experience a menu of grilled meats, seafood, sushi rolls, and a wide variety of small plates perfect for sharing.
Mamey
Landing on the New York Times’ list of the “50 Best Restaurants in America for 2022,” Mamey is an island-inspired restaurant by James Beard Award nominee and Food & Wine’s “Best New Chef of 2020” Niven Patel.
Located inside THesis Hotel Miami, Mamey is inspired by Chef Niven’s travels throughout Asia, French Polynesia, and the Caribbean and showcases the exotic flavors and spices commonly found in the islands.
Like all of Chef Niven’s endeavors, Mamey features locally grown produce, most of which is sourced from his own farm, Rancho Patel, in Homestead, Florida.
Mamey’s seasonal offerings are complemented by fun, innovative cocktails that transport guests to the tropics.
Draping leaves, rich textures, warm woods, and tropical artwork create a relaxed yet exciting atmosphere.
Mamey on 3rd
Mamey on 3rd is an island-minded oasis by Chef Niven Patel serving happy hour, flavorful bites, and live music daily.
This vibrant rooftop extension of Mamey is a tropical retreat on the third floor of THesis Hotel Miami and one of Coral Gables’ best-hidden gems.
Orno
Located inside THesis Hotel Miami in Coral Gables, Orno is a modern restaurant with an open-kitchen concept helmed by five-time James Beard Award nominee and Food & Wine’s “Best New Chef of 2020” Niven Patel.
Also named “Best New Restaurant” by Miami New Times, Orno offers guests a true farm-to-table experience using locally sourced ingredients from Chef Patel’s very own farm, Rancho Patel.
The menu consists of new-American cuisine featuring the finest selection of meats and seafood.
Wood-fired culinary creations are complemented by specialty cocktails inspired by literary classics, which can be enjoyed in the main dining room or The Library, Orno’s hideaway lounge, and private dining room.
Sunny Isles
Beach Bar @ Newport Pier
Summer never ends at Beach Bar @ Newport Pier.
Located in Sunny Isles Beach, the seaside spot is the only pier-top restaurant in Miami-Dade County.
Beach Bar has meticulously planned its all-American menu to seamlessly mix with Eastern seafood flavors, from an ocean twist on Sunday brunch to visually stunning sushi boats.
Overlooking the turquoise seashore, those dining atop the pier can enjoy South Florida’s “winter wonderland” of sun and warmth.
The refreshing fusion menu provides Florida-inspired dishes and Asian-inspired fare.
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