Art Basel Miami Beach is less than a month away, and in preparation of our annual pilgrimage south, we’ve rounded up the thirteen restaurants to dine at this Art Week. Last year’s list features many of our go-tos, but the hot spots below are also bringing their A game. Get those reservations booked; it’s time to eat like an insider!

 

MIAMI BEACH

 

The Surf Club Restaurant, $$$

9011 Collins Ave, Surfside, FL 33154

Photo ℅ @surfclubrestaurant

 

Why we love it: Legendary chef Thomas Keller, the man behind Napa’s The French Laundry and New York’s Per Se, strikes again at the iconic Miami Surf Club with The Surf Club Restaurant. An homage to the clubs 1930’s roots, the restaurant is serving up classic “continental cuisine,” like Oysters Rockefeller, Lobster Thermidor, and Prime Beef Short Rib Wellington. With its impeccable service, all-star wine list, and perfected menu, this restaurant is bringing Michelin Star power to Miami Beach.

 

 

Malibu Farm Miami Beach, $$

4525 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Photo ℅ @malibufarmmiami

 

Why we love it: From Malibu to Miami Beach, this newcomer at Eden Roc is doubling down on California vibes with its certified organic locally sourced menu, laid-back charm, and oceanfront views. Like it’s namesake restaurant, Swedish-born chef and restaurateur Helene Henderson takes the “healthy” option to the next level with cauliflower pizzas, watermelon cocktails, and farm-fresh salads. For breakfast, lunch, or dinner with killer vibes and an it-crowd, Malibu Farm Miami Beach is for you.

 

 

Stubborn Seed, $$$

101 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Photo ℅ @stubborn_seed

 

Why we love it: Top Chef winner Jeremy Ford has hit the mark with his debut restaurant Stubborn Seed. A take on contemporary American cuisine, the restaurant is a showcase of modern techniques with acute attention to ingredients; we’re talking Jojo Tea Cured Cobia with caracara and spicy celery broth, and Umami Short Rib with trumpet mushroom, heirloom carrots, and miso mustard butter. Offering only 15 high-crafted dishes,  Jeremy Ford has raised the bar on the Miami dining scene. Not only is this place a foodies paradise but the design of this 72 seater restaurant is worth mention, New York-based Celano Design Studio outdid themselves with the perfect blend of art deco and industrial architecture.

 

 

The Jim and Neesie, $$

3120 Collins Ave, Miami, FL 33140

Photo ℅ @thejimandneesie

Why we love it: Miami Beach has welcomed a new hostel-hotel to the scene called The Generator Miami, home to the perfect place for a casual bite, The Jim and Neesie. With similar vibes to the Freehand, this spot is all about mixology and American cuisine and is a star rising for its OMFG Margarita with clarified lime juice. Its award-winning bartenders make up half the charm but the food it is also on point. The chef and staff take hospitality seriously which keeps the creative crowd coming back and is helping to establish this place as the new go-to.

 

 

Diez y Seis, $$

1901 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Photo ℅ @diezyseisrestaurant

 

Why we love it: Another causal addition to Miami Beach is Diez y Seis located at the Shore Club SoBe. This place is getting major buzz for its Sunday brunch “a la Mexicana” which includes a hit list buffet ($35), unlimited drinks ($20 for Veuve Cliquot, $14 for tableside bloody Marias, and $10 for basic bubbles), and a live mariachi band. Their lunch and dinner service are equally as good with a pantheon of Mexican classics served up with a Miami twist. The real highlight of the a la carte menu is their smoked meats, so good the restaurant requests you applaud upon its arrival. This spot is fresh, fun, and ambiance filled without the price point – so don’t miss out!

 

 

Estiatorio Milos by Costas Spiliadis, $$$

730 1st St, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Photo ℅ @estiatorio_milos

 

Why we love it: For 35 years, chef Costas Spiliadis has been serving excellent Mediterranean seafood shipped daily from Greece, Cyprus, Morocco, Tunisia, Spain, and Portugal. With six restaurants under his belt, chef Spiliadis has earned a reputation for delivering impeccable service, quality ingredients, and a buzzing atmosphere. The fun of dining here is picking your fish and having it prepared to your liking; it’s unlike any fine-dining experience and a must for seafood lovers.

 

 

SUNSET HARBOUR

 

Stiltsville Fish Bar, $$

1787 Purdy Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Photo ℅ @stiltsvillefishbar

 

Why we love it: Top Chef alums and culinary duo Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth opened up Stiltsville Fish Bar as an homage to McInnis Key West upbringing. A seafood-heavy restaurant with marina views, this place far surpasses the classic fish restaurants you find around the gulf, in fact, Chef Booth is a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Star Chef of the Year award and has a killer menu to prove it! We’re talking fresh whole fish, bay leaf and citrus encrusted fried chicken and lobster laden hamburgers. The restaurant’s high design and nautical touches include shell chandeliers and bathtubs packed with ice and topped with the fish of the day. Come here to rub elbows with locals and take in a killer sunset.

 

 

Lucali, $$

1930 Bay Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Photo ℅ @lucalimiami

 

Why we love it: The Miami outpost of Beyonce and Jay-Z’s favorite pizzeria, Lucali’s, is going above and beyond to bring the best thin crust pizza to South Beach. Pizza master Mark Iacono’s signature plain pie is cooked to perfection; rolled out by wine bottles, topped with mozzarellas and Parmesan-Reggiano, and finished off in the woodfired oven. The no-frills menu, wooden tables, and candlelight scream laid back, but the price point is far from it. You get what you pay for but like its Brooklyn counterpart, a reservation is nearly impossible to snag, so take a chance on walking in and enjoy a drink next door while you wait!

 

 

WYNWOOD (& WYNWOOD ADJACENT)

 

Hiden, $$$

313 NW 25th St, Miami, FL 33127

Photo ℅ @hidenmiami

 

Why we love it: They’re calling it the hottest new sushi restaurant in Miami, and with only eight seats in the space, it’s almost impossible to find out. Hiden is the ultra-exclusive sushi counter only accessible by password in Wynwood. The restaurant serves a 16-course Omakase menu ($150) behind an obscure taco stand using fish flown in daily from Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market. This unique collaboration between The Taco Stand and San Diego restaurant group Shōwa Hospitality makes for a once in a lifetime dining experience fit for the ultimate foodie.

 

 

Ghee Indian Kitchen, $$

3620 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137

Photo ℅ @chefniven

 

Why we love it: Ghee Miami Design District is the critically acclaimed out-post of James Beard semifinalist chef Niven Patel’s Ghee Indian Kitchen. Manned by his counterpart Chef Pushkar Marathe, this farm-to-table Indian restaurant is renowned for its use of ingredients sourced from Patel’s farm, Rancho Patel. What makes this restaurant so good is its authentic yet elevated Indian dishes, think contemporary takes on curry, masala, and naan. If you’re extra hungry, splurge for the three-course family-style tasting menu ($55), and prepare to leave stuffed.

 

KYU, $$

251 NW 25th St, Miami, FL 33127

Photo ℅ @kyumiami

Why we love it: People are raving about KYU, the Asian inspired hot-spot blending Japanese and American BBQ techniques to serve up critically acclaimed Wagyu beef brisket, Korean fried chicken, bone-in ribeye and more. Named by Time Magazine as the Best Restaurant in Florida in 2017 and a semifinalist for the James Beard award for Best New Restaurant in the country, KYU is as good as its reputation. Chef Michael Lewis sets the bar high with his attention to ingredients, blazing wood-fired oven, and self-proclaimed, “BOOZY A.F” cocktails. The icing on the cake is his commitment to eco-friendly kitchen practices stating, “for every tree we burn, we replant 5”. To make the most of your dining experience try the $75 dinner experience with $30 KYU cocktail pairing.

 

 

Amara at Paraiso, $$

3101 NE 7th Ave, Miami, FL 33137

Photo ℅  @amaraatparaiso

Why we love it: Bayside views, Latin flavors, and a buzzing clientele, this is Amara at Paraiso, the newest concept by James Beard Award Winning Chef Michael Schwartz. Dubbed his “love letter to Miami,” this indoor-outdoor restaurant embodies the essence of Miami glamour and cuisine serving coastal ingredients cooked over wood and charcoal grills, flatbreads, ceviches and more. The interior is reminiscent of the 1 Hotel, designed by the same Meyer Davis Studio with floor to ceiling windows, warm wooden tones, clean lines, and vibrant patterns. For waterfront views, a trendy crowd, and delicious meal, this is the place for you.

 

 

Vista, $$

5020 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137

Photo ℅ @vistamiami

 

Why we love it: Vista is the second restaurant by husband-wife duo Fiorella Blanco and chef Roberto Bearzi (the team behind Fratelli Milano). Located in Upper Buena Vista, this all-day dining establishment is blending Italian and American cuisine with an emphasis on the former. It is the perfect place to enjoy an indoor or outdoor meal amongst tropical plants, multi-colored pillows, and bamboo lights. It is also a convenient escape from the packed streets of Wynwood, only a ten-minute drive away. Keep an eye out; the rooftop bar should be opening soon!

 


With over five years in the food & lifestyle industry, and a lifelong obsession with finding the next best meal, Sophia Schneider, is an avid eater, traveler, and reporter. She is a natural born connector and skilled storyteller capturing content across the globe.