United States · Latin heat, fine dining
Miami
Miami has turned into America’s most exciting new dining city: Michelin arrived in 2022, stone crabs have been on the table since 1913 and the Design District now cooks like a capital.
For decades Miami meant Joe’s Stone Crab, a beach and a very good time. Then the chefs came south: L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in the Design District, Carbone and Cote from New York, Zuma on the river, and a home-grown generation, Michael Beltran at Ariete, Jeremy Ford at Stubborn Seed, Juan Manuel Barrientos at Elcielo, Luciana Giangrandi and Alex Meyer at the tiny Boia De, that earned the city its first Michelin stars.
Miami eats Latin: Cuban, Colombian, Peruvian and Mexican influences run through the menus, ceviche is a food group and the cocktails are strong. Coconut Grove has become the neighbourhood for serious kitchens, Brickell for the scene, South Beach for the classics and the Design District for the imports with the best rooms.
Everything is expensive, the valet is mandatory and the reservations are as competitive as New York’s. But the light, the terraces and the mix of Latin warmth and American ambition make Miami the most fun city in this guide to eat your way through in a long weekend.
The dining profile
- Tasting menu
- €260
- Main course
- €48
- Glass of wine
- €15
- Tip
- 20 %
Glamorous. Miami dresses to be seen.
November to April, when the weather is perfect and stone crab is in season.
Guide prices 2026, per person, in euros
A day in Miami
From breakfast to the nightcap.
November to April
- 09:00Breakfast
Cuban coffee and a pastelito in Little Havana, or eggs on a South Beach terrace.
- 13:00Lunch
Stone crabs at Joe’s (October to May) or ceviche in Brickell.
- 16:00Afternoon
Beach, pool, a frozen cocktail. Miami afternoons are for recovery.
- 19:00Aperitif
Rooftop bars in Brickell or the Design District’s plazas at golden hour.
- 20:00Dinner
Ariete, Stubborn Seed or L’Atelier; the scene starts at nine.
- 23:00Nightcap
Zuma’s riverfront terrace or a Wynwood cocktail bar until late.
The districts
Design District
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Cote, Carbone: the imports with the best rooms.
Coconut Grove
Ariete and the neighbourhood that made Miami a chefs’ city.
South Beach
Joe’s Stone Crab since 1913, Stubborn Seed and the art deco hotels.
Brickell and the river
Zuma, Elcielo and the skyline scene.
The restaurants
9 restaurants in Miami.
Fine diningStarredMiami · Design District
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Miami
Two stars at the counter
HotspotStarredMiami · Coconut Grove
Ariete
The chef who made Miami a chef’s city
Fine diningStarredMiami · South Beach
Stubborn Seed
Jeremy Ford’s South Beach star
Italian restaurantStarredMiami · Little Haiti
Boia De
A tiny star in a strip mall
Seafood restaurantIconMiami · South Beach
Joe’s Stone Crab
Stone crabs since 1913
Italian restaurantHotspotMiami · South Beach
Carbone Miami
The New York scene, with palms
SteakhouseStarredMiami · Design District
COTE Miami
Korean steakhouse, one star, dry-aged
HotspotStarredMiami · Brickell
Elcielo Miami
Colombian tasting menu with chocotherapy
Asian restaurantHotspotMiami · Downtown
Zuma Miami
Izakaya glamour on the river
Good to know
Tips for Miami.
- Stone crab season runs from mid-October to early May; Joe’s does not take reservations for dinner, so arrive early or eat lunch.
- Tip 20 percent; many restaurants add an automatic gratuity for groups, so read the bill.
- Valet parking is standard and often the only option; budget for it.
- The Design District restaurants are walkable from each other; Coconut Grove needs a car.
- Summer is hot and humid; November to April is the season for terraces.
Frequently asked questions
Does Miami have Michelin-starred restaurants?
Yes, since 2022. L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon holds two stars; Ariete, Stubborn Seed, Elcielo, Boia De, Cote and Los Félix hold one each.
What is the Miami dish?
Stone crab claws with mustard sauce, served cold, in season from October to May.
Is Miami expensive?
Yes, at New York level once 20 percent tip and tax are added.
