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SpanishSouth Beach
Mareva 1939 at the National Hotel is the Art Deco Collins Avenue dining room serving contemporary Spanish cuisine and tapas family-style on South Beach.
OrderThe black paella with scallops and shrimp, paired with a few sharing tapas off the Iberico section.
TipPlan two to three plates per person; the poolside garden seating is the quieter alternative to the main dining room.
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CubanLittle Havana
Versailles in Miami is the Calle Ocho Cuban institution that has poured cafecito since 1971 and remains Little Havana's political water cooler at 3555 SW 8th.
OrderVaca frita with maduros and a cafecito at the walk-up ventanita.
TipThe dining room queues at lunch; the ventanita pours cafecito from 8am and pastelitos run all day.
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SeafoodSouth Beach
Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach is the 1913 South of Fifth seafood cathedral, serving chilled stone crab claws with mustard sauce from October 15 to May 1.
OrderJumbo or large stone crab claws with the mustard sauce and a side of creamed spinach.
TipNo reservations for dinner; arrive by 5pm or use the take-away counter next door for the same claws to-go.
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Southern AmericanSouth Beach
Yardbird in Miami Beach is the Lenox Avenue Southern table that put 27-hour brined fried chicken on the South Beach map and runs brunch through dinner daily.
OrderThe chicken n watermelon n waffles plate; the chicken alone is the order if you only want one bird.
TipBook the patio if it's open. Locals brunch Saturday before the queue takes the dining room past 1pm.
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Korean BBQDesign District
Cote Miami in the Design District is Simon Kim's Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse, a smoke-and-fire room that opened on NE 2nd Avenue in 2021.
OrderThe Butcher's Feast; four cuts with banchan, stews and soft-serve to close.
TipBook three to four weeks ahead. Counter seats give you full kitchen view; the back banquettes are quieter for groups.
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ItalianBuena Vista
Boia De in Miami is the Michelin-starred 24-seat Italian counter at 5205 NE 2nd Ave, glowing under a neon exclamation mark in a Buena Vista strip mall.
OrderThe bone marrow toast with anchovy, then a pasta off the chalkboard.
TipReservations open one month ahead on Resy and vanish in minutes. Walk in at 5pm and try for the bar.