Cuban$$little-havana
Versailles in Miami is the Calle Ocho Cuban institution that has poured cafecito since 1971 and remains Little Havana's political water cooler at 3555 SW 8th Street.
Signature: Cuban sandwich, Vaca frita, Cafecito at the ventanita
Order: Vaca frita with maduros and a cafecito at the walk-up ventanita.
Tip: The dining room queues at lunch; the ventanita pours cafecito from 8am and pastelitos run all day.
Seafood$$$$south-beach
Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach is the 1913 South of Fifth seafood cathedral, serving chilled stone crab claws with mustard sauce from October 15 to May 1 each year.
Signature: Stone crab claws with mustard sauce, Key lime pie, Hash browns
Order: Jumbo or large stone crab claws with the mustard sauce and a side of creamed spinach.
Tip: No reservations for dinner; arrive by 5pm or use the take-away counter next door for the same claws to-go.
Southern American$$$south-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.
Signature: 27-hour brined fried chicken, Chicken n watermelon n waffles, Mama's biscuits
Order: The chicken n watermelon n waffles plate; the chicken alone is the order if you only want one bird.
Tip: Book the patio if it's open. Locals brunch Saturday before the queue takes the dining room past 1pm.
Korean steakhouse$$$$design-district
Cote Miami in the Design District is Simon Kim's Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse, a smoke-and-fire room that opened on NE 2nd Avenue in 2021.
Signature: Butcher's Feast tasting, Galbi, Steak Omakase
Order: The Butcher's Feast; four cuts with banchan, stews and soft-serve to close.
Tip: Book three to four weeks ahead. Counter seats give you full kitchen view; the back banquettes are quieter for groups.
Italian$$$buena-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.
Signature: Bone marrow with anchovy, Cacio e pepe, Crudo of the day
Order: The bone marrow toast with anchovy, then a pasta off the chalkboard.
Tip: Reservations open one month ahead on Resy and vanish in minutes. Walk in at 5pm and try for the bar.
Cuban-American$$$$coconut-grove
Ariete in Coconut Grove is Michael Beltran's Michelin-starred Cuban-American room on Main Highway, holding a star four years running since 2022.
Signature: Croqueta de jamon, Aged ribeye, Burger night
Order: The croqueta de jamon to open, then whatever the chalkboard says is being aged that week.
Tip: Tuesday burger night is a hard ticket; book the brunch service if you want the kitchen at full curiosity.