The Ultimate Restaurant Guide to Downtown Miami

As the newest addition to the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand category, this Vietnamese concept is all about having a good time. It pairs hand-held bites like sweet and savory wings and moist tamarind-glazed ribs with chilled sake or beer. Be prepared to lose count of the laughs you share with friends around the table. Remember, on Sundays, the usual daily menu is replaced by different cuisines like pizza or vegan.

This Spanish restaurant has established itself as one of downtown’s signature restaurants in the past decade. Its casual charm sets the stage for memorable, bold dishes like its beloved poached egg in a potato foam topped with jamon Iberico and black truffle; and its simpler pa amb tomaquet, perfectly toasted bread slathered with juicy tomato and garlic oil.

If you’re looking for a light meal packed with flavor to pair with a yet-to-be-determined new favorite wine, you’ll find it all here. Yes, you can grab a wine bottle from its shop on the way to a friend’s house, but it’d be better just to meet friends at this wine bar to share in Catalonian dishes like the razor clams with sherry vinegar, crispy brava potatoes, or marinated sardines. Also, look out for the periodic pop-up collabs here.

It took five years, but when it moved from its flagship Doral location to downtown last year, Biscayne Bay Brewing became downtown’s first brewery. It’s in a swanky, historic Post Office building with an expansive floorplan. Come here to catch the big game, catch up with friends, or both. Its rotating beer menu features lagers, IPAs, and porters alongside unique seasonal creations. The food combines choice dishes like Wagyu picanha tartare and bluefin tuna tataki with comfort foods like nachos, flatbreads, and burgers.

There’s another Michelin Bib Gourmand on the list, and this one has sexy cocktail bar vibes and serves a stellar plate of pasta. With your favorite spirit in mind, the cocktail menu will lead you to the one best suited for you. Tequila lovers will be drawn to the Green Ghoul or Wolf Whistle, whereas gin enthusiasts will find the Madam Butterfly or Fino Martini incredibly satisfying. Then, regardless of whether it’s your first or 10th time here, always start your meal with the warm and fluffy Parker house rolls. Dishes are easily shared, so digging into a plate or two of housemade pasta afterward is encouraged here.

Legendary chef Daniel Boulud opened this concept inside the towering JW Marriott Marquis in 2018 to celebrate the fusion of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and North African cuisine. Today, its menu still reflects the regions’ bold spices and refreshing ingredients. Start with a Mediterranean mezze of Moroccan hummus, herb falafel, babaganoush, and muhammara, or a simple beet and burrata salad.  Other sharable plates include the octopus, lamb meatballs, and hamachi crudo before leading into the entrées like pasta, chicken tagine, or honey-glazed duck.

Take a culinary journey to the Caribbean at this watering hole. Soak in the spirited tunes while you sip on a tropical cocktail like the Red Red Wine, a rum-forward tipple, or the Get Up Stand Up, which will reenergize you with Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee blended with caramel whisky and coffee liqueur. Once you’ve made your selection, indulge in Jamaican favorites like hot patties, fiery jerk chicken, yellow curry oxtail, or even a side of jerk mac-and-cheese.

See also: What to order at Mangrove.

Come here to relax among soulful melodies while sipping on drolly named cocktails like the Leaving on a Jet Plane with pear-infused bourbon or the Blind Melon made with Tequila and garnished with a slice of honeydew. You won’t find stale pretzels at this bar. Instead, snacks include fried Japanese peanuts-and-pickles and potato chips with caviar.

This clementine-hued bar proudly serves an endless selection of naturally minded wines. If you’re not well-versed in them, its friendly staff is readily available for guidance. Pair your wine with light bites that enhance its notes, like the melon and jamon with fresh mint, salmon crudo with fresno chile, or the tin fish board.

In true speakeasy style, you must find Morla before enjoying the fruits of your labor. Once inside, you’ll be welcomed into the world of the husband-and-wife ownership duo, who bring their Peruvian Nikkei and Mexican heritages together. Dim bistro lights illuminate enticing, sharable dishes that awaken your palate, like crunchy corn tostadas topped with citrusy ceviche and octopus served with smoked mashed potatoes and pineapple chimichurri.