The Resy Guide to Power Lunches in Miami

This unassuming restaurant in Wynwood is also one of Miami’s most iconic breakfast spots. It’s also a great place for a lovely lunch, located in a sprawling two-story 1930s house, freshly painted white, with black-and-white striped awnings and porches around the front and side. The “All Day Goodness” includes things like truffle grilled cheese, shrimp and grits, and a house club sandwich with basil mayo. You’ll catch local art collectors, artists, and real estate professionals all hunkering down for the type of hearty meals that a southern grandma might churn out. And as an added perk: plenty of free parking.

The burger at Hillstone is legendary. The service is top-notch and, if you’re looking to channel Don Draper, the martinis are chilled and served with as many extra olives as you please. This Miracle Mile stalwart is a neighborhood staple and always buzzing with energy, and the deep cushy booths beckon for a long and leisurely lunch that quickly segues from business to pleasure. 

Housed on the top floor of the chic Mr. C Hotel Coconut Grove, this Italian spot is from the masterminds behind the famous Cipriani restaurant empire. Therefore, it’s best to start things off with one of their famous peach bellinis, then progress to dishes of burrata with prosciutto, truffle pasta, and meatballs with baked polenta. End it all with a strong espresso and marvel at the rooftop views of Biscayne Bay.

Bringing more than 15 years of experience from Washington D.C. to South Florida, Sette Osteria is an authentic Italian restaurant and bar with warm earthy tones and casual, but sophisticated, decor. A meal here is made for carb lovers, including plates of fettuccine alla Bolognese made with homemade fettuccine, housemade Bolognese sauce, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and traditional cacio e pepe served with shrimp, diced tomatoes and pesto sauce. Authentic Italian desserts like panna cotta, tiramisu and gelati are a sweet finish to any power lunch.

Miami’s outpost of La Petite Maison, which has locations in London, Dubai, and beyond, is located in Brickell, snuggled up among fancy office buildings, the Mandarin Oriental, and luxury retail. It’s an ideal location for brokering deals, or simply feeling powerfully well-fed. For those doing business, check out the special Déjeuner d’Affaires prix fixe lunch, available Tuesday through Friday til 2:30 p.m. Elegant French-Mediterranean dishes like tuna carpaccio and duck legs a l’orange set an excellent scene, particularly when consumed on the breezy terrace.

This quaint South Miami spot is perfect for business deals and intimate meals of French-inspired dishes, in a quiet but sophisticated setting. Standouts include the tuna tartare, steak flatbread, and salmon with garlicky vegetables; don’t sleep on the pistachio soufflé for dessert.  It’ll be worth the drive for downtowners and a very easy sell for those in Coral Gables.

The chic dining room at Novikov is the first indication that your power lunch will go well, followed closely by a lengthy menu of Chinese-Japanese fusion dishes, including cocktails like a wasabi martini. A special prix fixe business lunch is designed for those who want to get down to brass tacks, with choices like spicy salmon maki and Peking duck. There’s always à la carte, too, which includes a wide selection of bao, dim sum, sushi, and more.

Undeniably chic, the airy and whitewashed compound in South of Fifth has soaring ceilings, black and white flooring, skylights, an indoor courtyard and a bar adorned with copper pineapples. The polished setting is perfect for a business meeting with someone who prefers plant-based cuisine. For those who usually lean the carnivorous side, the meatless dishes mimic meat in familiar ways, like “crab cakes” (made with hearts of palm), coconut ceviche, cauliflower tots, and a variety of pizzas. This SoBe outpost also features a meatless sushi bar with things like dehydrated watermelon nigiri and avocado with a miso-truffle glaze. 

This frilly tearoom is popular with the Instagram-obsessed set. It’s probably the English-inspired design and the dainty sandwiches paired with brunch-y staples like bourbon-battered French toast served with bacon strips, caramelized apples, and vanilla sauce, or an omelette filled with smoked salmon, cream cheese, chives, and caviar. Meanwhile, a very Miami Cuban bagel piled with fried eggs, ham, carnitas, pickles, and Gruyere cheese also beckons. The cocktail menu features a pineapple saketini and a Champagne mojito, alongside wine, craft coffee, and fresh juices.