Here’s Where to Enjoy Miami’s Bounty of Mediterranean Food

The fourth outpost of the Israeli restaurant is serving up Mediterranean fare that’s complemented by a lively scene where the later you eat the more fun you’ll have. Think table dancing, napkin swinging, and pumping tunes. Major Food Group, which has recently become a force of nature in Miami’s dining scene, partnered up with celebrated chef Eyal Shani to bring his concept to the former China Grill location on South Beach. Look out for bold flavors, vegetable, and seafood-forward dishes and plenty of lamb options.

This iconic Coral Way restaurant has been serving regulars and newcomers for decades. The family behind it has created a space that transports you to the Greek islands from the moment you arrive through its blue and white palette, classic murals and a warm and welcoming ambiance. The casual fare is inspired by family recipes and its apparent when the plates hit your table. Catering to a variety of palettes, the menu has something for every craving. Don’t miss out on the warm and flaky spinach or cheese pies, hearty meat or seafood platters and any of the housemade desserts. Pro tip: if you have a cold, the augolemono chicken soup is the best medicine.

Call 305.856.3140 for reservations.

From the masterminds behind the Design District’s Mandolin Aegean Bistro, this quaint cafe is serving up coastal Mediterranean fare with a rustic menu in a dreamy and historic Española Way setting. The straightforward menu is simple and focused on spotlighting the best of the Med – and that includes the wine list that offers selections from France, Italy, and Greece. The wood-burning oven and charcoal grill offer up dishes like the wood roasted pesto eggplant and charred squid topped with a citrusy salmoriglio marinade alongside the simple but delicious pizzas. And don’t forget the housemade pastas that beg to be shared with friends. 

This Aegean restaurant was awarded a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand, which means its food is fire and you can’t go wrong with your selections. Honoring the Mediterranean’s traditions of sharing a meal amongst loved ones, it brought that meze culture to Wynwood’s trendy dining scene and created a niche for itself. The menu is divided into cold and hot meze so you don’t have to settle on just one main entrée. Choose a variety of small plates from the creamy dips, octopus salad, and branzino ceviche to the Turkish meatballs, tiger prawns, and lamb chops. 

Call 305.501.2848 or email reservations@doyarestaurant.com. 

Located inside the swanky Paramount residences, its expansive waterfront views pair nicely with its seasonal cuisine that takes inspiration from the Med. You can’t go wrong when deciding where to enjoy your meal with choices like the spacious outdoor patio, seaside bar, and vibrant dining room. Pro tip: in summer, choose the cool interior space that still offers ocean views without the sweltering heat. The relaxed ambiance is perfect for an extended dinner where you can savor sharable plates like the Moroccan beef skewers with a refreshing harissa yogurt sauce, chilled octopus salad, a sizeable fritto misto, sweet and crispy brussels sprouts, and a variety of flatbreads. For entrees (that you can choose to share or not share) options include housemade pastas, seafood paella, roasted branzino, and the fan-favorite rack of lamb. 

This family-owned restaurant and market is where locals go to get fresh Mediterranean products and housemade treats. It’s tucked away off the main drag but once you find it, you’ll be rewarded with daily made cuisine like lentil soup, gyro sandwiches, and rice bowls, which you can enjoy at one of its casual tables within the market or take home for later. Its market also carries beloved products from Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and Greece like olive oil, dried fruits, spices, and yogurt.

Pro tip: if you go during its peak lunchtime hours, be prepared to wait in line, so try to go during off hours if you’re in a rush.  

Call 305.253.6115 for more information.

Hidden in plain sight, this Lincoln Road rooftop sanctuary will transport you miles away from the buzzy shopping district below. With a soothing cream color palette accentuated with warm woods, plush pillows, and pops of greenery, it feels more like a spa than a restaurant. But then you open the menu and your senses awaken. This isn’t your traditional Mediterranean restaurant. While ingredients like octopus, eggplant, burrata, and branzino are on the menu, their preparation takes inspiration from Asia with shiso, ginger, soy, ponzu, and seaweed, for example, also sharing the spotlight. Creating more of a MediterrAsian offering, dishes here seamlessly reflect a variety of cultures and flavors. Pro tip: If you can’t decide, go with the tasting menu and just sit back and relax. 

This fast-casual spot in the heart of Brickell gives patrons healthy options with its build-your-own-bowl selections. Founded by a former investment banker and owner of the nearby My Ceviche, Zuuk was a welcome addition to the financial district where good, fast lunches are essential and where casual dinners after a long workday are too. Customization is key here. Choose a pita, bowl or salad, and then layer on the flavorful housemade additions that range from hummus and baba ghanoush to lamb meatballs, falafel or roasted vegetables.

Call 305.200.3145 for details.

Another creation from the team behind Mandolin Aegean Bistro, this concept is focused on Mediterranean street food and located inside the trendy Vagabond Hotel on Biscayne. The chic contemporary diner is where you can have a quick lunch or casual dinner that’s been made with organic, hormone free, locally sourced ingredients and plenty of love. Indulge in a gyro pita, wrap or platter or go for the lamb, chicken, sausage or vegetable grilled kebab. For lighter fare, choose a spinach pie, Greek salad or a trio of dips and enjoy slathering the hummus, tzatziki, and charred eggplant on warm pita. And make sure to save room for the sweet and gooey walnut baklava. 

This Bib Gourmand recipient is located inside the whimsical Upper Buena Vista district that immediately transports you into a serene tropical oasis. Aegean blue and white ceramic dishes hit your table and you instantly understand the Turkish love for shareable plates regardless of what time of the day it is. Breakfast is a big deal and so at El Turco it’s served daily until 4 p.m. For a traditional (and satisfying) start to your day, order the Turkish breakfast platter that comes with a steak tomato and cucumber salad, feta cheese, olives, housemade jams, fresh bread, and tea. If you’re looking for a savory lunch or dinner, start with a selection of meze dishes like the white bean salad, stuffed grape leaves, and charred shishito peppers topped with garlic yogurt and see where the meal takes you. It’s all about enjoying a relaxed meal here.

Call 786.686.9797 for reservations.

This former quiet beach town now has a bustling dining scene and its newest player is this New York-based Mediterranean outpost. Its Intracoastal setting welcomes boaters in for a casual meal while also drawing a lively crowd for weekday happy hours and Sunday brunch. The menu reflects the sparkling Mediterranean and the cultures that surround it with selections like flaming Greek saganaki and African chicken tagine alongside a variety of seafood and raw bar options. While its wine menu is mainly rooted in Europe, it also offers sips from South Africa and the States and has a variety of cocktails and refreshing mocktails.

If you’re looking for a trendy South Beach outing that will deliver delightful Mediterranean dishes, this is it. To start, the space is beautiful with plush banquets coastal details and massive murals. The menu travels the Med with classic ingredients and spices like fig, lemon, mint, cucumber, pistachio, feta, yogurt, saffron, and sumac sprinkled throughout it. Sharing is caring so choose a few appetizers and a few mains to enjoy with your table and you won’t be disappointed. Start with the duck meatballs, octopus, crispy artichokes, and beets and work your way into entrees like the Middle Eastern fried chicken, lamb shoulder, and whole branzino. 

Email reservations@byblosmiami.com or call 786.864.2990.

This playful South of Fifth cafe is where you can share a few dishes, lounge in its lush courtyard and just enjoy the scene. This concept landed in Miami thanks to the teams behind the healthy eats brand Pura Vida and the founder of Zuuk and My Ceviche. Teaming up to create this family-owned restaurant, the two restauranteurs pride themselves on working with local farmers to source ingredients and delivering quality Mediterranean-inspired dishes to patrons. The menu is laid-back but bursting with flavors with plenty of small dips and plates to share. The restaurant also hosts weekly Sunday brunches and shabbat dinners in its starlit courtyard.

Pro tip: Don’t sleep on its famous Jerusalem bagels.