Now on Resy: Caviar Russe, Sexy Fish, MaryGold’s, and More Local Favorites

It’s like the gilded age of Miami in this tucked away, little spot. Behind a curtain off the Four Seasons lobby, you’ll find marble tables, glimmering chandeliers, big leather chairs, and gold accents. Like its New York counterpart, caviar could be the only thing served in such a posh setting, but that’s just a start. This is the place to go bigger than big with shellfish towers, Champagne — the works.

With coral leather seats, illuminated agate floors, and a massive fish tank with live coral and tropical fish along one entire wall, the London import really lives up to its name. You’ll find Sexy Fish dishes like Wagyu gyoza with truffle and foie gras, and caramelized black cod, plus a few Miami exclusives. If you fancy yourself a mermaid, the bathrooms are spectacular.

Filled with greenery, pops of color, a wrap-around marble bar, an open kitchen, and one fantastic outdoor setting, this stunning space befits chef Brad Kilgore’s inspired menu and Bar Lab’s (Broken Shaker) imaginative cocktails. Don’t miss layered brioche, savory beignets with jerk oxtail, and grouper al pastor. You’ll hear about the martini service, but the fluffy green juice is the real show.

Every time you set foot in this historic house adjacent to the Freehand Miami’s courtyard (overseen by the same team behind Broken Shaker), it’s a different experience. Every room is distinctly decorated in a casual boho way, with a menu equally as eclectic: Go Florida raw bar one night, Euro gastropub another; even Haitian if you’re feeling it. The natural wine list and cocktails, as always, are not to be skipped.

Nikkei cuisine has taken Miami by storm, and you’ll find some of the best interpretations of it at this South American import. The menu is extensive but fun to peruse, from traditional nigiri sushi to ceviches, anticuchos, and wood-fired meats. As expected, the sake list and pisco cocktails are fantastic. What is surprising? The next-level brunch.

What the Bar Lab team has done for handcrafted cocktails (Broken Shaker) and Mexican-inspired sips and bites (Hoja Taqueria), they’ve done for natural wines here. Expect an extensive wine list, low-proof cocktails, and a small selection of wine-friendly nibbles (Pro tip: don’t miss the sardine banh mi). The excellent soundtrack and 70’s Scandinavian minimalist decor creates just the right vibe.

Frédéric Joulin’s French bistro is one of those classic neighborhood spots that looks more casual than what the menu delivers, a spot that fits any occasion, even if it’s just a weeknight out. Stick with the classics: beef tartare, foie gras terrine, escargots, a couple glasses of red, and profiteroles for dessert.

When it comes to wow factor, Fiola ticks all the right boxes: Beautiful room, pristine seafood, amazing pastas (including a pasta omakase), and perfectly cooked steaks. Restaurateurs Fabio and Maria Trabocchi chose Miami for the second outpost of the Michelin-starred Washington D.C. stunner, and it doesn’t disappoint. P.S.: If you can’t find something from the 8,000 bottle wine list, you’re being too picky.

What the Bar Lab team has done for handcrafted cocktails (Broken Shaker) and natural wines (Margot Wine Bar), they’ve done for Mexican-inspired sips and bites in a Generator hotel. Sure, you can go the taco route, but it’s more fun to do a whole snapper and build your own with housemade corn tortillas and an array of salsas. Cocktails are exceptional, even the house margarita or michelada.

Even if the swell here is meant to evoke waves and surfing in far off locales, it’s a pretty swell spot for cocktails and light bites. A convivial meeting spot in the Life House boutique hotel, sink into comfy sofas and chairs in the living room or outside for a couple of tacos and something like the Mahalo, a spicy-sweet mezcal number.

Whatever your game plan — smoke cigars with cocktails inside, or watch the Espanola Way scene unfold outside — you’re covered here. Get ready to share (everything from chicken wings to lobster pasta easily feeds two or more) and know that the mojito never disappoints.

If your best night requires a great cigar, this is the spot. Choose your cigar from a huge walk-in humidor — they’ll cut it just the way you like it — and sit a spell in those big comfy chairs. The drinks menu matches the cigar selection, elaborately filled with rare and favorite spirits. Members and non-members are equally welcome.

Every weekend MKT Kitchen flips into Josh Elliott’s tapas concept, a whirlwind of tastes and flavors from the Basque country and Tokyo combined. Cool ranch shishitos, lamb belly with date teriyaki, okonomiyaki topped with chorizo and eggs, creamy cheesecake with mango: It’s all fantastic. 

This buzzy Sunset Harbour spot is everything you’d expect for a Paris import: Impeccably designed both inside and out, with a great bar and terrace for being seen (be prepared to dress the part). Ceviche tacos, uni and caviar brioche, wagyu fried rice: It’s a whole vibe. 

When your group can’t decide on one restaurant, peruse the 17 (and counting) at this South Beach food hall. Curated by the Time Out crew, there’s everything from burgers and shakes at Michelle Bernstein’s Little Liberty to Omar Montero’s tacos, plus pho, vegan Chinese dumplings, fried chicken, and more.

Earth-toned, sleek, and sometimes feeling like you’re in a South American jungle, this is a modern Argentinian steakhouse for the South Beach crowd. Yes, the burrata you see on every table is a must, so are any of the steaks, especially the prime rib eye. And know that you can’t go wrong with the Negroni with a hint of smoked pancetta.

From South America to buzzy Wynwood, Wayku is a lively neighborhood spot for cocktails and a small bite, or something grander. In truth, it’s more fun with a group so you can try everything, especially crab empanadas, grilled octopus, and a creamy cast-iron corn dish that will have you rethinking everything you knew about corn.

When you can’t decide between sushi and pad Thai or ramen, this Buena Vista bistro is the spot. From the same folks behind South Beach’s longstanding favorite Toni’s Sushi bar, expect elaborate rolls along with nigiri, halo halo for dessert, and a great sake list to peruse.

After you’ve eaten your way through the 15 vendors at this stylish and splashy Doral food hall, settle in for Saturday night drinks with your besties in the lounge. Local DJs, tons of food options, and pyrotechnic bottle service included. 

Part art gallery, part cafe and bar, this open Sunset Harbor space covers all the bases. Sit in a glove-shaped sofa for drinks before dinner, then dig into dishes as imaginative as the space, like risotto that looks like mushrooms are sprouting from it. 

After sipping Moscow mules on green velvet couches, and before the place flips into a nocturnal playground for all-night dancing, you’ll need sustenance. That could be in the form of lamb dumplings or a spicy diavola pizza, or even spaghetti carbonara. 

Enough Swifty’s regulars made their way from New York City to Palm Beach that it was only a matter of time before this beloved restaurant moved there, too. Sit around the pool or the courtyard under a garden canopy, get the bacon-wrapped meatloaf and aligot potatoes, and a Pink Paradise cocktail, too. If there’s live music or a rousing bingo game happening around the pool, just go with it.

Off the mezzanine deck at The Alexander Hotel, this hidden gem with wood-slat walls and dark trim feels like something you’d find in New York or L.A. It’s not just the vibe; it’s the menu full of seasonal ingredients from local producers — things like crudo with black garlic sauce, and smoked lion’s mane farotto with pea tendrils and cashew crumbs. Don’t miss brunch.

This kosher spot in Aventura has a mostly vegetarian menu full of Israeli-style sabiches (the eggplant is a winner), really good shakshuka, and strong coffee. Looking to share a meal? Get the breakfast-for-two spread and while away the morning.

A South Beach stunner in every sense, from the show-stopping outdoor terrace complete with cabanas and a water feature (don’t attempt walking across the floating stones, especially after cocktails) to the sizzling dining room. Mediterranean and Asian elements come together in surprising ways, like snapper crudo with tom yum vinaigrette.

There are so many tasty bites at this Key Biscayne spot — short rib empanadas, bacon-wrapped dates, crispy yucca, and a great wagyu burger — it’s easy to forget it’s also a wine shop. Come as you are: off the beach for a drink, lunch with friends, happy hour, date night. It works on every level.

The Vinya Wine & Market folks go big at their Coral Gables outpost. The space is as extensive and impressive as the wine list, with a menu full of dishes like manchego and truffle risotto, tomahawk steaks, and guava flan. It’s hard not to buy a few bottles of somm-selected wines for home before leaving.

From Milan to Manhattan, Sant Ambroeus is synonymous with mid-century style, delicious pastries and pastas, and the perfect cappuccino. Anchoring the Royal Poinciana Plaza, the Palm Beach outpost has it all, including the must-order tagliatelle Bolognese. A cocktail at the mod bar is the swanky way to go.

You’ll want to eat your way through the menu at this Wynwood hot spot, where Asian and American flavors blend seamlessly into a highly original cuisine, ranging from steamed buns with various fillings, to crispy rice dishes and wood-grilled meats.

This quick-and-easy offshoot of Mandolin Aegean Bistro is creating a buzz with its adaptations of Greek and Turkish street food, made with sustainable farm-raised ingredients, including hormone- and antibiotic-free meats. Pro tip: Come with friends and opt for the “Feast” — enough meats, dips, and sides to serve four.