The Resy Hit List: Where In Miami You’ll Want to Eat in Oct. 2025

ViceVersa might be the best bar in Miami, but possibly also the best Italian restaurant. It’s the type of place where you can start the night with pre-dinner cocktails — or vice versa, keep the evening going with a digestif and a scoop of house-spun gelato (hence the name). But truthfully, the vibe here is so fun and the food is so stellar, you shouldn’t discount the idea of revolving your whole meal plan around it. Which is to say that along with the top-notch Italianate craft cocktails, there are airy-yet-crisp neo-Neapolitan-style pizza, and refreshing raw crudos and salads. Pro tip: Aperitivo hour (aka happy hour) runs Tuesday through Friday, headlined by a cacio e pepe fried chicken sandwich that has everyone talking.

Recoveco has quickly outgrown its modest name (meaning “nook” in Spanish) as South Florida diners have discovered the treasures created by co-chef/owners Nicolas Martinez and Teresa Gallina (the duo honed their craft in kitchens like Alter and Itamae). Their intimate, open-kitchen restaurant defies easy categorization; Martinez and Gallina venture where few Miami chefs dare — think perfectly executed grass-fed beef tongue or heritage chicken served with feet attached, dishes that are challenging and inexplicably delicious. The bold approach might not aim for mass appeal, but it delivers a dining experience that lingers in your memory.

On the site of a beautifully restored pool hall that played host to Aretha Franklin and Sam Cooke, this Miami rendition of chef Marcus Samuelsson’s NYC original pays tribute to historic Overtown’s legacy with vibrant art, lots of live music, and a menu that celebrates the diverse culinary traditions of the neighborhood. On the plate, it’s comfort food with a soulful twist: deviled eggs with chicharrón, smoked jerk short rib, and perfectly crisp fried chicken. Whether you’re seated in the dynamic dining room or out on the patio, Red Rooster serves up hospitality, heritage, and serious flavor in every bite. 

Fire and ice share the table at Uchi’s sister spot — while you’ll still find the pristine sushi and cool raw crudos that made the original famous, Uchiko leans harder into the smoke and flames. The coastal ambiance feels fitting for its South Beach location, and the hearth is the star, sending out charred bites like unagi (freshwater eel), smoky roasted oysters with koji creamed spinach, and quadruple-seared Denver steak. Order both ends of the spectrum — crisp, refreshing sashimi like the premium bluefin selection, alongside a taste of something smoky from the hearth — and you’ll get the full picture of what the Uchi family does best.

Dirty French Steakhouse isn’t shy, and that’s exactly the point. This glammed-up, maximalist spot channels the flash and flair of 1980s Miami with tuxedoed waiters, plush velvet booths, and a soundtrack that keeps the vibe dialed all the way up. It’s the kind of place where you go all in: prime-aged steaks, duck à l’orange, and a must-order mushroom millefeuille. Even the cocktails are a spectacle, perfect for kicking off the night at the buzzy bar. Come hungry, come dressed, and come ready to party — Dirty French is a dinner and a show all in one.

You head to Daniel’s when you want to be treated like a king, and feast like one. Run by a father-and-daughter team that knows hospitality as well as it knows food, this Florida-inspired steakhouse decked out in bold bovine artwork does beef exceptionally well — but also everything else. Chef Danny Ganem’s menu spans from premium steaks and local seafood to housemade pastas and other dishes made with locally sourced ingredients from the Florida Keys up to the Panhandle. The team at Daniel’s partners with farmers, fishermen and food purveyors from across the state  — many of whom are recognized right on the menu. For a more casual dinner, we love that Daniel’s bar in Miami and the next-door D’s Sports Bar in Fort Lauderdale serve high-end comfort food takes, like wagyu smash burgers and organic chicken tenders with caviar.

Just a few doors down from its Michelin-starred sibling, Walrus Rodeo shouldn’t be underestimated. Boia De’s rowdy little sister restaurant has carved its own spot in Miami’s dining scene. Known for wood-fired fare, Walrus Rodeo is bold and offbeat, with pops of color, retro details, and a lively open kitchen anchored by an imported pizza oven from Naples, Italy. The menu revolves around that roaring oven, turning out pies and vegetable-forward dishes with a smoky edge. Think charred cabbage with burnt garlic gastrique, mustard green lasagna, and standout pizzas that are both playful and expertly prepared. 

Though technically a second outpost of a rum bar from New York, this late-night spot in a small South Beach boutique hotel feels tailor-made for Miami. Named for the high-energy final hour before the end of Carnival in Trinidad & Tobago, Las’ Lap celebrates Caribbean rum culture — from its lively music and dynamic energy to a super-extensive rum selection. The difference in Miami is an acclaimed star chef: Las’ Lap’s owners partnered with James Beard Award winner Kwame Onwuachi to lead the culinary program, and he’s crafted a menu that draws on not only his own Afro-Caribbean roots but also Miami’s Latin and Haitian influences. The result is boldly flavorful plates like wagyu griot and truffled oxtail Cubanos that celebrate the whole region.

El Toro Loco has built a loyal following by keeping steak at the center of everything it does. The local chain runs restaurants, food trucks, and butcher shops, all serving cuts that range from USDA Prime to high-end wagyu. Plates are generous, prices are very reasonable (as in, comparable to grocery store prices for a fully cooked steak), and the format shifts depending on where you go: a quick bite from a truck, a sit-down churrascaria meal, or steaks to grill at home from the butcher counter. The Homestead outpost stands out with a ranch-style setup that leans into the full farmland experience, complete with an open-air barn as the dining space, live music and entertainment, and animals like horses, donkeys, goats, and a koi fish pond. 

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At Vinya Table, the wine isn’t just on a list — it’s the furniture. Shelves of bottles frame the market walls, and you can grab one to drink on the spot or take home for later. The menu plays in the same spirit, with modern American plates that lean Mediterranean and pair well with the sips: think a crisp baklava stuffed with sweet braised lamb, or pastas and meats that arrive looking too good to share. We love how Vinya Table feels built for repeat visits, whether that’s deal-making over a power lunch, stretching out your weekend with a satisfying brunch, or stopping by for daily happy hour with the rest of the local crowd.

We’re not sure what we love more about this neighborhood gem — the scenic waterfront views that haven’t been spoiled by tourists yet, or the subtle Ninja Turtles theme that playfully peeks out from its decor. Hidden away off a side street in North Bay Village, but right on the marina’s edge, Petralunga serves authentic Italian dishes: Roman-style thin-crust pizzas, handmade pastas, and tableside tiramisu for dessert. It’s the kind of spot you’ll want to keep to yourself, but probably won’t be able to. (And in case you were curious, that recurring motif of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — all named for Italian Renaissance men — represents the Italian owners.) 

When you want to enjoy well-crafted nigiri and creative bites without the marathon length or sky-high price tag of traditional omakase counters, we’ve found the spot. Mr. OmaKase keeps things simple and focused, offering one of the better deals for quality omakase in Miami. The small space seats just a handful of diners around a sleek counter, so you’re close to the action as the chef prepares each bite. The fish is always fresh, the dress code is casual, and the presentation unfussy but spot-on. Best of all, the format is flexible enough to let you choose how special you want your night to be, starting at under $100 for 10 courses and going up to $149 for 18 courses with more premium offerings.

To Be Determined is a rotating menu concept with about a dozen two-person tables that fill up quickly. Translation: Insist that your significant other makes a reservation (for several weekends from now) to take you here for date night. The small menu at this dimly lit spot changes frequently based on what’s fresh and seasonal, which means you’ll need to keep coming back. And while it’s usually hard to guarantee quality without staple menu items, To Be Determined has proven so far that you can expect a meal full of wow-worthy flavors even with the constant changes, capped off by an excellent flan. Too late to snag a reservation, or rolling solo? Grab yourself a seat at the bar. 

That neon pink exclamation mark, hovering as a marquee over an unassuming strip mall in Little Haiti, remains iconic — the beacon to draw you into one of Miami’s most important restaurants. Chef duo Alex Meyer and Luciana Giangrandi continue their modern take on Italian plates so good that reservations vanish immediately. (We have tips to help.) Which should come as no surprise when you consider their culinary training in kitchens ranging from Scarpetta and Carbone to Eleven Madison Park. It’s an intimate and adorable space, where you’re as likely to be seated at the counter as you are at a table. Your servers will keep it fun and friendly while you partake in some of the best pasta and Italian-ish plates in town.

The moment you try Ophelia, you’ll know you’re coming back next weekend for more of its sublime baked goods. Run out of a converted RV by former Stubborn Seed pastry chef Ana De Sa Martins and her partner Juan Vieira, this wildly popular bakery is turning out some of the most impressive pastries and breakfast sammies in town. Choose from expertly crafted sundries, both sweet and savory — coffee-glazed cinnamon rolls, nostalgic banana bread, and pillowy housemade English muffins stacked with soft scrambled eggs, cheese, and crispy bacon. Permanently parked in a lot off US1, their (stationary) mobile bakery setup has quickly become a full-on obsession, with lines to prove it.

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