Where To Go On Vacation in Miami — Without Leaving Miami

Tullio brings the rhythm of coastal Italy to Coral Gables with the kind of quiet confidence you’d expect from a family-run restaurant. It’s operated by a father-and-son team of restaurateurs from Venice, Lucio and Sebastiano Zanon, with the philosophy of inviting guests in to spend a few hours in Italy with them. Tullio Ristorante was named after Lucio’s father, who was a fish merchant at Rialto Market and known in Venice as the jeweler of seafood. The seafood-forward menu at this Venetian gem is grounded in northern Italian traditions — whole grilled Mediterranean fish, housemade pastas with briny bottarga, and delicately fried fritto misto that tastes like it came off a boat that morning. The space is bright and coastal, filled with Murano glass decor that honors the owners’ roots. And even if it’s your first time, you’ll be greeted like a regular with a warm buongiorno and sent off with a buona sera.

Hidden within a pedestrian-only corridor of South Beach, Tropezón feels like a lively evening in Andalucía — all gin, jamón, and Moorish tiles. The surrounding Mediterranean village setting of Española Way already channels Old World charm, but this spot leans fully into the Spanish storyline. Tropezón’s menu pays homage to southern Spain with classic tapas like patatas bravas, boquerones and gambas al ajillo, alongside an impressive infused gin collection. Whether you’re posted up at the central bar or out on the terraza, odds are you just might forget you’re in Miami.

Mutra channels the spirit of Jerusalem through an intimate, open-kitchen experience that feels more like a dinner invitation than a restaurant reservation. Named after chef Raz Shabtai’s grandmother, the restaurant leans into the soulful, layered cooking of the city’s immigrant communities rather than familiar hits from the broader Israeli canon. Spices perfume the air as plates of slow-braised meats, hand-stretched Yemeni bread, and seasonal dishes emerge one by one, each rooted in family memory and shaped by thoughtful technique. From the warm hospitality to the low-slung stools around the wraparound chef’s counter, Mutra captures the essence of a home far away.

La Fresa Francesa feels like stumbling upon a charming bistro on a sleepy Parisian side street — except it’s in the heart of Hialeah. Inside, the raspberry-hued walls, vintage mirrors and eclectic furnishing sets the tone for a menu that leans indulgent and unapologetically French: garlicky escargot, croque madames oozing bechamel, and duck confit that’s crisped just right. (Perhaps the only hint that you’re still stateside is the Miami-inspired foie gras and guava pastelito.) An evening here feels romantic, authentic and memorable, to say the least. Best of all, the friendly staff makes you feel like you’ve been coming to this cozy gem for years.

Calista Taverna brings a sun-drenched slice of the Aegean to Coral Gables’ pedestrian-friendly Giralda Plaza. Whitewashed walls, breezy blue accents and bright pink bougainvillea blooms set the stage for a leisurely meal that feels plucked from a Greek island holiday. Seafood is the star here—think charred Mediterranean octopus, Santorini-style shrimp with tomato sauce and Greek feta, and a whole display case full of fresh whole fish and seafood on ice. We love how the portions are always extra generous, which makes you feel like you’re dining in a Greek family member’s home. Grab a seat on the al fresco patio to truly channel a lazy lunch in Mykonos.

Come to Il Pizzaiolo for an instant escape to sunny Sorrento. With faux lemon tree vines hanging overhead in the dining room, blue-and-white banquettes and bistro-style seating, the space channels the easy elegance of coastal southern Italy. The young pizza prodigy helming the kitchen hails from Naples, Italy, and it shows in the pride behind every pie. The wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas are the main draw – perfectly blistered and chewy, just like you’d find in Naples – but don’t sleep on the classic street food bites or the citrusy spritzes that taste like summer in a glass.

Amara at Paraiso whisks you away to a Latin American coastal retreat, where toes-in-the-sand dining makes every meal feel like a tropical vacation. Perched on the edge of Biscayne Bay, the breezy dining space blurs indoors with outdoors, transitioning seamlessly into a covered patio and then the main highlight—open-air seating on their man-made beachfront strewn with seashells. Whether you’re sWhipping a frozen cocktail or diving into wood-fired local fish and yuca cheese puffs, everything here is kissed with bold Latin American flavor and island ease. It’s the kind of place where you lose track of time, lulled by the rhythm of the water.

At Shingo, Japanese craftsmanship is as central to the experience as the pristine fish on your plate. The entire 850-square-foot space was built in Kyoto by master woodworkers, then carefully disassembled and reassembled in Miami, down to the last wooden peg. That same obsessive attention to detail defines Chef Shingo Akikuni’s 16-course omakase, where aged fish flown in from Japan is prepared with reverence and restraint. A third-generation sushi chef, Akikuni brings a quiet intensity to his craft. With just a handful of seats around a pristine hinoki wood counter, the experience is intimate, elegant, and transportive in the truest sense.

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