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

Normandy Isle isn’t where you’d typically find the most talked-about restaurant in town — but that may be changing, thanks to Marc’s. This newcomer is already earning a spot in the conversation for Miami’s best pie, thanks to its obsessively perfected dough and locally sourced toppings. The menu keeps things simple: a few classic pies and a few inventive ones, all made with meticulous care and quality ingredients. This walk-in only spot is casual but still thoughtfully designed, with warm lighting, nostalgic terrazzo tabletops, and just enough seating to feel like a neighborhood secret. Whether you’re a purist or a toppings maximalist, Marc’s is well worth the detour. Just brace yourself for the line out the door.

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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.

Your typical steakhouse is big and brash, but The Joyce is quietly tucked behind a velvet curtain like a secret speakeasy. You’ll be ushered in by a doorman to a small, clandestine space where candlelight glows against walls adorned with Basquiat and Picasso prints. The menu evokes nostalgia with modern takes on Americana classics — think A5 wagyu filet and crisp latkes topped with caviar — and the atmosphere is as seductive as the food. Get dressed up for a sultry night out, and trust that the service will make you feel like the most important person in the room. If you’re looking for something more casual, The Joyce’s walk-up window off Española Way serves up solid smash burgers late into the night.

Stepping into Mutra’s dining room feels deeply personal. Named after chef-owner Raz Shabtai’s grandmother, this homey restaurant centers around an open-kitchen with a wraparound chef’s counter, where the aroma of warm spices and bubbling stews lures you in. The menu delivers on updated takes on ancient Middle Eastern cuisine, drawing from the rich flavors of the multicultural melting pot that is Jerusalem, where Shabtai grew up cooking beside his grandmother. Each dish feels like a love letter to his homeland — layered, soulful, and crafted with intention. You might be unfamiliar with some items on the menu, but that’s part of the magic. Trust your intuition (or a friendly server), and if you’re lucky, Chef Raz will be behind the counter, sharing how long it took to braise the beef cheeks overnight or how many days went into baking the Yemeni bread from scratch.

Give yourself a taste of the unhurried charm of Mediterranean life, as Claudie brings the elegance and allure of the South of France to Brickell. Run by the same team behind South Beach rooftop hot spot MILA, you know you can expect a good show — from theatrical dishes to scene-stealing musicians who rove the restaurant nightly and perform at your table. It does indeed feel airlifted from the sun-drenched villages of the Côte d’Azur, thanks to attentive service and a French-inspired menu that spotlights “la cuisine du soleil.” If the weather is remotely bearable, choose a seat on the charming string-lit terrace, complete with a cascading fountain, lush greenery and a retractable awning that unveils the striking view of Brickell’s skyscrapers.

Is it a bar? Is it a restaurant? It’s all of the above. Over Under has carved out a loyal following by perfecting the essentials – great drinks, a killer smash burger, and a casual, come-as-you-are vibe that feels refreshing in Miami these days. Comfort-style bar food is crafted with local Florida ingredients. That means hickory-smoked local mahi-mahi fish dip, Treasure Coast oysters, and crispy Florida alligator bites. Don’t miss the Miami-famous cheeseburger (the menu calls it “world-famous” — and fine, we’ll give it to them), and check their social media for updates on happenings from karaoke nights and DJs spinning to guest chef collaborations and pop-ups. 

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Raheem Sealey has created an entirely new culinary language by weaving together his St. Croix heritage, Japanese techniques mastered during stints at Pao and Zuma, and the wood-fired flavors that made his previous BBQ venture an instant hit among Miami’s food obsessives. The menu delivers massive, shareable smoked meat plates, inventive sides, and sushi dishes that strike a perfect balance between Asian precision and Caribbean soul. And while it’s new to the Wynwood dining scene, between the vibrant graffiti-strewn walls and exposed concrete beams, Shiso feels like it belonged in Wynwood all along. The energetic second-story space has an open-kitchen dining room, an indoor bar serving craft cocktails, another patio bar and outdoor lounge with a separate drink menu, and a 15-seat chef’s counter for guests who want to watch culinary magic happen.

On the quieter end of Miami Beach, Sazón Cubano is as much a neighborhood gathering place as it is a go-to for visiting beach-goers. With a breezy thatched-roof patio that’s steps from the sand, and live music often drifting through the air, the atmosphere leans effortlessly festive. Locals swing by the ventanita for cafecito or batidos (smoothies) to go, while those lingering dive into generous plates of ropa vieja, crispy tostones, or the crowd-favorite paella. Pair it with a chilled sangria and friendly service, and you’ve got a spot that feels like a celebration of Cuban culture — with vacation vibes baked right in. 

Israeli-born chef Michael Solomonov (of Philly’s Zahav) blends ancient Israeli cooking traditions with the modern energy of Miami and Tel Aviv at 1 Hotel South Beach’s signature restaurant. Here, the experience centers around sharing — start with salatim, a colorful spread of salads and dips that arrive with freshly baked breads, before exploring the mezze selections that showcase the kitchen’s creative approach to vegetables and small plates. For heartier appetites, the al ha’esh (“from the fire”) section delivers smoke-kissed proteins that honor Israel’s grilling traditions. Go with a group; a communal adventure makes it more fun.

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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