
Punch Bowl Social
Photograph: Courtesy Punch Bowl Social/Amber Boutwell

The best new restaurants in Miami to try this minute

Find what's fresh and exciting in the city with our list of the best new restaurants in Miami, from Downtown to Wynwood

By Virginia Gil

March 2020: With spring just a few weeks away, the dining scene in Miami is buzzing with new openings and awaited comebacks. In South Beach, Regent Cocktail Club returns in a bigger, revamped space and we welcome South of Fifth Portuguese spot Seasins. Over on the mainland, entertainment behemoth Punch Bowl Social combines gaming with food and drink in Wynwood, while Downtown’s Balloo charms with its familial environs and home-style fare. Ready to feast?


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Best new restaurants in Miami

Photograph: Vanessa Rogers


Restaurants Caribbean Downtown

What is it? Timon Balloo’s funky namesake restaurant in the heart of Downtown, features a deeply personal menu of small and large plates that draw from the chef’s Caribbean and Asian background.

Why go? For inventive island delicacies (the oxtail is outstanding), natural wines and a cozy, charming environment that makes you feel like you’re dining in someone’s home.

Punch Bowl Social
Photograph: Courtesy Punch Bowl Social/Amber Boutwell

Punch Bowl Social

Attractions Arcades and amusements Wynwood

What is it? For the adults who never outgrew the arcade, Punch Bowl combines gaming and entertainment with nightlife and dining. 

Why go? It's impossible to be bored or go hungry or thirsty here. Try your hand at pool, duckpin bowling, arcade games and more, then move onto the restaurant for a Big Mac-inspired two-hander burger and finish off the night with a craft cocktail at one of the multiple bars. 

Courtesy The Regent Cocktail Club/Ricardo Mejia

The Regent Cocktail Club

Bars Cocktail bars South Beach

What is it? The spot that heralded a new wave in Miami’s cocktail scene settles into a new space thanks to a massive relaunch that doubled its size and expanded its cocktail program. 

Why go? If you weren’t a fan of the tight quarters and the limited seating, you’ll love Regent 2.0: it’s bigger, tropical and better suited for lounging.

Photograph: Virginia Gil

Seasins Miami

Restaurants Portuguese South of Fifth

What is it? This well-appointed spot in the South of Fifth neighborhood restaurant presents a hit list of Portugal’s culinary gifts.

Why go? Get a crash course in Portuguese dining, from cod (there’s a whole section dedicated to it on the menu) and octopus to vino verde and those irresistible custard tarts.

Osaka Miami


Restaurants Pan-Asian Brickell

What is it? Miami’s outpost of the acclaimed Lima restaurant brings up-market Nikkei cuisine to the posh Brickell neighborhood.  

Why go? Sushi and nigiri that will blow your mind (and maybe your budget) with complex flavors and beautiful presentations that are finished off tableside.

Photograph: Gabriel Matarazzo


Bars Cocktail bars East Little Havana

What is it? Little Havana’s first rooftop bar is a charming, retro-styled deck lined with oversize umbrellas and comfy couch set-ups. At night, bistro lights make the whole space twinkle. 

Why go? You’ve never sipped a mezcal cocktail on a Little Havana rooftop. Plus, its distinction as the neighborhood’s first means zero skyline obstruction. 

Photograph: Christian Lozan


Restaurants Peruvian South of Fifth

What is it? Chef Juan Chipoco expands his mini-empire of stellar Peruvian restaurants with this glitzy Nikkei spot in the South of Fifth neighborhood. 

Why go? Chipoco leans into the Japanese-Peruvian trend with a smattering of reimagined sushi dishes, Japanese staples and Peruvian classics. For all its excess, the gilded spot (even the flatware is gold!) feels welcoming and, well, intimate.

Photograph: Courtesy InRamen


Restaurants Contemporary Asian South Miami

What is it? A casual spot touting made-to-order ramen available at fast-food speeds (and prices), now open in South Miami.

Why go? Watch your Chinese soba noodles pulled, stretched and molded to perfection right before your eyes as all ramen is made to order. There for the broth? Choose from 10 different soup varieties you’ll want to slurp down to the last drop. 

Photograph: Courtesy Grupo Gitano


Restaurants Mexican Miami Beach

What is it? Mexico hippy vibes meets Miami tropical glam at this third location of the Tulum-based restaurant. 

Why go? You still haven’t been to Tulum and need to know what the fuss is about. Miami’s Gitano faithfully follows the original as far as food and drink are concerned—from the signature grilled avocado and the banana leaf fish to the stiff tequila-based cocktails flavored with herbs from the restaurant’s garden.

Photograph: Michael Pisarri


Restaurants Ice cream parlors Design District

What is it? Pastry chef Salvatore Martone’s innovative dessert shop puts forth a menu of sweet, whimsical treats that combine cake, baked goods and ice cream.

Why go? Enjoy pie on a stick, indulge in a Frankenstein cupcake with sprinkles and soft serve and try a fancy ice cream sandwich featuring a French macaron.

Meraki Coconut Grove
Photograph: Monica Alvarez

Meraki Greek Bistro – Coconut Grove

Restaurants Greek Coconut Grove

What is it? This Coconut Grove restaurant serves a menu of traditional Mediterranean fare in a bright, white-washed dining room with plenty of nautical accents to remind you of the Aegean.

Why go? Simple dishes where wholesome ingredients and vibrant, colorful veggies shine. Tuck into grilled octopus, tender gyros and Greek, honey-soaked desserts that taste just as authentically good on this side of the Atlantic. 

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