Miami’s restaurant scene is as hot as they come, and its absolute hottest newcomers are a mix of see-and-be-seen escapes and chef-driven gems that confirms its status as a serious food city.
Choose from a lively Cuban oasis by a locally loved team, an Italian-inspired farm-to-table spot from James Beard Award nominees, and the most attention-grabbing edition of an acclaimed Mediterranean chain.
These are the reservations Miamians are vying for right now. Read on for a guide to the city’s six most exciting restaurant debuts of 2023.
KOKO (Coconut Grove)
Miami’s oldest neighborhood can be resistant to change. But KOKO flipped that script when it opened in May and became an instant hit. The sprawling Coconut Grove spot is perpetually packed and draws diners for its riffs on ancient pre-Hispanic food. KOKO shows it’s not messing around by using ancestral organic corn for its made-from-scratch tortillas—not to mention its 400 mezcal options. Add a jungle-like atmosphere and murals for days, and you’ve got an earthy but vibey escape that’s unlike anything else in Miami right now.
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Erba Miami (Coral Gables)
Erba landed on Miami’s restaurant scene in October and comes from James Beard Award nominees chef Niven Patel and restaurateur Mohamed Alkassar (of Ghee Indian Kitchen and Orno fame). The menu is inspired by the chef’s two-acre farm in Homestead, much like Ghee’s food, highlighting his commitment to seasonality. There are classic and new-age Italian dishes to choose from, including a crowd-favorite appetizer that swaps traditional artichokes for hearts of palm and linguine al vongole made with braised Bahamian conch instead of the usual clams. In case you needed another reason to visit, Erba has one of the best happy hour deals in Miami, which includes a spectacular six-course pasta-tasting menu, plus discounted drinks.
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Social 27 Supper Club (Little Havana)
Miamians love anything that’s called a “tropical oasis,” and Social 27 Supper Club is an exceptionally good one. For starters, it comes from the forces behind another Latin local favorite, Doce Provisions. Their latest venture is all about Cuban food, but reimagines it for a glam Miami crowd, featuring dishes like whole branzino slathered with mojito-rum butter and caviar-topped fish croquetas. Count on letting loose here, too: The restaurant has live music from Thursday to Sunday. The result is an opulent and buzzy newcomer that transports you to 1940s Cuba.
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Tablé by Antonio Bachour (Design District)
Internationally acclaimed pastry chef Antonio Bachour turned heads for opening this cafe-restaurant in a former Prada showroom in March. Come for unique French dishes inspired by the chef’s Lebanese and Puerto Rican heritage, which pops up in dishes like a côte de bouef with parmesan churros and a breakfast-friendly smoked trout and ham croissant sandwich. But no visit to a Bachour restaurant would be complete without a stunning pastry or two—his beautiful confections are almost too pretty to eat, but you won’t regret biting into a delicate vanilla bean millefeuille or camembert cheesecake with cherry and raspberry jam.
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Motek Aventura (Aventura)
The third and most talked-about edition of this Mediterranean mini-chain sprung up in the Aventura Mall courtyard in May. Motek Aventura is the group’s largest location yet, wowing crowds with its phenomenal lamb-and-beef burger, which won the coveted People’s Choice Award at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival’s Burger Bash two years in a row. What’s exclusive to this location is a playful cocktail program that fully embraces Miami’s eternal summer vibes. Word on the street is that Brickell gets its own location soon, too, so stay tuned.
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Rao’s Miami Beach (South Beach)
Though it’s not quite as impossible to get into as its legendary Harlem mothership, the Miami edition of this award-winning Italian American institution is one of the hottest tickets in town. Expect impeccable service, white-coated servers, and red-sauce faithfuls served with high-roller touches like caviar service. Don’t be surprised if your meal here comes with a celeb sighting—the New York flagship attracts the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, and since its October opening, the Miami counterpart is shaping up to be just as much of a full-fledged scene.
Tried them all? Check out other options here.
Amber Love Bond is a Miami-based food + beverage writer who can typically be found somewhere delicious with her laptop in tow and a cocktail in hand. See what she’s sipping and follow her adventures on Instagram.
