Miami’s 5 hottest restaurants debuts of 2023

Miami loves a show-stopping clubstaurant, and Queen Miami became an instant favorite after its over-the-top black-tie opening party in January. The palatial Japanese-inspired spot (by the Mr. Hospitality team, of Bâoli Miami fame) is set in the historic Art Deco Paris Theater. Its extravagant decor—handmade Italian mosaics, a striking brass chandelier, and a black-and-white mural by local artist Gonzalo Fuenmayor—commands your attention the minute you step through the golden doors. The menu is just as decadent and filled with American and Japanese wagyu cuts, seafood towers, and sushi platters. Party the night away at a separate lounge or treat yourself to an exclusive eight-seat omakase experience on the second floor. No matter what glitzy adventure you choose at this South Beach stunner, you’ll have a night to remember.

South Beach locals were thrilled when this all-day Ocean Drive landmark reopened after a two-year closure in March. The iconic restaurant, bar, and newsstand began operations in the 1980s, and was a treasured part of late designer Gianni Versace’s morning routine. The recent reboot introduced a slew of new dishes, including piña colada pancakes and chicken parmesan (drenched in marinara and molten mozzarella tableside), though time-honored classics such as the tuna melt and roasted tomato soup remain—as does the original green awning outside. The 350-seat restaurant is a bonafide crowd-pleaser with a setting for every mood: Choose from breezy sidewalk seats, a table in the dimly lit interior (plus framed posters of 90s icons such as the late Versace himself), or a spot at the large bar where locals often gather for post-beach drinks—and some of the city’s best people watching.

Internationally acclaimed pastry chef Antonio Bachour leads this swanky cafe-restaurant, which opened in a former Prada showroom in March. While this isn’t Bachour’s first foray into the savory universe, it’s a highly personal one. At Tablé, he serves one-of-a-kind French food influenced by his Lebanese and Puerto Rican heritage. That hybrid sensibility pops up in dishes such as a breakfast-friendly croissant sandwich with smoked trout and a Berkshire bistro ham, salt cod fritters at lunch, and a glorious cote de beouf with parmesan churros for two at dinner. But you’re likely here for the jewel-like pastries that Bachour wooed the world with—you’ll have a view of the glass-walled bakery while dining. Star sweets include a delicate vanilla bean millefeuille and camembert cheesecake with cherry and raspberry jam. It all adds up to a swish dining experience that confirms Miami’s status as a serious food city.

After 15 successful years in Santiago, Chile, Indian restaurant Rishtedar made its dazzling American debut in April. In a city that’s not especially known for Indian food, the restaurant is swiftly becoming a sought-after Wynwood destination for its interactive experiences, which shine the spotlight on South Asian hospitality traditions: Diners are adorned with bindis upon entering the vibrant space and end their meals with a bowl of rose water, lemon, and cardamom, intended for washing one’s fingers at the table. Feast on delicacies from the tandoor, such as spicy charcoal-smoked chicken with coriander, or get one of the many plant-friendly curries, including a garlicky take on saag paneer. Bonus points for the gold-colored tableware, which adds to the fit-for-royalty vibes here.

MasterChef Israel winner Tom Aviv launched his first US restaurant—an exuberant ode to 1970s Tel Aviv—in a sprawling Upper Buena Vista space in February. The restaurant’s industrial-chic interiors shuttle diners to Aviv’s charming hometown via stained-glass ceilings, hand-crafted terrazzo-top tables, reclaimed synagogue benches, and vintage cutlery. But there’s plenty of Miami swagger on display, too, including the legendary bar from the Delano Hotel’s Florida Room, which gets a second life as the chef’s table here. Aviv channels his rebellious spirit in out-of-the-box Israeli dishes such as the Tuktuk kebab, accented with Thai ingredients including a lemongrass skewer and tamarind glaze, and the beef Tarpaccio, a pistachio-dusted tartare and carpaccio hybrid. Pair them with imaginative cocktails such as the Purple Rain (za’atar-infused tequila, butterfly pea, and lime) and buckle in for a rollicking night out.