Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in City Center

"If you time your arrival right, you can catch the sunset through floor-to-ceiling windows or in the rooftop dining room complete with vertical gardens. With panoramic views of South Beach and beyond, this penthouse-level hot spot is a great place to impress your date. The menu isn’t too shabby either, offering an eclectic mix of contemporary takes on Japanese, French, and Peruvian cuisine."

"The swankiest rooftop terrace in all of Miami and the coldest pinot grigio in town. Insider tip: Arrive 30 minutes before sunset, order a few appetizers and get ready for a magical evening. Otherwise, consider a meal to-go with Juvia’s new pick-up option."

"Restaurants South Beach. This popular Lincoln Road spot offers sweeping views of South Beach. Sadly, the views aren’t the only thing that’s sky-high—just wait for the bill."

"When you step through the cerulean front door and into Mandolin’s whitewashed courtyard, it feels as though you’ve teleported to Santorini. The Aegean restaurant opened in 2009, before the Design District developed into a popular Miami destination, and quickly garnered fans thanks to its fresh menu of Greek-Turkish classics and fruit-filled sangria. Snag a spot on the shaded terrace, and cover the table with grilled halloumi, fish swimming in olive oil and lemon juice, chunks of watermelon served with mint and feta, and spicy meat kebabs with thick yogurt."

"Take a stroll along NE Second Avenue in the Design District and stop at the blue-framed door of Mandolin Aegean Bistro. Enter the 1940s home and feel like you're in a Greek village complete with blue and white accents. Head to the cozy back patio for a complete Grecian experience, and enjoy a seat at a lantern-lit table beneath the trees."

"Probably the least Miami Instagrammable destination on this list, but totally perfect if you feel like pretending you’ve been whisked off to a Greek island. Not only are the decor and ambiance straight out of a dream at Mandolin, but so is its food so make sure to snap a pic or two before digging in (if you can resist the temptation!)"

"South Beach is a stylish place – and Planta is a stylish destination in its own right in the stylish South of Fifth area. This restaurant from nightlife impresario David Grutman serves an inventive menu of plant-based fare. The architecturally clean lines of the dining room are perfectly suited to a menu that lets vegetables shine in globally inspired dishes such as a rainbow sushi roll of “ahi” watermelon, slaw, avocado, gochujang and peanuts; pizza topped with mushroom “bacon” and cashew-based mozzarella; and lettuce wraps packed with crispy Korean cauliflower and tofu."

"Planta is one of my favourite restaurants in Toronto and so you better believe the South Beach location (the original) had to make the list. Beyond being incredibly instagrammable Planta has incredible food that Vegans and non Vegans alike will love. Planta was opened with the purpose of creating delicious food that promotes environmental sustainability."

"Restaurants Vegan South of Fifth. This stylish plant-based restaurant in the South of Fifth ’hood serves pancakes, pizza and queso dip that won’t completely wreck your waistline. Think of Planta as an upgrade from your usual hippy, vegan dive."

"winner Jeremy Ford has worked with venerable chefs such as Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Los Angeles' Ludo Lefebvre. Now, in Miami Beach's tony South of Fifth neighborhood, Ford shines solo at Stubborn Seed. The interior design of his 70-seater is industrial chic, allowing the food to be the focal point."

"The brunch menu is split between sweet and savory making it easy to order dessert for breakfast. Go for the Chai waffles with whipped espresso cream and spiced syrup. Maybe the espresso cream will help fight off the sugar coma."

"EST.33 Thai Craft Brewery & Kitchen is set to opened early this year inside Brickell City Centre. The restaurant features Asian flavors that meet the distinctive techniques of American barbecue complemented by Thai craft brews. When we tried the creative eatery we were blown away by the flavors and service, all set in an open terrace on the fourth floor."

"33 is a Thai brewery and restaurant located in the Brickell City Centre. They serve things like red curry crab croquettes, lemongrass chicken, and pad Thai."

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"Kush Cafe is meant to combine the best of a European bistro with an in-your-face Miami attitude. Playing off the art deco vibes of the neighborhood, the motel-style of the hotel, and the relaxing water view means this funky cafe transports guests to their very own Miami Riviera. The menu includes classics such as French onion soup, Croque Monsieurs, Ratatouille, and Frog Legs but also keeps the Kush essentials like award-winning burgers, local craft beer, Chicken and Waffles, and Key Lime Pie combining the best of American and Bistro cuisine."

"It’s hard not to fall in love with every one of Kush Hospitality’s eateries around town–Lokal being a serious go-to for those of us in the Grove and Gables area. Their newest concept, a Euro-style Miami bistro, fuses the comforting we love from their repertoire with an elevated menu perfect for the MiMo neighborhood. Recently opened inside the Gold Dust Motel, Miami’s first official Selina property, this charming spot along the water is a great new addition to our roster of beloved go-tos."

"Energize your morning with freshly-prepared coffee from Starbucks®. Our grab-and-go coffee house restaurant features worldly-inspired coffees and teas, delicious pastries, snacks and meals for on-the-go breakfasts on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach. Open for breakfast and lunchDress code: CasualPhone: +1 305-672-0011"

"Just a short drive to northern Key Biscayne, Crandon Park is an island park equipped with volleyball nets, cabanas for rent and pristine turquoise waters that beckon for a dip. Aside from the stunning beaches and pearly white sands, the park is also home to mangroves, dunes and a nature center that houses exotic fish and other wildlife. Just five minutes away from Crandon Park is Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park which is home to the Cape Florida Light – the oldest standing structure in Greater Miami."

"An abandoned zoo on a subtropical island, ever since Dade County's main zoological park decamped to way down south, the Crandon Park Gardens, or just Crandon Gardens (both derivations are used) has sat and grown into a hidden, mysterious botanical garden with otherworldly follies (the former animal enclosures) scattered here and there."

"Parents love Candon Park for its gorgeous 2-mile beach, lifeguards, and picnic areas. But kids keep coming back for the vintage carousel, paved roller rink, and a seahorse fountain. Throw in the pretty arboretum and gardens and you've got one of the best spots in Miami for kids of all ages."

"Take I-95 south and grab the Rickenbacker Causeway until you hit Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. This beautiful state park is right at the end of Key Biscayne and gives you uninterrupted views of the ocean—a perfect sunset watching spot. The state park has a lighthouse, where guests can climb to the top and look out into the ocean and the beach below. Next to it is a cement lookout spot that serves as a bench to watch the sunset and enjoy your Zak the Baker treats (if you didn't eat them already on the car ride down)."

"If you’re feeling ambitious on your townie cruiser, you can ride north to Bal Harbour or Haulover beaches; natives know these as water-sports havens—and for Bal Harbour’s luxury shopping. Otherwise, drop off your bike along Ocean Drive and grab a spot on the beach, Lummus Beach, which runs from around 6th to 14th streets. This is a beach for locals and tourists alike, and the spread of humanity—supermodels, families and even topless tanners—make this a go-to spot for people-watching."

"The gist: The Gables’ first sceney restaurant serves up Instagram-ready sushi, steaks, and Italian-American dishes straight from the northeast, with live nightly shows to keep things buzzing.The food: Though we’d never thought we’d see a velvet rope on Miracle Mile, Roman Jones has somehow made it happen. The man who was Grutman before Grutman was Grutman gives the Gables its first taste of champagne sparkler dining, with leopard print banquettes, gothic columns, and plenty of mirrors. The food is a lot more than a club owner’s afterthought, though, with a giant wagyu meatball headlining a menu of Italian-American classics and more."

"Located inside the gorgeous Perez Art Museum, this waterfront restaurant offers a uniquely artistic urban dining experience. With a sleek white interior and a rugged wood patio, guests can enjoy both the comfort of air conditioning during Miami’s brutal summers and take in the fresh air while looking out onto the bay during our cooler months. The menu options range from crowd-pleasers like thin crust pizza to the more sophisticated bistro steak."

"Verde's executive chef Hedy Goldsmith adds an elegant touch to a plain stack of buttermilk pancakes. Fluffy and not too sweet, they are perfect for catching special, seasonal toppings of blueberry basil compote, lemon curd, and creme fraiché. Candied lemon adds a lovely citrus zest ($14)."

"Grab a seat at Verde’s expansive covered patio overlooking Biscayne Bay and dine on dishes like prosciutto pizza, its popular chicken under a brick, and grilled salmon. Of course leave room for dessert as its chef Hedy Goldsmith brings back her popular pastries to the restaurant."