The best restaurants in South Beach to book now

This South of Fifth restaurant (run by Top Chef winner Jeremy Ford) executes an exquisite balance between relaxed comfort and culinary ambition. The menu changes with the seasons and ingredient availability, but expect regionally inspired dishes like red snapper with charred leeks and herbaceous green curry and charred venison with sunchoke "textures" and chestnuts.

Time Out tip: Can’t decide what to order? Opt for the tasting menu and let Ford lead the way.

Loved by locals, visitors and industry vets alike, this rustic Italian restaurant sits in an unassuming location off Alton Road and offers a charming back patio. Mouthwatering pasta and creative salads—think broccolini caesar salad and escarole with pistachio—are carefully paired with beverage director Jacqueline Pirolo’s expert wine selections. It pays to be a repeat customer at Macchialina thanks to a constantly rotating menu of specialty dishes like tagliolini peppered with uni, parsley and pepperoncini. The cocktail and wine program here is top-notch too, but whatever you do, don’t leave without ordering the unbelievably creamy polenta.

It’s been said a million times, and we’re going to say it again—Joe’s Stone Crab is the holy land for stone crabs. Dripping in old-school charm (it’s been cracking claws since 1913), Joe’s notoriously long wait is actually worth it. In a rush? The adjacent Joe’s Takeaway is perfect for grabbing some claws or fried chicken to-go.

Time Out tip: take your loot across the street for a pretty picnic in South Pointe Park.

Kissaki is a New York City export offering affordable omakase from a handsome, lounge-like space at the southern tip of South Beach. It’s not trying for the authentically Japanese approach that’s defined Miami omakase in the past, instead offering a more entertaining experience headlined by a fusion menu. Kissaki’s combination of a vibe-heavy space serving creative dishes at relatively affordable prices makes it not only a favorite sushi spot but also one of the best restaurants in South Beach.

For a while there, everybody seemed to be talking about Carbone—did you get in, how do you get in, is it worth it and when will all these New Yorkers stop moving here? Meanwhile, Casa Isola arrived with less international press but similar plates of Italian classics that are largely far better and undoubtedly more affordable. Two real industry talents, Pubbelly’s José Mendín and former Lucali chef Santo Agnello, are behind the concept, and the tables outside provide a people-watching perch in the chill-slash-trendy Sunset Harbour neighborhood.

The omakase counter at Queen is a lot like the Miami Beach restaurant itself: an over-the-top version of anything like it you’ve tried before. Expect caviar and truffles and beautifully marbled meats prepared before your eyes from a sushi counter hidden behind a thick curtain in an upstairs lounge. Third-generation sushi chef Max Kamakura narrates the multi-course meal, talking up technique and sourcing over 15-plus courses for sums, after drinks and add-ons, very well may strike three figures for two.  

With a name cherished by pizza nerds all over the country, expect a crowd gathered outside even before the Sunset Harbour location opens. But the pies are every bit worth the wait. Lucali ain’t a casual by-the-slice joint (only one large size is available too). It’s more for those looking to sit and savor. There is a Nutella dessert pie—basically, our three favorite words strung together to describe a dish.

Sushi | Bar set up shop in a tourist-trod area of South Beach, hidden inside the boutique Esmé Hotel at the Washington Avenue end of Española Way. The lineup consists nearly entirely of nigiri or, generally, fish on a bed of sushi rice served in ways you probably wouldn’t think possible, like strawberry gochujang on the aji and king salmon comes with whipped goat cheese. 

After a $40 million renovation of Miami Beach’s historic Paris Theater, every inch of Queen’s outlandish opulence feels designed for drama, from the dramatic eye looking down above the stage to the acrobatic performers who twirl above the dining room. It would be hard to find fault with anything we sampled at Queen, which bills itself as a Japanese steakhouse, including an avocado toast dotted with fish eggs, a boat of well-cut sushi and sashimi, a battered maitake, spicy tuna on crispy rice and a wagyu steak in a sweet-tangy sauce. Whether in spite or because of its sheer grandeur—and if you’re willing to pay for all that decadence—you might just become smitten with Queen.

At this Mediterranean hot spot, the daily catch is always a good choice, the harissa salmon melts in the mouth and the Middle Eastern fried chicken really pops thanks to a side serving of tahini, za’atar and hot sauce. The couscous, made in-house, is fluffy, light and near perfect. No room for dessert? Fine. But don’t leave without ordering the elegant tea service (they have tequila, vodka, gin and bourbon-spiked versions too).

A chameleon of a restaurant right on Fifth Street, this scene-y dinner spot is technically Argentinian but could pass for really any cuisine with mains such as chicken Milanese, wagyu cheeseburger and bucatini in red sauce. It’s right in the thick of all the South Beach bustle with its high-energy, high-style crowd, minus the hefty price tag.

Behold vegan food that’s so good, you won’t even care it’s vegan. Just in case the burger doesn’t knock your socks off, adding the queso dip will do the job. The pizzas, particularly the Frenchie topped with arugula and mushrooms, are at once doughy and crispy but won’t bloat you like regular pies. Don’t skip the fresh-pressed juice cocktails, either, or the sushi, where thinly sliced watermelon takes the place of salmon and—yes—it works.

A Tel Avivian restaurant in the heart of SoFi, this all-day spot from the same owners as Pura Vida dishes out some of the best Israeli nosh in the city under a wall of magenta bougainvilleas on the front patio. Try the avo egg feta open-faced toast on a massive Jerusalem bagel or the authentic shakshuka served in a warm tomato-onion-pepper braise and sprinkled with Moroccan spices. If you don’t have time to sit down for brunch, order the buttery and flakey egg and feta bureka from the pastry case and stroll down the street to South Pointe Park.

A New York City transplant that made it down the coast, this version of Carbone, with its lush palm frond arrangements and white crystal chandeliers, is decidedly more Miami, even if the menu is still remarkably similar to the original. You’ve heard it from your Yankee friends but order the spicy rigatoni. Admittedly, part of why you go to Carbone is to tell everyone you did—they’ll be asking you who you bribed to get a reservation.

Time Out tip: Save the visit for a special night, like an anniversary dinner or birthday celebration.

The team behind downtown Miami’s beloved neighborhood bar Lost Boy Dry Goods have branched out to the restaurant business with Tropezón, an Andalusian gin and tapas restaurant on Española Way. The funky spot fits right in on the South Beach pedestrian mall with twinkling lights and a Mediterranean feel. Small plates are the name of the game here, along with the abundance of G&T creations prepared with house-made ingredients. Or settle in at the sherry bar in back to sip fortified wines from tiny glasses and nibble savory slices of jamón ibérico.

The diehard carnivore will love Red, a no-nonsense meat mecca serving perfect and classic steaks. You can’t really go wrong with any cut of beef alongside addicting sides like mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. Red’s not easy on your wallet, but do remember that they offer one of the best—if not the best—rotating Miami Spice menus in town.

Prime Italian might not be the hippest option in the SoFi neighborhood, but the food that the Myles Restaurant Group (also of Prime 112 and Prime Seafood) churns out at this Italian offshoot is reliably, freakishly delicious every time. Not only do Italian specialties such as chicken parmesan and meatballs shine, but the lighter Chilean sea bass is one of the best we have ever tried. And share the namesake chopped salad for a table of four. Trust us, it’s plenty. It’s the place to go when you want heavy, guilty-pleasure Italian food that never misses.

This multi-story venue inconspicuously overlooking Lincoln Road remains one of South Beach's trendiest destinations. Upstairs, find a sprawling indoor-outdoor bar and lounge decked out in luxe materials with a central water feature where fire dancers perform throughout the night. Downstairs, an additional 7,900 square feet of space contains a dimly lit members-only cocktail lounge and gorgeous omakase counter, rounding out the chic Mediterr-Asian-themed experience.

Homegrown restaurant group Lost Boy Co. knows how to channel nostalgia (see their namesake bar downtown and Fox’s Lounge for proof). At Joliet, they've taken a corner of a hotel lobby next to Sunset Harbour and closed it off into a space that’s both modern and like a neighborhood staple that's been around since the Nixon administration. The menu doesn’t overdo the New Orleans theme, either, just an occasional gumbo and po’ boy here and there. But many of the dishes have a Cajun kick, including the barbecue shrimp in a zippy creole sauce and the broiled oysters with braised collard green butter.

Time Out tip: Whatever you're ordering, the cornbread is a perfect complement. Trust us.

This taco joint is known for serving up tasty proteins wrapped in organic blue masa tortillas. The casual spot is perfect for a pre- or post-beach snack. Just walk up to the sidewalk window, order your tacos and take them back to your buddies on the beach. The snacks are great, too, like the soft, warm totopos with a side of guac. They put your average tortilla chip to shame.

It’s all about Floridian coastal cooking at the Sunset Harbour hotspot à la local blue crab cakes, buffalo fish wings and crispy whole fish you pick right out of their bathtub. The sweet corn spoon bread is a winning way to start an evening sit-down and it can be served with butter-poached lobster. Yum. Its indoor/outdoor setup is primed for views. If you go during sunset hours and sit on the front patio, you will catch a glimpse of the sunset over Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline.

South Beach’s original gourmet sandwich bar caters to a fabulous mix of clubbers, drinkers, limo drivers and tattoo artists, along with anyone else who appreciates a well-made prosciutto and mozzarella, ham and turkey, or veggie sandwich on a fresh baguette.

No one does boho-chic better than The Standard and its mainstay eatery. The buzzy, breezy outdoor restaurant is inspired by coastal cuisines, with fresh, waterfront-appropriate dishes like fried whole snapper, steamed mussels and seafood paella. But if you’re coming here, let’s be honest, it’s about the views. Sip spa-inspired cocktails made with things like cold-pressed ginger, turmeric and coconut water as you take in spectacular bay views and prime poolside people-watching.

Sweet Liberty is known as one of the best bars in Miami (the country, even). But this award-winning cocktail haven also boasts a seriously good menu for bar bites, dinner and weekend brunch, too. That's thanks in large part to partner Michelle Bernstein, a famed Miami chef also behind Café La Trova in Little Havana. Longtime favorites like the cauliflower nachos and tuna crudo never fail. At brunch, opt for the bananas foster pancakes.

Time Out tip: Daily happy hour (4–8pm) features $10 cocktails and $.95 oysters, plus other bites—a steal for a good time in an area known for big-name clubs and white-linen dining.