If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

photo credit: joiseyshowaa

Close your eyes and think of Miami. What comes to mind? Beautiful beaches (and people)? Check. Tropical weather? Check. Vibrant nightlife? Check. Hot and happening restaurants? You’d better believe it. Check out a few of these picks among Miami’s hottest restaurants for your next trip.

bin no 18 European Bistro and Wine Lounge

On Biscayne Blvd north of the Carnival Performing Arts Center, bin no 18 offers Miami theatergoers a quick yet elegant place to stop for drinks and dinner. Venezuelan chef, Alfredo Patino (formerly of the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove) opened this bistro in late 2006 and has attracted fans ever since. Diners can sit on full size wine barrels

Or comfy couches as they listen to electronica, jazz, bossa-nova, and Latin music in a relaxed, unpretentious setting. Don’t let the casual vibe fool you though – the food will satisfy the epicurean in you. Choose from some of the chef’s favorite recipes like grilled figs and blue cheese, a Manchego and Serrano ham sandwich or burrata mozzarella wrapped in more Serrano ham. If you can’t decide, a table (platter) of artisan cheese, charcuterie, or other delicacies from three European regions.

bin no 18
1800 Biscayne Boulevard
Midtown
Miami , Florida
33132
Telephone: 786 235 7575

Miss Yip Chinese Café

“At last you’ve found Miss Yip where good food is the treasure and the atmosphere … pleasure.” Word has it Miss Yips serves the best dim sum in Miami. This confident little Shanghai meets France eatery is making Miami locals and visitors very happy. Situated below the Buck 15 bar (known for its Tokyo-style graffiti décor), the trendy Miss Yips lures diners in with jars of exotic ingredients on display in the windows. Once inside the , the freshly prepared food from the Hong-Kong inspired doesn’t disappoint. Try the shrimp-fried rice or orange beef. Best of all, prices are so low you’ll have plenty to spare for a drink afterwards upstairs (head there on Tuesdays for hip-hop night)

Miss Yip Chinese Café
1661 Meridian Ave, Miami Beach
FL 33139-2823
Telephone: (305) 534-5488

Armadillo Beach

Black and white soup? Imagine … black bean and jalapeno jack soups married with a zig zag of red and yellow pepper puree. Meet the signature dish at Armadillo Beach, Miami’s darling featuring contemporary southwest cuisine by chef Kevin McCarthy. Also try the Tequila Grilled Keys Shrimp on Corncake with Salsa & Chipotle Butter or Turk’s Raised Conch, Yuzu Beurre Blanc, Three Vinegar Syrup & Togarashi .

Armadillo Beach
1200 S. Federal Hwy
Dania Beach
Telephone: 954-920-6166

Amici Ristorante & Bar

Amici Ristorante & Bar, long considered one of Palm Beach’s premier dining establishments, makes no bones about their hip factor “…because AMICI is a place to ‘see and be seen, please, no polo shirts, shorts or beach sandals. Jackets are required for dinner in the elegant main Dining Room.” Got that? Good, put on your chicest garb and head out for some of the best Italian in the area. Don’t miss the Gnocchi with lump crab meat, organic tomatoes, shallots, extra virgin olive oil & fresh basil or the Grilled Florida gulf shrimp and sea scallops served over diced vegetable & pearl couscous. If you’re not feeling flush, you can always try the (relatively) more reasonably priced pizzas.

Amici Ristorante & Bar
375 South County Road
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Telephone: 561-832-0201

Sushi Samba Dromo

Can’t decide between Peruvian, Brazilian, and Japanese cuisine? Head to Sushi Samba Dromo for seafood so fresh you could swear it was still moving. In the words of an artist friend who dined there recently, “The absolute best is Sushi Samba Dromo. Way over the top. You order crab as an appetizer and they literally bring you a plate with four tiny crabs standing there. They’ve been flash steamed still standing there on your plate, you eat the entire animal (crunchy). Everything else comes out looking so good it’s like a work of contemporary art. It’s an over-the-top awesome experience” The restaurant also features the largest sake menu in South Florida and is known for its exotic cocktails.

Sushi Samba Dromo
600 Lincoln Rd.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Telephone: (305) 673-5337

Tantra Restaurant and Lounge

Tantra: “An ancient Middle Eastern philosophy focusing on spiritual enlightenment through the appeasement of the six senses.” The South Beach hot spot Tantra does its best to live up to its name. The Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Indian dishes are only the beginning of the experience. A live (!) grass floor, waterwall, and starry lights cocoon diners while couches and pillow-lined booths (with closing drapes) tempt them. Watch for the belly dancers that also tempt you with Tantra’s special aphrodisiac cocktails and a communal hookah pipe. Taste is the sense of the second chakra and is associated with the element of water. Tantra beckons you to “Close your eyes so that you can concentrate on tasting each morsel, savoring the full range of succulent, sweet, salty, smooth, and crisp flavors and textures.” Try one of their most tempting treats, the Tantra Love Apple: Sliced ripe Homestead tomato layered with Laura Chenel goat cheese, beautiful basil oil, and Cypress Grove Bermuda Triangle garnished with fresh pomegranate seeds. Or, in keeping with the general decadence on offer, the Truffle Stuffed Organic Roast Chicken: Shaved black truffles line the roasted Bell & Evans chicken nestled on a oyster mushroom frittata dressed with a pan sauce of artichoke hearts, diced fresh Homestead tomato and chives.

Tantra Restaurant and Lounge
1445 Pennsylvania Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida FL 33139
Telephone: (305) 672-4765

Tags: florida | Food & Dining | Miami | restaurants