Miami: The year’s hottest food city?
“Miami might just be the most exciting culinary destination in the country,” said Meghan Palmer in Bon Appétit. The
Bon Appétit 2023 Food City of the Year is a unique melting pot, with a food culture that is mixing the ever-present contributions of the city’s Caribbean and Latin American populations with a recent flood of top-tier culinary talent from around the world. Below are three restaurants that deliver “dining experiences you can’t find anywhere else.”
La Mar This sleek restaurant feels like the beating heart of
Brickell, a downtown neighborhood that serves as Miami’s skyscraper-studded internationally influenced urban hub.
“A globally inspired haven of Peruvian cuisine,” it sets itself apart with “flawlessly executed” ceviches, luxe ambience, and Biscayne Bay views.
Chef Diego Oka’s defining dish mingles Peruvian, Japanese, and Italian influences, combining fluke, Parmesan, leche de tigre, and basil oil. 500 Brickell Key Drive
Cafe La Trova “The best way to immerse yourself in the lively, welcoming spirit of Cuban culture is through food, and Cafe La Trova is the place to do it.” Though it’s just three years old, it feels like it’s been a part of Little Havana forever. Go for the nightly live music, the conga dance parties, “the best daiquiris in town,” and the cooking of James Beard–winning chef Michelle Bernstein. 971 SW 8th St.
Ariete Coconut Grove, with its palm trees, marina, and wandering peacocks, is the Miami of visitors’ imagination, and it provides a perfect backdrop for chef Michael Beltran’s elevated and inventive Cuban American fare. “Ariete is where you want to go to celebrate something special, because the food is some of the most exquisite you’ll have during your trip.” 3540 Main Highway