Headed to South Beach soon or wondering where to eat in Miami?

These are the best spots Rich & I found while visiting friends last June. I’ve been down there a couple times because one of my best friends lives there now. She’s also a big foodie, so she had great recommendations for the best food & drink spots, but we also found some of these gems on our own. Here’s my complete guide on where to eat in Miami.

LOLO’S SURF CANTINA

LoLo’s  is the perfect laid back spot to grab some tacos and beers after sunning on the beach all afternoon. You can literally walk to it from the beach. We did exactly that when visiting. Favorites on the menu include:

• The chips & guacamole, which came topped with pepitas, roasted jalapeno, lime, cilantro and cotija cheese
• The grilled corn was sweet, savory and so juicy. It’s topped with cotija cheese, chili powder & lime.
• Pescado Tacos, which were filled with Mahi-Mahi, serrano chili aioli, slaw & radish.
• Chicken Tinga tostadas made with smokey chipotle stewed chicken, avocado, crema & micro cilantro.

loloscantina.com

THE VERANDA AT FAENA HOTEL

This hotel is absolutely visually stunning. It’s like a work of art! We stopped for lunch here before our flight back home, and I couldn’t think of a better way to end the trip–on a veranda overlooking a gorgeous pool area. And the food was delicious. Especially the grilled baby octopus salad.

Veranda at Faena

BEAKER & GRAY

You’ve gotta brunch at least one day when in Miami. And oh my god, the pancake here is fucking amazing. Served in a cast iron skillet, it’s thick and cake-like, but gooey, batter-y and soft on the inside. This is a great place to hit before a day of checking out the art murals in Wynwood.

beakerandgray.com

YARDBIRD

Babes, come here for the fried chicken and mac & cheese. All I need to say about those two things is that this place does southern food right. And the rustic country-chic decor pairs perfectly with the food. We also got crispy brussels sprouts with honey, which were sweet and crunchy. Oh, and the bacon-infused Old Fashioned went down smooth, too. One thing we didn’t try that looked amazing was the fried green tomato BLT. Just an excuse to come back again!

Yardbird Southern Table & Bar

BOXELDER CRAFT BEER MARKET

My husband is a huge fan of craft beer and was like a kid in a candy store here. You can buy bottles or just drink at the bar at this family-owned place. They also have a lot of fun food & beer pairing events.

bxldr.com

JUICE LAB

Miami is known for its partying. After a late night out, we hit this juice and health food spot for some iced coffees and healthier fare. Favorites include:

• The Acai Bowl made with coconut milk, acai, mamey, brazil nut protein, lucuma, palm nectar, coconut crisp, crunchy persimmon and homemade nut crumble.
• Vegetarian Omelette & Avocado Toast. The omelette was paper thin like a crepe, which was delicious. And the avocado was super fresh and creamy.

Juice Lab Cafe

MACCHIALINA

Classic rustic Italian food in a cozy space. It was perfect for a Sunday supper double date. We all got some form of pasta, which was fresh, and perfectly al dente. Nothing overly pretentious here–just good Italian food with a from-the-heart kinda vibe.

macchialina.com

THE REGENT COCKTAIL CLUB

This bar was connected to The Gale, the hotel that we stayed at. It’s quiet, small and intimate with a 1940s cocktail club vibe. We enjoyed some live music there one evening after dinner. They do classic cocktails like Manhattans and martinis really well, and they also have some great craft options on their menu like the Last Word, made with 14 St George dry rye, green chartreuse maraschino, lime and rosemary.

regentcocktailclub.com

EL GRITO

This is a super chill spot with some amazing mezcals. It calls itself a Mezcaleria, crafting awesome Mezcal and Tequila cocktails. This was our nightcap after an night out with friends. The owner is down-to-earth, and almost always hanging at the place. Two favorites:

EL TUCAN

We hit El Tucan the night we got into Miami with my friend and her husband. It’s a supper club and nightclub with luxurious decor reminiscent of old-school Cuba cabaret. The show was so fun, and you can tell they put a lot of money into getting quality musicians and performers. The Latin cuisine was good for a place that emphasizes the nightlife aspect.

eltucanmiami.com

TRUE LOAF BAKERY

My friend lives near here turned us on to True Loaf. She and her husband get a rustic loaf of bread from this sweet little bakery every weekend. I, however, went straight for the chocolate-dipped cookies that were super soft and warm from the oven.

True Loaf Bakery

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