Miami has certainly become the top hot spot to visit, live, dine, and enjoy as we roll into 2024 and I have rounded up the coolest new and hidden dining experiences in the area below. From sushi to ceviche, and burgers to shrimp cocktails, I have included all kinds of global dishes inspired from around the globe for everyone to experience.
Sushi by Scratch is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Guests are welcomed into a speakeasy-like location, entering by ringing a doorbell lit by a single red light and participating in a 17-course omakase experience. With only 10 seats per seating, Sushi by Scratch is a truly intimate dining experience that stimulates the senses as sushi chefs prepare each course in front of you while learning about the culture, inspiration, and thought-provoking process behind each creation. Chef Phillip Frankland Lee is the Mastermind Behind Scratch Restaurants Group’s Michelin-starred success. He orchestrates an exquisite culinary journey across the nation, with locations in Beverly Hills, Montreal, Austin, LA, Chicago, Montecito, Seattle, Healdsburg, and Miami. I learned about different types of tuna and other savory fish, unagi, hamachi, scallop, Tessin, madai, albacore, king salmon, wagyu, mackerel, and more.
Queen Restaurant & Lounge is situated in the iconic Paris Theater, which marries history, design, and culinary excellence for an architecturally exciting dining experience in Miami. Originally built in 1945, the Paris Theater has graced music videos of stars like Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin — now, brilliantly transformed into a two-story 21st-century Japanese-style restaurant that pays homage to the theater’s history and theatricality. You can watch a live show with dancers flying through the sky and enjoy steak, sushi bites, and amazing wine. Great to enjoy with a group of friends for a fun night out on the town for nigiri and yellowtail hamachi must-haves to pair with wagyu beef!
Marion Miami — The New-American Asian fusion restaurant and cocktail lounge in the heart of Brickell with a swanky and upbeat ambiance offering a unique soirée experience. Its dreamy lighting and laid-back experience are perfect for couples who want to enjoy delicious sushi, and on Thursday nights, they get wild with sparklers, bottles, lots of champagne, and French-style music and decor. Make sure to also check out the hidden speakeasy-like club next door with live shows at Teatro!
Teatro is an immersive dining experience on the second floor of the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Ziff Ballet Opera House. The striking 2,500-square-foot dining room, designed by Johanna Dilone, creative director of Miami’s prestigious Gilded Group Decor, sets the stage for an immersive dining experience. The restaurant offers a provocative and avant-garde ambiance with a rich red color palette, a nod to the curtains on theater stages. Teatro creates an immersive vibe, enchanting theatergoers with pre-show dinners, craft cocktails, and an expansive wine selection. The chef-driven culinary concept features a New American menu from Executive Chef Jose Danger with creative European and Latin influences. The prix-fixe menu includes a choice of one appetizer and entrée or one entrée and dessert, along with a tempting lineup of sides and à la carte offerings. Their shrimp cocktail is to die for with a special Cher-inspired cocktail to match the show made of Perron silver tequila, creme de violet, St. Germaine, lemon juice, simple syrup, and finally garnished with blackberry and edible glitter!
For those looking forward to immersing themselves into Miami’s bustling art scene Verde at Pérez Art Museum Miami offers sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and boasts an elevated menu of seasonal-inspired dishes with locally sourced produce. The modern-casual restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating, featuring an expansive terrace with lush vegetation cascading from the canopy’s overhang. The patio, which leads to the entrance to the museum’s sculpture garden and Maurice A. Ferré Park, is a scenic outdoor experience for diners looking to bask in the cool South Florida breeze during the winter and immerse themselves in the city’s cultural offerings and views of Downtown Miami lit up for the holidays. Must try are the pizza along with the salads, tuna carpaccio and the fish.
Regatta Grove is Miami’s newest waterfront hotspot. Situated along Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove at the new Regatta Harbour development, the community gathering spot comes to life with exceptional activations, groovy music, and lofty waterfront views that offer a relaxed, yet elevated experience. A star-studded lineup of culinary outposts by Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-nominated chefs line the perimeter and you can choose from crowd favorites like the shrimp cocktail, burger, or even healthy salads. They also had an impressive list of refreshing, tropical cocktails and large-format drinks made to share, all crafted with fresh fruit to compliment the open-air setting.
107 Steak and Bar is located in Miami and is a great spot to grab a bite. As a Peruvian, I truly enjoyed their fresh ceviche and mouth-watering steak. With Miami’s finest steaks on the menu, 107 transcends the “steakhouse” label with thoughtfully crafted offerings for carnivores, herbivores, and connoisseurs alike. They use fresh, quality ingredients in dishes that delight the eye, as well as the palate. Though menus are heavily American, they integrate some of the flavor profiles across the continent.
For dessert, Visit Häagen-Dazs Shops in Brickell City Centre. Get into the winter spirit by trying the new Peppermint Bark Dessert Lineup. Desserts include the Peppermint Bark Shake, Peppermint Bark Dazzler, and Peppermint Bark Ice Cream located at Brickell City Center at 701 S Miami Ave #354b, Miami, FL 33130 With plenty of outdoor space and shops to explore, groups can enjoy the beautiful Miami weather and romanticize the simple things in life like enjoying a sweet treat with great company.
