Miami restaurants and bars

Just remembered a friend of mine who got his MBA at Tha U sent me this before the trip -- could be helpful!

How I usually do South Beach…

Beachtime: I go to the beach between 8th street and 10th. All of the models usually go to 8th/9th down to 5th street. Plus there is a daiquiri bar on 8th called Wet Willies (sit upstairs) that people hang out at after the beach. Popular with Bikers, decent lunch. We usually sit upstairs for the best views.

Walking up and down Ocean Drive from 6th st to 12th street to people watch and car watch is a popular activity. Mangos on 9th and Ocean is hilarious with their almost naked salsa dancers.


Drinks:

My local sports bar is on Ocean Drive, called Finnegan’s Way at 13th street. Been going there since 1996. Irish Pub-like place but on the beach and open air. Locals, gamblers/football pools, beers, shots, kind of spot with good bar food. Very different than the rest of South Beach. My small late night dive bars are Teds Hideaway on 2nd Collins or The Abby Brewing on 16th and Alton. Again, the atypical south beach places.

Afternoon drinks at Monty’s is my usual hang for meeting up with friends.

The hotel lounge and restaurant scene is popular now, but "cool" can change with the winds, so I don’t know it that well. Had drinks at the Fontainebleau, Gansevoort (go to the rooftop pool), Shoreclub, and the new W hotel. They are all up on 17th and above, if you find yourself there cool, but I wouldn’t go out of my way.

Eating:

In general, I tend to avoid the tourist madness and go to the less chaotic areas of the beach --- Superbowl weekend will be extra crazy. I park and leave the car, either walk or take cabs everywhere. Easy to hail a cab and not too expensive.

Nighttime:

On Southbeach, I don’t usually recommend any of the restaurants on Ocean Drive, not because they aren’t good, but because they are so overpriced as most tourist areas are. Still lots of fun though and great party atmosphere when sidewalk dining.

If you want Cuban on Ocean Drive (and Mojitos) do Larios aka Bongo’s on Ocean btwn 8th/9th. Great Mojitos. The Estefans own this place. Not the best Cuban in Miami but solid traditional Cuban on Ocean.

If you want to be a baller, Prime 112 is the hot spot (1st and Ocean). Steak house, expensive but really good if you can get a reservation. Tell D. Wade what up for me. Also the Blue Door at the Delano hotel (cab to 17th) is awesome world class food, and waaay expensive. We usually go to the Delano just for drinks by the pool, nightcap.

My favorite meal on the beach is Joe’s Stone Crab. It’s an institution and I recommend it if you don’t mind waiting and hour. Like a traditional old school steakhouse but replace the steak with the best Florida Stone Crab Claws you can get. Usually you just have to go put your name in and wait about 45 min to an hour for a table unless you grease the maitre d’s palm. I go early and have drinks while waiting. Don’t think they do reservations. It really is worth the hype.

Next time I’m down I’m going to Tap Tap which is a little Haitian spot on 5th and Meridian. This place has been featured on Food Network and other numerous great reviews. I’ve never been but I hear it’s great Caribbean in a funky quirky setting. If you’re feeling adventurous for authentic Caribbean try it out. I hear their family needs the money (Haiti Earthquake), so you would be helping the cause...

For a casual daytime bite, drinks, stone crab claws and raw bar, Monty’s is fun around happy hour time, it’s on the water / Marina / poolside / yachts (Alton and 2nd - cab it or drive). Tiki hut type atmosphere with a bad island band playing if you’re lucky. Best for sunset drinks outside with a group.

My favorite spot for drinks and raw bar at sunset is the Smith and Wollensky on Washington below 1st. The South tip of South beach overlooking Fisher Island. They have an outdoor bar and dining on the waterfront, where the cruiseships go by. Great views when the weather is nice.

Away from the madness:

Purdy Avenue: My usual thing is to avoid the Ocean Drive madness and hit the locals spots. One area that is good for this is on Purdy Avenue at 18th street. Has one of my favorite restaurants called Sardinia. Adventurous and authentic Sardinian (specific regional Italian) menu, great wines. Around the corner is a new spot called Beer & Burger Joint. Good food, casual, live music area, lounge area, regular bar. It’s new and getting popular as a one stop spot for dinner, drinks, party. We usually end up around the corner at a place called Purdy Lounge, a late night spot for drinks/DJ’s but not typical Miami cheese. We know the owner Lou which is why we go. Joe Allan is another well known restaurant right there but I’ve never been. Hear it’s great. This is about a $6-8 cab from 10th street.

Lincoln Road: Another cool area for dinner is Lincoln Road – starts at Washington btwn 16th/17th and goes west. It’s a pedestrian mall with 10-15 different restaurants, wine bars, coffee spots, gelato, shopping, cigars. Really cool for walking around, shopping, people watching, outdoor dining. My spots are Yuca (Cuban) Sushi Samba (the chain) and World Resources for Sushi, Spris or Quattro for Italian. It’s all about the setting here so I suggest walking it and checking out the menus. All should be decent.

If you want to go off the Beach:

The Design District is a popular area these days just across the causeway with many new restaurants and lounges. My favorite restaurant in all of Miami is Michael’s Genuine on NE 40th. Just excellent local sourced food. Also Sra. Martinez is across the street for Spanish tapas.

Calle Ocho/Little Havana: If you want to do a local authentic Miami thing, this is good and pretty easy off of the beach. Not too far if you have a car but too far to cab. And it’s not dangerous even though it may look ghetto. The Miami institution is Versailles on SW 8th street. It’s classic white table cloth Cuban food – not too expensive, been there forever. I go to Little Havana from time to time for Cuban food and cigar factories/stores. There’s also La Carretta on SW 8th that is good, it has other Miami locations. It’s good but Versailles is the classic.

Breakfast: On Southbeach I go to New Cafe on Ocean and 8th. Cafe style where you can sit and check out the local talent on Ocean drive (beach front) over coffee, food, morning paper. Also the 11th Street Diner on 11th and Washington or the Big Pink down on Collins and 2nd and are both decent 24hr diner spots where you can get anything, anytime.

The Front Porch (ocean and 14th) has a good southern breakfast when I would feel homesick.