Ideal for after-dinner drinks, the outdoor Bar Centro caters to the swanky yet sophisticated Miami set, with upscale touches like an overhead art installation and a thoughtful cocktail menu, curated by none other than José Andrés himself. He puts his magic touch on the small food menu, with innovative bites like a frozen blue cheese sandwich, served alongside a mysterious but delicious air margarita.

Byblos gives Mediterranean food a modern makeover in a lively, soaring space in South Beach. Aside from a few large format plates and basmati pilafs, most everything on the menu is sized for a meze-style meal. The culinary reach spans from Northern Africa and Greece to the Middle East, and it’s hard to go wrong when ordering: roasted red beets rolled in pistachios, bulgur shells stuffed with duck confit, figs, tahini and date molasses, wood-fired breads, eggplant with zucchini flowers and chickpea batter, fluke baked with yoghurt and walnuts. Desserts are equally light and floral.

The two-story space is open and airy, with light walls and whitewashed oak acting as a backdrop for colorful artwork and tables set with mismatched ceramic platters. Go for dinner, pluck a chilled cocktail from the spiked tea trolley when it rolls up tableside, and soak in the spirited atmosphere for a fresh night out on South Beach.

At Miami’s Baz Luhrmann–designed Faena Hotel, James Beard Award-winning chef Paul Qui has created an über-exclusive omakase (chef's tasting) experience, welcoming just six guests for two seatings (at 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.), on Thursday, Friday and Saturday only. Ingredients are flown in daily from Japan—with such highlights as sea urchin from Hokkaido and Sanuki Olive Wagyu from Kagawa. Expect Tokyo-style sushi and Kyoto-style kaiseki alongside internationally-influenced dishes.

At Miami’s Baz Luhrmann–designed Faena Hotel, the Faena Theater is a captivating cultural hub renowned for its immersive and avant-garde entertainment experiences. With its opulent decor and intimate setting, the theater offers a range of mesmerizing performances, from cabaret, jazz and live music to dance and theater productions. Guests come for the theater's unique blend of artistry, world-class talent, and cutting-edge technology, resulting in unforgettable evenings that transcend traditional entertainment. Whether seeking a night of glamour, artistic innovation, or simply a remarkable time, the Faena Theater promises an enchanting escape that appeals to both local patrons and global visitors alike. The theater is open Thursday through Saturday evenings (Thursday from 9:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Friday from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. to midnight). Light bites like caviar service and crudos, cheeses and sliders are served alongside Champagne and martinis—as well as a few larger dishes including a burger, a salad and pasta. 

One of the only reasons to set foot in the massive Fontainebleau resort (the other being Italian restaurant Scarpetta), Hakkasan serves authentic Chinese food in a chic setting. Don’t miss the Dim Sum weekend lunches. You will understand how Alan Yau became a legend with this food at his London outpost.

Celebrity chef Francis Mallmann chose Miami’s Baz Luhrmann–designed Faena Hotel for his first restaurant in the United States, a fitting pick considering his tendency for the eccentric. The Argentine, who owns some of the world’s best restaurants (Garzón and Patagonia Sur, to name a few), is famous for his asado (outdoor barbeque) cooking. Los Fuegos serves open-fire Argentine specialties including succulent beef empanadas, grilled octopus and wagyu steak with domino potatoes, alongside grilled vegetables and excellent craft cocktails and wines. Seating options include the buzzy, glamorous, over-the-top dining room and a more casual, covered outdoor patio. The adjacent bar, The Living Room, can become quite lively in the evenings, feels old Hollywood meets Miami, with leopard print banquets and touches of red spread throughout.

Housed in a tiny, early 20th-century house in the Design District, this charming restaurant channels the Greek isles with simple, white and blue décor and a romantic patio space that is lit with flickering lights at dusk. The dining room features blue ceramic plates along its walls and cushioned seating, where patrons can feast on fresh Greek-Turkish fare like marinated gilled octopus and an excellent sampler of Mediterranean dips that is perfect for sharing.

This 2015 newcomer quickly became one of Miami’s most popular restaurants—and an instant classic in the downtown area, which has not historically been a destination for visiting foodies. In addition to a proper restaurant, the stylish French brasserie boasts a market and a bakery, which churns out freshly baked bread and pastries like madelines and tarts (and are included on the 28-item dessert menu). The whimsical interiors feature French lace curtains and classic brasserie furniture by Parisian manufacturer Drucker, and the menu includes such classic bistro cuisine as sea bream crudo, wild arugula salad and a whole roasted rotisserie chicken for two.

For a celebratory evening out in Miami Beach, Mila delivers in spades with excellent "Mediterrasian" dishes and a buzzy vibe.

Eden Roc and Nobu Miami’s Nobu outpost draws a younger, sometimes celebrity-studded crowd thanks to chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s cuisine.

A taste of Buenos Aires in Miami Beach, Orilla serves Argentine classics—house-pastas, grilled steaks, chicken Milanese—in a stylish, indoor-outdoor dining room with sexy banquette seating, lush plantings and vibey music. Unlike many Miami “hot spots,” however, Orilla isn’t too loud or sceney to enjoy the food or the company, service is friendly and prices aren’t outrageous.

At Miami’s Baz Luhrmann–designed Faena Hotel, Chef Paul Qui's innovative approach to blending ingredients from different culinary traditions (including Filipino, Spanish, Japanese and French) results in dishes that are both visually stunning and delightfully flavorful. The main centerpiece of the room, Damien Hirst's "Unicorn," brings the room to life and compliments the fun and unique atmosphere throughout the space.

The sprawling SkyBar at the Shore Club hotel has a patio dotted with hammocks, beds and banquettes illuminated by Moroccan-style lanterns. When it’s too hot or cold to sit outside, the intimate Red Room—a VIP lounge decked out in scarlet, from the beaded walls to the sofas—is the place to be.

Set in what can only be called an industrial farmhouse, Yardbird offers a range of comfort foods including fried chicken with watermelon and waffles, buttermilk biscuits with homemade jam and a classic macaroni and cheese. The cocktails are equally delicious, especially the blackberry bourbon lemonade.