Determining the best places to eat in Miami is tough, especially now that Michelin has recognized 67 restaurants across the area and given stars to 12. Locals may joke that many of the top restaurants are offshoots of New York staples, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. The dining scene makes the most of the city’s diverse cultures and talent; in 2023, there were nine James Beard semifinalists, and Bon Appétit dubbed Miami the Food City of the Year. We secured reservations at three memorable Italian spots as well as an impressive Iberian venue.

Boia De

Boia De translates as “oh my” in Italian, and that just about sums up our response to the food at this 30-seat Michelin one-star that’s tucked into the corner of a Little Haiti strip mall. Diminutive, succulent baked clams burst with flavor from Parmesan, ’nduja and lemon, while other dishes competed for “Most Likely to Melt in Your Mouth”: roasted cauliflower with taleggio fonduta and anchovies; sunchoke caramelle pasta with brown butter and black trumpet mushrooms; a raviolo stuffed with bufala ricotta, heritage egg yolk and yet more brown butter. Chefs Luciana Giangrandi and Alex Meyer have worked in the kitchens of acclaimed restaurants like Eleven Madison Park, Scarpetta and Carbone, and their hospitality is as well honed as their recipes. Next time we visit Miami, we’ll try the wood-fired cuisine of their latest venture, Walrus Rodeo.

Boia De
Bravo Supermarket Plaza, 5205 Northeast Second Avenue, Miami. Tel. (786) 209-6310