PROFILEmiami Guide To Miami Art Week 2022: Miami's Can't Miss Restaurants For Miami Art Week — PROFILEmiami South Florida Real Estate and Lifestyle

Buckle up! It is that time of year again in Miami. Starting November 29th and running through the first week of December, Miami Art Week attracts millions of visitors from across the globe to Miami’s sunny beach’s and luxurious enclaves for a celebration of art, design, fashion, style and culture. Miami Art Week brings together some of the world’s best artists, galleries, art collectors, designers and cultural icons for a week of art shows, installations, events and lavish parties. PROFILEmiami is bringing our readers a series of in-depth Guides to Art Week with a curated list of must-attend art shows, installations, dining experiences and events throughout the week.

Since last year, Miami’s dining scene has seen a major shake-up with numerous new high-end restaurants opening across the city as well as the MICHELIN Guide issuing its first stars to Florida restaurants. Visitors and locals alike have a plethora of new options to choose from with everything from lavish fine-dining to high-energy dinner parties you will not want to miss. Major Food Group entered Miami last year, opening a Miami outpost of the NYC Michelin Star-winning Italian American concept Carbone, HaSalon and ZZ’s Club, all of which made our list. This year they opened Contessa in Miami Design District which is one of the hardest reservations to score. INK Entertainment entered Miami this year from Toronto, opening hotspots Amal in Coconut Grove and Sofia Design District, bringing their high-quality cuisine and stunning build-outs to the Magic City. Miami-based restauranteur David Grutman and Bad Bunny opened Japanese Steakhouse-concept Gekkō which has been one of the hottest dining scenes in Brickell. Groot Hospitality’s other high-energy, celeb-studded concepts Komodo, Papi Steak and Key Club made our list as well. A-Lister-staples Estiatorio Milos, Cipriani and Mr. Chow round out the list of can’t miss dining experiences this Miami Art Week 2022. One thing is for sure, make sure to make your reservations early as the energy for Miami Art Week has never been higher. Our Insiders Guide will help you plan your week so you don’t miss out on anything.

Contessa (Miami Design District)

Address: Miami Design District, 111 NE 41th Street, Suite 101 & 102

Inspired by the old-world sophistication of Northern Italy’s iconic villas and estates, Contessa is a classic yet thoroughly contemporary dining destination by MFG Co-Founders and creative forces Jeff Zalaznick, Mario Carbone, and Rich Torrisi. The original location of Contessa debuted last year on the rooftop of The Newbury Boston and quickly cemented its reputation as one of the most glamorous and exceptional Italian restaurants in America. Encouraging guests to stay beyond the confines of its lunch, Aperitivo and dinner, Contessa presents an intoxicatingly elegant ambience. Authentic to Northern Italian fare, the menu offers the finest meats, antipasti, signature pizzas- a first for Major Food Group, and an extensive in-house gelato program.

Sofia Design District - Image via Brandon Barre

Sofia (Miami Design District)

Address: Miami Design District, Palm Court, 140 NE 39th street St #133

From the Canadian-born powerhouse hospitality group behind Miami favorites: Byblos, Amal, & Level 6 Rooftop– INK Entertainment has just unveiled their widely popular Toronto hotspot, Sofia, in the Miami Design District neighborhood. Born out of a love affair between Contemporary Art and elevated Italian cuisine, and designed with a pristine level of world-class extravagance by the award-winning Studio Munge, Sofia extends an unparalleled combination of first-class hospitality, a refined approach to modern Italian fare, high-end European glam, and captivating couture design that perfectly captures her vibrant, high-spirited ambiance. Complemented by a chic yet sophisticated signature backdrop, guests can look forward to a premier fine dining experience beyond traditional dining while exploring Sofia’s glamourous indoor dining room and livened outdoor courtyard that extends her oasis far into the neighborhood’s iconic Palm Court.

Estiatorio Milos Miami - Image via Estiatorio Milos Miami

Estiatorio Milos (South Beach)

Address: 730 First Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139

One of our favorite restaurants at PROFILEmiami and one of the few remaining true South of Fifth classic hotspots. Estiatorio Milos serves Aegean cuisine with a focus on the greek concept of philoxeni, or hospitality. The Miami outpost combines the energy of South Beach with the exception seafood including a variety of whole fish options and preparations, flown in fresh daily. The dining room transports you to the Greek Islands with its rustic finishes including marble floors and a beamed blond wood ceiling. Estiatorio Milos is the best place to take a brake from the Art Week craziness for a relaxing lunch or lavish dinner.

Sexy Fish (Brickell)

Address: 736 1st Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139

London-based Sexy Fish from restauranteur Richard Caring opened their first US location in Brickell Flatiron and the high-octane restaurant has become a staple for “clubstraunt”-style dining. The lavish restaurant was designed by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio and features ten artworks by Damien Hirst valued at over $20 million and an installation by Frank Gehry featuring of 26 fish lamps, a ceiling adorned with gold, and a fish tank filled with live coral and a colorful tropical fish. The high-octane restaurant brings a signature program of entertainment to Brickell including world-class performers, dancers and DJs. Sexy Fish serves a Japanese-influenced menu created by chef Bjoern Weissgerber, as well as offer the largest selection of Dom Perignon in the United States. Popular dishes from Sexy Fish’s original location include duck salad, vegetarian sushi, smoked tuna belly, crispy eringi mushroom, black cod, king crab, bone marrow and cheesecake.

Gekkō Hot Stone - Image via Libby Vision

Gekkō (Brickell)

Address:

David Grutman and Bad Bunny’s new restaurant Gekkō, which recently opened in Brickell is a must see Japanese-inspired steakhouse and lounge. Serving updated Japanese Steakhouse food and moody vibes in Miami’s thriving Brickell neighborhood, Gekkō immerses patrons in a fusion of elevated steakhouse surrounding with the modernity and precision of Japanese cuisine. Signature dishes include premium steak cuts, jaw-dropping sushi and seafood appetizers matched with a bespoke cocktail program and extensive wine list.

Carbone (South Beach)

Address: 49 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, Florida 33139

Since opening last year Carbone has been the hardest reservation to score in Miami. Located in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood, Carbone attracts Jetsetting clients from New York and Miami’s high-end local crowd, filling the retro-glam restaurant with high-end fashion and celebrity sightings. Founded by Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi, and Jeff Zalaznick of Major Food Group, Carbone is one of the most celebrated Italian restaurants of the last decade where the New York restaurant has earned one Michelin Star. Staples at Carbone include the Carpaccio Piemontese, Lobster Fra Diavolo, Spicy Rigattoni and Veal Parmesan.

Amal (Coconut Grove)

Address: 151 NE 41st St Suite 117, Miami, FL 33137

Also from INK Entertainment, Amal is one of the hottest restaurants in Miami since opening earlier this year. If you want a little escape from the hustle and bustle of Wynwood and Miami Beach during Art Week, go check out Amal in Coconut Grove. Amal is a modern Lebanese culinary experience where Executive Chef Wissam Baki serves up a vibrant cuisine with a unique selection of generous and easily shareable dishes that both embrace Lebanon’s traditional spices and coastal flavors, and showcase our contemporary culinary vision. After dinner you can head up to Level 6, one of Miami’s most beautiful rooftop lounges.

Cipriani Downtown Miami (Brickell)

Address: Icon Brickell, 465 Brickell Avenue, Miami, Florida 33131

Located on the south side of the Miami river in Downtown northern Financial District, the restaurant offers panoramic views of Biscayne Bay and a chic nautical aesthetic inspired by the waterfront setting. Since opening in 2013, Cipriani has been one of the hottest restaurants in Miami, helping transform Brickell from “no man’s land” to a cultural hotspot. On any given night you will find Cirpriani bustling with action, full of high-energy and high-fashion. Meals are served family style and the staff’s attention to detail is unmatched. Must-try dishes include the Rigatoni Bolognese, Veal Milanese and obviously you must order their signature Bellini.

AVRA

Address: 17945 Collins Ave, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160

Avra is a new Greek restaurant which recently opened earlier this November, just in time for Miami Art Week. This fresh seafood focused restaurant on Miami Beach will be a place that can’t be missed. Co-founder Nick Tsoulos wanted to bring a taste of Nafpaktos to New York where Avra was founded. Inspired by the seaside tavernas of Greece, Avra serves classic Greek cuisine with many recipes passed down by the family of Nick Tsoulos over generations. The menu offers fresh fish such as branzino and black sea bass as well rarer Mediterranean gems like fagri, lithrini and wild branzino along with carpaccios garnished with micro-herbs and olive oil, ceviche and whole fish grilled over charcoal or baked in salt.

ZZ’s Club (Miami Design District)

Address: Miami Design District, 151 NE 41st St., Miami

Located in the heart of the Miami Design District, ZZ’s Club is a Japanese restaurant and membership club which is a must-have reservation during Miami Art Week, if you know someone who can get one. While the intimate counter offers a traditional omakase experience, the adjacent dining room is a modern Japanese restaurant with an extended à la carte offering. The menu in these spaces features a range of raw and cooked dishes, highlighting seafood sourced from Tokyo, and the largest offering of Wagyu beef in South Florida, if not the entire United States. ZZ’s is licensed to carry true Kobe beef, which the restaurant presents in a variety of styles, from steaks cooked over custom-built charcoal grills to an indulgent Wagyu Katsu Sando with truffles. Behind the restaurant’s staple sushi counter, Ito and Kim prepare inventive rolls, signature Caviar Temaki, and nigiri and sashimi by the piece. The menu also spotlights a selection of ZZ’s classics—from the brioche toast topped with trout roe and truffle honey to the tuna carpaccio with foie gras and scallop—as well as dishes developed specifically for Miami: Steamed Lobster Dumplings; Stone Crab Sunomono; Chilled Yuzu Asparagus; Line-Caught Crispy Snapper; and Teppan-fried rice. John Slover’s wine list is geared equally towards sushi and meat: an ample cellar of champagne, white Burgundy, and Spanish whites, as well as robust reds from Bordeaux and California. One particular highlight is a program of large-format bottles. ZZ’s Club offers cuisine of the highest caliber, personalized hospitality, and unmatched amenities.

DoMA (Wynwood)

Address: 35 NE 26th St, Wynwood, FL 33137

One of the hottest restaurants in Miami’s emerging Wynwood Arts District. The dōma team brings their heritage from Italy and designed a contemporary menu that includes a number of classic Italian dishes as well as more modern selections in a modern setting with beautiful outdoor garden seating area. Seafood and fish are the highlights of the menu at dōma‘s which is focused on sourcing local ingredients, while always serving the freshest and best available quality ingredients in season from Florida and neighboring states. The Miami Spice menu features Veal ‘Tonnato’, Fried Calamari and Sweet and Spicy Salmon.

HaSalon Miami - Image via Seth Browarnik/ World Red Eye

HaSalon (Miami Beach)

Address: 404 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach

HaSalon is Major Food Group’s renowned Israeli restaurant originally founded in Tel Aviv. The Miami location showcases the theatrics and widely acclaimed Israeli cuisine that have come to define the HaSalon brand at its outposts in Tel Aviv, New York City, and Ibiza. The HaSalon team works from an open kitchen decorated with a bounty of ingredients—a HaSalon signature, where they prepare bright salads, vibrant vegetable dishes, satisfying pastas, as well as show-stopping courses meant for sharing, such as many whole fish preparations, giant lamb kebabs, and steaks. Menu selections change according to the seasons and the restaurant’s restless creativity, but their famous emphasis on generosity and bold flavors will remain constant. HaSalon is an extremely high-energy, vibrant dinner party you do not want to miss.

Papi Steak (South Beach)

Address: 736 1st Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139

David Grutman’s Papi Steak concept fuses Golden Era Hollywood swagger with modern day Miami energy to create an entirely new steakhouse experience. The restaurant, which is located in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood, serves elevated contemporary twists on classic chophouse dishes. This includes its namesake: the Papi Steak, which is a Tomahawk-cut named in honor of David “Papi” Einhorn, a partner in the restaurant with David Grutman and Groot Hospitality. Einhorn is a grilling fanatic, and his special preparation (secret sauce included) is the restaurant’s flagship plate. The Papi Steak can also be ordered in a Beef Case: Inquire within. At only 93 seats, Papi Steak is an intimate but high-octane destination. A full bar and custom cocktail program are also included, while DJ’s spin until the early hours. With Grutman’s eye for unique experiences that fuse dining and design and Einhorn’s penchant for great steak, and equally great indulgence, Papi Steak promises the ultimate in a hedonistic night out.

The Key Club

Address: 3015 Grand Ave., Miami, FL 33133

One of the newest concepts from David Grutman’s Groot Hospitality, the Key Club is an all-new take on a classic American bar and grill, located in the heart of Miami’s historic Coconut Grove. Located in the newly completed CoCoWalk, The Key Club offers a lively atmosphere, which flows and mingles from our indoor dining room to our expansive bar area to our covered outdoor patio. The Key Club’s menu is built around fresh-catch fish and flavorful steaks, as well as delicious starters, crisp salads, signature sushi rolls, specialty cocktails and more.

Mr. Chow (South Beach)

Address: W South Beach, 2201 Collins Ave. Miami Beach

Located in W South Beach, which is one of the hottest hotels during Miami Art Week, Mr. Chow is a staple in Miami for high-end dining. The high-energy restaurant caters to a high-end international clientele and features a 123’ gold-leaf and Swarovski crystal chandelier designed by Michael Chow. Opened in 2009, Mr. Chow continues to remain one of the city’s hottest restaurants. Mr. Chow’s menu is a combination of old authentic Beijing & Original Recipes. Staples include the Chicken Satay, Mr. Chow Noodles & Ma Mignon and the world-famous Beijing Duck.

Komodo

Address: 801 Brickell Ave Miami, FL 33131

From local hospitality entrepreneur David Grutman, Komodo is one of the most high-energy and most popular restaurants in Miami. Komodo connects the heart of Miami’s vibrant Brickell neighborhood with the regional flavors⁠ and flair⁠ of Southeast Asia. With an inviting indoor-outdoor flow—which carries patrons from a sleek wood-paneled interior to a lush and tropical covered terrace—the restaurant spans 3 stories and features 300 tabletop, booth, and bar seats. Outside, floating aeries provide additional intimate dining spaces. Komodo’s menu offers delicious takes on Southeast Asian dishes, all of which have been developed and interpreted with a global approach. The result is a unique dining experience, ranging from regularly rotating specials to house favorites such as Salmon Tacos, Miso Chilean Seabass Skewers, Peking Duck, and Daring Plant Based Kung Pao Chicken. A full sushi bar is also included, while bespoke custom cocktails—such as the Szechuan Old Fashioned or the Shizo Fly—bring lively and exclusive beverage options. Celebrities and A-Listers such as Dwayne Wade and other Miami Heat players frequent Komodo, which is sucre to be a high-energy and unforgettable experience.

COTE (Miami Design District)

Address: Miami Design District, 3900 NE 2nd Ave., Miami, FL 33137

After winning a MICHELIN-star earlier this year, COTE Korean Steakhouse™ by Chef Simon Kim located in the hot Miami Design District is sure to be one of the hardest reservations to get this Miami Art Week. COTE’s menu includes 45-day, dry-aged beef which is prepared at the table on the smokeless grills. The menu also includes the highest grade of prime cuts and American wagyu that is dry-aged in the restaurant’s on-site red light dry-aging room. Meats are seasoned with COTE’s Signature Gastronome’s Salt, a proprietary salt blend composed of British Maldon salt, Himalayan pink salt, and Korean thousand-day sea salt. COTE also offers two tasting menus, The Butcher’s Feast® and a 10-course Steak Omakase™. COTE also offers an award winning beverage program curated by James Beard Award-nominated beverage director Victoria James and master sommelier Mia van de Water.

Mayami (Wynwood)

Address: 127 NW 23rd St, Miami

Mayami brings a lively, party-like dining atmosphere with Tulum-vibes to the Wynwood arts district. The upbeat restaurant serves a Tulum-inspired Mexican menu with Mayan cocktails in a 10,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor restaurant and lounge which transports guests to ancient Maya Civilization with Mayan Revival architecture. Make sure the check out the insect-infused Mezcal shots and amazing fire performancers.

The Drexel

Location: 1436 Drexel Ave. - Miami Beach

ABOUT: The Drexel is a Coastal Mediterranean restaurant nestled in the heart of Miami Beach. Situated on the corner of Miami’s historic Española Way and Drexel Avenue, The Drexel is quickly becoming Miami Beach’s new destination restaurant offering both a chic European atmosphere with elevated yet uncomplicated classic Mediterranean flavors from their open grill and wood oven. Ideated by beloved industry veterans, The Drexel is the brainchild of husband-wife teams Ahmet Erkaya and Anastasia Koutsioukis of Mandolin Aegean Bistro, Mrs.Mandolin, and Mr.Mandolin; alongside Chef Nano Crespo, formerly of Quinto La Huella, and his wife Tamara Magalhaes, formerly of Mandolin Aegean Bistro, Soho House, and Thompson Hospitality.

The Resy and American Express Design District Pop-Up

The Resy and American Express Design District Pop-Up will take place Nov. 29 – Dec. 2 and bring an array of dining meets art experiences, with something for everyone in town, including events open to the public, exclusive experiences for Global Dining Access/Card Members & invite-only events:

Dinner series headlined by Michelin and James Beard Award winning chefs: Massimo Bottura, Missy Robbins and Mashama Bailey
Art installation by contemporary artist Phillip K. Smith III
Art gallery day free/open to the public with bites and beverages by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Solomonov
American Express presents SAVOR & SOUL™ Brunch with food by Mashama Bailey, featuring a panel discussion on the current state of Black art and artists
In addition to everything happening at our 4-day/night pop-up venue, we’ll have events all over town at the hottest restaurants (Joe’s Stone Crab, COTE Miami, Mandolin Aegean Bistro) throughout the week.
Schedule of events and reservations: https://blog.resy.com/2022/10/miami-dining-series
- Reservations for the Resy and American Express Design District Pop-Up go live on November 9th, 2022 at 10 a.m. EST at resy.com/miami
- Reservations for the Joe’s Stone Crab, COTE Miami and Mandolin Aegean Bistro events go live on Wednesday, November 11th at 11 a.m. EST