Is Miami the ‘Best Food City of the Year’ in the Country? Bon Appétit Thinks So

Miami is experiencing a dining moment with its 11 Michelin-starred restaurants, renowned wine and food festival, multiple James Beard Award semi-finalists, and an average of one new restaurant opening every 15 seconds.

Now, another celebration is in order! Miami has been hailed as the "food city of the year" by Bon Appétit magazine in its most recent issue.

While editors toured the nation in search of daring new restaurants, they agreed that Miami was the one city they kept wanting to visit, according to editor-in-chief Dawn Davis.

According to Davis, “The always-evolving city is buzzing with opportunity, and a wave of creative chefs and restaurateurs have picked up on that air of possibility. It’s led to a spate of daring, exciting restaurants that are contributing to the city’s rich culinary history while bringing entirely new dimensions to the dining scene.”

Numerous popular eateries in Miami have been singled out by the magazine as "restaurants we fell for." Itamae, a Peruvian-Japanese restaurant in Miami's Design District that was recognized by the Michelin Guide as a Bib Gourmand (a restaurant that offers exceptional value) last year, came in first place on the list. The restaurant, which began as a seller in the previous St. Roch food hall, was where the magazine's cover photo of seafood was taken which is now called MIA Market.

Other establishments applauded by Bon Appétit writers include Suite Habana Café in Wynwood, El Turco Turkish Restaurant in Upper Buena Vista, Rosie's in Little River, a favorite for Southern brunch, Zak the Baker in Wynwood, Broken Shaker cocktail bar at the Freehand Hotel in Miami Beach, which was named one of the 50 best North American bars in 2022, Paradis Books & Bread wine bar and pizza restaurant in North Miami Beach, and Jaguar Sun in Miami.

In 2022, the Michelin guide also named El Turco and Zak the Baker as Bib Gourmands.

The magazine also gives Chef Sebastian Vargas accolades for opening Krüs Kitchen, a Bib Gourmand restaurant, and Los Félix, a Michelin-starred establishment, under one roof in Coconut Grove.