Your Expert Guide to Miami’s Design District Restaurants

With locations around the world (Paris, Tokyo, New York), L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon is finally open in South Florida. Offering modern French cuisine served at a 34-seat dining counter, this outpost features several of L’Atelier’s iconic dishes, including the famed pommes purée, alongside seasonal items. Nearby, Le Jardinier, created by a longtime Robuchon protege, serves a vegetable-forward menu with ingredients sourced from an on-site garden. If you ask us, we suggest cocktails and appetizers at Le Jardinier, followed by an all-out meal at L’Atelier.

151 NE 41st St.; Miami; 305-402-9070 or latelier-miami.com

This Design District spot is known for many things:wine, more wine and a legendary doughnut-and-wine pairing class (yes, we’re serious). Swing by for an impromptu tasting or book an upcoming class, from blind samplings to pairing sparkling and sweet wines with Salty Donut treats.

140 NE 39th St.; Miami; 786-409-5286 or www.abacowine.com

It didn’t take long for chef Brad Kilgore’s hotly anticipated Ember to become our new favorite neighborhood spot. It’s all about upscale comfort food, like fire-roasted lasagna with Gruyère fondue and mushroom Bolognese; smoked fried chicken with caviar (yes, caviar) butter; and rice crispy à la mode with homemade marshmallow and dulce de leche ice cream.

151 NE 41st St. #117; 786-334-6494 or embermiami.com

Miami Beach favorite Pura Vida now calls the Design District home too. At its newest location, snack on flavorful acai bowls, fresh-squeezed juices and a variety of salads, bowls and wraps made with local veggies. We’ll take the gluten-free avocado toast with a bottle of OJ anytime.

3818 NE First Ave.; Miami; 305-200-3109 or puravidamiami.com

We still can’t believe that the ever-popular New Orleans food hall chose Miami’s Design District as the place to open a second location. The massive space features 12 unique food concepts and a full-service bar. We can’t get enough of the fried chicken and waffles at Coop and the house-made pasta at Dal Plin. And we’d be remiss not to mention the majorly ’Grammable vegan cupcakes and cookies at Chef Chloe.

140 NE 39th St.; 786-542-8977 or miami.strochmarket.com

Surprise: Brad Kilgore runs two restaurants in the Design District. And honestly, we could easily visit this swank Japanese-inspired cocktail lounge every night of the week. But what we’re really looking to score is a reservation inside the restaurant’s secret dining room, Ama. Bring on the 16-course Japanese-inspired tasting meal.

151 NE 41 St. #217; 786-409-5591 or kaidomiami.com

Color us impressed that Pharrell Williams knows how to create a dining hit as well as a musical one, with some help from his partner David Grutman (OTL, Planta and Komodo). The restaurant and lounge offers modern American-French cuisine by Top Chef Europe winner Jean Imbert, a line of inventive cocktails, multiple DJ booths and a gorgeous outdoor garden. 

90 NE 39th St.; 305-704-0994 or swanbevy.com

We’re always in the mood for upscale Cuban—especially when the restaurant is owned by the Estefans themselves. (Who knows, you may actually bump into them while you’re there.) This is the place where you’ll want to share lechón flatbread, bacon-wrapped maduros, baked empanadas with a guava-barbecue sauce and a skillet of vaca frita. And a tres leches for dessert, of course.

140 NE 39th St.; 786-843-3880 or estefankitchen.com

We’re pretty thrilled that Colorado transplant Dena Marino gifted Miami with her elevated approach to rustic Italian food. This contemporary spot serves some of the best Bolognese pasta and is responsible for one of our all-time favorite brunches. Truffle tater-tot waffle and triple-decker banana pancakes, anyone?

4141 NE Second Ave.; 305-456-9948 or facebook.com/mckitchenmiami

We can’t imagine a time when Michael Schwartz didn’t dominate the Design District. One of the area’s very first restaurants was his Michael’s Genuine, which still reigns supreme today. Then came his pizza place, Harry’s,and a grab-and-go café named after his daughter, Ella. We’ll start with a Michael’s Genuine home brew, followed by a tomato-mozzarella pizza at Harry’s, and finish up with a chai-sugar doughnut at Ella.

This all-day hangout comes as no surprise—we’ve gushed about it before (and for good reason). Let’s just say it basically acts as a real-life Instagram filter, plus it’s always stocked with a healthy supply of freshly baked pastries, like cinnamon buns, cookies and croissants. 

160 NE 40th St.; 786-953-7620 or otlmia.com

Indulge your inner 8-year-old at this fairy-tale-esque sweets palace, which is stocked with matcha and tropical soft serve and toppings like cotton-candy swirls, gold-flake sprinkles and edible sparkles. Pro tip: Skip the cone and order a gooey brownie sundae.

140 NE 39th St.; 305-639-8178 or instagram.com/madlab_creamery

Transport yourself to Greece at our favorite alfresco dining destination in the nabe. Make sure to order the cheese saganaki, the kefte meatballs, the Greek sampler and the grilled octopus. Oh, and before you leave, visit the restaurant’s next-door lifestyle boutique, Mrs. Mandolin, which features European-inspired housewares, clothing and accessories.

4312 NE Second Ave.; 305-749-9140 or mandolinmiami.com

This isn’t just any neighborhood bar—Aubi & Ramsa swaps pours of your favorite liquor for boozy frozen scoops, in flavors like bourbon crème brulee ice cream and champagne sorbet. Um, say no more.

172 NE 41st St.; 305-946-9072 or aubiramsa.com

This modern Indian spot serves up shareable plates that strike a balance of sweet, savory and spicy notes. You’ll find staples like chicken tikka along with more surprising options like ghost-pepper cheddar naan, so you’ll definitely need to come back multiple times. (P.S. There’s a location in Dadeland too.)

3620 NE Second Ave.; 786-636-6122 or gheemiami.com