The Ultimate Guide To Italian Restaurants In Miami
It’s our humble opinion that Miami is one of the liveliest and most fun cites in the U.S.A. As a major American city, Miami also offers lots of opportunities for a fabulous meal based on local ingredients. One of the great delights of living in Miami is without a doubt, the community’s food scene. And while Latin American cuisine reigns supreme, Italian is also prevalent if you’re in the mood for some gnocchi or tagliatelle. Try one of these incredible places for a nice lunch or a celebratory dinner. Check out our list of the best Italian restaurants in the Miami/ Ft. Lauderdale area!
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1. Divieto Ristorante
10650 NW 41st St Doral, FL 33178
(305) 470-8038
If you want to enjoy a family style meal, you’ve come to the right place. This is an excellent choice for all those who love the chance to chow down on abundant plates with the people they love most. That’s because this is a highly inviting place that is just right for people in search of a space to have a group lunch. They have all those classic Italian American favorites you love so much. Order a heaping plate of lasagna bolognese for a full meal that really makes you happy. Leave room for the luscious brownies that are made onsite. That’s one way to wrap up the meal and head home feeling very content.
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2. Via Emilia Garden
3500 N Miami Ave Miami, FL 33127
(786) 359-4990
Focusing on the cuisine of Northern Italy, this Midtown restaurant has an impressive dine in menu and lots of items you can have for takeout at home if you prefer to keep it easy and fast. Start with an appetizer like funghi in pastella di birra. These beer-battered mushrooms are tasty and delicious. Other items that are well worth your attention include proscuitto di parma paired with fried gnocchi. Main courses to try include tagliatelle with sausage, lots of mushrooms, and a house made cream sauce. Bolognese sauce is the foundation for many of the best dishes on the menu here. You can head inside to escape the heat or opt for outdoor dining options that let you chow down in style as you watch people passing by.
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3. dōma
35 NE 26th St Miami, FL 33137
(786) 953-6946
dōma is the place for fine dining in Miami. As one of the finest Italian restaurants in Miami, it’s one place where you can go when you want something out of the ordinary. That makes it very much a place for a great treat. Begin with an order of zucchini flowers tempura with ricotta. They’re gently fried and brought to your table piping hot. This is a good place to try lots of other Italian favorites. Sample the bucatini cacio e pepe with homemade pasta. The hamachi carpaccio risotto is a fabulous way to enjoy the regional’s abundant seafood.
4. Casa Isola Osteria
1418 20th St Miami Beach, FL 33139
(786) 558-5787
Casa Isola Osteria is all that’s right and good about Italian food in Miami. The menu includes interesting takes on Italian food like prosciutto bread with parmesan butter that bursts with flavor. If you love old favorites, you’ll also find them right here. The veal parmesan is thick and fully delightful. The raviolini ai funghi with porcini mushrooms and pine nut gremolata is an example of the kind of inventive ideas that keeps people coming back for more again and again. Miamians love this place. You’ll adore it as well.
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5. Osteria Morini
1750 Alton Rd Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 918-1037
Marea and Ai Fiori are the celebrated team behind one of the most impressive Italian restaurants in Miami. That’s because they know exactly what it takes to bring this cuisine to life and please many people in the process. You can be one of them when you sit down for a meal. The focus here is on the Emilia-Romagna of Northern Italy. That makes this a place to try some new dishes you’ve never had before or go for something homey and familiar. Ricotta gnocchi in a black kale pesto is a new twist on an old favorite while pistachio-crusted duck breast makes for a crunchy and upscale main course. Sit back and let the professionals take over for you.
Photo Credit: Website
6. Macchialina
820 Alton Rd Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 534-2124
Cozy is just one of the words that gets applied to this family-owned Italian spot. This is the place to be if you really like homemade pasta made by experts who love what they do and do it really well. Begin your meal with the creamy polenta that’s made inhouse. The varied wine list includes favorites like Lambrusco at a good price by the glass. The tiramisu is just one example of the kind of dessert that makes this place so very special. Dine in this pretty space indoors or outside. Or go for perfectly prepared takeout and enjoy it when you get home. This is the place to be when you want to have a nice meal that works from start to glorious finish.
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7. Fi’lia SLS Brickell
1300 S Miami Ave #100 Miami, FL 33130
(305) 239-1330
Wood-fired pizzas are one of the glorious things about Italian food. For some of the best in all of Miami, Fi’lia should be on your list. The rest of the menu is also an amazing example of the kind of Italian food you want to eat again and again. The stracciatella with truffle honey is full of flavor. There’s meatballs with whipped ricotta that please your taste buds with every single bite. Save room for the the pies. You’ll want to dig into the spicy soppressatta. The cauliflower and fontina cheese is one way to keep it lighter. Another option that works well is spaghetti carbonara. Heartier appetites can go for the skirt steak.
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8. Sapore di Mare
3111 Grand Ave Miami, FL 33133
(305) 476-829
Seafood is the star of the show here. Italian food and seafood are a natural match for each other. This is one restaurant that gets it completely. They offer lots of options for some of the best seafood in all of Miami. Spaghetti pesto with a Chilean sea bass is an example of the kind of seafood you’ll find on the menu. It’s a good place to come when you crave dishes from the sea.
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9. Bellini
2988 McFarlane Rd Miami, FL 33133
(305) 800-7672
Upscale eating is the order of the day right here. If you’re craving something fancy, this is the place to find it. The congenial setting offers a lovely place to get a meal. Once inside, you’ll find a menu full of lots of potential choices. Start with a selection of Italian cheeses and salamis or go with the grilled vegetable platter for the entire table. The main courses are equally as inviting. Well made sandwiches make a good meal for lunch or dinner. All sorts of pastas including varied kind of risottos can be found on the menu. There’s also plenty of seafood and lots of meat options. This is the place to be for a great Italian meal.
10. Cafe Prima Pasta
414 71st Street Miami Beach, FL, 33141
(305) 867-0106
For nearly three decades, Cafe Prima Pasta has been leading the charge on bringing fresh and authentic Italian food to the Miami area. This family-owned restaurant is a beloved fixture in the neighborhood, and it’s easy to see why when you try the food. For your appetizer, enjoy the “best in the world” carpaccio, or “best in town” (but not the world apparently) tuna tartare. There’s so many delightful entrees that it’s hard to choose just one, so why not have a true Italian experience and eat family style? You can’t miss the fettuccine ossobucco…or the fiocchi rapera, filled with cheese and pear…or the black squid ink linguini with seafood and lobster sauce…or the…you get the idea.
11. Randazzo’s
328 Crandon Blvd Suite 112, Key Biscayne, FL 33149
(305) 456 0480
Randazzo’s is a staple of the Miami Italian food scene. The benchmark of a phenomenal Italian meal is when you have the feeling that you’re eating in somebody’s mother’s house, and Randazzo’s more than meets that standard. You’ll know you’re in good hands when you munch on the calamari, sauteed in olive oil, crushed garlic, calabrese red pepper flakes, and a splash of Pinot Grigio wine to introduce the perfect sweetness. The real moneymaker, though, is the meatball, made with beef, pork, veal, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Italian parsley. There’s plenty more to it, but as they say, “if iI tell you anymore, my mom is gonna kill me.” However, it all comes down to that Sunday Gravy: this one is made with pork ribs, Greco Italian Sausage, and those famous meatballs, all cooked for four hours in San Marzano tomato sauce and then served with ricotta.
12. Il Gabbiano Downtown
335 South Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33131
(305) 373-0063
Italian is one of the finest cuisines to enjoy when celebrating a special occasion. The price point may be higher, but you’ll enjoy the full value of what you’re paying for with each magnificent bite. Whether you’re holding a formal banquet or simply enjoying lunch or dinner, Il Gabbiano is a truly special place. It’s always a challenge to narrow down your order because the menu has both quality and quantity, with over a dozen pasta options, even more antipasti choices, and no shortage of veal, chicken, and fish. A few of the menu highlights are the fried zucchini, porcini mushroom ravioli, and the branzino. Try finding a single item that’s not delicious…we dare you!
13. Cacio e Pepe
15903 Biscayne Blvd, North Miami Beach, FL 33160
(305) 627-3436
Step off the beach and into this beautiful restaurant that keeps the beach vibes going with white linen accents and green decorations throughout the space. This restaurant gets its name from the simple yet delicious Italian dish called cacio e pepe. The dish is simply pasta with pecorino cheese and pepper, but here it is served in a cheese wheel which adds to the flavor and your experience. Enjoy one of their many pasta dishes for dinner like the linguine shrimp mushroom and pesto, or a meat or fish entree like their veal scaloppine marsala or grilled salmon with tomato and basil. This cozy atmosphere is the perfect spot for lunch or dinner.
14. Via Verdi
6900 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138
(786) 615-2870
Another Italian spot with an ambiance that’s hard to beat. Via Verdi has a really great outdoor patio area where the vibes are just right. They have a large wine list here so go ahead and try a nice refreshing glass to kick off your meal. They are serving up classic Italian dishes but with a modern twist. Get a few of their small plates for the table to start off with like panzerotti (mini calzones), sole (crispy heart of palm shredded goat cheese), and polenta tartufata (crispy polenta with truffle parmesan sauce). For dinner you’ve got all the classics from pasta, salads, meat or seafood, pizza, and more. End the meal with some limoncello cheesecake and you’re set.
15. Tutto Pasta
1751 SW 3rd Ave, Miami, FL 33129
(305) 857-0709
Tutto Pasta is making their pasta by hand every morning so you can enjoy a delicious meal each night. Everything is so fresh and delicious in this quaint Italian spot. Their menu includes items like salads, hot and cold appetizers, meat and cheese boards, sandwiches, meat and fish entrees, and of course pasta. Their pear ravioli is just delightful. Other great dinner options include the grilled salmon and marinated chicken paillard. They have a nice list of wines you can order by the glass or by the bottle. If you’re craving some incredible pasta, this is a place you’ll want to check out.
16. NiDo Caffe Italian Restaurant
7295 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138
(305) 960-7022
NiDo Caffe has a lot to love when you go. The Mozzarella Bar offers a number of different mozzarella varieties, served with cherry tomatoes, Sicilian-style “caponata”, and olives. The Polipo salad is octopus, potatoes, olives, onions, and a homemade Mediterranean dressing, and is unlike anything else you’ll eat at another Italian joint. Their pastas are made in-house, and it’s hard to order just one, so why settle? The Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina is served with fresh tomato sauce and mozzarella, the Ravioli Di Ossobuco Di Vitello is stuffed with veal Osso Bucco and served in a butter and tomato sauce, and the Lasagna NiDo is a signature item, with beef ragout, Parmigiano reggiano, and bechamel sauce. And nothing washes these dishes down better than a tart sip of limoncello.
17. CRUST Restaurant
668 NW 5th St. Miami, FL 33128
(305) 371-7065
Chef Klime Kovaceski and his wife Anita provide some of the finest pizza and other Italian staples in the Miami area. The serving sizes are generous, but the quality is never compromised for quantity. Every avenue CRUST goes down leads to something magnificent. The Garlic Rolls are oily and cheesy in all the right ways and the Pan-Fried Mozzarella is the mozzarella stick of your dreams. The Truffled Pizza has fresh tomato, arugula, shaved parmesan, lemon juice, and white truffle oil, and all the umami flavor in the world. The Seafood Risotto is filled to the brim with shrimp, mussels, calamari, chopped clams, and fish, but never overly fishy.
18. Caffe Abbracci
318 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 441-0700
For the past three decades, Nino Pernetti and his mighty team have been treating guests like A-listers by serving them absolutely divine Italian food, along with a robust wine list and no shortage of signature cocktails. It is a prime location whether you’re going out for a business lunch or enjoying a romantic dinner. One of the finest pasta dishes in all of Miami is the Black Lobster Ravioli. It’s filled with Maine lobster and served in a light cognac lobster sauce, so it brings that sophisticated shellfish flavor with the simplicity of perfectly made pasta.
For more recommendations on where to eat and drink in the city, check out our Miami/ Ft. Lauderdale page, here!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on September 28, 2021, and last updated on February 17, 2023. Please refer to restaurant websites and social media pages for the most up-to-date information.
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