best italian in miami

The best Italian restaurant in Miami and it's not particularly close. Mike Pirolo's South Beach spot is serious about pasta in a way that most Miami restaurants are not serious about anything. The cacio e pepe is the dish but the full menu earns every visit. Small room, no walk-ins on weekends.

must have: cacio e pepe

dinner tue through sun

One of the most transportive dining experiences in Miami. The house is a 1925 Mediterranean villa, the garden is extraordinary, and the food matches the setting. Northern Italian with restraint and precision. The kind of place you bring people when you want to make an impression that lasts.

must have: the risotto

dinner mon through sat

A Brickell Italian with roots in Florence and a strong pasta program. The tagliatelle al ragu is the dish to order. Well-run, consistent, and a reliable choice when the rest of Brickell is trying too hard.

must have: tagliatelle al ragu

lunch and dinner daily

Italian steakhouse on Ocean Drive that has outlasted every trend around it. The veal chop is the signature and it earns that status. A South Beach institution for the crowd that wants a proper dinner rather than a scene.

must have: veal chop

dinner daily

An Italian seafood spot on Key Biscayne that rewards the drive. Whole fish preparations done well and a wine list that doesn't try to impress anyone. The kind of neighborhood restaurant that a neighborhood is lucky to have.

must have: branzino

lunch and dinner daily

A Midtown Italian that operates without fanfare and delivers without fail. The pasta program is the draw and the room is comfortable enough to stay for two hours. Flying under the radar compared to what it deserves.

must have: the pasta tasting

dinner tue through sun