The Best Italian Restaurants in Miami
Covering our favorite pasta, eggplant parm, gnocchi, and tiramisu
Oct
20
2023
Keep this guide handy when you’re looking for the best Italian restaurants in Miami.
Okay, so we know we’ve owed you this list for quite a while. However, there are sooo many Italian restaurants in Miami and they don’t stop popping up. Every time we’re about ready to publish this guide, some metido or metida says, “Wait, but have you gone here?”
So after visiting loads of Italian restaurants throughout the year, and listening to those metidos, we’ve decided we’re in a good place to finally release The Best Italian Restaurants in Miami guide.
This guide is our opinion, based on consistency, quality of food, and hospitality. We’re covering Italian restaurants on the traditional side as well as some that have a modern take on Italian dishes. We’ll highlight what occasions to go to for each, as well as our favorite dishes from each restaurant.
Of course, we didn’t get to every Italian restaurant in Miami so if we’re missing one that you love, let us know HERE. We’ll be updating this list as we go and as we try new and delicious Italian restaurants.
PORTOSOLE
Neighborhood: Coral Gables
Address: 2530 Ponce de Leon
Good for: big groups, clients, outdoor seating
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Portosole is one of the best restaurants in Coral Gables. Half the guests are Italian which is always a good sign. Here you will feel important & well taken care of in a brightly lit, white tablecloth setting (yes, it’s a Coral Gables thing).
We love it for a bright lunch with family. It’s also great for clients or a cute day dress situation with your amigas.
Make sure you order one of the best Melanzane alla Parmigiana we’ve had in Miami, Ravioli di Ossobuco allo Zafferano for those who love saffron, and the classic and traditionally executed Tonnarelli al Cacio e Pepe.
Get the Sgroppino Veneziano, a dessert cocktail made with Prosecco, vanilla ice cream, and vodka. Finished off with lemon zest and ground coffee. Trust us.
BOIA DE
Neighborhood: Little Haiti
Address: 5205 NE 2nd Ave
Good for: date night, eating at the bar, eating alone, special occasions, dinner with friends
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If you’ve driven past an unassuming strip mall and seen a glowing pink exclamation point, then you have found your destination. Since 2019, Boia De has consistently delivered some of the best food in Miami, if not the best food. So naturally, it’s challenging to score a table at Boia De. However, if being flexible and/or spontaneous is your thing, keep this restaurant in mind.
Yes, you will find a tiramisu on the menu, however, this isn’t a traditional Italian restaurant, Chefs Luciana Giangrandi and Alex Meyer are adding their modern take to the menu.
Of course, all the pastas are made from scratch, but here you aren’t getting your typical Italian food. At Boia, they are pushing the boundaries of what you would expect. There is a depth in flavor and you can taste the creativity.
Order the Potato Skins with Stracciatella, hard egg, and caviar, or Luci’s Chopped Salad to start. Work yourself down to the pasta section and try out the Bufala Ricotta Gnocchi Pomodoro and the Tagliolini Nero (served cold) with king crab, vin juane, truffle, and herbs. End the meal with a Crispy Tiramisu or Carrot Cake. They’re constantly adding new dishes to the menu, so make sure to ask for what’s new.
SAPORE DI MARE
Neighborhood: Coconut Grove
Address: 3111 Grand Ave
Good for: date night, birthdays, classics, out-of-towners, dinner with friends, kid-friendly
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The cutest, most picturesque, Italian, seafood spot in Coconut Grove is, of course, the beloved Sapore di Mare. Locals have been coming here since 2014 but honestly, it feels like it’s been longer. It’s a great spot for a cute rom-com dinner scene or a lunch spot para hechar el chisme. If you don’t have a reservation and are trying to go for dinner, you’ll wait a while. Luckily for you, Cudas (Barracudas) is just a street over, ready for you with a nice cold beer pitcher.
Anyways, if you’re coming here because of the Cacio e Pepe post you saw on Instagram, that’s perfect because it’s as good as it looks. However, we’d also like to note that they offer daily specials that are worthy. During our most recent visit, we had this rich gnocchi with cherry tomatoes and tiger prawns and we’d get it again.
SOYA E POMODORO
Neighborhood: Downtown
Address: 120 NE 1st St #2502
Good for: date night, classics, dinner with friends
Our content creator Gaby Valdano stopped by Soya e Pomodoro for what she thought would be a typical night out. But little did she know, her life would be forever changed by a gnocchi dish at this classic Downtown restaurant.
Soya e Pomodoro is a neighborhood gem all about nostalgia and classic Italian dishes. It offers a kitschy dining experience with unmatched vintage furniture, family photos, and even a random snowman mascot that is part of the decor year-round.
During the day, we’d bring a hip client, and during the night, we’d bring a date. Both will fall in love with Soya e Pomodoro’s quirky ways.
Order the Fusillo Fresco Affumicato with homemade fusilli w/ sauteed arugula, mushrooms & smoked mozzarella in fresh tomato sauce. And of course, the mind-altering gnocchi that made Gaby re-assess her relationship with this potato dish. At Soya, the gnoochis are made by hand and are prepared alla Sorrentina, in a fresh tomato sauce, with mozzarella & basil.
FIOLA
Neighborhood: Coral Gables
Address: 1500 San Ignacio Ave
Good for: clients, special occasions
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Famed for their Michelin star standing in Washington, Chef Fabio Trabocchi is bringing that same energy to Fiola in Miami.
Stop by for a classic Italian meal with some Frank Sinatra in the background. Dinner at Fiola will always start with an amuse-bouche. Ours had Foie Gras and was similar to a crema Catalana.
Order the Pane Pugliese with sheep’s milk ricotta, honey & thyme.
Other dishes we recommend include the Burrata with heirloom & sundried tomato pesto, Fiola Meatballs with shaved royal trumpet mushrooms, Pecorino from Sardinia; Spaghetti alle Vongole with Middleneck and littleneck Clams, Fresno peppers parsley; Whole Wheat Rigatoni with Classic Bolognese, Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe with whipped Parmigiano & Pecorino.
Additionally, they have the option of a Pasta Omakase with a six-course pasta-tasting menu, featuring Chef’s choices.
CASA ISOLA OSTERIA
Neighborhood: South Beach
Address: 1418 20th St
Good for: date night, birthdays, out-of-towners, dinner with friends
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Since 2021, Casa Isola has been that spot that has brought us a cozy Italian red sauce experience. Chef Jose Mendin has embraced Italian American cooking in Sunset Harbor with dishes like our favorite Rigatoni Alla Vodka, Ravioli Bianconeri with short rib, taleggio cheese, truffle, balsamic jus; and Pane al Proscuitto.
We’d stop by here for a date, a family outing, and a birthday with friends. Get everyone gathered around the table for some Sunday Gravy that will have you licking the plate.
LUCA OSTERIA
Neighborhood: Coral Gables
Address: 116 Giralda Ave
Good for: birthdays, date night, eating at the bar, outdoor seating
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Luca Osteria is the second restaurant by Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli. Tapping into his Italian background, Rapicavoli has created a fresh and inventive menu where every ingredient has a purpose. If you’re dining with a friend, we recommend a seat at the bar. We also love sitting outside, especially when the weather is nice so we can people-watch.
Expect to order half of the antipasti on the menu. Start with the Patate Fritte. It’s their soft potato balls/bites covered in Parmigiano fondue, egg yolk, and black truffle specks. The grilled wild mushroom should also be at the center of the table. These mushrooms are served with Bagna Cauda, a sauce from Piedmont with garlic, salted anchovies, and olive oil; and shaved bottarga di muggine or grey mullet roe. The simple Little Gem Lettuce with a cacio e pepe dressing is light, has a great crunch, and is finished with some limoncito.
We’d share a few of those pasta dishes including the Pasta al Limone with 24-month Parmigiano Reggiano and the Pasta al Pesto. Simple, delicious, not bad for people-watching, and one of our fav Italian spots that is on the more modern side in Coral Gables.
MACCHIALINA
Neighborhood: South Beach
Address: 820 Alton Road
Good for: date night, birthdays, classics, out-of-towners, dinner with friends
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Macchialina is that neighborhood, rustic Italian restaurant we have loved for so many years. Since 2021, they’ve expanded, taking over what once was a small hostel and transforming it into “Il Gardino”, an outdoor covered backyard patio that is cozy and a great outdoor dining option. Stop by of course, for all our favorite red sauce pasta like the Cavatelli Macchialina and the Spaghetti Pomodoro.
For dessert, don’t skip the most refreshing Tiramisu you’ve had. It’s made with dulce de leche and an espresso granita giving it an additional texture that is not usual when eating tiramisu. Make sure you dive deep in with your spoon.
SALUMERIA 104
Neighborhood: Coral Gables
Address: 117 Miracle Mile
Good for: big groups, birthdays, dinner with friends, kid-friendly
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What we love about Salumeria 104 above all, is the consistency. We’ve probably tried every single dish, and we can say with certainty, that they are delicious. It’s also nice to know that you can come here with a big group and not spend a ridiculous amount of money.
Both locations in Midtown Miami and Coral Gables fuse the Italian trattoria and neighborhood salumi shop concepts. Salumeria is great for a quaint Italian meal. You can dress up or dress down.
Some of our favorites include the Vitello Tonnato, thinly sliced roasted veal covered with creamy tuna sauce and fried capers; Spaghetti alla Bottarga with Gragnano spaghetti, cherry tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, and bottarga; and the Ravioli del Salumiere with house-made prosciutto ravioli with brown butter and sage sauce.
CAFFE ABBRACCI
Neighborhood: Coral Gables
Address: 318 Aragon Ave
Good for: classics, big groups, clients, eating out with suegros, special occasions, out-of-towners
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You’re going to want to binge the Sopranos after dinner at Caffe Abbracci. This Northern Italian restaurant has been serving delicious and oversized pasta dishes since 1989.
When you step inside Abbracci, it’s like stepping inside a time capsule back to the 90s. It seems like nothing has really changed.
The friendly team has remained pretty much the same. And it’s always a good sign of hospitality when most of the staff has been around for 10 to 30 plus years.
Stop by with the mindset of sharing large plates. We recommend the thinly sliced Vitello Tonnato, the oven-baked Bocconcino Baci with mozzarella, and a porcini mushrooms and capers sauce from the appetizer section. Followed by the Linguine with Clams, Penne della Nonna with eggplant and marinara sauce, and the Veal Scaloppine “Piccata” with a side of fries (yes, do it).
ZUCCA
Neighborhood: Coral Gables
Address: 162 Alcazar Ave
Good for: clients, big groups, dinner with friends
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In Coral Gables, there’s a large number of Italian restaurants. And in this guide, we’ll talk about the ones worth your time.
If you’re looking for a white tablecloth situation great for lunch with clients, stop by Zucca. It’s also parent & grandparent-friendly, so bring your abuelita, mom, and dad.
The indoor restaurant has a modern sleek vibe with beige booths, white orchids, and columns covered in green foliage.
You’re passing by Zucca if you want to wine and dine someone in a traditional Coral Gables way.
The menu is influenced by flavors from Tuscany, Emilia Romagna, and Umbria. The first thing you need to order is the Fiori Di Zucca, the restaurant’s signature dish. These are fried zucchini flowers stuffed with goat cheese sprinkled with truffle honey. Our recommendation is to order at least two pastas. Make sure to ask for the specials, they usually have one with a ragú sauce that feels like home.
DŌMA
Neighborhood: Wynwood
Address: 35 NE 26th St
Good for: date night, birthdays, out-of-towners, dinner with friends
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Wynwood’s only Italian restaurant on this list made it here for a reason. Doma brings unique Mediterranean Southern Italian cuisine to life in an industrial restaurant with an open kitchen and minimalistic patio.
Some of our favorite dishes include the Soft Egg with seasonal mushrooms, parmesan cheese espuma, crispy potato, shaved black truffle; the simple Bucatini ‘Cacio e Pepe’ with Pecorino romano cheese, and Sichuan black pepper, and
the non-traditional Yellowfin Tuna Tataki served with cous cous, diced vegetables, and pistachio dust.
LIDO RESTAURANT AT THE SURF CLUB
Neighborhood: Surfside
Address: 9011 Collins Ave
Good for: date night, birthdays, out-of-towners, dinner with friends, special occasions, big groups, eating at the bar, outdoor seating, ambient
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Lido at the Surf Club, inside the Four Seasons in Surfside has an important place in Miami Beach’s history. Since it opened its doors on New Year’s Day in 1930, it has been a destination for Italian Mediterranean dining and retro glamour.
The Lido Restaurant is in the Surf Club’s legendary ballroom and adjacent oceanfront terrace. Lido is where you go when you want to feel like you’re in Sicily this summer.
The menu highlights simple Mediterranean cuisine. We recommend stopping by for lunch and sitting on the terrace. Some of our favorite dishes include the Ricciola al Limone, sliced yellowtail, “Amalfi” crudo with lemon dressing; Vitello Tonnato, thinly sliced veal, tonnato sauce, crispy capers, and Aged Balsamic; and the Saffron Risotto with organic Acquarello rice and Amarelli licorice.
