Editor’s choice: 12 go-to Miami restaurants from our local expert

One of the most drop-dead gorgeous spots in town sits in the courtyard of The Setai, decked with palm trees and a serenity pond. Expect pan-Asian dishes like dim sum, Thai noodles, and Indian curries. But the Sunday live jazz brunch buffet—one of Miami’s most exquisite spreads—is especially iconic. You’ll have access to nearly everything on the dinner menu, a dessert station, and endless Champagne and sparkling wine.

Nothing satisfies a comfort-food craving quite like Blue Collar. The cozy spot features a daily rib, parm, and braise, plus a full menu of hearty dishes that feel like a warm hug. With its come-as-you-are attitude, this is the place to go when you want something delicious, but don’t feel like getting dolled up, or when you desperately need something to soak up your sins from the night before. I live for days when the daily parm is chicken and served on a mountain of saucy angel hair pasta.

Once synonymous with Cap’n Crunch pancakes and Tang mimosas, this homegrown spot is the brainchild of Chopped champion and Miami native Giorgio Rapicavoli. These days, it’s grown up with a menu that’s heavy on eclectic seasonal food like truffle-covered carbonara and chimichurri-roasted bone marrow. After a location change and revamp, there’s now a full bar, which means killer cocktails. But don’t worry, the candied cereal pancakes are still available for brunch—and are as delicious as ever.

The latest concept by Top Chef winner Jeremy Ford is a sexy steakhouse with a floor-to-ceiling glass wine cellar. Come extra hungry, because this menu is so indulgent that even the “light and bright” section features bone marrow and a foie gras and truffle tart, aka some of the richest food around. Order several small plates and a nice porterhouse to share, or go all out with a 44-ounce Wagyu tomahawk with all the sides and sauces.

Stunning doesn’t even begin to describe this over-the-top hotspot. The theatrical cocktails are some of the best in the city, and you can’t go wrong with the elegant Korean and Japanese food, which includes sushi and caramelized black cod. But the ultimate power move is opting for an all-you-can-eat brunch or lunch experience, which comes with free-flowing bubbles. Pro-tip: bring your phone to the bathroom so you can snap a photo of the under-the-sea inspired interiors.

Tell me you’re looking to party, and I’ll send you to Kiki on The River. Set on the Miami River, this stunning open-air restaurant has views of Brickell’s skyline and passing yachts. There’s non-stop entertainment featuring go-go dancers and live music. But unlike some clubstaurants, this one has delicious food. For a family-style feast, get Kiki’s Greatest Hits, made up of 10 of the restaurant’s most popular dishes, including whole-grilled sea bass and an assortment of Greek spreads.

Michael Mina’s suburban hotel steakhouse turns a familiar concept into anything but. Chef Mario Beabraut gets creative with dishes such as cacio e pepe gnocchi with wild mushrooms and a pastrami-spiced short rib, while still serving surf-and-turf faithfuls like bone-in ribeye and whole branzino. It’s great for date night or to catch up with a friend over martinis. For 10/10 entertainment, I highly recommend sitting at the bar on the weekend to people-watch.

Even though it’s billed as a steakhouse, I consider RED to be way more. The encyclopedic menu includes a raw bar, trough-sized salads, fresh-made pastas, quality steaks, locally caught seafood, and a dozen sides. While it’s great for practically any occasion, I especially love it for group hangs so you can fill the table with a little bit of everything. Don’t skip the four-cheese macaroni and cheese.

Phuc Yea is the kind of easy-breezy place where you go for brunch and stay through dinner (trust me, I’ve done it). Owners Ani Meinhold and Cesar Zapata can be found doing everything from working the line to shaking cocktails. Red lanterns, mid-century modern accents, and hip-hop tunes fuel a sultry atmosphere. And then there’s the intensely flavorful Viet-Cajun food: The smoked short rib alone can feed a crowd, and the P.Y. noodles—egg noodles with oyster sauce and Parmesan—are a must.

A New York transplant that feels like a well-kept secret is rare, but that describes Blue Ribbon, tucked into the Plymouth Hotel on South Beach. Where you sit determines the experience here: The large U-shaped bar is lively and chatty, the dimly lit dining room is romantic, and the patio by the pool has peak tropical vacay feels. Go between 4 pm and 7 pm for a daily happy hour—discounted sushi rolls and sake—and say yes to the fried chicken with wasabi honey.

In Miami, one must always have an oceanfront restaurant up their sleeve, and Ocean Social is mine. Chef Tristen Epps, a prodigy of renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson, has a menu that perfectly complements the ocean breeze. From a melt-in-your-mouth Key West shrimp toast to a smoked and roasted mahi served with a Haitian-inspired confit pepper sauce, Epp’s lineup is a solid mix of Caribbean flavors and sophisticated culinary techniques—without a single ounce of pretentiousness.

If you’re looking for a place to celebrate, head straight to Lido, which boasts Miami’s largest Champagne selection and some strong treat-yourself vibes. From the moment you grab a glass of pre-dinner bubbles at the bar to when chef Marco Calenzo shaves truffle on your pasta to the rum baba that’s served tableside with vanilla Chantilly cream and fresh strawberries, you’ll be fawned over like royalty by the most hospitable staff in the city.