Miami City Guide: The Hottest New Restaurants & Hotels on the Scene

Miami Art Week might be over, but the city remains hotter than ever. Here’s a look at the city’s hottest new restaurants, clubs, and more to keep the party going into the new year.

James Beard-nominated L.A.-based chef Evan Funke has opened a Miami outpost of his popular Hollywood restaurant Mother Wolf. Located in Miami’s Design District, the restaurant features a menu of Roman dishes similar to his locations in L.A. and Las Vegas, including Funke’s signature handmade pizzas and pastas, alongside seafood dishes and a robust beverage program. The glamorous dining room is outfitted in rich red, gold, and wooden tones, creating an elevated dining ambiance for a night out.

Also new in the Design District is The Hotel at The Moore. The 13-suite boutique hotel is located on the fourth floor of the Zaha Hadid-designed landmark building, also home to a private members club, office spaces, and gallery. A public restaurant, Elastika, is set underneath Hadid’s impressive architecture on The Moore’s ground floor, where guests will find a menu of contemporary American dishes with a global influence, led by chef Joe Anthony.

The newest Moxy location has opened in Miami’s Wynwood Art District, a close walk (or short drive) from the neighboring Design District. The hotel, known for its playful approach to hospitality, opened this fall and leans into the neighborhood’s history as a mecca for graffiti with exterior murals and wildstyle decor within its 120 guest rooms.

Wynwood restaurant Otto & Pepe opened in September with a focus on pasta and wine. Indoors, the restaurant features a wine enoteca and pasta bar, and an outdoor garden offers seating with a mural backdrop.

Sunny’s Steakhouse, which began as a buzzy pop-up during the pandemic, opened the doors to its permanent space earlier this fall. Co-owned by Will Thompson and Carey Hynes, the restaurant features steakhouse classics alongside a seafood focus, served in a 220-seat indoor-outdoor setting in Miami’s Little River neighborhood.

On Miami Beach, Japón at The Setai has opened inside the luxury hotel. The Japanese restaurant is led by chef team Vijayudu Veena and Iván Monzón, with a menu of sushi, sashimi, and caviar options alongside a small selection of grilled meats. The beverage program is anchored in a list of rare sakes, served in a sophisticated dining room that features traditional Japanese design elements and graphic details from the wallpaper to the printed textiles used for seating and drapes.

Harbour Club has opened the doors to its members club in Miami Beach’s Sunset Harbour. Inspired by British social clubs, Harbour Club features several onsite dining options spread across two floors. Members-only venues include the Palm Room, a speakeasy lounge, and Nikai at Harbour Club, which offers an elevated Japanese menu. Open to the public on the ground floor is Italian-Mediterranean restaurant a’Riva, led by former Casa Tua chef Michele Esposito. For the art-minded crowd, Harbour Club includes works on loan from founding members, with pieces by notable artists like George Condo, Damien Hirst, and Nicolas Party.

Toronto-based Big Hug Hospitality is bringing its Mimi Chinese restaurant to Miami Beach, marking the group’s first international opening. Located just south of Sunset Harbour, the menu at the restaurant features contemporary versions of traditional regional Chinese dishes, served underneath Art Deco-inspired chandeliers in a red-hued dining room.