The best Coral Gables restaurants: a guide to Miami's new foodie destination

Zitz Sum is a beautiful marriage of global flavors including Japanese, Italian, Colombian, American and whatever Chef Pablo Zitzmann can conjure that week. But this isn’t just an experiment into what’s possible—this place also puts out dishes you’ll need to have again, so much so that Zitz Sum has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand, a James Beard nomination and tons of local mentions. It’s an unconventional approach to dim sum like nothing I’ve had elsewhere, so make a reservation and enjoy the ride. 

Order this: The menu changes daily, but hope they have the delicate wonton in brodo.

With an impeccable menu of Italian cuisine, fine wine and cocktails, Fiola is just as popular in the Gables as it is with the celebrity set on Capitol Hill.  It’s the kind of place I’d book for an anniversary, birthday or any kind of special occasion, though there are some specials throughout the week that will entice you to become a regular. During the work week, there’s a $35 three-course pre-fixe lunch menu and aperitivo happy hour from 4 to 7pm, and on Sundays, there’s a bottomless champagne brunch.

Order this: Caviar “Carbonara”

Reservations are now open to book a table at Bouchon Bistro, famed chef Thomas Keller’s newest culinary endeavor inside the historic La Palma building in Coral Gables. The French bistro marks Chef Keller’s second Miami restaurant to date—the first being The Surf Club Restaurant, which opened in 2018 and earned a Michelin star from the prestigious dining guide when it began rating Florida restaurants in 2022. Here, Keller collaborates with chef Thomas Castelleon, an alumnus of The Surf Club Restaurant, to execute the seasonal menu, comprising Bouchon’s signature raw bar items as well as specialty dishes.

Order this: Escargots de Bourgogne and steak frites

Luca Osteria is Chef Giorgio Rapiocavoli’s beautiful expression of classic, albeit slightly reimagined, Italian cuisine. The trappings of a dimly lit traditional Italian restaurant have been eschewed for a bright, white and modern atmosphere that’s both spacious and cozy, perfect for a date night where classic Italian spritzes and cocktails can flow. Be sure your order includes the house-made pasta, whether it's the bucatini made with 600-day-cured prosciutto or the rich short rib bolognese, seasoned with nutmeg and 24-month-aged parmigiano.

Order this: It’s been said that Luca whips out one of the best dishes in town, the airy patate fritte.

The proliferation of omakase across Miami continues with Shingo, a 14-seat restaurant from Michelin-starred Chef Shingo Akikuni. For its apparent simplicity, Shingo’s aesthetic took years to conceive and come together—the 850-square-foot space was entirely designed and constructed by expert woodworkers in Kyoto, who then deconstructed it and reassembled it in Miami. 

Order this: Shingo’s 18-course menu comprises a seasonal variety of fresh sushi and Yakimono dishes made with imported from Japan as well as sourced locally in Florida. The full dining experience takes around 2.5 hours.

Beauty and the Butcher boasts a classic steakhouse aesthetic with an eclectic menu of dishes that seem aimed to deliberately test you (like chicken liver mousse or dry-aged crudo). But even when the menu is challenging us to try things we wouldn’t normally order, it’s still clear that everything here is done with great command over flavors and ingredients.

Order this: The beef rib

Niven Patel, the decorated Miami chef behind Ghee, Orno and Mamey, launched this pasta concept as a pop-up back in 2019. Now, nestled inside the Life Time building (adjacent to the Metrorail tracks) at Merrick Park, Erba feels a world away, impeccably designed with elaborate wall coverings, textural mosaic tiles, luxe upholstery and dim, moody lighting for a distinctly Florence-meets-Miami vibe. Meanwhile, the seasonal menu (complete with a six-course pasta tasting for $45) is composed of ingredients sourced from Rancho Patel, the chef’s farm in Homestead.

Order this: The mafaldine, a creative take on linguine al vongole made with braised Bahamian conch instead of clams 

Wine, both natural and not, is best enjoyed with friends and food. At Vinya you’ll find all three. This wine shop and restaurant has made its way from Key Biscayne to Coral Gables. Grab a bottle from the market and enjoy it with dinner for a small corkage fee or let the staff help you find what you like with their extensive by-the-glass offerings. They’re friendly and knowledgeable and can make a connoisseur out of anyone who will lend an ear or glass. Vinya hosts tons of events throughout the month and every week, they offer a discounted wine from their vault, so be sure to sign up for their emails (or join the VDC wine club) to never miss a pour.

Order this: The burrata that’s broken like an oozy over-easy egg in the center of sliced beets the colors of wildflowers.

Eating House spent nine years in a spot across town, essentially headquarters for the chef Giorgio Rapicavoli fan club, before relocating to the pedestrian-only section of Giralda Avenue. The dishes, many of them carry-overs from the old space, are reminders of why Eating House became popular. Even without the ambiance of some other trendy restaurants, it seems every single plate Rapicavoli serves up has been deftly designed to taste special. 

Order this: The carbonara, beefed-up with heritage bacon chunks, explodes with the not-subtle punch of black truffle and an egg yolk oozed through the dish tableside.

You know a place is good when it becomes most people’s defacto answer for questions like “who makes the best burger? and “where can I find really good hummus?” Motek is the spot, an unassuming Israeli café with a very large following—so big, in fact, it’s expanded from a tiny Aventura storefront to multiple metro locations. 

Order this: Motek’s award-winning araya burger stuffed inside a pita and served with a trio of sauces and french fries

Consider Tinta y Café Miami’s counter-culture Cuban coffee house (say that five times fast). Come for the cafecito, artisanal pastelitos and gourmet Cuban sandwiches and stay for a while, not because you're taking Zoom calls between bites (laptops are strictly banned), but because you’re having deep philosophical debates on things like whether or not free will exists. This is a go-to café for leisurely mornings and afternoons, so pull a book from Tinta’s bookshelf and enjoy an intellectually indulgent afternoon.

Order this: The guava and cheese pastelito, because you deserve it.

It’s rare to see the glass doors of this spacious, corner-facing restaurant closed—on most nights, the crowds around the enormous bar spill out onto the sidewalk. Admittedly, it’s the inventive cocktail menu and drink specials that lure the after-work crowd, but the tantalizing aromas wafting from the open kitchen convince them to stay. Feast on classic tapas such as tortilla and garlicky shrimp as well as the signature huevos Bulla, a modern twist on huevos estrellados—which brings together crispy potato chips, fried eggs, potato foam, truffle oil and jamón Serrano. 

Run by a cheerful husband-and-wife duo— he serves while she cooks— this tiny French bistro features a simple chalkboard menu with a healthy mix of daily specials and approachable classics like moules frites, steak tartare and french onion soup. Because it’s so small, it’s ideal for a romantic evening, and if you find yourself waiting because you didn’t make a reservation, a complimentary glass of bubbly will be waiting for you.

This is one of those old-school Gables restaurants where everyone inside seems to be a regular. Though owner Nino Perreti passed away, you can still feel his welcoming spirit within Caffe Abracci’s dimly lit walls, and his cookbook captures not just recipes, but a bygone era of Miami’s glamorous past. And it's not just customers who love this place. Caffe Abbracci has 16 employees who have been with the restaurant since it first opened in 1989.

Where else can you get an amuse-bouche of candied bacon to go with a post-work martini? Though Miracle Mile is chock full of contemporary chain restaurants, Doc B’s stands out for its comprehensive menu, attractive happy hour specials and open-air seating for temperate Miami nights.

The Gables may as well be the steakhouse capital of Miami. Chains like Ruth Chris, Morton’s and Texas de Brazil are all within walking distance of each other, but none has the charm and old-schoolness of Christy’s. Opened in 1978, this crimson-hued dining room is as classic as steakhouse experiences get. You’re sipping an old-fashioned or a martini, following it up with Christy’s famous caesar salad, massacring a filet mignon and capping it all off with a billowing baked Alaska. And when you get home, because there’s no salvation after this, you’re popping on Scarface and settling into a nice food coma. 

Melbourne transplants Teresa and Nick Sharp’s attempt to bring true Aussie eats to Miami is everyone’s gain. You might even say they introduced us to the smashed avo toast. This is a go-to brunch and lunch joint for Gable-ites looking for fresh, local fare. Plus, it’s one of the most kid-friendly places in town;  little ones can play games or read a book in a dedicated nook while you sip coffee and relax.

Café Demetrio has all the charms of a Viennese coffee house in the heart of Coral Gables. It’s the kind of place where you post up for hours reading a book or the paper (do people still read the paper?) as you enjoy decadent caffeinated offerings like a dark cacao latte or espresso con panna. It’s also a great spot for a casual breakfast or lunch, with a bountiful menu of gourmet sandwiches and classic brunch offerings.

Some people like a side of chips with their sandwich, others like a side of literature. The Café at Books & Books boasts a beautiful courtyard where you can flip pages as you toss back a glass of malbec, dig into a fresh salad, or slurp down the soup of the day. This is not a place for power lunching, but for leisurely grazing. 

Time Out tip: Check the schedule to see what they’ve got going on at night.

A rooftop bar in the gables? It was about damn time! Cebada is a great spot for casual first dates and medium sized groups. It touts an approachable and ample menu of shareable dishes to satisfy both picky and adventurous eaters. 

Time Out tip: Supersize your draft drink to accommodate the entire table. 

If you’re a meat-eating local, then you know Graziano’s. The restaurant group now touts 12 locations, but they got their start in America on Coral Way. That makes both Coral Gables locations special, whether you’re picking up wine and meat at the market or you want the full Graziano’s parrilla experience at their restaurant on Galliano Street. You can’t go wrong with any of their grass-fed selections, especially when paired with a full-bodied red.