Miami’s latest food openings are giving diners plenty to get excited about. From an inventive Filipino restaurant in Little River to a waterfront Italian dining room on Grove Isle, the city’s newest arrivals offer more than another reason to make reservations.
Not every standout is a traditional sit-down restaurant, either. A Venezuelan rotisserie counter, a late-night cookie window, and a South Beach cafe serving unusual coffee creations have also earned attention.
Here are nine new Miami food and drink spots that have already impressed local restaurant critics.
1. D’s Rooftop
Coral Gables has a new rooftop hangout that combines skyline views with food that goes well beyond typical sports bar fare. Located on the seventh floor at 1500 San Ignacio Avenue, D’s Rooftop comes from the team behind Daniel’s Miami.
The space has plenty of televisions for watching games, but the menu makes it worth visiting even when there’s nothing on the schedule. One standout is the Juicy Lucy burger, filled with melted American cheese that spills out when the patty is cut open.
Spinach and artichoke dip offers a familiar starter, while the kitchen also serves some of the same steaks available downstairs at Daniel’s. For dessert, fried Oreos with vanilla ice cream bring a playful finish.
With cocktails, rooftop views, and a surprisingly substantial food menu, D’s Rooftop offers a livelier alternative to a conventional steakhouse dinner.
2. Anako
Little River’s Anako is bringing much-needed attention to Filipino cooking in Miami. Located at 8222 NE Second Avenue, the restaurant comes from chefs Leicel Ros and Nancy Dominguez, the team previously behind the Southeast Asian concept Sili.
The menu combines traditional Filipino dishes with creative preparations. Pork-and-shrimp lumpia and soft pan de sal provide familiar starting points, while grilled octopus served over roasted eggplant draws inspiration from tortang talong, a Filipino eggplant dish.
The oxtail kare-kare is another highlight, featuring slow-braised meat in a peanut-based sauce with Romano beans, pickled okra, and bagoong. For dessert, crispy banana fritters arrive with coconut and sesame caramel.
Anako’s dining room is decorated in deep plum tones, creating a warm atmosphere that feels polished without becoming overly formal. Its thoughtful cooking and welcoming setting have already earned strong reviews from local critics.
3. Teo Teo
The team behind Caracas Bakery has opened Teo Teo, a Venezuelan rotisserie chicken counter at 7285 Biscayne Boulevard in Miami’s MiMo neighborhood.
The menu is deliberately focused. Customers can order half or whole rotisserie chickens, served with potatoes and carrots that cook alongside the birds in the oven.
The result is a straightforward meal built around carefully roasted chicken and vegetables.
There’s also a chicken Caesar sandwich served on a soft baguette, offering a more portable option for lunch.
Teo Teo is primarily a takeout operation, with limited space for eating inside. That makes it particularly useful for neighborhood residents looking for a quick, satisfying meal.
Rather than trying to cover every Venezuelan specialty, the restaurant concentrates on doing a small number of things well, which is precisely what makes it stand out.
4. Taquiza Little River
Taquiza has returned with a new location at 8246 NE Second Avenue in Little River, giving Miami taco lovers another chance to enjoy the brand’s distinctive handmade tortillas and totopos.
The new space is compact, with much of the interior dedicated to tortilla production. Customers can eat at patio tables or take their orders to go.
One important change is the tortilla itself. While Taquiza became known for its blue corn tortillas, the Little River location now makes thin, tender tortillas using yellow corn masa.
The menu includes ten taco varieties, with crispy fish tacos among the standouts. The restaurant’s signature puffy blue corn totopos are still available, preserving one of the most recognizable items from the original concept.
For anyone who appreciates the difference a freshly made tortilla can make, Taquiza’s new location is worth a visit.
5. La Sponda
La Sponda brings an elegant Italian dining experience to Grove Isle, with panoramic views of Biscayne Bay and a menu designed for special occasions.
Located at 4 Grove Isle Drive, the restaurant comes from the hospitality group behind Daniel’s Miami. Its interior features copper-toned wallpaper, striking chandeliers, and a dining room that makes the waterfront setting part of the experience.
The menu includes ricotta cavatelli, green beans with fennel pollen, and branzino alla vernaccia, a fish preparation inspired by Italian coastal cooking.
For diners looking to splurge, La Sponda also offers caviar service, tableside presentations, and a substantial bistecca alla fiorentina.
It’s an upscale restaurant, but the food provides more than visual spectacle. Between the carefully prepared pasta, seafood, and waterfront views, La Sponda has quickly become one of Miami’s notable new date-night destinations.
6. Pizza Bear
Coral Gables has a new contender in its pizza scene. Pizza Bear, located at 1831 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, specializes in sourdough pizzas with light, airy crusts and creative toppings.
A classic pepperoni pie is available, but the more distinctive options are what set the restaurant apart. The mushroom pizza combines sweet leeks with rich Parmesan cream, creating a combination that’s both savory and slightly sweet.
A seasonal corn pizza is another standout, offering a different approach from the usual tomato-and-cheese combinations.
The restaurant keeps things casual, with counter seating where customers can watch the dough being prepared. A disco ball adds a playful touch to the dining room.
Pizza Bear has already received strong praise for its crust and inventive flavors, making it a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in Miami’s evolving pizza scene.
7. Phở Nam
Downtown Miami has a new Vietnamese restaurant that’s earning serious attention for its noodle soups. Phở Nam, located at 270 E.
Flagler Street, is the sister restaurant of Tâm Tâm.
The menu offers four noodle soup options, including a standout spicy bún bò Huế. The rich broth comes with noodles and a variety of meats, including tendon and ham, delivering the deep flavors associated with this Vietnamese specialty.
Another dish worth trying is bánh xèo, a crispy Vietnamese pancake filled with shrimp.
The dining room has a casual, lively atmosphere, with vintage details and steaming bowls moving through the space on metal carts. Small plastic stools outside add to the restaurant’s informal character.
Phở Nam has quickly attracted attention from local critics and diners alike, bringing another compelling Vietnamese dining option to Downtown Miami.
8. Liger’s Cookies
Sometimes the most exciting new food opening isn’t a restaurant at all. Liger’s Cookies has opened a dedicated takeout window at 180 NE 24th Street in Edgewater after building a following through pop-ups and appearances at local cafes.
The bakery specializes in soft, tender cookies that maintain their structure without becoming overly gooey. The texture is a major part of their appeal, striking a balance between a freshly baked center and a satisfying bite.
Flavors include classic chocolate chip, iced lemon, and sesame tahini, with the latter standing out for its nutty, slightly savory character.
Customers can also order cookies by the dozen, purchase frozen cookie dough, or choose ice cream sandwiches served with milk.
With evening operating hours, Liger’s offers a different kind of Miami dessert stop, one that makes cookies the main attraction rather than an afterthought.
9. Casa Rassi
South Beach has a new cafe that’s making coffee a little more adventurous. Casa Rassi, located at 2216 Park Avenue, operates inside a hotel lobby and serves a menu of inventive espresso drinks, matcha creations, and breakfast dishes.
The coffee selection includes an espresso tonic with mango syrup, a yuzu lemonade cold brew, and an iced espresso cola. These combinations offer something different from the standard latte or cappuccino.
The creativity continues with a matcha latte made using sweet corn milk and a sparkling nonalcoholic drink called Mr. Tom Basil, which brings together flavors reminiscent of a caprese salad.
For food, Casa Rassi serves custardy French toast and a breakfast plate featuring eggs, potatoes, and toast.
With comfortable seating and a menu full of unusual drinks, Casa Rassi is an appealing option for a relaxed breakfast, a casual meeting, or a coffee break that feels a little less predictable.
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