Unearth The Voyage
Florida’s food scene is exploding with exciting new restaurants that everyone is talking about. From Miami’s flashy Latin American hot spots to Tampa’s Scandinavian seafood bars, the Sunshine State is serving up flavors from around the world. Whether you’re craving Japanese rooftop dining, Texas-style barbecue, or authentic Italian pasta made right at your table, 2025 is the year to explore what Florida chefs are cooking up.
1. Amazónico (Brickell, Miami)
When a restaurant takes over three entire floors, you know it’s not playing around. Amazónico brings Latin American flavors from across the continent to Miami’s Brickell neighborhood, and the buzz is real.
Live music fills the air while you share plates like arroz chaufa—a Peruvian-Chinese fried rice packed with flavor—and line-caught lubina that’s cooked to perfection. The vibe screams celebration, making it tough to snag a reservation.
Locals and tourists alike are flocking here to see and be seen. The energy matches the food, which means you’ll want to dress up and bring your appetite for both great dishes and a memorable night out.
2. Da Angelino Cucina Italiana (Coconut Grove, Miami)
A server wheels a cart to your table and tosses fresh pasta in a hollowed wheel of Pecorino Romano cheese, that’s the tableside cacio e pepe experience at Da Angelino, and it’s worth the trip alone.
This collaboration between Graspa Group and Michelin-starred Ariete Hospitality Group sits inside CocoWalk. You’ll find classic dishes like vitello alla Milanese—breaded veal cutlet that’s crispy on the outside, tender inside.
The atmosphere feels polished without being stuffy, perfect for a date night or family dinner. Coconut Grove’s laid-back charm meets serious Italian cooking here, creating a combination that keeps tables full and diners smiling from the first bite to the last.
3. Yamashiro Miami (Downtown Miami)
Hollywood’s legendary Yamashiro has touched down in Miami, and it’s bringing serious style to the 9th floor of the Gale Hotel. The rooftop views alone make it Instagram-worthy, but the food is what keeps people coming back.
Japanese-inspired dishes dominate the menu, from crispy lobster karaage to buttery toro tartare that melts on your tongue. As the sun sets over downtown, the space transforms into a nightlife destination with cocktails and music.
It’s fancy enough for special occasions but energetic enough to feel like a party. Reservations fill up fast, especially for weekend evenings when everyone wants that perfect mix of skyline views and exceptional Japanese cuisine.
4. XINO (Aventura)
Hidden behind Reunion Ktchn Bar, XINO feels like a secret you’re lucky to know about. Only 40 seats fill this modern Chinese hideaway, so getting in feels special.
The crisp rock-shrimp boats arrive looking almost too pretty to eat—almost. Weekend Peking-style duck is carved tableside, its crispy skin crackling with each slice. Every wok dish packs serious umami punch that keeps your taste buds engaged.
The buzz around XINO isn’t just hype; it’s earned through careful cooking and bold flavors. Aventura locals are treating this spot like their own delicious secret, though word is spreading fast. Book ahead, arrive hungry, and prepare for Chinese food that goes way beyond your usual takeout.
5. Nacionsushi (Doral)
Forget everything you think you know about quiet, traditional sushi restaurants. Nacionsushi cranks up the volume with neon lights, high energy, and rolls that are anything but ordinary.
This is Latin America’s hottest sushi import, making its first U.S. splash in Doral. XXL rolls arrive stacked high, and sushi pizzas—yes, you read that right—blend crispy rice with fresh fish in ways that somehow work perfectly.
The vibe screams Miami: loud, colorful, and unapologetically fun. It’s sushi for people who want their dinner to feel like an event, not just a meal. Bring friends, order way too much, and embrace the chaos in the best possible way.
6. Sunny’s Steakhouse (Little River, Miami)
Earning a MICHELIN “New Addition” for 2025 is no small feat, but Sunny’s Steakhouse pulled it off with classic swagger and Miami flair. Prime cuts get the respect they deserve here, but the menu doesn’t stop at beef.
Stone crab claws nod to Florida tradition, while pineapple hot sauce adds tropical heat that makes everything better. Then comes dessert: a kouign-amann ice cream sandwich that’s crispy, buttery, and cold all at once.
Little River’s dining scene just got a serious upgrade. The restaurant balances steakhouse tradition with enough Miami personality to feel fresh and exciting. Whether you’re celebrating something special or just really want an excellent steak, Sunny’s delivers on every level.
7. ViceVersa (Downtown Miami)
Sometimes the best pizza comes from unexpected places, like inside The Elser Hotel. ViceVersa earned MICHELIN recognition for its crispy thin Neapolitan-style pies that nail the perfect balance of char and chew.
Raw-bar bites offer a fresh start before your pizza arrives. The crust bubbles and blisters in all the right places, topped with simple, quality ingredients that let the dough shine.
Finish with an affogato martini—espresso meets gelato meets vodka in a combination that shouldn’t work but absolutely does. Downtown Miami needed a serious pizza spot, and ViceVersa answered the call with style. It’s proof that hotel restaurants can compete with the best standalone spots when the cooking is this good.
8. Recoveco (South Miami)
Big personality doesn’t require big space, and Recoveco proves it. This small South Miami room just joined MICHELIN’s Florida list, and one bite explains why.
The menu rotates with contemporary dishes that surprise and satisfy. Roasted dry-aged chicken sounds simple until you taste how the aging process deepens every flavor. Then there’s the sapodilla sticky-toffee pudding—a tropical twist on a British classic that’s become a signature.
Reservations are smart because word travels fast in South Miami. The intimate setting means you feel like you’re in on something special, like the chef is cooking just for you. It’s the kind of neighborhood gem that makes locals protective and visitors jealous.
9. Catch & Cut (Fort Lauderdale)
When a former Joe’s Stone Crab chef opens their own place, you pay attention. Catch & Cut brings Fort Lauderdale a double threat: prime steaks meet local seafood in a menu that celebrates both land and sea.
Stone crabs appear when they’re in season, prepared by someone who learned from the legends. The rooftop bar scene adds energy to the experience, perfect for cocktails before or after dinner.
Fort Lauderdale’s dining scene continues to grow up, and Catch & Cut represents the city’s evolution. It’s sophisticated without being snobby, fancy without feeling stuffy. Whether you’re team steak or team seafood, you’ll find something to love—or better yet, order both.
10. Eataly Aventura (Aventura)
The wait is finally over: Eataly has arrived at Aventura Mall with two glorious floors of Italian everything. Fresh pasta gets made right in front of you, and the aroma of Lavazza coffee pulls you in from across the mall.
La Pizza & La Pasta serves exactly what their names promise, while cooking classes teach you to recreate Italian magic at home. Then there’s the gelato—creamy, authentic, and available in more flavors than you can try in one visit.
It’s part restaurant, part market, part experience. You can grab a quick espresso, shop for imported olive oil, take a cooking class, and eat fresh pasta all in one trip. Aventura just became a little more delicious.
11. Talay (NoDo, Orlando)
Orlando’s restaurant scene is heating up, and Talay is leading the charge in the NoDo neighborhood. From the team behind Isan Zaap comes this Thai seafood-focused concept that Orlando Weekly can’t stop talking about.
Fresh catches get the Thai treatment with bold flavors that balance sweet, sour, salty, and spicy. The menu leans heavily on seafood, but the Thai cooking techniques are what make everything sing.
NoDo is becoming Orlando’s dining destination, and Talay fits perfectly into the neighborhood’s growing reputation. It’s part of a wave of eye-catching 2025 openings that are putting Orlando on the national food map. If you’re tired of theme park dining, this is your escape to something more exciting.
12. Gyukatsu Rose (East End Market, Orlando)
Ever wanted to be the chef? Gyukatsu Rose lets you finish cooking your own breaded beef cutlet right at your seat, and it’s become cult-worthy for good reason. MICHELIN took notice in 2025, and reservations are now strongly recommended.
The gyukatsu arrives golden and crispy, but slightly rare inside. You control the final cooking on a hot stone, slicing and searing each piece exactly how you like it.
Located in East End Market, it feels like discovering a hidden gem even though everyone’s talking about it. The interactive cooking experience makes dinner feel like an event. Just remember to book ahead—this isn’t the kind of place you can walk into on a Friday night.
13. Smokemade Meats + Eats (Orlando)
Central Texas barbecue has landed in Orlando, and MICHELIN gave it a 2025 stamp of approval. Smokemade Meats + Eats does barbecue the old-school way: low and slow over wood smoke until everything’s tender and flavorful.
Pepper-rubbed ribs come off the smoker with a dark crust that gives way to pink, juicy meat. Jalapeño-cheddar sausage snaps when you bite it, releasing spicy, cheesy goodness. Everything’s served on butcher paper with house-sliced white bread.
It’s barbecue without fuss or fancy plating—just excellent meat and simple sides. Orlando’s food scene isn’t just theme parks anymore, and Smokemade proves the city can compete with barbecue capitals. Bring your appetite and napkins.
14. Fisk (Tampa)
From the chef behind one-Michelin-star Ebbe comes Fisk, a Scandinavian seafood bar that’s already turning heads. This 2025 MICHELIN addition brings Nordic flavors to Tampa with dishes that feel both comforting and creative.
Fish soup arrives steaming and rich, while the Alaskan smoked-salmon “éclair” reimagines a French pastry with Scandinavian ingredients. The à la carte format gives you flexibility to build your own experience.
Tampa’s dining scene continues to impress, and Fisk adds serious international credibility. The Scandinavian approach to seafood—clean flavors, quality ingredients, minimal fuss—translates beautifully to Florida’s seafood-loving crowd. It’s proof that Tampa belongs in conversations about America’s best food cities.
15. Cousin Vinny’s Sandwich Co. (Tampa)
Sometimes MICHELIN recognition goes to the fancy places, and sometimes it goes to a sandwich shop that absolutely crushes it. Cousin Vinny’s earned its spot with bread that’s perfectly crusty and Italian-American heroes that pack serious flavor.
The Tony Piccante is the move here—spicy, satisfying, and stuffed with quality ingredients. Lines form regularly because word has spread about how good these sandwiches are.
Located in Tampa’s NoHo neighborhood, it’s perpetually packed for good reason. The bread makes or breaks a sandwich, and Cousin Vinny’s nails it every single time. It’s proof that you don’t need white tablecloths to serve MICHELIN-worthy food—just excellent ingredients and people who care about what they’re making.
