Every year, between August and September, Miami sets its finest table. The Miami Spice program, which aims to promote the local culinary scene and celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2026, opens the doors to more than 400 restaurants offering special three-course menus at special prices — the perfect excuse to explore the city with a fork in hand.
These days, I visited three places that, for very different reasons, stayed with me: one overlooking Biscayne Bay, another dramatic and theatrical, and another set amid the graffiti of Wynwood. Miami Spice runs through September 30, so there’s still plenty of time to complete the full route. Here’s my experience, what I tried, and some other recommendations.
The Mexican
The Mexican opened in Miami recently, in April, and is located on Brickell Key, the artificial island in the middle of Biscayne Bay, with enviable views of the Downtown Miami skyline. When you arrive, the entire city unfolds before your eyes.
The concept was born in Dallas, Texas, where the original The Mexican is located. It was recognized by UNESCO’s Prix Versailles as one of the most beautiful restaurants in the world. However, the Miami location is no slouch either: floor-to-ceiling golden doors lead into a tequila gallery with hundreds of bottles, limestone arches, geometric mosaic floors, and enormous windows overlooking the bay.
It works equally well for a romantic date or a night out with friends. There’s energy, space, luxury, and music. It’s a place that invites you to enjoy your surroundings and stay “just a little while longer.”
What to Order
The Miami Spice menu includes aguachiles, tortilla soup, Black Angus tacos, Swiss enchiladas, piquín salmon, petit filet, and a selection of homemade desserts (lunch $40 / dinner $65, Tuesday through Friday).
Beyond the Miami Spice menu, don’t leave without ordering the Ribeye Chicharrón served over a bed of guacamole; it’s creamy, served in a volcanic stone molcajete and topped with crispy slices of Texas Wagyu ribeye. For drinks, my vote goes to a well-made Old Fashioned to open the appetite, and for the table, the Mujeres Divinas margarita, made with hibiscus and damiana.
Address: 601 Brickell Key Dr, Suite 100, Miami, FL 33131
Instagram: @themexican.miami
Reserve your table here.
Faena Theater
If you’re looking for something that feels like an event and goes beyond dinner, this is the place. Faena Theater, inside the Faena Hotel in Miami Beach, is currently presenting Obsession. Its signature offering? An immersive cabaret created alongside performing arts collective Quixotic, featuring live music, hypnotic choreography, and a production that blends the glamour of old European opera houses with Golden Age Hollywood. Somewhere between sensuality and theatricality, it is one of the most original experiences currently available in Miami for a night out as a couple.
The evening feels designed to linger: dinner before the show, the hour-and-a-half performance beneath golden lights and stage fog, and afterward, the option to stay for drinks while the night continues. That’s why I recommend it for couples looking for something different from the usual dinner.
What to Order
The Miami Spice menu includes admission to the show with seats in the third row of the orchestra, along with a choice of appetizer, main course, and dessert, for $200 per person. That said, I personally recommend the burger with truffle fries.
Address: 3201 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140
Instagram: @faenatheater
Reserve your table here.
Double Knot
I’ll close with a complete change of pace: Double Knot, a modern izakaya from chef Michael Schulson, located in the heart of Wynwood, surrounded by art and graffiti. In fact, the building where the restaurant is located is essentially a giant mural itself, and it sits just steps from Wynwood Walls, one of the reasons people come to the neighborhood in the first place.
As soon as you walk in, the atmosphere changes completely: a New York street-style feel mixed with Japanese industrial design that surprisingly works very well. The service is excellent; it’s one of the best demonstrations of hospitality you’ll find in Miami.
One important detail worth mentioning about the Miami Spice menu: at Double Knot, everyone at the table must order from the same Miami Spice menu — you cannot mix it with the regular menu or order individual items outside the program. That said, it’s important to coordinate with your dining companions before arriving.
What to Order
The Miami Spice menu is designed to be shared family-style and costs $65 per person. For this price, the table can choose from a robatayaki skewer, a sushi roll, a crispy dish, a meat or fish entrée, a side, a small plate, and a cold dish, followed by the restaurant’s signature ice cream for dessert.
Guests can also choose from Double Knot’s specialty cocktail selection: the Alpine Knot (made with gin, yuzu, and honey) or the Splice Knot (with shishito vodka, ginger honey, and lime). Both are excellent options to accompany the variety of small plates.
Address: 2550 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127
Instagram: @doubleknot_mia
Reserve your table here.
