Italian Restaurants in Miami

Based in the courtyard of Soho Beach House, Cecconi's is a contemporary classic Italian restaurant that serves hand-made pasta, seafood, and dishes from Italy using the finest locally sourced and imported ingredients. Open for brunch, lunch, cicchetti, and dinner 7 days a week, Cecconi's features a lovely setting in which to dine, with an overhead pergola filled with hanging plants and twinkling light-wrapped tree trunks.

A small interior lounge caters for indoor diners and a sleek bar serves Cicchetti (Italian tapas) and a selection of handcrafted cocktails and other libations. Signature dishes on the menu include tender chilled vitello tonnato with a creamy tuna and caper sauce, goat cheese pizza with black truffles, and Maine lobster spaghetti with saffron and basil. Cecconi's also has outposts in West Hollywood, Berlin, and Istanbul.

Cecconi's, 4385 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140, Phone: 786-507-7902

CRUST is a casual Italian restaurant that specializes in gourmet pizzas and modern regional dishes. Run by acclaimed chef/owner Klime Kovaceski and his wife Anita, CRUST Restaurant offers a unique dining experience in a standalone art deco building near the Miami River. Retaining the original charm of the former 1950s building, the eatery boasts stunning interiors with a lofty 14-foot ceiling, elegant geometric lines, and majestic columns.

A 10-seater bar serves an extensive list of fine wines, handcrafted cocktails, spirits, and other drinks, while the stylish dining room, which seats 65 guests, exudes a laidback, casual ambiance in which to savor tantalizing gourmet pizzas and classic Italian dishes. Signature pizzas on the menu include the Mediterranean Pizza with Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and eggplant, and the Truffled Pizza with truffle oil, parmesan, and arugula.

CRUST, 668 NW 5th St, Miami, FL 33128, Phone: 305-371-7065

Bringing traditional Italian fare from the heart of Milano to the center of Miami, Ristorante Fratelli Milano offers a genuine taste of Italy. Owned and managed by twin brother Chefs Roberto and Emanuele Bearzi, this family-owned and operated restaurant serves lunch and dinner menus of refined Northern Italian cooking served in an elegant dining space with a beautiful waterfront terrace.

Although an oasis in a gritty part of town, Ristorante Fratelli Milano offers delicious house-made pasta and pizzas, artisanal bread, ocean-fresh seafood, and a mouthwatering list of daily specials. Don't miss the to-die-for desserts, which include treats like Chef Emanuele's bombolone: Nutella or cream-filled Italian doughnuts that will not disappoint.

Ristorante Fratelli Milano, 213 SE 1st St, Miami, FL 33131, Phone: 305-373-2300

This high-end downtown Italian eatery combines excellent Italian cuisine in an elegant setting with spectacular views of the Miami River and Biscayne Bay to present a unique dining experience.

The menu at Il Gabbiano rises to the occasion with complimentary focaccia and a selection of fresh cheeses and charcuterie on arrival, followed by mouthwatering signature dishes such as risotto ai frutti di mare, filetto farcito (tender filet with foie gras), and Champagne escalope of veal sautéed in a delicious Champagne cream served with fresh julienne vegetables. Desserts cater to both a sweet and savory tooth and include zabaglione, Italian cheesecake, and Positano oranges.

Il Gabbiano, 335 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33131, Phone: 305-373-0063

Wedged onto Washington Ave between Fourth and Fifth Streets, La Locanda is a tiny hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant that serves an extensive menu of traditional Italian cuisine for lunch and dinner.

Owned and operated by Francesco Cavalletti and Massimo Fortunato, their cozy 'little bambino' comfortably seats up to 60 guests, who tuck into delicious dishes such as ravioli stuffed with spinach and cheese in a light pink sauce, linguini with clams, veal scaloppini of the day, and a variety of gourmet pizzas. Desserts include Italian cheesecake, creme caramel, and homemade panna cotta, while an extensive list of fine wines is available to pair with the delicious fare.

La Locanda , 419 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, Phone: 305-538-6277

Macchialina is a tiny Alton Road eatery owned by former Scarpetta chef Michael Pirolo, who makes every guest feel right at home on arrival. The popular restaurant serves a creative menu of the freshest house-made pasta, the richest red sauces, hearty meat and chicken dishes, and decadent desserts, along with an inventive cocktail list.

Pasta, risotto, and gnocchi are all made by hand by the chef himself; the house lasagna puts nonna's to shame, and nobody should leave without trying signature dishes like the Mediterranean octopus with concentrated tomato and potato cream or the beet mezzaluna crowned with hazelnuts, brown butter, and ricotta salata. Libations include handcrafted cocktails and boutique wines from Italian producers.

Macchialina , 820 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139, Phone: 305-538-6277, Fax: 786-275-6088

Named after renowned Chef Dena Marino and her business-savvy partner, Brandy Coletta, MC Kitchen is a definitive Miamian-Italian eatery that features a contemporary dining room, an open kitchen, and a public bar that flows out of the restaurant and into the hallway.

The casually sophisticated 145-seater restaurant offers a seasonally changing menu of delectable fare such as artichoke bruschetta topped with a barely poached egg, whipped squash-filled burrata, pumpkin tortelloni with rabbit ragout, and braised Florida grouper adorned with Calabrese sausage, gems of broccoli rabe, and white clams. The impressive wine list boasts over 450 labels, ranging from small boutique wineries to global vintages.

MC Kitchen , Miami Design District, 4141 NE 2nd Ave #101a, Miami, FL 33137, Phone: 305-456-9948

Centrally located in Miami's East Side, Ni.Do. Caffe Italian Restaurant offers excellent authentic Italian cuisine in a casual setting with mismatched tables and chairs and outdoor seating. Renowned for being the first bar serving homemade fresh mozzarella in Miami, Ni.Do. Caffé serves brunch, lunch, and dinner as well as drinks and cocktails and catering services.

This no-frills café celebrates all that is Italian with a menu of authentic dishes such as a selection of freshly made cow and buffalo mozzarella, platters of antipasti, crisp salads, wood-fired pizza, house-made pasta, and succulently grilled fish and meats. The café also has a small market that sells imported salamis, meats and cheeses, fresh and dried pasta, and organic and biodynamic wines.

Ni.Do. Caffe Italian Restaurant, 7295 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138, Phone: 305-960-7022

Perricone's Marketplace & Cafe has been hailed as South Florida's best Italian restaurant for nearly 20 years and continues to do so today. Nestled in the heart of downtown Miami, this quaint Italian restaurant and gourmet market offers loyal patrons and visitors alike a unique dining and shopping experience with a menu of traditional Italian cuisine.

Located near Brickell Avenue in Mary Brickell Village, Perricone's is a great alternative to the hustle, bustle, and high prices of nearby South Beach, with a lush, tropical resort-style setting that can also be hired for private events. The gourmet market is stocked with indulgent coffees and teas, cheese and charcuterie, fine wines, and decadent desserts.

Perricone's Marketplace & Cafe, 1700 SW 3rd Ave, Miami, FL 33129, Phone: 305-374-9449