Tapas in Miami

Wine Vault Miami

3201 N. Miami Ave., 105 Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

796-591-2000

Tapas, Restaurants, Sponsor

100 Montaditos

3252 NE First Ave. Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

305-921-4373

Sandwiches, Spanish, Tapas, Menu

There are about 200 locations worldwide, but the 100 Montaditos in midtown Miami is the first to open in America. It is the dollar store of fast-food franchises, but instead of a bunch of junk, you can get all sorts of great sandwiches: for instance, thin wisps of Serrano ham on warm, crunchy-crusted, olive-oil-drizzled, oven-fresh bread. That's $1. Other one-buck wonders include the same bread filled with pulled barbecue pork, smoked salmon, chorizo, or a host of other ingredients. For fifty cents more, diners are privy to sandwiches of tortilla española with chipotle aioli, or grilled chicken with brava sauce. Big spenders can get the $2 fillings, such as duck mousse with crisp onion. The same amount buys a hamburger or hot dog (100 sandwiches altogether). Sampler plates bring six montaditos for $8 and other such combinations. An 11-ounce bottle of Mahou 5 Estrellas beer is $2.50; a 17-ounce draft is $3. A five-beer bucket comes for $10; on Fridays it's two buckets for $10. Flat-screen TV sets provide entertainment, and the room looks more like a modern pub than a fast-food joint. Leave Ronald McDonald to the clowns.

4 articles

33 Kitchen

3195 Commodore Plaza Coconut Grove

786-899-0336

Asian, Latin, Latin American, Peruvian, Tapas

The man behind the Asian-influenced Peruvian food at 33 Kitchen in Coconut Grove is Chilean-born chef Sebastian Fernandez. He worked at the Coral Reef Yacht Club for 14 years before leaving to open 33 Kitchen with his Peruvian wife, Leslie Ames. The restaurant's name is a nod to the Grove's zip code, as well as the number of vertebrae in the human spine. It's also Fernandez's favorite number. The menu is divided into hot and cold tapas, each with about a dozen options. From the cold section, try the causa limena, a signature Peruvian potato dish made here with purple mashed potatoes, seared tuna, and microgreens. The final touch is a coating of creamy and spicy ají amarillo sauce, which the chef makes from scratch. It's utterly delectable and beautifully ties in all the elements. From the hot section, grilled octopus with an olive cream sauce and bonito chips is perfectly crisp and tender. For dessert, there's a delightful bread pudding. It's not quintessentially Peruvian, but neither is 33 Kitchen. It is, however, a great addition to Miami's dining scene.Read our full review.

4 articles

Alma

3206 Grand Ave. Coconut Grove

786-502-2155

Spanish, Tapas, Recommended

Chef Sergio Chamizo wants to educate his guests on the rich and vast culinary culture of Spain. At Alma, a sleek, industrial-style restaurant in Coconut Grove, Chamizo and his wife, Maria Polanco, serve food influenced by the chef's native Spain. Start your experience with the ajoblanco ($15), a kind of gazpacho from southern Spain, made with almonds, bread, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, and Japanese mackerel. Then keep an eye out for the steak tartare with a miso-cured egg-yolk emulsion and smoked paprika rice cracker.

2 articles

Asador 5 Jotas

1148 SW 27th Ave. Little Havana

786-518-2111

Spanish, Tapas, Recommended, Slideshow

Although stuck in a neighborhood between Little Havana and Coral Gables better known for insurance agencies than for restaurants, Asador 5 Jotas provides a delicious oasis in a dining desert. Combining traditional Basque touches with a restrained modern decor, the restaurant makes Spanish expats and Miami socialites alike feel at home. The menu, which concentrates on the cuisine of northern Spain, features more than 20 tapas in addition to entrées and a succinct dessert list. Small plates such as sautéed eel with shrimp (gulas con gambas) highlight the kitchen's knack with seafood and Spanish ingredients. Huevos rotos — made with poached eggs, crusty bread, serrano ham, and flakes of manchego — could double as a brunch item. Carnivores will delight in the specialty grilled meats, including lamb chops and a two-pound rib eye. Owner Javier Eseverri says, “This restaurant is in the middle of nothing and in the middle of everything.”Read our full review.

4 articles

B Bar Tapas & Grill

2995 NE 163 St., North Miami Beach North Miami

786-657-2275

Tapas, Menu

2 articles

Barcelona Wine Bar

310 NW 25th St. Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

305-824-2999

Spanish, Tapas

Barceloneta Miami

1400 20th St., Miami Beach South Beach

305-538-9299

Spanish, Tapas, Recommended, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

This hip neighborhood spot succeeds for the same reason the team's other two venues (Pubbelly and Pubbelly Sushi) have prospered: chef-driven, value-friendly food and drinks in a convivial and casual environment. Like a great actor, Barceloneta doesn't strain to achieve authenticity but reflects real Spanish cuisine through its own natural perspective. "Mercat" selections include Spanish cheeses — from Manchego to Mahón — and charcuterie such as jamón ibérico and Serrano ham. Better value comes via meats and fish grilled simply, such as a juicy eight-ounce skirt steak from Meyer Ranch or a meaty octopus tentacle from Spain. Heartier bistro courses include the traditional (tortilla española); traditional with a twist or two (chorizo a la sidra with added apples and creamy Valdeón blue cheese); and Ferran Adrià-inspired wonders such as octopus, chorizo, piquillo peppers, and tomato confit beneath a rich, delicate potato foam speckled with smoky pimentón de la Vera and drizzled with chorizo oil. Great Spanish wines, beers, and cocktails contribute to the good times. Barceloneta is an ideal spot to sit for a poet's dinner: a glass of Tempranillo, Manchego cheese, and some of that crusty bread. In fact, it's an ideal spot for dinner, period.

34 articles

BarMeli Miami

725 NE 79th St. Miami Shores/Biscayne Park

305-754-5558

Mediterranean, Tapas, Greek, Wine Bar, Recommended

This tapas and wine bar shares a small, slightly seedy shopping center with a hair salon and a tiny gym that promises personal training at discount prices. That makes it seem all the more like a hidden gem, a personal find, one of those so-called secret places that people whisper about to their friends, as in "I just found this great little joint." Inside, the restaurant feels like one of those wonderful little bistros or tavernas seen in movies. You really can't pinpoint the exact country or town; you just know it's damn charming. The bar is a welcoming place for commiserating with a comrade over a tough workday. The place is also friendly enough if you're on your own. Wines are predominantly from the Mediterranean, with some interesting selections from Sardinia and Israel. The tapas are all delicious, but the show-stopper is the flaming saganaki. The Greek cheese dish is doused with brandy and set aflame. Proteins include plenty of lamb, octopus, and a chicken breast that's nicely charred on the outside and juicy on the inside. Vegetarians have many options, such as piquillo peppers stuffed with manchego cheese, pine nuts, and almonds. A friendly, casual vibe, along with good food and drinks at reasonable prices, make BarMeli a great neighborhood joint. http://www.miaminewtimes.com/restaurants/barmeli-wonderful-tapas-and-affordable-wines-define-this-neighborhood-joint-7560716

8 articles

Barytono Cafe

2020 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood

954-239-8237

Bars and Clubs, Tapas, South American

2 events

Bloom Skybar

121 SE First St. Downtown/Overtown

857-600-2203

Bars and Clubs, Tapas

Cavas Wine Tasting Room

5829 SW 73rd St., South Miami Coral Gables/S. Miami

305-667-5332

European, Tapas, Wine Bar, Services, Best Of

1 article

Don Deo Brewing Bar & Grill

275 NE 18th St., Unit 107 Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

305-998-8512

Tap Rooms, Tapas, Bar Food, Breweries and Wineries, Brewery

1 article

El Carajo International Tapas & Wine

2465 SW 17th Ave. Coral Gables/S. Miami

305-856-2424

Spanish, Tapas, Recommended, Best Of, Menu, Essentials

Some of the best tapas in Miami can be found in a gas station convenience store at the corner of South Dixie Highway and SW 17th Avenue. Past the shelves of motor oil, sodas, and potato chips, you'll find El Carajo, a thoroughly charming wine and tapas bar that offers a 2,000-bottle wine list and a roster of tapas and main plates that's nearly as extensive. Even better, wine and food alike are exceptional values. The tabla de carne, an assortment of grilled skirt steak, lamb and pork chops, chicken breast, sausages, potatoes, and roasted peppers, will easily feed three hungry diners. Finish with a rich, creamy caramel flan.

14 articles

El Pimiento

16403 NW 67th Ave. Miami Lakes

305-826-8181

Spanish, Tapas, Best Of, Menu

There is more to Miami Lakes, which is squeezed between Hialeah and Miramar, than residential neighborhoods, golf, and a shrine to sports legend Don Shula. Residents have been hiding a shopping-center tapas gem for almost four years. Complete with a Spanish flag, cork-covered tables, and two terra cotta walls decorated with wine bottles for the picking, the quaint locale whisks patrons off to Spain even though it's located just a few feet from a convenience store. Three employees run the 12-table restaurant most nights; they recommend just the right wine to accompany more than 60 tapas including croquetas de bacalao ($5.95), tortilla española ($5.95), and garbanzo frito ($7.95), in that exact order. For those looking for a fuller meal, the suburban hush-hush also serves larger dishes such as paella valenciana ($26.95). Owner, part-time chef, and Spaniard Mylo Gonzalez remembers every face and makes sure visitors return to his little piece of Andalusia.

4 articles

Elevar Wynwood

3400 Biscayne Blvd. Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

786-677-3119

Tapas, Small Plates

The Embassy

4600 NE 2nd Ave. Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

305-571-8446

Breakfast/Brunch, Tapas, Menu, Slideshow

The Embassy in Buena Vista oozes a carefree vibe. Late-night dining pairs with a varied schedule of live music. On any given evening, there might be rock 'n' roll, Cuban son, or jams performed by chef-owner Alan Hughes himself. There is no stage; musicians strum guitars in a tight corner of the dining room. Across the bar, platters are arranged with pintxos, a type of skewered snack popular in northern Spain. A separate small-plates menu changes weekly and lists dishes such as delectable, rich stewed tomatoes topped with capers, black olives, and a buttered slice of baguette, enveloping a luscious, flaky fillet of corvina. But other offerings, such paprika-dusted braised rabbit with a Greek-yogurt-stuffed roasted red pepper and Israeli couscous, are underseasoned. The Embassy is eclectic, imperfect, funky, and erratic. On nights when Wynwood feels too artsy or the Design District seems too snazzy, Hughes's latest venture in Buena Vista is a hip, fascinating, and delightful place to visit.

3 articles

Eno's Wine and Tapas Bar

920 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach South Beach

305-695-1119

Tapas, Best Of

Eno's brings a new way of sampling wine to Lincoln Road. Sleek wine vending machines line the walls, and there is ample bar seating under large chandeliers. The menu focuses on a sizable selection of antipasti. There's the Español mixed platter ($20), which includes serrano ham, chorizo, Manchego, and olives. Or try the Français mixed platter ($23), with salami, camembert, foie gras, and goat cheese. In addition, guests can assemble their own platters by selecting individual cured meats and cheeses. Enos also offers European-style salads and sandwiches such as Caprese ($10) and prosciutto with black olive tapenade ($9). Then there's the Norwegian smoked salmon with cream cheese, onion, and caperberries ($9). Ample outdoor seating allows for lingering, and you can replenish your wine glass via the automatic dispensers inside.

1 article

Happy Wine

5792 SW Eighth St. Westchester/West Miami

305-262-2465

Wine Bar, Tapas, Best Of, Menu

Happy Wine and Gourmet is more wine shop than anything else (and the bottle and case prices are among the lowest), but it's also part wine bar, where you can sit down and enjoy your wine with tapas and sandwiches at tables made from casks, crates, and a door-size plank of wood propped up by barrels at each end. A generous pour of the wine du jour is an inarguably great deal if you're imbibing by the glass, but most patrons prefer to pluck a bottle from the shelves. The sandwiches here feature fresh baguettes with a choice of seven fillings, including ham, turkey, prosciutto, and grilled chicken.

8 articles

Kebo Restaurant

200 Crandon Blvd., Suite 104 Key Biscayne

305-365-1244

Mediterranean, Spanish, Tapas, Best Of

A classic and imaginative Spanish food restaurant offering the best of the Mediterranean Spanish cuisine, featuring deliciously composed "tapas" perfect for sharing, meats, fishes, paellas, and more in an inside or outside warm and relaxed atmosphere. Both in the restaurant or bar area, enjoy a wine, cava, and beer list filled with specialty spanish beverages.

1 article

Korner67

6769 Main St. Miami Lakes

305-280-0910

Tapas

Husband-and-wife team Cesar Olivo and Adriana Perez Benatar, two-thirds of the trio behind Aventura's Reunion Ktchn Bar, have opened their newest restaurant in Miami Lakes. Korner 67 (K67) could be described as Reunion’s hip new sister, carrying on some traditions and delivering new delights unique to the establishment with a menu executed by chef Adriana Cisneros. Fans of Reunion will find signature items, including the flaming Greek saganaki cheese, the burrata, and the seafood risotto. New dishes include zucchini carpaccio and basil pesto shrimp tagliatelle. Pair it with a selection of cocktails and alcohol-free mocktails.

1 article

La Taberna Giralda

254 Giralda Ave. Coral Gables/S. Miami

786-362-5677

Spanish, Tapas, Recommended, Menu

Upon entering La Taberna Giralda, it appears to be more wine shop than dining establishment, as wooden crates and cardboard cases filled with mostly South American bottles take up the restaurant's entranceway. Like stage props, they provide the requisite setting and mood — that of a quaintly cluttered, Old World bistro. The atmosphere, in fact, practically begs you convert a couple of those bottles into a starring role with your meal; so does a corkage fee of only two dollars. The Peruvian cuisine may play second fiddle to the endearing environment, but most of it is first rate just the same. The seafood-intense menu only offers one fish, corvina, and a cast of assorted shellfish, all of which are available deep-fried, broiled, stewed, and sauteed, with sundry sauces such as tomato, garlic, picante, or cilantro. A few beef dishes are available as well.

2 articles

Las Culebrinas

2890 S.W. 27th Ave. Coconut Grove

305-448-4090

Cuban, Spanish, Tapas, Best Of, Menu

Big portions, tasty fare, inexpensive prices -- is it any wonder the lines are so long? This Cuban-Spanish café features tapas such as chickpeas sautéed with chorizo, and cold seafood marinated in a vinaigrette dressing. Vaca frita and palomilla are excellent entrées; daily specials tend to be more inventive -- fried beef brains, sautéed frog's legs, alligator française, and goat stewed in Coke. Crema catalana, the house dessert, is blowtorched right at the table for that delicate, burnt-sugar crust.

3 articles

Las Tapas de Rosa

449 SW Eighth St. Little Havana

305-856-9788

Spanish, Tapas, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

This little gem in a strip mall at SW Fifth Avenue and Eighth Street takes the edge off the day with nice wine, good tapas, and a relaxed atmosphere. A zarzuela de mariscos includes bay scallops and a broth that's beautifully light, properly salted, and delightfully tasty. The squid, mussels, and other parts of the casserole are excellent. The calamari is plentiful and lightly fried. Double your return on the zarzuela investment by dipping the calamari in the seafood broth. The real standout is the tortilla española with chorizo. It's flavorful, plentiful, and spicy.

2 articles

Lulu in the Grove

3105 Commodore Plaza Coconut Grove

305-447-5858

Tapas, American, Recommended, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

Lulu's indoor space is lounge-like, with a small bar and urban art splashed on the walls, but just about everyone chooses the outdoor seating. The single-page menu is a savvy compilation. Try the goat cheese croquettes, Brussels sprouts with orange glaze, corn-on-the-cob with shichimi spices, and bacon-wrapped, sausage-stuffed dates. Burgers are excellent, be it a beef, pork, turkey, or moist and tasty veggie patty culled from brown rice, black beans, and beets. Choose from some two dozen bottles of wine. Lulu is a hospitable stop where friends can gather and enjoy themselves over affordable wines and a smart selection of popular bites.

20 articles

Lung Yai Thai Tapas

1731 SW Eighth St. Little Havana

786-334-6262

Thai, Tapas, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Slideshow, Readers' Choice, Essentials

If you're not used to the searing heat of Thai spice, ask for Lung Yai Thai Tapas' lab e-sarn — a chilled ground-pork salad spiked with hefty doses of cumin, chilies, and star anise. It's one of a number of recipes chef/owner Bas Trisransi revived after learning at his grandfather's side decades ago. Bas knows that the development of deep, complex flavors can't be rushed. This is quality Thai food that's both affordable and casual, and the tapas style will rightly tempt diners to sample everything on the menu. A meal at Lung Yai is a crash course for the palate — and the Michelin Guide took note, awarding the restaurant a Bib Gourmand designation in 2022.

13 articles

Madrid Tapas y Vinos

525 NW 42nd Ave. Miami-Dade - West

786-391-2471

Tapas, Spanish

Michael Mina 74

4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach Mid/North Beach

305-674-4636

American, Fusion, Modern American, Tapas, Critics' Pick, Slideshow

Michael Mina 74 -- the tony late-night spot at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach -- might remind you of a nightclub. Inside the cavernous dining room, bachelorettes clink glasses of champagne, men in suits chat over stone crabs and Vieux Carrés, and EDM beats pulsate incessantly through the speakers. If you've heard of Michael Mina, this liveliness shouldn't come as a surprise. The James Beard Award-winning chef oversees 20 restaurants across the country, including his Michelin-starred namesake in San Francisco. Here, Mina blends nightlife and cookery. There are old-school extravagances such as a lobster potpie and a Russian royal osetra caviar service worth hundreds of dollars. But you can also try the pasta laced with Florida lobster, uni, and lemon beurre blanc; Mina's signature tuna tartare with Asian pear and Scotch bonnets; and a grilled quail coupled with foie gras. His late-night menu adds exuberance to Caribbean cuisine. At 4 a.m., after a wild night of partying at LIV next door, you can try Mina's Cuban sandwich. Condolences to the abuelitas of Miami: It's packed with foie gras.Read our full review.

33 articles

One Door East

620 S. Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale

954-368-6902

Asian Fusion, Tapas

Open Stage Club

2325 Galiano St. Coral Gables/S. Miami

305-441-7902

Tapas, Wine Bar, Bars and Clubs, Menu

32 articles

Pawn Broker

121 SE 1st St. Downtown/Overtown

305-420-2225

Bars and Clubs, Tapas, Best Of

22 articles

Perfecto

1450 Brickell Ave. Downtown/Overtown

305-372-0620

Spanish, Tapas, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

At Perfecto, a gastrobar on Brickell Avenue, the mood is celebratory and the food is a modern riff on Catalan classics. With its vertiginous ceiling, modern art, and orchids so massive they appear to have been genetically modified, the industrial-style room is stunning. It's the brainchild of Oscar Manresa, a chef-restaurateur from Barcelona with 20 years of experience. Adamant about serving authentic fare, Manresa plucked Perfecto's chef de cuisine, Daniel Torres, from Barcelona, where he worked at the Michelin-starred Catalan restaurant Hofmann. From the tapas-heavy menu, the avocado cannelloni is a must; just don't expect to find any pasta. Inside an exoskeleton of interwoven avocado slices lie juicy morsels of lump crabmeat enhanced with diced tomatoes, microgreens, and ginger. Also excellent are the gently fried beef meatballs portioned with cuttlefish in a wine sauce. The majority of items at Perfecto, including the three types of paella, are intended for sharing, so it's best to arrive in a group.

3 articles

Pléthore et Balthazar

101 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach South Beach

305-672-6624

Bars and Clubs, Bistro, French, Tapas, Menu

Tapas in Miami

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