Miami Neighborhood Guide: Brickell

If you’re in your 20s in Miami, Brickell is the place to be. With high rises and tons of great restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, it’s basically the Manhattan of Miami (minus the awful winter and fourth floor walk-up apartments).

Where to Eat

American Social
From brunch to dinner, American Social has great food and drinks and even better views. Definitely sit outside if there’s availability, so you can watch the yachts passing by in the Miami River. On Saturdays and Sundays, AmSo offers brunch with bottomless mimosas for $25. It gets very crowded for weekend mornings, so I’d recommend making a reservation in advance, especially for large parties.
690 SW 1st Ct.

Baby Jane
Baby Jane is easily one of my favorite restaurants in Brickell, mostly because of my unconditional love for ramen. I typically go for the pork ramen (Tonkotsu), although the fried chicken (Shiro Shoyu) one is next up on my list. Honestly, the bowls have so much broth, noodles and toppings, that I think even the vegetarian one (Shiro Kombu) would fill me up. To drink, the spicy passionfruit margarita is my go-to. They also do sake bombs, which is a really fun way to start the night.
500 Brickell Ave. #105

Barsecco
Located on the south end of Brickell, Barsecco looks like a lush oasis in the middle of a concrete jungle. It has a large, shaded outdoor lounge surrounded by plants and an awesome happy hour menu. They offer happy hour daily from 3 to 7 p.m., which includes craft cocktails, martinis, beer, wine and champagne for just $6. They of course do weekend brunch with bottomless mimosas for $25, or you can splurge an extra $10 and do bottomless Bloody Marys.
1421 S. Miami Ave.

Batch Gastropub
Batch is the best spot in Brickell for bar food and for watching any sports game. (Fair warning to my fellow Canes fans that this is a UF bar on game day). The chicken wings, buffalo chicken nachos and giant Bavarian pretzel will satisfy any comfort food craving. Or go for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays when bottomless mimosas, bellinis and sangria are $20.
30 SW 12th St.

Cantina La Veinte
Located in the Viceroy Miami, Cantina La Veinte is an upscale Mexican restaurant. The menu is massive: From soups to salads to seafood to make your own tacos, they have something for everyone’s food mood. Their margaritas are a bit pricey ($17) but I’m not kidding when I say that they’re massive and probably the size of two margaritas. They also have brunch on Sundays that includes bottomless mimosas, margaritas, rosé AND food if you’re willing to spend $95.
495 Brickell Ave.

Casa Tua Cucina
Casa Tua is set up sort of like a food court rather than a traditional, sit-down restaurant. They have 10 different stations from charcuterie boards to pasta to pizza to wine. Their cacio e pepe is phenomenal as well as their salads. They have also expanded their seating to outside (but still inside Brickell City Centre) because of Covid.
70 SW 7th St. (inside of Brickell City Centre)

Coyo Taco
A casual Mexican chain in Miami, Coyo Taco has an impressive amount of tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and bowls. Though you can’t go wrong with any of the tacos on the menu, the grouper frito — made with beer-battered grouper, roasted jalapeño aioli, avocado, pico de gallo, and citrus slaw — and the al pastor — made with marinated pork, roasted pineapple, onion, cotija cheese, and cilantro — tacos are my personal favorites. Also their mango margarita with a tajin rim is to die for. Stay and eat at one of their outdoor picnic tables or take it to-go.
1111 SW 1st Ave.

Crazy About You
Situated right on the water, definitely grab a table outside here for spectacular views of Brickell Key and Biscayne Bay. They have great deals on the dinner menu: Any two tapas are $22 and every entree comes with an appetizer of your choice. I love the BBQ bacon cheeseburger, Mexican ox-tail tacos and vegetable spring rolls. Come for the views, stay for the frozen sangria and rosé.
1155 Brickell Bay Dr. #101

Dolores But You Can Call Me Lolita
Owned by the same people as Crazy About You, Dolores But You Can Call Me Lolita is in the heart of Mary Brickell Village. They have a lot of the same deals as Crazy About You – like any two tapas for $22 and every entree comes with an appetizer – and some of the menu items overlap, too. Their brunch menu is excellent with choices like a veggie brunch wrap and a croissant egg sandwich that comes with their addicting breakfast chips. I ordered the chicken and waffles after running the Miami Half Marathon and actually devoured the whole thing. For a lighter breakfast, the out of the box fish sandwich — made with blackened and grilled mahi, watercress, tomato, and spicy mayo served on Zak the Baker brioche with a side of shoestring fries — is both delicious and filling.
1000 S. Miami Ave.

Fi’lia
Located inside of the SLS Brickell, Fi’lia offers great Italian food. They have tons of pastas and pizzas to choose from, as well as meat options if you’re not in the mood for carbs, but I’m always in the mood for carbs. Like any good Italian restaurant, they have a lengthy wine list of reds, whites and rosés. There is also a Fi’lia in Miami Beach.
1300 South Miami Ave.

Komodo
If you’re looking for a bougie dinner, look no further than Komodo. Yes it’s expensive, but in my opinion, it’s so worth it. The food is amazing. Some of my favorite dishes are the salmon tacos, the tuna and toro roll, and the rock shrimp. Also, a salad may not be the first thing you’d think to order here, but the Komodo chicken salad is outstanding. You’ll definitely need a reservation here. If you go, be on the lookout for Justin Bieber or the Kardashians.
801 Brickell Ave.

Mister 01
This isn’t your traditional pizza place; they have pies like the Marco (burrata, arugula and tomatoes) and Coffee Paolo (mozzarella, blue cheese, honey, coffee grinds and spicy salami). I know it sounds weird, but it somehow works. My favorite though is the Star Michele, which has grilled eggplant, zucchini, roasted peppers and a ricotta-filled crust. They do have a nice sit-down outdoor area, but I usually do takeout. There’s something about pizza that’s just meant to be eaten on a couch wearing sweatpants. There are three other locations in Wynwood, Coconut Grove and Miami Beach.
1000 S. Miami Ave.

Moxie’s
Moxie’s menu has essentially everything under the sun: Burgers, ramen, pasta, tacos, seafood. Whatever you get, do yourself a favor and order a side of fries; you won’t regret it. The blackened shrimp tacos are great for when you’re hungry, but don’t want to feel too full afterwards. They’re topped with corn salsa, spicy sour cream, and pickled onions; plus, they come with a side of chips and guac. And the jalapeño margarita (with a tajin rim, of course) pairs perfectly. The brunch menu is both delicious and affordable. The vegetarian huevos rancheros – made with sunny side eggs, cheese- and refried beans-filled tortillas, rice, salsa, and avocado – is just $15, plus it comes with tortilla chips on the side.
900 S. Miami Ave. #161

North Italia
In the heart of Mary Brickell Village, North Italia offers a large menu of Italian staples. Appetizers include prosciutto bruschetta, crispy calamari and burrata. And their entrees and pastas include bolognese and chicken parm (I love the chicken pesto pasta). They also have seven different types of pizza. Their outdoor high tops are the perfect place to sip a refreshing Aperol Spritz in the Miami heat.
900 S. Miami Ave., #111

PaperFish
PaperFish just opened in Brickell in April 2021. Everything about it is authentically Japanese, from the decor to the menu. The Ishiyaki del Mar was surprisingly one of my favorite dishes; squid, octopus and shrimp bathed in Japanese butter, it’s light and delicious. The presentation was also spectacular, served inside of seashells with a candle in the middle. They also have crispy rice with either tuna or salmon on top. Though the address says South Miami Avenue, the entrance is really behind Barsecco on 14th Street.
1421 S. Miami Ave.

Pilo’s Street Tacos
As you can probably guess from the name, tacos are king here; they have 11 different variations. On the weekends, they serve Birria tacos, which have become so famous thanks to TikTok. They offer more than just tacos, though. They also have burritos, burrito bowls and quesadillas.
28 SW 11th St.

Piola
A casual Italian restaurant, Piola is great for when you’re craving an easy dinner outing with good food. I usually opt for a pizza pie here because they have so many options (18 to be exact). Their tagline is even “famosi per la pizza.” Pair any of their pizzas with an Italian wine and you’re good to go.
1250 S. Miami Ave.

Pubbelly Sushi
This isn’t your average sushi joint; their rolls are so innovative. If you’re only going to get one, go for the Butter Krab roll just for the sheer “wow” factor. It comes with two giant pieces of crab wrapped in soy paper. Instead of dipping it in soy sauce, like most rolls, you dip it in a cup of warm butter. Some other notable mentions are the Bigeye Tuna and the Heat rolls.
701 S. Miami Ave., #421 (Brickell City Centre)

SoCal Cantina
I truly don’t know what’s better here: The tacos or the margs. Their tacos come in order sizes of one to three, so you can get one of a few different tacos, or three of the same. With $25 bottomless mimosas, $50 bottomless margaritas, $3 breakfast tacos and $10 breakfast burritos, their weekend brunch should be on everyone’s foodie bucket list.
1000 S. Miami Ave.

Tacology
At Tacology, the entire menu is on a tablet on the table and you order food and drinks through there. Everything pretty much comes out all at once, so if you want some time between your chips and guac and your tacos, wait a few minutes before ordering the entrees. They surprisingly don’t partake in Taco Tuesday, but they do have $7 margs from 7 to 10 p.m. on Thursdays. Side note: Tacology is definitely better for dine-in than takeout. I only did takeout once, and the ingredients for the tacos all came in separate containers (unlabeled) and we basically had to make our own tacos.
701 S. Miami Ave. (Brickell City Centre)

Where to Stay

EAST Miami
EAST is a four star hotel with an amazing pool deck and amazing views of Brickell and Biscayne Bay. For locals, it’s most known for its rooftop bar, Sugar. On the 40th floor, it’s a great spot for sunset drinks or an after dinner nightcap.
788 Brickell Plaza

Mandarin Oriental
The MO is located on Brickell Key with gorgeous views of the skyline. It’s a great option for those who don’t want to stay in the heart of the city while still being within walking distance of great restaurants and bars. It’s also the only hotel in Brickell with a “beach.” Though definitely not the same as staying in Miami Beach, their manmade beach is a nice escape from the crowded pool deck.
500 Brickell Key Dr.

W Miami
Formerly Viceroy Miami, the W is right on the edge of Brickell before the bridge into Downtown Miami. I love when hotels actually serve good coffee and there’s a Panther Coffee kiosk in the lobby, which is in my opinion one of the best coffee shops in Miami. Just outside of its front doors are an XO Espresso Bar coffee cart and Mexican restaurant Cantina La Viente.
485 Brickell Ave.

Where to Go Out

8Street Brickell
Having recently opened in 2021, 8Street Brickell is an upscale cocktail lounge. Unlike most bars in Brickell, this is a place where you’d sit down and have a nice craft cocktail. The menu includes drinks like a guava margarita, negroni, passion fruit daiquiri, and a smoked old fashion. There are some tables inside and a nice lounge seating area outside.
86 SW 8th St.

Better Days
Better Days is a casual bar near the Miami River. While most of Miami is pretty ostentatious, it’s nice to have a bar where you can show up in jeans and sneakers. There’s tons of comfy seating and the furniture has a ’70s/retro vibe. It can get packed on the weekends so be prepared to deal with a crowd and possibly wait in line to get in.
75 SE 6th St.

Blackbird
Anyone who knows me knows that Blackbird is my favorite bar in Miami. With one bar in the main area and two in the back room, the place is huge and always plays the best music. Sadly, most of the dance floor is now taken up by reserved tables because apparently they think they’re LIV. Blackbird, get rid of the tables and bring back the dancing panda man and all will be right in the world. Arguably the best night of the week is Ladies Night where ladies drink free from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Pro tip: Go to American Social for dinner where all you can eat tacos are $15 and margaritas are just $4 on Tuesdays and then go across the street to Blackbird for free drinks for the rest of the night.
729 SW 1st Ave.

Blue Martini
Located on the second floor in Mary Brickell Village, Blue Martini is a more upscale lounge. They naturally serve martinis here and even have a menu with 17 different specialty martinis. PSA: there is usually a cover here.
900 S Miami Ave. #250

Redbar
Redbar is most known for its Instagrammable neon “You Are Exactly Where You Need To Be” sign above the entrance. They offer happy hour every day until 8 p.m. and ladies drink free on Thursdays.
52 SW 10th St.

Tucandela
Not that there’s any shortage of bars that strictly play Latin music in Miami, but if you’re looking for one in Brickell, this is one of the best. It’s open until 5 a.m. so you can bailar with your amigas all night (don’t judge me for my limited knowledge of Spanish).
901 Brickell Plaza

Coffee Shops

B Bistro
B Bistro is a restaurant/coffee shop/bakery down the street from Brickell City Centre. It’s a very popular brunch spot on the weekends, but you can also walk right up to the counter and get a coffee to go. Treat yourself and throw in some croissants and macarons.
600 Brickell Ave., 175

Casa Tua
Most people know Casa Tua as a great Italian restaurant on the ground floor of Brickell City Centre. And it is. But they also have great coffee at their dessert stand. Make a left once you enter and order your favorite coffee.
70 SW 7th St.

Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar
The quality of the coffee at Crema is amazing. And whenever I get a flavored latte, it’s never too syrup-y, and has just the right amount of flavoring. They also serve breakfast all day, and the open-faced breakfast sandwich is my favorite item on the menu. Crema is rapidly expanding, so be on the lookout for one opening in your neighborhood – if it hasn’t already.
1010 Brickell Ave. #500

I Think She Is
On the outskirts of Brickell, I Think She Is is a super trendy coffee shop. They have all of the classic coffee offerings, as well as some original ones (treat yourself to a Nutella latte). I Think She Is recently underwent a renovation and now they have an awesome outdoor seating area. They also have the friendliest staff; I always leave there with a smile on my face (and not just because they’re enabling my caffeine addiction).
169 SW 7th St.

Puroast Coffee
From the outside, Puroast looks pretty small, but it’s surprisingly big on the inside – especially for a coffee shop in Brickell. They always have a couple of blends to choose from when ordering a regular or iced coffee. The Greca, served in a giant cafetera, is great for sharing with a fellow coffee lover.
632 S Miami Ave.

Raccoon Coffee
If you’re walking toward Brickell Key, make a left right before crossing the bridge. A little ways down, you’ll find a park area with tables, benches, and food trucks. Until 4 p.m. on weekdays and 3 p.m. on weekends, one of those food trucks is Raccoon Coffee. Grab a coffee and walk around Brickell Key or just sit on a bench and enjoy the view.
609 Brickell Ave.

Rosetta
Rosetta has a half-dozen locations in Miami, with their newest opening in Brickell in early 2021. Rosetta is an authentic Italian bakery, named after a specific type of bread. So be sure to get a focaccia or bombolone with your cappuccino.
1451 Brickell Ave.
824 S. Miami Ave.

Toasted Bagelry & Deli
There are two things in particular that I love about Toasted’s coffee: Their iced coffee comes with coffee cubes instead of ice cubes, so it doesn’t get watered down as the ice melts. And they don’t charge extra for flavored syrups. Their coffee cups say “New York bagels got nothin’ on us,” and while that may not be completely true, their bagels are definitely top notch (for Miami). They also have awesome salads and sandwiches for lunch.
83 SW 8th St.

True Baristas
True Baristas is a coffee truck on 13th Street in between South Miami Avenue and Brickell Avenue. They opened in October 2020 and were pretty much an instant success. They’re especially popular among cyclists who don’t have to lock up their bike to get their morning coffee.
1300 Brickell Ave.

XO Espresso Bar
There are two XO Espresso Bar locations in Miami. The Miami Beach location is a standalone coffee shop. The Brickell location is actually a pop-up coffee cart in the Icon. This tiny little kiosk still packs a punch and offers everything that the storefront XO Espresso Bar does – except for seating, of course. It’s so convenient for residents and guests of the Icon, or for anyone walking around Brickell who needs a coffee break.
475 Brickell Ave.

Things To Do

Shop at Brickell City Centre
While it feels like Brickell City Centre has taken up a chunk of Brickell real estate forever, it actually only opened in 2016. A four-story, open-air mall, it has everything from the more affordable Zara and Sephora to the high-end shops like Saks Fifth Avenue and Edite Mode boutique. There are also tons of great dining options from Casa Tua Cucina for Italian, Pubbelly Sushi for Japanese and EST.33 for Thai.

Walk Around Brickell Key
Cross the bridge at the far east end of SW 8th Street onto Brickell Key. It’s mostly residential, except for the Mandarin Oriental hotel. Brickell Key is a triangle-shaped island with views of Miami Beach on one side, Downtown Miami and Brickell on another, and Brickell and Key Biscayne on the other. There’s a walking/running path around the perimeter that’s a little over one mile. There are also some grassy areas if you want to hang out, have a picnic, people watch, be jealous of the yachts going by, etc.