In The Mood For: Our Top 5 Miami Spice Restaurants

Miami Spice is Here, and so are We! We are kicking off a brand-new newsletter called In the Mood, it will be sent biweekly and dedicated to our favorite cocktails, drinks, and food topics in Miami. In each edition, we will answer one simple question, “What are we in the Mood for?” And we will dive deep into the topic, to give you the best insights and deals we find. Make sure to subscribe here.

In this first edition, the answer was pretty straightforward. We are in the mood for… a good deal! Celebrating the kickoff of the season, here are our Top 5 Miami Spice Restaurants.

What is Miami Spice?

Miami Spice is a program supported by the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau that happens between August and September. Some of the best local restaurants offer 3-course lunch, brunch, and dinner menus from $35 - $60 per person, which in today’s economy is a pretty good deal!

So keep on reading and find out which ones we think are the best 5 Miami Spice Restaurants:

The Gibson (The Roads)

Ideal restaurant for a date night.

We love a moody place here at In the Mood. And this place is so moody it makes us want to take a flashlight to read the menu. Speaking of age… if you still have the energy to go out on a weeknight, this is the perfect spot for a romantic outing without breaking the bank since you can take advantage of their $45 dinner 3-course menu. Pro tip: go on a Wednesday or Thursday when they have live music.

Bouchon Bistro (The Gables)

Treat your parents to a nice dinner or a special occasion.

Even if there's a picky eater in the group, the menu includes some crowd-pleasers, like steak frites — the Pastis Miami Spice menu doesn't even have that. And next time, when it's their turn to pick up the bill, you might get lucky and it'll be at The Surf Club — hey, here's to dreaming!

Chimba (Wynwood)

Midweek after-work treat. As Miami natives, we have the right to be suspicious when a new Latin-fusion restaurant arrives in town, especially if they opened after 2020... but we were pleasantly surprised by Chimba. If you need a mid-week pick-me-up, our suggestion is to go on a Wednesday where the vibe is more upbeat with a DJ. Arrive a little early to get some drinks during happy hour from 4 pm to 7 pm and slide into dinner with their Miami Spice menu.

Bunbury (Downtown Miami)

Dinner date or group hang.

Ideal spot to go before a night out as it's smack dab in the middle of Wynwood, the beach, and Brickell. Or just stay through for cocktails and a loungey vibe. If you work near downtown, their lunch menu is pretty enticing too with some Argentine classics like empanadas and flan.

Minty Z (Coconut Grove)

Our plant-based pick.

We appreciate the number of options there are on the dinner menu. Their pineapple fried rice and bao beignets are to die for. The place is kind of small but our suggestion is to go with a group of 3 or 4 and family-style that ish.

See you in 2 weeks!

In the Mood For Jazz? Join us every Thursday at Morgan’s.