Little Hen (image above)
This super-girly breakfast, brunch, lunch and high tea spot in scruffy Midtown serves up fried chicken and waffles, huevos rancheros with carnitas or churrasco and its not-to-be-missed house specialty: rose petal pancakes.It’s famous for its English-inspired afternoon tea, which gets served on delicate china cake stands in its lovely flower-filled dining room.
Little Hen, 3451 NE 1st Ave Suite 100/102, Miami; littlehen.com
Il Gabbiano
This perennial local favourite is the perfect spot for an idyllic lunch, thanks to its incredible location right at the point where the Miami River meets Biscayne Bay. Refreshingly, for a city that can feel sometimes like every calorie is counted and every heartbeat monitored, Il Gabbiano is thoroughly unconcerned with your waistline: the parmesan arrives to the table in huge hunks and the veal comes in a cream and gorgonzola sauce.
Il Gabbiano, 335 S Biscayne Blvd, Miami; ilgabbianomia.com
Boater’s Grill
You can drive by car to this waterside restaurant that overlooks No Name Harbor in the lush Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park at the southern tip of Key Biscayne. But really the way to go is by boat. Go for lunch and order the whole fresh fried fish. You don’t need to close your eyes to feel transported to Cuba: this place is the real deal.
Boater’s Grill, 1200 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, Miami; boatersgrill.com
