Miami Beach is one of the world's glamour destinations attracting celebrities along with regular tourists who wish to experience this Florida city's pristine beaches and legendary nightlife. In addition to people-watching for the rich and famous, visitors to Miami Beach can dine at one of several famous restaurants.
Joe's Stone Crab is a legendary Miami Beach restaurant with a history going back over 100 years. According to Miami.com, Joe's was the first restaurant to ever open in South Beach. Although Joe's is the pioneer in the delicacy of stone crabs, the menu includes a wide selection of seafood and beef. Examples include ginger-teriyaki salmon, seafood cioppino and dry-aged ribeye steak. The restaurant's famous key lime pie rounds out a memorable meal. Stone crabs are served only between Oct. 15 and May 15, but the remainder of the menu is available year-round. Joe's is open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations are not accepted, and be prepared for waiting times upwards of several hours for dinner during the winter season. A full bar is on-site and eases the pain of the wait.
Joe's Stone Crab
11 Washington Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 673-0365
joesstonecrab.com
The Forge's origins go back to the 1930s when it served as a clandestine casino and bar. In 1969, the restaurant was purchased and completely renovated by the infamous mobster Meyer Lansky's lawyer. According to Miami Beach Reflections, this era made The Forge famous, and celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Richard Burton were frequent guests. During the 1990s, The Forge transitioned into trendy combination nightclub and restaurant attracting the celebrities, models and various other characters who typified that era of Miami Beach. After being closed for over a year, The Forge reopened in February 2010 as a more formal and subdued fine dining establishment. The menu for The Forge's latest iteration include Osetra caviar, rack of lamb and Java-style sirloin. Unchanged is their world-renowned wine cellar containing over 300,000 selections including bottles originally donated by the Rothschild family. The restaurant is open daily for dinner.
The Forge
432 West 41st St.
Miami Beach, FL 33140
(305) 538-8533
theforge.com
News Cafe was originally made famous by Gianni Versace who visited the restaurant each morning for breakfast and an Italian newspaper. Tragically, Versace was shot and killed one morning after finishing his breakfast thus ensuring that the restaurant and Versace's legacy were forever intertwined. The restaurant has taken on iconic status in Miami Beach, and Frommer's describes it now as a \"cafe-cum-landmark.\" The outdoor tables at News Cafe give diners a front row seat in the middle of South Beach's action. The menu is vast, and breakfast, lunch and dinner selections are served 24 hours a day. Highlights on the menu include French toast with bananas, baked brie and fruit, stuffed grape leaves and a variety of sandwiches and hamburgers. News Cafe also sells a wide array of international newspapers. The restaurant is always open, and it is not uncommon to see it packed around the clock.
News Cafe
800 Ocean Dr.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 538-6397?
newscafe.com
The 11th Street Diner is housed in a 1950s-era diner shipped down to Miami Beach from Pennsylvania. 11th Street has the distinction of being the only diner ever existing in Miami Beach, and its presence in the middle of South Beach has helped define the area since 1994. The restaurant serves traditional diner fare with a Miami Beach gourmet twist. The menu includes a wide variety of sandwiches, burgers, salads and main dishes. The 11th Street Diner is always open, and it serves breakfast 24 hours a day.
11th Street Diner
1065 Washington Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 534-6373
eleventhstreetdiner.com
