Once notorious for its faded motels and sketchy reputation, the stretch of Biscayne Boulevard from 54th to 77th streets has transformed into a vibrant hub of Miami Modern charm. Now, the MiMo District entrances with a mix of retro motels, stylish boutiques, and a hidden culinary scene where the past meets the present. From innovative American cuisine to tried-and-true Venezuelan bakeries and some of the best birria tacos in the country, MiMo has it all.
Blue Collar
Blue Collar is one of those establishments that Miamians simply can’t live without. With over a decade on the scene, Chef and Owner Daniel Serfer serves classic comfort food we all know and love. Located inside the Biscayne Hotel, the diner has recently been revamped. Now, the new spot combines rustic charm with mid-century glamor, featuring vintage metal lunchboxes repurposed as herb gardens for the bar.
Let’s go on to the food deets, as that’s where the culinary excellence of Serfer lies. The restaurant has distinct menus for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, but let’s zoom in on the dinner offerings. Crowd favorites include the shrimp and grits prepared with wild royal red shrimp, bacon, and a New Orleans BBQ sauce; spicy oxtail made with scotch bonnet and mashed potatoes; and for dessert, the most indulgent butterscotch bread pudding you’ll ever dream of. P.S. Stop by Monday to Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. for 2-for-1 cocktails, draughts, shots, half-off wine, and an array of snacks, all for a friendly price.
Blue Collar is located at 6789 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33138. For more information, please visit their official website.
Caracas Bakery
Caracas Bakery is a beloved Venezuelan-French bakery with two locations in Miami known for its cachitos (Venezuelan croissants) and lattes. The MiMo location also has a breakfast menu specializing in mighty good toasted sourdough open-face sammies. Step into the bright and cozy space off Biscayne Boulevard perfect for having your morning coffee and toast and getting a little work done.
The breakfast menu boasts a plethora of options like the Merguez Toast made with lamb sausage, homemade harissa mayo, soft scrambled eggs, caramelized onions, and manchego cheese; or the Croix sandwich featuring velvety soft scrambled eggs, avocado, and American cheese all nestled within the flakiest, butteriest croissant.
Caracas Bakery is located at 7283 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33138. For more information, visit their official website.
Dimmi
Dimmi, fka Osteria Baiocco, is something you don’t readily expect to find in the MiMo district. Nestled within a colonial house evoking Scarlett O’Hara and 19th-century vibes, one finds Dimmi, an Italian restaurant where one whiff is all it takes to be brought straight into nonna’s kitchen. A collaboration between restauranter David Ranucci and Chef Pino Bottiglieri, the osteria brings forth strong culinary tradition with just the right dash of ingenuity.
The menu is short and sweet, showcasing what Chef does best—a handful of appetizers, pasta, and proteins executed to perfection. We recommend starting your culinary excursion with some Island Creek oysters served on the half shell and an order of the crispy fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with mozzarella and anchovies — perfection. Then, moving on to the grilled Mediterranean orata. Trust us, Dimmi takes their fish seriously. To bring a sweet end to a perfect evening, the berries with zabaione cream are the perfect dessert that’s refreshing and not overly indulgent.
Dimmi is located at 5599 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33137. For more information, visit their official website.
Doggi’s Arepa Bar
Doggi’s Arepa Bar has several locations throughout the 30, and thankfully one of them is in MiMo, because it’s truly one of the best lunch options in the area. The arepa bar is a family-run business that has been gracing the Miami food scene for over a decade while serving up traditional Venezuelan arepas fused with flavors from around the world. What once started with a hot dog cart quickly blossomed into a full-fledged arepa empire that Miamians can’t live without.
Stepping into their Biscayne Boulevard locale, you’ll find that there’s more than arepas being served to the hungry lunch crowd, much more. The menu is jam-packed with Venezuelan specialties from empanadas to patacon, cachapas, pepitos, steaks, and full-fledged parrillas. If you did come for the arepas, though, look no further than the crowd-favorites, which are the arepa Santa Barbara made with marinated churrasco and shredded white cheese, or the arepa de pabellon loaded with shredded beef, fried plantain, beans, and shredded white cheese.
Doggi’s Arepa Bar is located at 7281 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138. For more information, visit their official website.
Grand Central
Grand Central by Nuno Grullon is a love letter to American bistro cuisine we didn’t realize we needed. Chef Nuno Grullon, renowned for his legendary birria tacos over at Uptown 66, has brought his Bronx roots and culinary expertise straight to Biscayne Boulevard. The intimate dining space, reminiscent of a narrow New York City alleyway, echoes Chef Grullon’s former haunts.
Open for dinner service on the daily, the restaurant’s white linen tables host dishes that are more art than food, elevating diner classics while keeping a relaxed, approachable vibe. The carefully curated menu features a select number of starters and mains, each flawlessly executed. Kick off your meal with the famous crab cake, where succulent lump crab meat dripping with Calabrian oil lies beneath a perfectly golden, pan-seared crust. This dish sets the tone for what’s to come. For first-timers, the Grand Central Burger is a must. Yet we’re quite partial to the lobster ravioli made with Maine lobster, doused with a cognac sauce, and topped with osetra caviar and creme fraiche. Oof.
Luna Pasta e Dolci
As the name suggests, Luna Pasta e Dolci is an artisanal fresh pasta restaurant that serves up all kinds of homemade macaroni and pastries. Helmed by Chef Gabriel Medici, the provisions here are homey yet sophisticated, featuring a plethora of Italian classics and innovative creations ready to be enjoyed on the spot or available to take home. Oh, and we absolutely adore their MiMo locale—chic yet unpretentious, it’s the perfect blend of cozy and intimate fit for any occasion.
The menu includes an extensive selection of homemade pasta, with the Golden Plate taking center stage—that’s ricotta and truffle tortelloni served with mixed mushrooms and truffles and doused in a demi-glace cream sauce. Oh, and we can’t say this enough, but make sure to get an order of empanadas for the table. The lamb or the cheese and onion are particularly favored, featuring a paper-thin yet perfectly flaky crust and loads of filling.
Luna Pasta e Doci is located at 6927 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138. For more information, visit their official website.
Mr. Mandolin
Mr. Mandolin is a MiMo favorite inspired by the street food of Greece and Turkey. The restaurant prides itself on serving food in a fast and casual setting without sacrificing quality. All the meats and fish here are 100% antibiotic and hormone-free, ethically raised and harvested, and locally sourced when possible, and the same goes for the veggies. The dips, sides, and sweets are all made in-house daily. Mr. Mandolin ensures that it will become the regular gathering spot for you and your crew.
The menu here is short and sweet, featuring perfectly executed gyros, kebabs, and salads. Our go-to order is the lamb gyro wrapped in pita with plenty of tzatziki and a side of fries. We recommend not skipping out on the Greek salad and, no matter what—an order of the warm and gooey tahini bun for dessert. Happy hour here is Wednesdays to Sundays from 4 to 7 p.m. (till 6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday) and includes $5 dips, wings, kebabs, wine, vodka, tequila, and Greek lager.
Mr. Mandolin is located at 7301 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33138. For more information, visit their official website.
NiDo Caffe
Nido Caffe is a quaint little spot on Biscayne Boulevard dedicated to authentic Italian flavors and deeply rooted in tradition. The vibe here is no-frills yet intimate, offering that classic trattoria experience. The mozzarella is housemade, and the pasta is plentiful.
To start off your dining experience, we urge you not to miss out on the mozzarella, served with sundried tomatoes, artichokes, and olives—diners can choose either burrata or fior di latte, and both are to die for. Slowly move on to the insalata di polipo made with the most tender octopus and a special house dressing. Pasta is a must at NiDo and the ravioli di fichi, fig-stuffed ravioli with gorgonzola sauce, has stolen the hearts of many diners. We do urge you to ask about the specials which rotate weekly and incorporate some unique flavors.
NiDo Caffè e Ristorante is located at 7295 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138. For more information, visit their official website.
‘O Munaciello
‘O Munaciello is a cute and rustic Neapolitan restaurant serving up mighty good pizza from a brick oven imported straight from Naples. The restaurant, however, holds its origins in Florence, Italy, where it is a staple with locals and tourists alike. ‘O Munaciello Miami has received Gambero Rosso International recognition for four consecutive years, with only three other pizzerias receiving this prestigious award in the United States of America. So, you know the pizza is good.
The menu doesn’t only include pizza but an array of other Neapolitan specialties. For a true taste of Napoli we recommend starting with the polpette al sugo—beef and pork meatballs cooked in a tomato sauce. Then, move on to the pizza and pasta, specifically the spaghetti alle volngole veraci, a classic made with clams and white wine; and the pizza margherita DOP made with, yes, the restaurant’s own buffalo mozzarella. And in the best traditions of Naples, no meal is complete without trying the limoncello.
‘O Munaciello is located at 6425 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138. For more information, visit their official website.
Phuc Yea
Phuc Yea has practically become synonymous with MiMo dining. Since it first popped up on the scene in 2011, it’s become a neighborhood favorite for all those looking for zesty Vietnamese-Colombian fusion fare. What started as a pop-up concept fueled by old-school hip-hop and graffiti has become the neighborhood’s go-to hang-out joint with three Michelin Bib Gourmand awards under its belt. Oh, but before we go any further, we should mention that you won’t find your usual pho or noodles here.
So what’s on the menu? There are a handful of traditional Vietnamese recipes and a whole lot of bold creativity that we just can’t get enough of. Must-try signature dishes include fresh oysters served on the half shell with a passionfruit mignonette and bourbon cocktail sauce. Next up, the restaurant’s rendition of pho, served with wagyu steak, meatballs, and lemongrass chili oil. Then there are the pho-spiked hickory-smoked beef short ribs served with a fish caramel sauce and plenty of herbs. Irresistible. Finally, don’t leave without a taste of the coconut croissant bread pudding. You’ll be dreaming of it for days to come.
Phuc Yea is located at 7100 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33138. For more information, visit their official website.
Pinch Kitchen and Bar
Since its opening in 2015, Pinch Kitchen has become one of the hottest restaurants in all of the 305. Humbly described as new American fare, the establishment is so much more than that. In fact, the menu is chock-full of specialties representing every nook and cranny of the world.
What we love about Pinch is the plentitude of shareables—bring the besties and load up your table for a little taste of everything. We’re big fans of the K-town guac made with house-made kimchi and Korean spices, as well as the restaurant’s corvina and shrimp ceviche served with crispy taro chips. Moving on to the personal dishes — the Pinch burger is an absolute must, we don’t know what they do to that patty, but it’s a flavor explosion that’s truly otherworldly. Aside from dinner, the restaurant also serves up a bomb brunch menu with bottomless mimosas and crave-worthy specialties like guava and whipped cream cheese stuffed French toast. Oof.
Pinch Kitchen and Bar is located at 8601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138. For more information, visit their official website.
Uptown 66
Uptown 66 is a Mexican cantina created by culinary masterminds Nuno Grullon (of Grand Central) and Akira van Egmond. The setting is fast casual, with a limited amount of sidewalk seating and a pick-up window for easy takeaway. Don’t let the set-up fool you, though—Uptown 66 brings the heat with its flavors and award-winning birria. Chef Nuno Grullon puts a big emphasis on quality, making everything from scratch, importing heirloom corn from Oaxaca for the fresh-pressed daily tortillas, and using the highest-quality locally sourced proteins.
Shining a spotlight on authentic Mexican street food done right, guests can feast on a variety of antojitos, tacos, and burritos. First-timers should not, by all means, skip out on the birria made with short-rib, oxtail, and beef cheek slow-braised overnight. For a hefty meal, there’s the notorious steak burrito loaded with crispy potatoes, queso mixto, chipotle crema, and guacamole. And as if this place wasn’t dope enough already, they also come through with their happy hour every weekday from 4 to 7 p.m., serving up $1 oysters, $3 Buenaveza lagers, and $5 margaritas.
Uptown 66 is located at 6600 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33138. For more information, visit their official website.
Wabi Sabi
Steps off Biscayne Boulevard lies Wabi Sabi, the serene creation of Alvaro Perez, known for his refined omakase restaurants Hiyakawa and Ogawa. Here, the spirit of wabi sabi—embracing the beauty of imperfection—shines through in every detail. The space is a tranquil retreat, adorned with delicate paper cranes, cute kokedama plants, and minimalist tableware, evoking a gentle blend of traditional Japanese elegance and modern simplicity. The approachable menu makes this the perfect stop for a casual lunch or dinner with superb quality.
The menu at Wabi Sabi offers a harmonious selection of five quintessential Japanese dishes, each crafted with exquisite precision. The donburi is a standout, a customizable bowl featuring the freshest fish, paired with your choice of rice, soba, or greens. For example, the Wabi Sabi bowl presents a sublime arrangement of salmon, tuna, and blue crab. The restaurant also has an affordable omakase experience, featuring nigiri, chirashi, or sashimi, with specialties like fatty tuna, golden eye snapper, uni, and saltwater eel. Each dish is prepared with an emphasis on freshness and quality, setting a hard-to-beat standard amidst Miami’s vibrant energy.
