This Art Basel Miami Art Week, I’ll be indulging my palate at some of the city’s most talked-about dining events and restaurants—teasing yours with a sneak peek into the culinary experiences shaping the week. Those on my calendar I’ve RSVP’d “yes, please” include intimate chef’s table experiences and glamorous launch parties pairing haute cuisine with even hauter art. I promise, it’s all in the name of research! I’m going all in as an insider to discover the tiny details that turn consumer excitement into consumer passion.
I have a particular weakness for Japanese cuisine—my only non-negotiable when it comes to dining preferences. Always a yes, without exception. During my culinary tour of Lima, Peru, which included stops at World’s 50 Best Restaurants mainstays like Central, Kjolle, Raphael, and Mayta, I was certain Astrid y Gaston would claim my top spot. Yet Maido, a Japanese-Peruvian fusion powerhouse, edged it out with an omakase experience so exquisite it still lingers in memory. Which is why restaurant Queen Omakase is on my RSVP yes list, as is a secrets-spilling interview with its Japanese-Brazilian sushi chef Max Kamakura.
I wouldn’t call myself a foodie, but my hobby of booking reservations at Michelin and The World’s 50 Best Restaurants whenever I travel should give you confidence in my perspective. In the meantime, I promise to come with an open palate to all the others on my RSVP positive list. I’ll let you know for certain which dining experiences were worth writing about in my post-Art Basel Miami Art Week articles, with interviews and insights from chefs revealing their secret sauce for how they keep customers coming back for more.
As for your dining calendar, make your own RSVP list at some — or all — of these spots in between your exhibitions and event attendance.
CASA NEOS: Butterflies and Lava Cake for Your Art Basel Miami Art Week Adventures
- 40 SW North River Drive, Miami, FL
- Instagram: @casaneosmiami
CASA NEOS has consistently delivered unforgettable dining experiences, making it an essential stop for recharging amidst the whirlwind of Art Basel Miami Art Week. This Mediterranean-Latin fusion gem is going all in on the art-meets-dining experience with the debut of its CASA NEOS x Roman Feral Residency on Wednesday, December 4. Roman Feral (whose butterfly motifs caught the eye of CHANEL and now own his piece, Coffre Chanel Azur), returns to display his exclusive works throughout the restaurant after making his Art Basel Miami Beach debut in 2018. An immersive art experience with lava cake inspired by Feral’s iconic butterflies and a specialty cocktail conceptualized through his artistic vision awaits those who make the trek to CASA NEOS.
Delilah Miami: A Star-Studded Supper Club for Art Basel Miami Art Week
- 158 NE 29th St, Miami, FL 33137
- Instagram: @delilah
A modern-day supper club channeled from the glamor of the 1920s Jazz Age, Delilah Miami offers a heady mix of classic dishes, lavish decor, top-tier entertainment and an ambiance tailor-made for Art Basel Miami Art Week. Its celebrity clientele and reputation make it one of Miami’s hardest-to-book reservations, so consider yourself a true insider if you get in. A star-studded lineup of live performances and special events will be your bounty.
The week kicks off on December 4 with Coco Loco, a Wednesday night series with The Delilah Band and Copacabana-inspired dancers. On December 5, world famous DJ Ruckus takes the stage with a high-energy set. Grammy-award winner Kaytranada headlines on December 6 with a seamless blend of funk, R&B, and electronic beats. Rounding out the festivities is the beloved Sunday brunch on December 8, hosted by Yes Julz, where signature dishes like Chicken & Waffles and a bespoke Bloody Mary cart pair perfectly with bottomless mimosas and live music.
LPM Restaurant & Bar: Parisian Artistry and Riviera Vibes During Art Basel Miami Art Week
- 1300 Brickell Bay Dr, Miami, FL 33131
- Instagram: @lpmmiami
LPM Restaurant & Bar Miami transitions its dining room into an art gallery this Art Basel Miami Art Week season with The Flower Narrative, an in-restaurant exhibition by Paris-based artist Michal Korman. LPM’s pop up gallery, in partnership with Pearl Lam Galleries, will display Korman’s vivid oil-on-canvas works from November 29 to December 28. The series explores indulgence, nature, and the five senses, anchored by the seven-panel masterpiece with Art Nouveau allusions, Blue Parrakeet.
Renowned for transporting the laid-back charm of the Côte d’Azur to Miami, LPM Restaurant & Bar will be pairing its imaginative Mediterranean menu with creative concoctions inspired by Michal Korman’s artistry. Enjoy The Fragrance, a cocktail with mandarin, cantaloupe, and fennel, complete with an edible art garnish, or savor the Pavlova aux Agrumes, a citrus-infused dessert as vibrant as Korman’s palette.
MILA: Balmain, Drip Art, Fine Dining and Art Basel Miami Art Week
- 1636 Meridian Ave, Miami Beach, FL
- Instagram: @milamiami
If there’s one place for which you must pursue reservations on Tuesday, December 3 at 6 PM, it’s one of my personal favorite restaurants, MILA. A Miami Beach hotspot for Mediterranean and Asian-inspired cuisine, MILA launches Art Basel Miami Art Week with the MILA x Balmain Takeover, fusing high fashion with high hospitality and mixing in a lively panel on female entrepreneurship, led by artist Jenny Chandler. If you can’t make it on the third, the rest of the week includes the 8pm nightly MILA x Mr. Drip series, serving up an evening of live art performances with the acclaimed artist creating pieces in real-time.
Panamericano Bar: A Speakeasy Spotlight for Art Basel Miami Art Week
- 900 S Miami Ave #260, Miami, FL 33130
- Instagram: @panamericanobar
For a cocktail experience infused with artistic flair, Panamericano Bar is a must-visit during Art Basel Miami Art Week. Discreetly hidden behind an unmarked door in Mary Brickell Village, this speakeasy-style gem is marked only by a globe logo. Ring the buzzer for entry, and step into a sultry, intimate space with a cocktail menu crafted exclusively from spirits sourced from the Americas.
The Bolivian-inspired Cocomelon, with its silky texture and Singani 63, is one such example of a Latin American flavorful cocktail, as is the Cacao Ceremony, rooted in Mayan and Aztec traditions reimagined through a cacao and corn synthesis. Panamericano will be hosting an exclusive bartender pop-up on December 4, where you might find me and my plus 1 savoring the intoxicating extracts blended by renowned Argentinian mixologist Rodrigo Tubert. Choose from a 7pm or 9pm seating when you make your required reservations.
Barcelona Wine Bar: Patrick Church Happy Hour During Art Basel Miami Art Week
- 310 NW 25th St, Miami, FL
- Instagram: @barcelonawinebar
Amid the energy of Art Basel Miami Art Week, Barcelona Wine Bar in Wynwood offers a serene mid-afternoon oasis, hosting a Patrick Church happy hour on December 6. While the celebrated multimedia artist and Miami resident’s striking Dearest Boy mural already graces the restaurant’s exterior, Church will bring his vibrant creativity indoors with a live art performance as he continues his signature piece on an interior wall. Mix and mingle with the artist, enjoy the restaurant’s award-winning happy hour menu, and indulge in paellas, tapas, sherries, cocktails, and more.
Queen Omakase: Chef’s Choice
- 550 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 – within The Paris Theater
- Instagram: @queenmiamibeach
I’ll never say no to an omakase experience – that’s “chef’s choice” for those who need to brush up on their Japanese. So naturally, Queen Omakase is one of my picks for your Art Basel Miami Art Week culinary itinerary. Tucked within the upper reaches of the iconic Paris Theater, this exclusive eight-seat treasure offers a multi-course dining journey led by Japanese-Brazilian sushi chef Max Kamakura. Chef Kamakura, a third-generation master of his craft, blends timeless Japanese traditions with his own modernist flair, curating a menu that changes every three weeks to keep even the most seasoned foodies on their toes. If you’re lucky enough to score one of the limited seats, prepare for a culinary adventure featuring globally sourced ingredients and a whole lot of culinary artistry.
R House: Advocacy, Activism and Art Basel Miami Art Week
- 2727 NW 2nd Avenue, Wynwood, Miami
- Instagram: @rhousewynwood
Weekend drag brunches and delectable Latin-inspired dishes have made R House a mainstay in Miami’s Art District. But during Art Basel Miami Art Week, R House becomes a powerhouse of activism and art, hosting from December 5 through 11 a formidable exhibition in collaboration with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a global nonprofit leading the charge in HIV/AIDS care and advocacy. This pop-up art exhibition presents the works of artists Hiero Veiga, Sam Kirk, Rae Senarighi, Bikismo, Antonyo Marest, and Emma Hack with installations that take you through the stages of processing an HIV/AIDS diagnosis with unflinching, thought-provoking visuals. Complement the emotional journey these artists will take you on with a menu of comforting, Latin-inspired dishes by Chef Rocco Carulli.
Smorgasburg Miami: Art Meets Appetite During Art Basel Miami Art Week
- 2600 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL (Wynwood Arts District)
- Instagram: @smorgasburgmiami
For those who crave variety, Smorgasburg Miami offers a curated selection of the city’s most tantalizing gastronomic delights during Art Basel Miami Art Week.With over 40 vendors, this Wynwood open-air market invites you to indulge in a sampling of Miami’s best fare during Art Basel Miami Week daily from December 6th to the 8th. Your eyes and stomach will both feast on interactive culinary activations, live entertainment and artwork by talented local and national artists.
Here’s your cheat sheet for your Art Basel Miami Art Week decision making: