Brickell is a neighborhood that appreciates a lunch break. This is thanks to both the sheer amount of office workers in the finance district, and also because traffic sucks too much to drive anywhere outside the neighborhood for lunch. So stay put, don't lose that parking spot, and pick one of these spots for lunch.
THE SPOTS
River Oyster is one of the best restaurants in Brickell, and one of our favorite seafood spots in all of Miami. So if you're looking for a nicer business lunch or just want to treat yourself to a lovely lunch, do it here. Obviously oysters are a good call, but so is the excellent pot of mussels in a coconut milk-lemongrass broth. They have a few sandwiches that are only on the lunch menu too, like the mahi sandwich and a fried chicken sandwich.
This market/restaurant (which specializes in Syrian, Greek, and Armenian foods) is casual, affordable, and very tasty. Like the name implies, it’s a bakery and grocery store selling lots of tasty food and pantry items. You can come grab a bag of meat pies, a great za'atar flatbread, or what’s quite possibly Miami’s best baklava to-go. But they also have a few tables where you can sit down and enjoy a solid falafel sandwich, shawarma platter, hummus, kibbeh, and more—all for under $10.
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There are certain things Miami needs less of—like tow trucks, flooding, and boaters who don’t respect no-wake manatee zones. And then there are things we are happy to see throughout the city, like La Sandwicherie. Our favorite South Beach sandwich shop thankfully has multiple locations, including one in Brickell. This one not only has AC, but is also open till 5am. Still, we’ll happily eat these huge sandwiches any time of day, whether or not we’ve already had seven beers.
Mister 01’s Brickell location is bigger than the original in South Beach, with more room and some nice outdoor seating. The South Beach spot is a little more charming, but here you can find the same strangely delicious pizzas like the white truffle oil-doused Claudio or the Coffee Paolo with honey, coffee grounds, and spicy salami. There are also more typical, thin-crust pies like margherita and pepperoni, and this place is packed almost every day of the week with people who have been successfully converted to accepting coffee grounds as a pizza topping.
Momi is the home of Brickell’s best ramen. But there are some things you need to know about this place before you come. Mainly, that it’s pretty expensive (and cash-only). There are five ramen options on the menu—pork belly char siu, shrimp, chicken, mushroom, and oxtail—and they all cost $35 except for the oxtail, which costs $40 (at least at the time of this writing). Portions are pretty big, and you could certainly split one between two people. They also have some small plates like gyoza and seaweed salad (also pricey) but it’s best to stick to ramen. This place also a neat space with brick walls that’s a great spot to hide from Brickell congestion. And while the prices can be jarring, we’ll be the first to admit that you could certainly spend more money for much worse food very easily in Brickell.
Just about every big neighborhood in Miami has its own Coyo Taco, and Brickell is part of that club. This casual shop generally isn’t as crowded as the one in Wynwood, but it also doesn’t have as much personality. Still, it's good for a casual meal. They serve the same good tacos you'll find at other Coyo locations: the al pastor, duck carnitas, and fried grouper tacos are all solid picks. There are also tortas and burritos in case a few tacos just won’t cut it.
BBQ & Craft Company is a casual spot serving the best barbecue in Brickell, and some of the best in Miami, too. It’s a simple set up inside. The dining room is bright with high ceilings and a few TVs playing sports. But you’re not coming here for the ambiance—you’re coming to eat lots of very good meat. Their baby back ribs and dry-rubbed wings are really great. They offer a few sandwich options too, and some classic barbecue sides like collard greens, mac and cheese, and sweet cornbread cupcakes served with maple butter. It’s a good place to come in forgiving pants, and eat enough meat to make stray cats follow you on the walk back to your car.
Kush has teamed up with the owners of Tobacco Road (which was, at one point, the oldest bar in Miami) to bring the classic Brickell spot back. Sort of. It’s not in the same location, but it does feature a lot of the bar’s old decor and a food and drink menu inspired by the original Tobacco Road. But the best part about this place is that it’s one of the only spots in Brickell for a laid-back cocktail and good bar food. And, like all Kush establishments, the food (burgers, wings, sandwiches, and various bar snacks) tastes great and pairs beautifully with a cold beer.
We are generally pretty upset with the lack of bagel options in Miami, but if you're craving one and happen to be in or around Brickell, Toasted Bagelry does a decent version. The little shop has a selection of bagel sandwiches named after Miami neighborhoods, like the Little Havana with steak and grilled onions, or the Coral Way Bagel with nova lox and two egg whites. Or you can keep it simple and just grab an everything with as much cream cheese as you can convince them to give you.
