MIAGuide
Where To Go When You Just Got A New Haircut
You just got a really good haircut, if you do say so yourself, and you know that no matter how many instructions and products you’re given to help “recreate it at home,” tomorrow it will probably look like you did it in the dark wearing giant Mickey Mouse gloves. So you want to go someplace where people other than you, your iPhone camera, and your roommate’s pet hamster will be able to appreciate it. You need a spot that’s fun and a little sceney—and you want to eat something good, too. These places should do the trick.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Joshua Perez
“Look at me!” should be the official motto of Wynwood, and Pastis is the see-and-be-seen headquarters of the neighborhood. Luckily, it’s also a pretty good French restaurant. Not only can you eat solid renditions of bistro classics, but you can do so around attractive people, a group in which you are most certainly included. Sit outside with some french onion soup and pray the humidity won’t frizz you up like Bob Ross.
photo credit: Cleveland Jennings
Every time we go to Caracas Bakery in MiMo, we run into a busload of people we vaguely know, and we’re not even very popular at all. This is apparently the breakfast/brunch/lunch/remote work destination of 78% of Miami. So coming here with a fresh cut is a good idea because you'll run into some combination of exes and former first dates while you happily eat jambon beurre and cachitos. Your shirt may be covered in crumbs, but at least that uncooperative cowlick is behaving.
photo credit: Adrian Gaut
The Standard is always a scene perfect for debuting a new look or scamming a traveling billionaire into investing in your sketchy start-up idea. And Lido, The Standard's waterfront restaurant, is one of the few parts of the Miami Beach hotel a civilian can step foot into without getting immediately kicked out for not being a paying member. The food here—a mix of generic hotel dishes and seafood—is kind of whatever. But you’re not coming for the food. You’re coming to let the bay breeze caress your new bangs on a dock full of walking trust funds. After you eat, go have a drink at Monterrey Bar in the lobby, which is dark and sexy and also full of rich travelers you can fool into thinking you're somewhat famous.
It's dim, it's fun, it's small enough to see everyone in the dining room—and have them see you right back—while you get a little freaky with a bowl of agnolotti. The Downtown spot is always full of first, second, and third dates. And the bar seating is full of people who are looking for potential first, second, and third dates. Join them, order an exceptional martini, and try not to make the fact that you’re imagining yourself in an Herbal Essences commercial so obvious.
Makoto is an upscale Japanese restaurant inside the land of very thick credit cards known as Bal Harbour Shops. The space underwent a big renovation in March 2022, and it breathed new life into the restaurant. Now, it's got a colorful dining room that feels like eating inside a perfectly ripe peach as well as some lovely patio seating and a cute outdoor bamboo bar. The dining room even has lots of mirrors on the wall, strategically placed so you can discretely make sure your hair still looks good while maintaining the conversation. It's the kind of restaurant great for a luxurious lunch after an afternoon of buying irresponsibly expensive clothes to match your new hair.
You can pretty much see the entire room from any seat at this narrow Downtown wine bar. So there’s a good chance at least a few folks casually rubber-necking for beautiful people will spot you and your absolutely perfect haircut. Margot also has a purplish-orange lighting situation that does wonders for both skin and hair, so it’ll only enhance the top of your head. You can just drink here, but they also have some tasty small plates involving cheese, raw fish, marinated olives, and more.
Just in case Margot is packed or not quite the vibe you're after, NIU Wine is another worthy contender in Miami's Adorable, Delicious Little Wine Bar universe. The narrow space has an intimate dinner party energy, a noise level that’s perfect for conversation, and lots of candlelight, which will reflect off your freshly conditioned hair like moonlight on a lake. Hopefully. The wine selection is phenomenal, and there's a rotating food menu full of wine bar-appropriate tapas and a spiced chocolate truffle you definitely want alongside a glass of that red you picked because you liked the label.
For the purposes of this guide, this pick is conditional: you have to come during lunch. Because when the sun sets at this almost entirely outdoor restaurant, it’ll be too dark for anyone to notice your subtle balayage. But if you stop by at 1pm, there's enough natural light to make you feel like you’re in a L'Oréal commercial. Plus, Mandolin always delivers a great meal. The Mediterranean food here is delicious and the restaurant (a converted 1940s bungalow right on the edge of the Design District) is gorgeous. It is a very hard table to get though, so make that reservation right after you book your appointment.
Uchi is well-lit, in the heart of Wynwood, and full of delicious yet delicate dishes that won’t distract too much from the wolf shag your stylist absolutely nailed this time. It’s also quite a large restaurant, which just means even more eyeballs might possibly find their way to your scalp. And we’ll take any excuse to make a reservation at Uchi. The sushi here is some of Miami’s best, but the huge menu also has plenty of stellar Japanese dishes. Tell your server what you like, and they’ll steer you towards something awesome.
