Visa O1
In Miami, holiday season isn’t just a time to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas—it’s also time for Art Basel. And with all the chaos that comes with this art-focused, party-all-night week, art lovers and foodies alike will need a place to rest and refuel with good food and drink.
Spread across Wynwood, Miami Beach, and even parts of Brickell and Downtown, here are all of our favorite places to grab a bite to eat during Art Week Miami:
Visa O1: What is still regarded as the best pizza joint in South Beach—or if we’re being honest, all of Miami—now has a hot new location in Brickell. Having opened its metropolitan Miami location earlier this fall, Visa O1 {1000 South Miami Avenue, Miami; 786.332.6868} is a cozy Italian pizzeria that serves thin-crusted pizzas topped with only the freshest ingredients. While the menu includes traditional pies like Margherita, guests can order more creative versions: like a Nutella dessert pizza; the Federica with San Marzano sauce, mozzarella, ham, artichokes, fresh mushrooms, and black olives; or the star-shaped Star Luca, which is topped with flavorful, spicy salami.
Wynwood Kitchen & Bar: A perfect watering hole during Art Basel, Wynwood Kitchen & Bar {2550 NW 2nd Avenue, Wynwood; 305.722.8959} is a hub for good food, good drinks, and beautiful art. While you munch on delectable dishes — like Ropa Vieja Empanadas, the WKB Hamburguesita, Queso Fundido, or Roasted Cauliflower with Applewood smoked bacon — look around. The bar is covered with red and black graphics by artist Shepard Fairey, while paintings by Christian Awe, Os Gêmeos, and Kenny Scharf adorn the main room. Adding to its artistic allure, Wynwood Kitchen & Bar actually sits on the edge of Wynwood Walls, so after you eat, feel free to explore them.
GK Bistronomie: Also in Wynwood, GK Bistronomie {218 NW 25th Street, Wynwood; 786.477.5151} serves up a creative menu of globally-inspired Peruvian cuisine. Perfect for a haute meal before you venture out to the week’s events, head to GK Bistronomie for a Pisco cocktail, like the Cocosour, and flavorful plates like foie gras empanadas, Maine lobster carpaccio, grilled octopus, black grouper, cornish hen, or anticuchos. The latter tops boiled potatoes and spicy huancaína sauce — a Peruvian blend of cheese, ají amarillo pepper, saltines, milk, and garlic — with hearty pieces of Black Angus skirt steak, chimichurri, and cilantro.
Ironside Pizza: Pizza is always a good idea. Brought to you by the team behind Toscana Divino, Little River District’s Ironside Pizza {7580 NE 4th Court, Miami; 305.902.5153} serves thick, bubbling Napoli pizza pies that can only be eaten with a fork and knife. While the thin-crusted Margherita is always a good option, the Quattro Stagioni — topped with with tomatoes, fiordilatte, salami, mushrooms, ham, artichokes, and olives — and the Diavola, which has tomato, fiordilatte, salami, and pepperoncini oil, cannot be beat.
Market at EDITION: The South Beach version of a traditional Spanish boquería, Market at EDITION {2901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.257.4600} is made up of various food stations, including a raw bar, a cheese and charcuterie station, a dessert area, and the hot station with a built-in pizza oven. Started by celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, this casual-meets-trendy spot is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Order a glass of wine from the extensive wine list, and pair it with plates like Butternut Soup with oyster mushrooms, Florida Red Snapper Ceviche, Prosciutto and Gruyere Pizza, Parmesan Crusted Organic Chicken, Crunchy Polenta Nuggets, Fresh Corn Pudding, and more. When you’re done, head downstairs to Basement at EDITION — as one of the hottest hangouts in Miami, it always hosts the best Basel parties in town.
Coya: Sitting right on Brickell Avenue, Coya {999 Brickell Avenue, Brickell; 305.415.9990} puts a modern, upscale spin on traditional Peruvian cuisine. Helmed by Executive Chef Sanjay Dwivedi, this raved-about spot has a menu that includes Ensalada de Maiz with Josper corn, crispy corn, sweet corn, and red chillies; Arroz Nikkei with Chilean sea bass, rice, lime, and chili; and Causa Tradicional with Josper octopus, Yukon gold potato, and Botija olive purée. Considering it’s one of Miami’s most exclusive restaurants, go there for dinner and get a much-deserved respite from Art Basel’s craziness.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor