9 Hot New Italian Restaurants in Miami to Try on National Pasta Day

From Coconut Grove to Brickell, from Miami Beach to Wynwood, from Downtown to Little River, no neighborhood in Miami has been spared the latest wave of culinary Italianization. Regardless of how you feel about the almost absurd influx of Italian restaurants in Miami in recent years, it probably doesn’t change how you feel about pasta.

At least one positive that accompanies so many new Italian restaurants is the great abundance of pasta around town – and not just any pasta. All this competition tends to yield plates of higher-quality food for us: ultra-fresh, house-made, hand-cut twirls, and pillowy pockets of carby delights that we Miamians (apparently) can’t get enough of.

Since National Pasta Day falls on October 17th (and the esteemed World Pasta Congress has declared October 25th as World Pasta Day), we decided now is as good a time as any to round up the latest batch of new Italian restaurants fashion in Miami. They range from more charming and casual places to ultra-glamorous nightclubs and some that specialize in pasta.

If you’ve been thinking about taking a break from the carbs before your vacation, consider this your sign to make a reservation at one of these restaurants.

1. Cotoleta

This new Italian bistro opening October 18 in Coconut Grove is the first U.S. venture from 84 Magic Hospitality, founded by Ignacio Lopez Mancisidor, Mattia Cicognani and third-generation restaurateur Andrea Fraquelli, whose family roots in hospitality date back to Italy and the iconic Savoy Hotel in London. The simple menu is set year-round and inspired by restaurants like New York’s Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôt. A brief wine list, just a red and a white from a small Italian vineyard, will accompany the meal and will be served by the glass, jug or bottle.

Order this: The exclusive Cotoletta alla Milanese with a side of homemade spaghetti, arugula salad and French fries

2. Happiness

New York import Felice now has two locations in Florida, one in Brickell and one in West Palm Beach. Just like its cosmopolitan neighborhood, Felice Brickell has an elegant, upscale vibe, ideal for a fancy lunch, chic after-work drinks, or an upscale family dinner (they also serve a lovely weekend brunch). On Sundays, enjoy a $45 prix fixe dinner menu that includes a glass of wine accompanied by your choice of two dishes.

Order this: Mafalde al Limone

3. Mother Wolf

Mother is no a minimalist! This Design District newcomer comes courtesy of acclaimed pasta master Chef Evan Funke, via Los Angeles and Vegas, with a dining room that combines old-world charm with modern opulence. The two-time James Beard-nominated chef brings with him his signature “pasta laboratory” in which he serves expensive dishes of Roman-inspired classics like Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe, Fettucine al Burro and Linguine alla Vongole.

Order this: Ricotta gnocchi with focaccia to soak up the leftover sauce

4. Otto and Pepe

Otto & Pepe is a fun and refreshingly quirky addition to Wynwood, a neighborhood that has seen some more serious spots open recently. Out front, find a large wine store curated by a pioneer and reference in Miami’s natural wine scene, Karina Iglesias. The main dining room features a huge 360-degree pasta bar where guests can admire their noodles being prepared in real time (although there is also standard booth seating). Out back, a tree-lined, walled courtyard features a cocktail bar and lounge for kicking back and relaxing a bit.

Order this: Orechiette al Pesto Basilico and a Peperoncino Margarita

5. MASS

Following the success of their original location in Lima, Peru, chef duo Juan Manuel Umbert and Janice Buraschi bring their PASTA concept to Miami’s thriving Wynwood neighborhood. The intimate space seats just 77 guests with an open kitchen that emphasizes the restaurant’s commitment to transparency and culinary artistry. Expect a menu of affordable, homemade pasta dishes that pay homage to classic Italian cuisine, plus entrees and desserts that showcase the chefs’ heritage and global travels.

Order this: Agnolotti di funghi with butter and parmigiano reggiano 36 months

6. Piegari Ristorante

Another Italian restaurant imported from Latin America, Piegari Ristorante offers elegant dining in the heart of Wynwood. Known as a celebrity-watching destination in Buenos Aires, Argentina, since its opening in 1994, the brand’s Wynwood location is equally sophisticated. This is the kind of place that changes the tablecloth between dinner and dessert, so save it for a special occasion like a birthday or date night.

Order this: Fettucine to Nero di Seppia

7. Sparrow Italy

The photos don’t fully capture the sexy, cavernous vibe of Sparrow Italia, a supper club-style restaurant that looks like it belongs more in South Beach than at the base of the new Moxy Miami Wynwood. Alicia Keys, Adele, Serena Williams and Adam Sandler are just some of the celebrities who were spied at the original Sparrow Italia in the fashionable London neighborhood of Mayfair. The Miami outpost opens into a bar and lounge area, while the main dining room is sunken with luxurious booths, a small stage for live performances, and grand wooden arches overhead, making the entire event feel like a scene from a James Bond film. .

Order this: Mikey’s Spicy Rigatoni alla Vodka

Although it’s technically a steakhouse and not an Italian restaurant, this longtime pop-up adopted many of the beloved pasta dishes from its sister bar and restaurant Jaguar Sun after that location closed to make way for the beautiful new brick-and-mortar Sunny’s in Little River. Sunny’s also debuted some original pasta dishes, like Duck Lasagna and Chitarra with Mushrooms and Sherry, but you can’t go wrong ordering a Jaguar Sun classic or two with your wood-fired protein, like the Rigatoni with Pork Sugo Spicy and Corn Agnolotti.

Order this: Agnolotti with corn, blue crab and saffron

Helmed by one of the world’s most awarded chefs, Massimo Bottura’s Torno Subito features inventive (and sometimes challenging) versions of Italian dishes with delicate proteins, complicated sauces and ingredients that have been aged, aged and prepared for days. If you’re up for the adventure (and the price), take the elevator to the rooftop of downtown’s Julia & Henry’s food hall to find a cool, postmodern-inspired restaurant and an outdoor terrace meant to evoke the 80s. era Italian Riviera.

Order this: I Tortellini

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