Miami Spice: A Taste of Diversity, Wellness, and Indulgence

Vida & Estilo Hospitality Group proudly returns to Miami Spice 2025 with over 10 standout concepts spanning Cuban, Mexican, Italian, Japanese, and American cuisines. This two-month culinary celebration offers locals and visitors alike an affordable opportunity to explore Miami’s dynamic food scene, especially across iconic neighborhoods like South Beach and Brickell. 

Launched in 2001 by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Miami Spice was created to draw guests into top-tier restaurants during the summer months with curated prix-fixe menus at remarkable value. Now with over 300 restaurants participating citywide, the event continues to evolve with the way people dine, welcoming a new era where balance, health consciousness, and personalized food choices are reshaping the culinary conversation. 

With the rising popularity of wellness-forward lifestyles and GLP-1-inspired habits, many diners are more intentional about what they eat. VE Hospitality’s participating restaurants reflect this shift, offering lighter, nutrient-rich options alongside signature favorites, because while wellness is trending, indulgence is always on the menu. 

From savory tacos to refined sushi, and from protein-rich, snack-like appetizers to indulgent desserts, each concept offers a distinct culinary point of view. This summer, guests can experience VE Hospitality’s diverse collection through thoughtfully curated Miami Spice menus that celebrate culture, bold flavor, and the evolving joy of eating well. 

And for Miami Beach diners, there will be a bonus: $1 parking incentives to make the experience even more enjoyable. 

 60 days. 10+ concepts. Endless flavor: VE Hospitality’s Global Feast for Miami Spice 2025
Restaurants within VE Group have consistently participated in the city’s long-running, 20+ year summer event known for its wallet-friendly appeal, which runs during August and September and features prix-fixe menus priced at $35 for lunch/brunch and $45–$60 for dinner across more than 200 participating venues.

Below, is your curated guide to VE Hospitality’s Miami Spice 2025 participants, a flavorful lineup thoughtfully crafted around mood, time of day, dining habits, and neighborhood vibes. From exciting new debuts to beloved favorites, from casual lunches with friends to indulgent dinners for two or more, this is your go-to list for trendsetters, flavor seekers, and culinary explorers alike.

 

But First, NEW TO SPICE!  Donatella Boutique Hotel & Restaurant.

Joining Miami Spice for the first time, Donatella (1350 Collins Ave in Miami Beach) is the recently opened Italian Coastal gem, a 6-room boutique hotel located in the heart of South Beach. A stylish partnership between the Nakash Group (The Setai, Villa Casuarina) and VE Hospitality Group, the 170-seat restaurant blends glamour with authenticity, guided by the culinary vision of Executive Chef Alessandro Morrone. 
For $60, the Miami Spice dinner menu is generous and thoughtfully curated, featuring five appetizer choices, from salmon tartare to the beloved grilled artichokes. The main course lineup includes five more options, like the must-try Amalfi Limone pasta, Spaghetti alla Nerano, or a protein-forward selection of branzino, salmon, or a New York strip. 
Dessert brings a playful finish: chocolate vs. limone, your choice.  
And for mixology lovers, a wine tasting pairing is available to elevate the experience.

Lunch with the BFFs while running errands in Brickell and short on time? 
Recommending: Cafe Americano – Brickell City Centre.

No-brainer: Café Americano on the 3rd floor. Great outdoor seating and just the right pace to squeeze in flavor-packed bites like the ceviche sliders and the chicken brasa bowl. And if those errands stretch into the afternoon (as they always do), an early dinner around 4 PM suddenly sounds like a great idea. This time, it’s all about the tuna tostada and the indulgent molten chicken parm. 
Dessert? Go big with the French toast à la mode, because why not turn errands into a mini celebration.

Lunch Time Mode 
Mood: Want to keep it light, protein-packed, and still satisfy that sweet tooth?  
Recommending: Havana 1957

When you think about it, Havana 1957 has a great selection of healthier options, but of course, dessert comes with a little sugar… caminando se bajan las calorías.
Start with a tropical ceviche (you won’t regret it), then go for the grilled chicken breast, and don’t skip the sweet Tiraselotú (Cuban-style tiramisu).

Mood: Vegetarian…. but with churros, por favor? 
Recommending: OH! Mexico

This Mexican concept has you covered with a flavorful lunch lineup that’s easy to love, and easy to walk off later along the Miami Beach vibes of Lincoln Road, Española Way, or Ocean Drive. Start with Guacamole or Esquites to ease in, go for cheesy Quesadillas (because… why not?), and finish strong with Churros como debe ser. 

Mood: Going Italian & craving pizza for pranzo? 
Recommending: Mercato della Pescheria & Mercato di Mare.

Both Mercato have exactly what you need. Where to go? That depends on your mood: Española Way or Ocean Drive—choose your vibe, choose your location. 
Start with a classic Caesar salad, follow it up with a wood-fired pizza, and if there’s room… Key lime pie is calling. Feeling extra? Add Limoncello—perché no?  

Visiting Miami Beach as a day tripper or staying nearby, you’ve heard whispers about that iconic spot where models used to gather in the ‘90s 
Recommending: News Cafe.

You saw the Instagram photos, the newsstand, the vibe, and now you’ve arrived at News Cafe, where the curated Miami Spice menu is a journey through time. In the mood for a little culinary time travel? Start with Tony’s Tomato Soup, a nod to Tony Goldman’s personal favorite. Follow it with the Gianni Burger, News Cafe’s tribute to the legendary fashion designer who famously enjoyed his Corriere della Sera, always sourced from this very spot. End on a sweet note with vanilla ice cream, a simple, timeless treat perfect for Miami nights. 
Just like that, you’ve had dinner and a culinary history lesson.  

Weekend Vibes 
It is the weekend, and you need some Brunch. 
Recommending: Barsecco

Driving or walking to South Miami Ave, Barsecco baby!  
Now this is how you do a $35 brunch, flavor-packed and full of personality. Start with a smoked salmon bagel crostini or avocado toast, thick cut with charred corn, queso fresco, tomatoes, tajin & spicy mayo, then go all in with the hearty Buongiorno Breakfast or the one-and-only Chilaquiles. And because coconut is always a good idea, don’t skip the Piña Colada Pancakes.

Date Nights. 
Reality: For me it will always be sushi, but he is more into burgers. 
Recommending: PaperFish Sushi

Wait—what? Believe it or not, whether it’s a first date or a long-time marriage, not sharing the same food cravings is more common than you think. That’s why it’s refreshing when specialty restaurants like PaperFish think outside the bento box and throw in a burger on the Spice menu.  
Menu picks might look like: Miso Soup or Edamame to start, Bento Box featuring Japanese flavors: grilled Atlantic salmon glazed with a soy-citrus reduction, seasoned sushi rice, mixed greens with sesame dressing, and pork & shrimp gyoza pan-seared to perfection or opt for the Wagyu Hamburger, Dessert is all about assorted mochi or  crème brûlée.

 

Shopping days & dinner nights.
Recommending: Marabu – Brickell City Centre

First, let’s get that photo. “Excuse me, excuse me,” you say, weaving through impromptu photo shoots, we’re all real-life models lining up for that perfect Brickell City Centre backdrop. Shopping bags in hand, you’re heading straight to the 4th floor to Marabú, where the Miami Spice menu is calling your name.
Your eyes? Instantly locked on Abuela’s torrejas. La dieta can wait till tomorrow. Maybe you’ll start light with a refreshing tomato salad, then dive into Marabú’s signature Josper-grilled chicken, or that charcoal-fired salmon bowl, and yes… Abuela, here we go.
But, don’t stop there, Spice dinner exclusives at Marabu this year include the Surf & Turf, a fire-roasted duo of skirt steak and Black Tiger Key West shrimp, served with creamy mashed potatoes, rich seafood sauce, and house-made chimichurri. And going all in with Grandma’s Seafood Stew, a comforting bowl of black grouper, clams, mussels, and scallops simmered in mojo seafood butter, topped with crispy yuca fries and sweet English peas.

Meat cravings? Steakhouse is always the right answer.
Recomending: Salty Flame.

Tucked in plain sight at 1414 Brickell Ave, Salty Flame is a hidden gem, and not your typical Asian restaurant, but rather a bold fusion concept for steakhouse lovers unafraid to be impressed by layered, Asian-inspired flavors. With its striking bar and confident energy, the Miami Spice 2025 dinner menu is nothing short of a curated experience. Start strong with the steak tartare, elevated by house-made kimchi and truffle aioli, or try one of three signature creations crafted exclusively for Spice: the Coconut Ceviche, a tropical mix of tuna, salmon, hamachi, coconut milk, leche de tigre, peach, and Sichuan oil; the Sweet and Sour Striped Bass, tempura-fried and glazed in pineapple-laced sauce with edamame and cilantro; or the indulgent Crab Fried Rice, featuring coconut jasmine rice, scallions, sweet corn, and clarified butter-tossed crab. For the finale: a ten-layer chocolate cake that’s as unforgettable as it is photo-worthy. 

SUMMARY
From timeless classics to bold new flavors, VE Hospitality Group is redefining how we experience Miami Spice in 2025. With over 10 unique concepts spanning global cuisines, this year’s lineup delivers something for every craving, mood, and moment. 

Whether you’re brunching with friends in Brickell, indulging in a romantic sushi date, or enjoying a casual lunch step from the beach, VE’s restaurants make each bite memorable with great food for every mood. Thoughtfully crafted menus, and picture-perfect presentations make it easy to explore Miami’s culinary scene. 

So go ahead, make those reservations, savor the season, and discover why Miami Spice isn’t just a promotion; it’s a celebration of culture, and the joy of dining out in one of the world’s most vibrant cities. 

Let’s the feast begin.
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By E. Machado