This Cuban-Caribbean spot from a famous Miami chef just opened in Miami Beach
There’s a new La Cañita restaurant open on Miami Beach.
The energetic Cuban-and-Caribbean spot from James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein and hospitality partners David Martinez, Davide Borgia and Orestes Pajon is opening up at 12th Street and Ocean Drive.
Bernstein, who also operates Sra. Martinez in Coral Gables, opened the first La Cañita at Bayside Marketplace in 2021 and in Kendall earlier this year. The concept, which features influences from Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti and Puerto Rico, serves Bernstein’s famous cuisine, craft cocktails and upbeat musical performances daily at lunch and dinner and during the weekend brunches.
Bernstein said she’s happy to be a presence on Ocean Drive and looking forward to bringing a taste of the islands to South Beach.
“In Miami, the islands aren’t offshore, they’re in our hearts, our kitchens, our rum glasses,” she said. “Island heritage dining taught us that warmth isn’t just in the weather, it’s in the welcome. Every meal is an invitation to feel at home no matter where you come from.”
The restaurant, which seats 158 and features an indoor dining room and outdoor patio, will serve lunch and dinner, with highlights like Bernstein’s famous croquetas and empanadas as well as local fish, lechon asado and arroz con pollo a la plancha, a recipe from her mother. You’ll also find snacks like smoked wahoo fish dip and conch fritters.
There’s also a 40-seat bar that focuses on rum cocktails, including a wide selection of mojitos and drinks like the La Cañita, which blends different types of rum and fruit including the restaurant’s guava blend and banana liqueur.
La Cañita
Where: 1200 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach
Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday and Sunday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; happy hour 3-6 p.m. and 10 p.m.-midnight daily.
Reservations: OpenTable
More information: www.lacanitamiami.com and @lacanitamiami
This story was originally published November 24, 2025 at 4:30 AM.