Down here in tropical wonderlandsville, it's tough to notice a year's gone by (87 degree heat in December will do that). So we're here to remind you that, yes, 2009 is drawing to a close. And with it, some pretty fantastic moments. This ought to jog your memory.
The maven of fancy Chinese food—the Chow behind Mr. Chow—unveiled a dim sum palace at the W South Beach, and socialites came running. You'll have to pay a hefty price for everything from champagne to lo mein, but if you can score a reservation (and we know you can), you'll be treated to some of the best people-watching in the city.
In a city where bottle service and VIP hookups are par for the course in nightlife, two bars dared to boldly go where none had gone before: under the radar. Drawing on a '60s film icon for inspiration, Bardot impressed Wynwood regulars with cushy couches and vintage cocktails. While B-Bar staked a claim to the basement at the Betsy, hosting DJs like the Misshapes and exclusive Basel parties.
The condo canyon became home to two stout-laden Irish megapubs dispensing copious beer and shepherd's pie to an attractive mix of Brickell office refugees and downtown dwellers. Brickell Irish is where you'll go for live music on the weekends, while Waxy's has great views of the river and Chimay on tap. Either way, you luck out.
Miami finally hopped on the food-wagon bandwagon with this sassy mobile restaurant from Food Network chef Ingrid Hoffmann. Which means on any given night in this city, juicy chorizo burgers and mahimahi tacos with cilantro mayo are here to satisfy your street-food cravings.
Gather a group of the city's food-obsessed, add a dash of secret dinners executed by chefs whose identities remain a mystery until the first course, sprinkle in a smattering of experimental-yet-delicious dishes and voilà—a covert dining group is born. Plus, we all learned the word for guinea pig in Spanish.
One of our favorite restaurants to open this year, Naoe has no menu, no wine list and only 17 seats, but it has managed to garner the glowing praise of everyone from sushi lovers to food critics. Chef Kevin Cory's meticulous omakase menu—a bento box of oceanic delights for an insanely low $26—makes this the dining scene's most exciting newcomer.
If last year's meatification of the city centered on glitzy steakhouses in all their dry-aged glory, this year was all about the burger and its humble bid to curry favor with carnivores. Bourbon Steak led the pack with its exquisite Bar Burgers, four different specimens of bun-bound beauties, and a short but necessary menu of alcoholic milk shakes.
This mimosa-soaked brunch is still going strong, months after launching in a haze of bikinis, bling and cabana beds (our favorite kind of haze). Start off at the buffet of Asian-Cuban dishes like Mojo Rubbed Strip Steak With Miso Poached Eggs, then stay for the informal swimsuit show that is the pool scene.
Much to the delight of downtown's nightlife denizens, the "members only" clause at the Viceroy's 50th-floor club has yet to kick in, meaning those skyscraper views (and the attractive people who love them) are yours to enjoy on a weekly basis. Get 'em while they last…
