Sofia Italian Restaurant Miami — Restaurant in Miami

Sofia in the Miami Design District is where Italian classics meet Miami style, and honestly, it’s a vibe. Tucked right above the Palm Court parking lot (cheap underground parking, easy, no valet drama), it’s the kind of place where the food delivers and the scene does too.

Start with the fiori di zucca; crispy fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with ricotta and drizzled in honey. It’s the perfect opener if you like your appetizers light, crunchy, and slightly sweet. Basically the appetizer equivalent of a wink.

For mains, the black truffle cacio e pepe is a must. I added grilled shrimp and lobster, and have zero regrets. Creamy, rich, and loaded with truffle. I personally would’ve increased the pepper, but that’s just me… I like it bolder than most.

The truffle wagyu burger is also a solid move. Rich, juicy, flavorful, and the kind of thing you order when you’re in the mood to spoil yourself (but not with pasta).

Drink highlights? The Sofia Spritz is light, citrusy, and exactly what you want in Miami heat. And the DD Old Fashioned brings a smoky, chocolate-bitters twist that’s unexpectedly perfect.

Seating-wise, you’ve got options. Inside is modern and energetic, with a sleek dining room and buzzy soundtrack. Outside puts you in the middle of the Design District energy; great for people-watching and soaking up the scene.

And major shoutout to our server, Nadica, who made the night. Friendly, fun, and spot-on with every recommendation.

Sofia’s the move when you want great food, strong drinks, and a front-row seat to the Design...

We recently visited Sofia in Miami with high hopes, but unfortunately left disappointed. While the space is undeniably beautiful and the ambiance inviting, the service and hospitality fell short—particularly when it came to flexibility and guest experience.

We were dining with a teenager who simply wanted a pizza that is featured on the lunch menu. We were told, quite curtly, that the lunch menu had ended 30 minutes prior and there was no way they could accommodate the request—even though the kitchen clearly had the ingredients and the item was available earlier in the day.

It felt needlessly rigid and unwelcoming, especially given the simplicity of the ask and the nature of the guest. A restaurant of this caliber should know that great service means meeting people where they are, especially when it comes to something as basic as feeding a young diner.

Unfortunately, that moment defined our experience. A lack of warmth, flexibility, and genuine hospitality overshadowed what could have been a lovely meal.

Not sure we’ll...

I’m not great about writing reviews about places that really impress me, but I really wanted to change that with Sofia’s.

I attended a private event that bought out the whole restaurant and every single dish was impeccable. The preset menu had a lot of their popular items served family style and there was not a single bad dish on the table. A couple standouts to me were the cacio e pepe al tartufo and the fritto misto. Literal perfection! And that’s coming from someone who was already skeptical before I even walked in the door because a lot of these Miami restaurants are cute, but the quality just isn’t there. Even the “viral“ ones you find on social media.

This was the first restaurant that I was thoroughly impressed with in a really long time....