Florida’s sunny climate and coastal geography create the perfect backdrop for Mediterranean cuisine. From Greek tavernas to Italian trattorias, the Sunshine State offers a wealth of dining spots where you can savor flavors from across the Mediterranean Sea. These restaurants bring authentic recipes, imported ingredients, and warm hospitality that transport diners straight to the shores of Greece, Italy, Spain, and beyond.
1. Mandolin Aegean Bistro – Miami
Tucked away in Miami’s Design District, Mandolin Aegean Bistro feels like stepping onto a Greek island. White-washed walls and blue accents create an authentic atmosphere under a canopy of trees in the outdoor courtyard.
The menu showcases simple yet delicious Greek and Turkish dishes prepared with locally-sourced ingredients. Their grilled whole Mediterranean sea bass and homemade tzatziki with warm, fresh-baked pita bread transport diners directly to the Aegean coast.
Owners Ahmet Erkaya and Anastasia Koutsioukis designed the restaurant to honor their Turkish and Greek heritage, respectively. The restaurant occupies a 1940s bungalow and features a garden where they grow herbs and vegetables used in their kitchen.
2. Mykonos – Tarpon Springs
Authentic Greek cuisine thrives in Tarpon Springs, home to the highest percentage of Greek Americans in the United States. Mykonos restaurant stands as a cultural landmark in this historic sponge-diving community, with its blue and white façade mirroring the iconic colors of Greek islands.
Traditional recipes shine in their moussaka layered with eggplant, potatoes, and béchamel sauce, while their grilled octopus maintains the perfect balance of tenderness and char. The restaurant sources many ingredients directly from Greece, including olive oil, cheeses, and spices.
Live bouzouki music fills the air on weekend evenings as patrons participate in traditional Greek dancing. The Karistinos family has operated Mykonos for three generations, preserving recipes brought from their ancestral village on the actual island of Mykonos.
3. Costa Med Bistro – Key Biscayne
Overlooking the azure waters of Key Biscayne, Costa Med Bistro blends Mediterranean coastal influences with Florida’s tropical setting. The elegant yet relaxed space features large windows that flood the restaurant with natural light, creating an airy Mediterranean atmosphere.
Chef Antonio Braschi masterfully combines Spanish, Italian, and Greek techniques in signature dishes like seafood paella and branzino baked in sea salt. Fresh seafood arrives daily, ensuring authentic Mediterranean flavors with a Florida twist.
The restaurant’s terrace offers al fresco dining reminiscent of coastal European cafés. Each dish demonstrates the chef’s commitment to Mediterranean principles: fresh ingredients, simple preparation, and allowing natural flavors to shine through minimal intervention.
4. Sapore di Mare – Coconut Grove
Coastal Italian cuisine takes center stage at Sapore di Mare, nestled in Miami’s lush Coconut Grove neighborhood. The intimate dining room exudes old-world charm with exposed brick walls, vintage photographs of the Italian coastline, and soft lighting from wrought-iron fixtures.
Fresh pasta made daily becomes the canvas for seafood-focused creations like linguine alle vongole with local clams. Their dedication to authenticity shows in imported Italian products paired with locally-caught fish prepared with traditional techniques from Italy’s coastal regions.
Owner Giorgia Calabrese hails from a small fishing village near Naples and brings generations of seafood expertise to Florida’s shores. The restaurant’s name, meaning “flavor of the sea” in Italian, perfectly captures their philosophy of highlighting the natural taste of Mediterranean seafood.
5. Olive & Sea – St. Petersburg
Mediterranean-inspired seafood takes center stage at Olive & Sea, located along St. Petersburg’s waterfront. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning views of Tampa Bay that complement the coastal Mediterranean menu, while the interior features reclaimed driftwood accents and nautical elements.
The restaurant specializes in sustainable seafood prepared with Mediterranean techniques – grilled whole fish with lemon and herbs, Sicilian-style swordfish, and bouillabaisse teeming with local catch. Their signature olive oil tastings introduce diners to varieties from different Mediterranean countries, explaining regional flavor profiles.
Chef Marina Konstantinou draws inspiration from her childhood summers spent in Cyprus and Greece. The restaurant maintains its own herb garden, growing Mediterranean staples like oregano, rosemary, and bay laurel to ensure authentic flavors in every dish while supporting Florida’s sustainable fishing industry.
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