Ocean Drive just got a new jolt of island energy. James Beard Award–winning chef Michelle Bernstein brought her Cuban-Caribbean concept La Cañita to the heart of South Beach, opening a lively new outpost at 1200 Ocean Drive in the Art Deco District.
Already a hit at Bayside Marketplace since 2021 and in Kendall earlier this year, La Cañita Miami Beach expands the brand’s rum-soaked, music-forward vision with a prime beachfront address. The restaurant and bar blends Cuban-Caribbean cuisine, live music and an obsessive love of rum into an all-day, all-night destination designed to appeal to both locals and beach-bound visitors.
“In Miami, the islands aren’t offshore, they’re in our hearts, our kitchens, our rum glasses. 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,” Bernstein said in an official statement. “We are so excited to make our mark on Ocean Drive, the Art Deco icon of South Florida, and create a new home for both locals and visitors to the beach.”
The idea behind La Cañita is rooted in sugarcane, the source of rum and the inspiration for the restaurant’s name, which translates to “little sugarcane.” Drawing flavors and traditions from Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti, Puerto Rico and coastal regions of Central and South America, the menu is built around bold, familiar dishes elevated by Bernstein’s signature touch.
Lunch and dinner offerings range from hand-held snacks to hearty classics. Highlights include empanadas filled with criolla, spinach or chicken; croquetas stuffed with jamón serrano, mushrooms or shrimp scampi; smoked wahoo fish dip with golden saltines; cayenne-dusted conch fritters; lechón asado with mojo de ajo and yuca; and arroz con pollo a la plancha based on Bernstein’s mother’s recipe.
Rum, unsurprisingly, is the star behind the bar. Guests can choose from more than 100 bottles of the spirit sourced from around the world, alongside an extensive mojito menu featuring more than seven variations. Signature cocktails include the namesake La Cañita, made with blended rums and fruit flavors, and the Domino Old Fashioned, a rum-forward twist on the classic.
The Ocean Drive location leans hard into atmosphere. Designed by interior designer Nicolette Bernstein, the space channels the feel of a shuttered Caribbean distillery, with rich teal walls, mosaic tiles and floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the room with natural light. A U-shaped bar anchors the dining room.
Music is a core part of the experience as well, with a house band performing daily during lunch and dinner, plus brunch and dinner on weekends. Expect appearances from some of South Florida’s most celebrated Cuban musicians, along with an on-site cigar roller to complete the island fantasy.
La Cañita Miami Beach is open Monday through Thursday and Sunday from 11am to midnight, and Friday and Saturday until 2am. Daily happy hour runs from 3pm to 6pm, with a reverse happy hour from 10pm to midnight. Reservations are available via OpenTable.