CORAL GABLES. This restaurant is known for having the area's best breakfast, but its vast champagne brunch buffet on Sundays (10am-3pm) presents some tough decisions. Everything is presented so elegantly, you'll want a little bit of it all. How about an omelet made any way you like? Pastas? Sushi? Or even caviar? Afterwards, there's a chocolate fountain and no shortage of sinful dessert offerings. Indeed, no one walks away hungry! Live music complements the meal perfectly, and al fresco seating is available in the tropical courtyard.

DOWNTOWN. Elegant Azul combines the best in Mediterranean and Asian cuisines to stunning effect. The restaurant's signature brand of fusion cooking features sumptuous dishes like grilled Colorado lamb, miso-marinated hamachi, and beef sirloin with roasted jalapeno potatoes. Plus, the incredible wine list boasts vintages from established and fledgling wineries, providing a range of apt accompaniments. In the serene, sophisticated dining room, an exhibition kitchen and panoramic bay views add distinction.

DOWNTOWN. Big Fish is located in the dockside warehouses, and you never know who you might run into here, as the diverse clientele ranges from buttoned-down professional types to the older weathered characters who can spin a great yarn about their days at sea. The menu is limited, focusing on ­ you guessed it ­ fantastic fresh fish. The owner is friendly and accommodating and will make sure you walk away happy. The decor is full of personality, with a tin roof and tables of different sizes, shapes and styles. Most of the seating is on the sprawling outdoor deck, making this an ideal spot for a unique lunch on a sunny day. Casual to business casual attire.

CORAL GABLES/COCO GROVE/BISCAYNE. Start a day of business meetings or sightseeing by fueling up at this popular, buzzing cafe. Whether you're grabbing a bagel, pastry or croissant to go or you're settling in to while away the morning with a full meal and the daily news, this is the perfect choice. On the weekends, the dining room is especially crowded with couples and families enjoying fresh coffee and plates brimming with omelets, pancakes and fruit-topped waffles.

UPPER EAST SIDE. This snug little French-Med charmer on Biscayne is owned by Michelle Bernstein (she formerly headed Azul at the Mandarin Oriental). The space itself sports a certain sense of whimsey ­ the bold blue and orange hues of the walls, the Capiz-shell chandeliers, the kicky orange banquettes, and the assorted chairs, many of which look like they came from thrift stores or yard sales. The cuisine, meanwhile, reflects Bernstein's rich background, from her classical French training to her affinity for Southern, Latin, Italian and even Asian nuances. As you might expect, the results are simply magical. NB The place sits around 60, so reservations are a must.