Posted by Larry Mastropieri on Tuesday, February 18th, 2025 12:00pm.
The highly anticipated 2025 South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF) returns February 20 through February 23, with over 105 food events making their way to Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Whether indulging in gourmet bites or specialty cocktails, this is what you need to know before you go to this iconic food and wine festival.
If you're coming from Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, or nearby South Florida towns, SOBEWFF is definitely worth the drive! Here's why:
World-Class Culinary Masters: Meet and taste recipes of celebrity chefs Guy Fieri, Rachael Ray, and Giada De Laurentiis.
VIP Food & Wine Encounters: Taste gourmet cuisine, mixology, and wine seminars led by leading food and wine experts.
Cultural and Themed Events: Noche Cubana to Taste of Paradise, taste the world without leaving Florida.
Easy Access: Easy drive or public transportation, Miami Beach is just minutes away, with ample parking and shuttle services.
Networking & Entertainment: Food enthusiasts, industry experts, and A-list performers transform this festival into a social must-attend event.
This year, SOBEWFF presents an exciting mix of new and returning events, including:
Alex vs Miami: A chef battle hosted by Alex Guarnaschelli and Eric Adjepong
Late-Night Dance Party
Masters of Fire: A grilling and outdoor cooking extravaganza hosted by Tyler Florence
A Dozen Eggs and a Dream: A comedy and dessert party with Duff Goldman
Mike's Amazing Burger Bash: Hosted by Rachael Ray
Tacos & Tequila: Hosted by Aarón Sánchez
Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village: A 135,000 sq. ft. foodie paradise with 1,200 products and 45 restaurants
Tournament of Champions (TOC): Hosted by Guy Fieri, featuring four past TOC winners battling it out
The festival will also celebrate Miami’s rich cultural diversity with events like:
Noche Cubana with Michelle Bernstein, David Martinez, and Gio Gutierrez
A Taste of Italy with Giada De Laurentiis
The Cookout hosted by JJ Johnson
Taste of Paradise with Mohamed Alkassar and Niven Patel
Miami Bakery Brunch with Zak Stern
Chef Dominique Crenn and vintner Gérard Bertrand will be honored at the 2025 Tribute Dinner at Loews Miami Beach.
Wrapping up the festival on Sunday is a new closing grand finale, the Asian Night Market, with Andrew Zimmern, Jet Tila, and Aarti Sequeira as hosts and Rev Run in a special guest appearance.
With all the complimentary beverages at every festival, ridesharing services are the wisest choice. However, if you're road-tripping down to Miami Beach, save yourself the frustration of cruising around for a spot and drive straight to these convenient parking lots:
Near the North Venue:
1557 Washington Ave.
1661 Pennsylvania Ave.
1755 Meridian Ave.
17th Street Garage (640 17th St.)
For Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village:
550 Lenox Ave.
200 7th St.
1301 Collins Ave.
1557 Washington Ave.
For real-time traffic, send "MBTraffic" to 888777. Miami Beach also offers a free trolley service—check the city's parking site for more details.
Unlike some Miami events, SOBEWFF is on time. If an event is to end at 11 p.m., it ends at 11 p.m. – not a minute later. And don't even think about attempting to sneak out with a drink; festival staff will remove it from you at the entrance.
Festival Security: What You Can Bring
Security is tight, similar to a large concert or sporting event. Allowed bags are:
Small purses (max 6.5" x 4.5")
Wallets
Transparent plastic bags
Forbidden: Briefcases, coolers, and backpacks. One clear bag and one small item per person.
The dress code varies by event, but here's a general guideline:
Day events: Smart casual (breezy sundresses, shorts, and linen shirts come to mind)
Night events: Cocktail party attire
Pro Tip: When your event is on the beach, swap heels for chic flats or sandals. Walking in the sand is tough enough without stilettos!
Rain or shine is how SOBEWFF occurs, and rain refunds are not provided. Weather in Miami during February typically goes from mid-70s to upper 80s, so dress and bring accordingly:
Sunglasses
A hat
Sunscreen
A mini umbrella (just in case)
Your ID (you won't get in and get a drink, no matter how much you plead, without it)
Your ticket (you won't get in, no matter how much you whine, without it)
Wet wipes & antacids (your stomach will thank you after a day of indulgence)
In the event you have food allergies or dietary requirements, keep in mind that the festival makes no guarantee to serve nut-free, dairy-free, or gluten-free food. Vegetarians will be disappointed at some festivals.
Don't Bother because service dogs are the dogs permitted at the festival. So, leave your furry pals at home for this occasion.
The festival is green. In 2024, FIU students helped recycle and compost to send over 83,000 pounds of waste away from landfills. In addition, 30,000 pounds of food were also donated to Miami Rescue Mission to help with food insecurity.
The 2025 South Beach Wine & Food Festival promises to deliver another spectacular year of food, drinks, and star chefs in the heart of Miami Beach. Whether you're attending a beachside barbecue or a gourmet tasting, advance planning will make your experience even better.
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