Miami

Despite the city’s reputation for superficial hotness, the food scene in Miami is genuinely cool.  What makes dining in Miami so fun is the authentic diversity that provides something for everyone and every budget.  If you want to spend your nights people-watching and dropping lots of money on glamorous cocktails in South Beach, you can do that.  Or if you want to spend your nights dining outside in simple fish restaurants on the Miami River, you can do that also. You could crawl your way through the neighborhoods, finding the best ethnic food from every country in Latin America, if that is what you want to do. There is something for everyone and on every budget, and at the end of the day it is all fun in the sun.  

Miami lies at the Southeastern tip of Florida, but feels more like an island floating in the Caribbean. Large numbers of Cubans arrived first at the time of the Cuban revolution in 1959, and have since arrived in large waves even until the present day.  The Cuban community, which makes up over 50% of the population, is well- established in Miami, and their dishes have formed the staples of local cuisine.   But it is not just Cubans that make up the local population: people from all over the Latin America and the Caribbean have come here, either fleeing political unrest or just looking for a brighter future.   The most recent population growth has been Venezuelans, who have for the most part settled in Weston.  All of these people have brought with them memories of home and local flavors.  Coming from Europe, large populations of French and Italians have also moved in, twisting the culture in an even more interesting direction.  Walking along the main drags you will find French crêperies, Italian pizzerias, Cuban fast food stands, just as much as good old-fashioned delis and burger joints.

Food and Drink

If you had to narrow down the typical Miami food, it would have to be a sandwich.  The Cubans first gained fame for their Sandwich Cubano and the Media Noche, and now sandwich shops dot Miami Beach, serving up their own combinations inspired by different places around the world.  Oprah even named the grilled short rib and cheese sandwich at Table 8 the “Best Sandwich in America”.  

Lincoln Road, one of the main streets in South Beach, is known for its plethora of outdoor dining options.   One really gets to enjoy the Miami social scene by eating at least once on this pedestrian stretch.   Families come out to stroll on the weekends, while tourists meander from shop to restaurant to gallery and back.  Starting at the Southwest corner of Washington, walk up the street and look from side to side.  On the corner of Drexel you will find French bakery chain Paul. If you want a nice croissant and café crème, or simple café-style lunch, Paul is a great choice.  Keep walking up the road, and you will find some of South Beach’s most infamous landmarks.  Van Dyke has live music almost every night upstairs, but the people-watching scene outside is equally entertaining.  The food is ok, but that is not what you are there for.  Next door to Van Dyke is Segafreddo, the South Beach people-watching hot-spot.  People flock here to have prime viewing seating of the avenue and watch all of the beautiful people go by.  Even on Sunday nights there is a 30-45 minute wait for a drink.  Their new location on Española Way is a bit more down to earth.

If you want to do something more low-key, go to Eno’s Wine Bar.  This elegant French-owned bar is focused around a new concept in wine tasting where you serve yourself using a pre-paid card.  You have the option of tasting 1 ounce, 3 ounce, or 5 ounce servings, according to your preferences. Cavas Wine Bar on Española Way serves a similar purpose, but with a different lay out and more focus on buying the bottles.  Following the low-key vibe, Deco Drive Cigars is another great place to go and smoke shisha and relax with friends.  The owner is the most hospitable manager on Lincoln road, and you can be assured great service there.

For a healthy meal with Mediterranean influence, go to Turkish Pasha’s, on the corner of Jefferson.  The food there is very healthy, fresh, and inexpensive.  Their sesame bread, simit in Turkish, is a great breakfast option, which you can get with thick yogurt spread and jam.  For lunch and dinner they have a variety of meze, salads, and grilled meat and fish dishes.  Sticking to the Mediterranean theme, Spris is a great option for thin-crust pizzas and salads, as is Sosta.  

If you have a sweet tooth, head over to the Gelateria Parmalat, where they have great ice cream flavors including local fruits like mamey and guayaba.  

Hanging out on Española Way is another must-do in South Beach.  It has a much more artsy vibe to it than people-watching focused Lincoln Road.  There you will find A la Folie, a fantastic French cafe that serves up casual fare with a focus in crêpes.  Try the spinach and Roquefort cheese crêpe for something savory, and the Tunisienne crêpe with honey, walnuts, lemon, and mint for a light dessert.  Next door is the Miami Beach Cinematheque, which plays independent and foreign films on Friday and Saturday nights.  

For a more glamorous night out on the town head over to the Delano on Collins Avenue for the quintessential Miami experience, though sometimes you just end up surrounded by business travelers hanging out in droves. Blue Sea is their sushi “restaurant”, which is actually just a long table that juts out into the bar area.  The sushi is delicious, the service is great, and the communal dining style makes for meeting new friends before the evening begins.  After dinner, grab a drink at the Rose Bar or head down to the other bar at the end of the pool. The Florida Room is a great spot to head over for late-night dancing.  If the Delano does not tickle your fancy, go next door to the artsy Sagamore Hotel, which hosts the owners' modern art collection.  

OLA is by far one of the best dining experiences in South Beach.  The restaurant, whose name stands for Of Latin America, is tucked away on James Street in the small Sanctuary Hotel.  The Nuevo Latino menu, with a whole section dedicated to ceviches, will blow you away.  Whatever you do, don’t miss the smoked marlin tacos.  If you want to stay on the pan-Latin route, head over to Coconut Grove for a taste of creative Peruvian cooking at Jaguar.  The Peruvian-heavy menu also serves up dishes from other Latin countries, including things like Mexican achiote-marinated grilled tuna and Argentine steak with chimichurri sauce.  

Sunday night is Bingo night at The Standard Hotel, which includes great drinks and a chance to enjoy the healthy and delicious Mediterranean food from their Lido restaurant.  A glass of Albariño and their Smoked Salmon Flatbread is the perfect light dinner to compliment the uncensored debauche of the Sunday night games.  On another note, The Spa there is considered one of the best in the city.  Take your pick from the hammam, steam room, or sauna for your dose of detox, and then head down to the pool for a plunge in their 50°F arctic pool followed by a dip in the regular swimming pool.  It will feel like a warm bath in comparison.   Afterward you will never have felt so invigorated or energized.

There is a strong raw food community in Miami, which is fed by some very talented chefs.  Even if you are an omnivore, you should check out what the movement has to offer.  Every Saturday in Coconut Grove there is a Raw Food Market where you can buy hard to find ingredients and prepared foods.  Glaser Farms has been running the farm for close to 20 years and it is a fixed establishment.  Their Chocolate Banana Tiramisu is completely addictive, and a must-try for market newbies.  They also serve up incredible raw ice cream in flavors like Banana Walnut, Vanilla Macadamia, and Maple Pecan.  
Lamoy is a caterer who sells raw prepared foods made with local ingredients at the market.  Her Cashew Curry has a cult following.  Lifefood Gourmet is a healthy sit-down or take-out fast food style raw restaurant in Coral Gables.  Chef John Schott only uses optimal ingredients in his food, which is probably why it is so addictive.  Don’t miss his nori chips or onion rings.

Culture:
There are plenty of galleries and museums to keep you busy in Miami, if you need a break from the beach.  The Wolfsonian-FIU is a museum focused on design and artifacts from 1885-1945.  It is in the heart of South Beach on 10th and Washington, and also contains a nice gift shop and café area to grab a bite to eat after viewing the collection and exhibit.

Spend some time at The Rubell Collection, a contemporary collection of art owned by the Rubell family, and shown in an ex- DEA confiscated goods warehouse located in the Design District.   Walking around the area you will find other galleries, as well as some of Miami’s most highly esteemed restaurants and shops. Michael's Genuine Food and Drink, which sources most of the ingredients locally, is one of the hardest places in town to get a table.  Across the street you will find Vino & Olio, as well as Mai Tardi, two fabulous Italian restaurants with lovely outdoor seating arrangements.  Mandolin Aegean Bistro, a few blocks down on 2nd Avenue, is a Greek and Turkish restaurant with a blue and white decor that transports you straight to the Eastern Med.  

Midtown is an area of town on the rise.  Sustain is the highlight here, a sustainable restaurant with locally sourced food and a sleek minimalist design.  Its neighbors Sugar Cane, Mercadito, and Gigi are very popular with the young professional, food savvy crowd.  

The Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens: You have to give yourself at least a good two hours in order to enjoy the expanse of the Fairchild Gardens.  They house an incredible collection of orchid plants, tropical fruits, palm trees, and hundreds of others.  Every year the gardens host an exhibit, with different works of an artist spread around the grounds.  The Garden is a center for science and education and there are many programs to get involved in.  Thursday nights you can enjoy Spanish tapas under the starry sky and watch a movie.

Contributors

Sophia Brittan

Sophia Brittan hosts the online cooking show Kitchen Caravan, http://www.kitchencaravan.com. She is a trained chef and holistic health counselor, and is dedicated to teaching people about food, health, and culture. She currently resides in New York City, but loves traveling as much as possible.

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