Miami ~ Magic City’s Magical Hot Spots

I was recently in Miami for the first time.  Miami was one of those places I had heard so much about over the years but never visited.  It began to feel weird.  So I booked a trip!  As a food and drink explorer, as so many of us are, it is always thrilling to embark upon a new city.

What made Miami stand out to me was the commitment to art and bold color.  At every twist and turn, there is a pop of color or some radical art. Mix the art and color with fabulous food, and you will be in heaven!

Here are my delicious food and drink finds, in no particular order.

Dirt

We found Dirt as it was right around the corner from our hotel in Brickell.  They are a ‘fine food pay at the counter’ eatery focusing on healthful dishes, convenience, simplicity and fair prices.  They serve vegan and non-vegan food, so all your peeps can enjoy and be satisfied.  As a plant eater, it was easy for us to decide what to eat, see below we chose the Winter Salad and Dirty Vegan Salad.  They also had plenty of juices, tonics and packaged goodies which fit my diet.

My top 3 reasons to try Dirt:

• Clean approachable design + pay at the counter service is clutch when you just want to get back to the city
• Fast and delicious food with a menu that can accommodate any eater
• Thirst quenching beverages and goodies you can take away and stash in your hotel room or Airbnb

Plant Miami

This restaurant is founded on the principles of harmony and balance.  Upon entering you feel like you’re walking into a retreat center.  In some ways, you are as Plant Miami is part of Sacred Space Miami which includes the restaurant, a cooking school, event space and a wellness store.  The menu is plant-based fine dining boasting seasonal fare from local, organic and biodynamic farms.  I could not get enough of the Cheese Board, Dumplings and Cacio di Funghi.  The staff is knowledgable, patient and seem to embody the tranquility that the property exudes.

My top 3 reasons to try Plant Miami:

• If you are looking for plant-based fine dining, look no further
• The beauty of the property is breathtaking
• Wonderful location walking distance to The Wynwood Walls and other eclectic shops and streets

Full Bloom

Full Bloom is a fully vegan restaurant we found on Yelp!  I always love yelping on trips if Yelp is available.  Just off the highly traversed Lincoln Road in South Beach makes this spot a convenient gem.  We headed there for lunch and sat on the patio which was nice and sunny.  The lunch menu was very digestible, so selecting was easy.  We tried the omelette and mock tuna sandwich.  I didn’t want bread, so they offered to make me chard wraps instead with the tuna stuffed inside, which was very kind.  The cuisine is hearty and comforting, a win after long hours walking or biking.

My top 3 reasons to try Full Bloom:

• Great location offering plant-based options in the heart of South Beach
• Enjoy the Miami sun while you eat on their quaint cozy patio
• Kind staff, simple menu, nice decor

Beaker and Grey

Now the night is falling and you want more good food (duh) and a few awesome drinks.  Look no further than Beaker and Grey.  Industrial design sweeps the space with exposed brick, floor to ceiling windows, rugged chandeliers and an open-air kitchen.  They offer a vegan and traditional menu.  Thank you!  You can tell a chef and bartender collaborated on the vision as both the food and drink menus are contemporary, unique and smart.  I thoroughly enjoyed the Billy Club beverage and Wild Mushroom Salad.

My top 3 reasons to try Beaker and Grey:

• Tasty menu with consideration for plant-based eaters
• A perfect place to get your night started, hip vibe
• Convenient location walking distance to The Wynwood Walls and other unique street art, eateries and shops

Tacos and Tattoos

This night we were in Little Havana and sat down at a traditional Cuban restaurant.  We were not able to modify the menu to plant-based, so we moved on.  We were pretty hungry so did not want a sit down restaurant.  Yelp led us to Tacos and Tattoos.  Even though our Uber driver dropped us off at Tacos and Tattoos, it took a moment to find.  That’s because it resides in the back of Union Beer Store, an awesome craft beer bar.  Back to the tacos, Tacos and Tattoos has vegan friendly menu items made with lots of love.  It was one of those meals I knew was going to be good before I even tasted it.  We ordered our tacos, grabbed beers, and headed out to their funky patio to enjoy.

My top 3 reasons to try Tacos and Tattoos:

• A unique hidden gem, almost like finding a speakeasy
• Delicious tacos bursting with flavor
• Located inside a beer bar, win!

Sugar

We stayed at East Miami in Brickell, the heart of downtown.  The staff was happy to let us know their rooftop bar Sugar was just rated the #1 roofdeck in Miami.  Score!  Sugar sits on the 40th floor with panoramic views of Miami.  Upon exiting the elevator you enter a gorgeous Asian inspired tropical garden offering food, drinks and sexy vibes.  I enjoyed their Lychee Blossom cocktail.  Whether you are staying at East Miami or not, a visit to this rooftop will not disappoint.  Since trendy, I would suggest going right before or after the evening rush to avoid lines.  If you wander to the other side of the 40th floor you may find another hidden gem, but hey you didn’t hear it from me 😉

My top 3 reasons to try Sugar:

• Incredible views of Miami
• Tasty drinks at a trendy hot spot
• Seeing the design of the enchanting garden is worth the trip alone

I’m so glad I visited Miami and followed my nose (and Yelp) during my stay!  It was a true culinary adventure which did not disappoint.

If you have any suggestions for Miami, or questions, please leave them in the comments below 🙂

Happy travels ~*~

Bekah