Miami may not be the city that never sleeps, but we sure know how to have a good time into the wee hours of the morning. Any city as vibrant as ours needs a caffeine buzz to keep it moving. Cuban coffee has always been a Miami favorite, but other than that, boutique coffee shops, that many big cities thrive on, wasn’t always part of the culture, until now.
In the past few years a wave of mom and pop coffee shops have opened across the city serving up everything from authentic Cuban cafecitos to cold coladas to some good old, freshly brewed, cups o’ joe. Miami has reached a coffee renaissance — this is one caffeine surge you won’t want to miss.
Versailles Restaurant
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Elspeth Velten
No list of Miami coffee houses would be complete without including Versailles Restaurant, the U.S. home of café cubano. This popular eatery has been the home away from home for Cuban exiles since it opened in 1971. Today, Versailles continues to serve up authentic Cuban food, like Pulpeta, Cuban meatloaf served with rice and plantains, or their staple Cuban sandwich served with sweet pork and roasted ham. Of course, no visit to Versailles would be complete without a hot cup of Café con Leche — one of the top things you need to try in Miami. This high-octane espresso always does the trick.
Vice City Bean Cafe
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vice city website
Vice City Bean has only been around since 2016, but this specialty coffee shop has made a strong impression. Located in the Arts & Entertainment District and known for its amazing collaborations with local artists, Vice City Bean serves up freshly brewed espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, and lots of cold brew blends. Light bites and sandwiches are sold as well and guests are encouraged to come and hang out. The industrial space features special areas for those looking to be alone and those hanging out with friends.
Café Demetrio
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cafe Demetrio website
Coffee and chess are the two most popular pastimes at Café Demetrio in Coral Gables. As one of Coral Gable’s first coffee houses, this quaint coffee shop and eatery was opened back in the early 1990’s by Demetrio and Vilma Pena. They were always big coffee lovers and dreamed of opening a place where patrons could come, relax in the Florida sunshine, and spend the afternoon playing chess with friends. It took Demetrio and Vilma years to build their dream but their hard work and perseverance paid off. Today, Café Demetrio is a staple of Coral Gables, with weekly events, live music, and happy hour most evenings, this place is truly a must.
News Café
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If people watching is your thing, grab a cup of coffee, a newspaper and an outdoor seat at Miami Beach’s News Café. This SoBe institution is the American Rivera’s most famous coffee shop and, the best part is, this place is open 24/7. Originally opened as a small news stand and bookstore, that also happened to sell coffee, News Café has quickly grown to accommodate an ever-changing group of customers and tourists. News Café’s famous outdoor patio seating has become a staple of outdoor South Beach living. Come here for the coffee and stay for the food.
All Day Cafe
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all day cafe website
Named “The best coffee ship in Miami” by Vogue Magazine and “On the must-visit list of coffee fanatics” by the New York Times, All Day is the café you don’t want to miss. Located in the Park West area of Miami, All Day is specialty coffee at its finest. Opened in 2016 by coffee aficionado Camila Ramos and Chris MacLeod, their goal was to create a place a community hub and serve up some really great coffee, too — which they take very seriously. Each week, they bring in new blends from specialty roasters all over the world. You can even try each of them out with their cupping sampler. All Day is a great gathering place, it’s got a friendly atmosphere, cool aesthetic and some great coffee.
The Alchemist
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the alchemist website
With two Miami locations, one in Wilton Manors and one in Aventura, The Alchemist has become a popular spot for locals. Known for serving up healthy bites with some of the freshest ingredients, The Alchemist is the place to go for good food, great coffee, and fun time. Pair any of their “Slicers,” the opened faced sandwiches they become known for, with a cup of their freshly in-house brewed coffee. Each cup served at The Alchemist is freshly brewed and made to order. Don’t leave without trying their cold brew — cold steeped for 24 hours and then mixed with cane sugar and condensed milk, you won’t find a creamier cup anywhere around.
Brewing Buddha
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Courtesy of Brewing Buddha Cafe & Arthouse
Coffee is truly an art at the Brewing Buddha Café & Arthouse. This eclectic little local is one of Miami’s best, offering a wide variety of caffeinated beverages that will please any palette. Of course, their traditional espresso and lattes are great, but head to the Brewing Buddha with an open mind. This is the only place you’ll get to enjoy a plantain latte, a dirt cup cupcake cappuccino, or a smoked jade green tea. But even if the drink names sound like they may be out of your comfort zone, you won’t find any bitter beans here. The owners of Brewing Buddah have truly perfected their art, they also use only Fair Trade Coffee, ensuring that coffee farmers around the world get just price for their beans.
Miam Café
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miam cafe website
A Wynwood favorite, Miam, which means “Yum” in French is a funky gathering place for artists, locals, and tourists. They believe in simple, fresh ingredients and many of their menu options are purely organic. Miam’s coffee menu is filled with a wide variety of all the classics, although they also sell matcha lattes and their signature Miamcchiato. Freshly squeezed juice and mimosas are also available all day. Miam is located inside the Wynwood Building, which if you can’t find, is the massive black and white striped corner structure. Don’t forget to stop and take lots of pictures in front of it. Miam is located at 2750 NW 3rdAve. Suite 21, Miami.
Mister Block Café
Mister Block is a “celebration of creativity and innovation.” Located in the heart of Miami’s artsy Wynwood neighborhood, Mister Block believes art can be on a canvas or in a mug, or on a building wall for that matter — it is Wynwood after all. But, although they pride themselves as a place to meet friends and get creative, Mister Block is first and foremost a specialty coffee house. They are committed to both sustainability and perfection, making sure their coffee is fairly sourced and bought. They have partnered with sustainable coffee retailer Counter Culture. The café offers all of your classic drinks, lattes to espresso and iced coffee as well. On a nice day, their outside terrace is a great place to hang out and enjoy some of their sandwiches and freshly baked croissants. Mister Block is located at 2621 NW 2nd Ave, Miami.
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