Miami Specialty

Far from the bubblegum whimsy of generic ice cream shops, Aubi & Ramsa is strictly for the over-twenty-one set. The premise explores the versatility of alcohol as a sweeter flavor, in the form of ice cream. Surprisingly, the combo of sharp booze (mainly whiskey) and flavored cream really works. The orange chocolate cheesecake is infused with Glenlivet Scotch Whisky, citrusy Cointreau, and silky mascarpone cheese, while the chocolate Azteca has hints of mezcal and cinnamon. Design-wise, every detail is considered—the smooth marble counter, copper stools, and extensive selection of booze mimic the experience of sitting at a chic, low-lit bar. Meanwhile, the containers holding your scoops of choice are beautifully branded with spoons to match.

This South Beach newcomer, run by an adorable married couple from Maui, specializes in locally sourced organic health food. The menu is full of vegetarian and allergy-friendly dishes, with smoothies and acai bowls in the morning and buckwheat ramen and gluten-free pizza in the afternoon. The décor here is just as light as the food, with walls of subway tiles in the back and dainty patio tables out front—it's exactly the kind of place where you want to meet friends for lunch after a workout.

With a full menu of detox-approved meals for every time of the day (smoothie bowls, salads, soups, juices, you name it) and an order-online setup that makes for easy takeout, Pura Vida is exactly the kind of place we try to keep in our Rolodexes for busy weeks. They now have two locations—South Beach and Edgewater—so you can find them on either side of the Julia Tuttle.

With a full menu of detox-approved meals for every time of the day (smoothie bowls, salads, soups, juices, you name it) and an order-online setup that makes for easy takeout, Pura Vida is exactly the kind of place we try to keep in our Rolodexes for busy weeks.

Okay, so it's less of a Miami destination and more like the ultimate road trip stop on the way to the Keys, but this quirkily named fruit stand has a lot going for it. The family-owned operation traffics in rare and exotic fruits and vegetables, like apple bananas, Key limes, star fruit, dragon fruit, lychee, and passion fruit, plus plenty of strange-looking pieces you've never heard of, like Monstera deliciosa (a giant green fruit that looks like an ear of corn and tastes like a pineapple) or jackfruit, which can grow up to eighty pounds. The smoothies—which mix perfectly ripe fruit with milk or ice—are a major crowd-pleaser for the littles.

It doesn’t get much better than some Azucar Ice Cream on a hot day: Think incredible flavors, like café con leche (Cuban coffee and Oreo), olive oil, orange zest and dark chocolate, and guarapiña (sugarcane and pineapple), served in generous waffle cones. The ice cream is made fresh daily, and Suzy Batlle’s shop in Little Havana sources ingredients for their desserts locally—the ruby red mamey comes from the Los Piñarenos fruit stand down the street, El Nuevo Siglo Grocery Store prepares the platanos maduros, and seasonal fruits and vegetables come from South Florida farmers' markets and growers in Redland, Florida.

This pop-up café has pretty much anything you'd want: Breakfast options include a smoked salmon roll with cream cheese and buttermilk pancakes; lunch and early dinner items range from a chicken tartine with hemp seed pesto to vegetable tacos. You can grab prepared food to go, but there is ample outdoor seating in the District’s Palm Court. As an added bonus, they serve Panther Coffee, beer, and wine.

This is Miami’s most ubiquitous cold-pressed juice and smoothie chain—there's another location Mid-Beach, plus outposts in Whole Foods' across the city—but that doesn’t mean it isn’t also one of the best places around to grab a juice (or an acai bowl). The space, located in Wynwood Walls, is literally bright green; there’s limited seating, but you can always take your drink and explore the nearby street murals.

This is Miami’s most ubiquitous cold-pressed juice and smoothie chain—there's another location in Wynwood, plus outposts in Whole Foods across the city—but that doesn’t mean it isn’t also one of the best places around to grab a juice. Plus, the menu boasts seriously amazing acai bowls.

This favorite local coffee shop has three locations in Miami (Wynwood, Sunset Harbour, Coconut Grove), each one with a slightly different vibe. The Wynwood Panther, not surprisingly, has a hipster feel, and on a weekday you’re likely to find many locals sitting on the large outdoor patio or at the interior cafeteria-style tables, laptops out, quirky pop music playing in the background. The Sunset Harbour location feels a bit more industrial; it has a bigger interior and no outdoor garden. The Coconut Grove spot has the more upscale aesthetic, but still coolly so. Good cold brew, almond croissants, etc., whichever one you find yourself at.