Beyond the Beaches: Miami's Best Kept Secrets

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Small-town sushi bar
This local restaurant and lounge serves the finest Japanese cuisine. A hidden secret, the Sake Room offers sushi, entrees from the kitchen, soups and noodles, desserts, and cocktails and beverages, which of course include sake. The food is amazing and beautifully prepared, while the staff is friendly and the service efficient. Find your zen at Sake room.

Local dive bar
Ted’s is a neighborhood juke joint that only locals have discovered. Pull up a seat at the bar and the friendly staff will serve you an inexpensive drink while you watch the game on the big screen. They have daily happy hour, weekly specials such as ladies’ night, and more. Chomp on some of the bar eats, including the chili cheese fries. Ted’s is definitely a hideaway and you won’t find any tourists here. Do as the locals do and go to Ted’s.

Hip café and bookstore
The Café at Books & Books is every avid reader’s dream. This quaint bookstore doubles as a café that serves tasty breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also have a regular happy hour and a coffee happy hour for everyone that needs a mid-afternoon pick me up. It’s the ideal place for brunch, but they also have a lot happening after hours. Every Saturday they offer free live music, in addition to numerous book signings throughout the month. Eat fresh food, read quietly, or meet up with friends. You can do it all at The Café.

Renovated historic Italian estate

This lovely natural setting will stimulate all the senses. Located on the most beautiful grounds, Vizcaya is a picturesque location and national historic landmark. Walk around the gardens and enjoy a few of the art exhibits in place. Be sure to check out different events such as the moonlight garden tours, film series, and more. Vizcaya is like stepping into a lavish European-inspired paradise.

Local art gallery

Surrounded by trendy cafés and restaurants, the South Florida Art Center is a hidden treasure grounded in the arts. Their gallery is a beautiful space that features the work of local artists. They also offer classes in drawing, photography, jewelry making, printmaking and more. Their summer camps and internship programs help bring the community together to appreciate art and become artists themselves. Look out for events such as brunch and movie screenings when a new exhibit opens or closes.