A labor of love, Karla Bakery is a bakery in the heart of Miami founded on family values and recipes passed down throughout the years. Opened in the 1980s after this Cuban family reunited in the United States, they have been creating perfectly crafted treats and meals for nearly 30 years.

The menu varies from chocolates to sandwiches, and everything in between. Their sandwich combos are a great deal, with a tasty ham and cheese croissant with fries and a latte for only $7. Can’t beat a deal like that. They also offer a variety of empanadas with traditional flavors and unique flavors like coconut or guava. Finish off your meal with a tasty baked good like a cabezote or caracol. You’ll find something on the menu for every hour of the day, and every palate. Sometimes you can even score a free cafecito with your purchase during late-night hours.

There aren’t many places you can grab a pastry 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but Karla Bakery is the exception. Take a seat in the cozy cafe, or order to-go online, either way you’ll be glad you did.

Karla Bakery
8353 West Flager Street
Miami, FL 33144
(305) 264-0500
www.karlabakery.com

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr Sarah and Jason

Villa Vizcaya Museum & Gardens is a 1910 estate-turned-museum that can be appreciated by locals and tourists alike. This 10-acre estate in Miami was built by millionaire James Deering as a summer home where he could relax, unwind, and enjoy nature. Today, the home provides a sort of oasis from the high rises and fast paced lifestyle in Miami.

Take a tour to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of the estate and learn more about how it was made the masterpiece it is today. The 36-room mansion serves as the focal point of the estate, full of incredible art collections and impeccable architecture. The gardens are almost reminiscent of Versailles, with lush greenery, perfectly groomed flora, and magnificent stone statues and features throughout. Once you’ve explored and worked up an appetite, take a stop at the cafe located on site.

The venue hosts a wide-variety of special events on a weekly basis, from members-only behind-the-scenes tours and yoga to special nighttime moonlight garden tours and family-friendly tours for a small fee.

Villa Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
3251 S. Miami Ave.
Miami, FL 33129
(305) 250-9133
www.vizcaya.org

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Muffet

When you step in the door, you won’t be sure if you’ve entered an art gallery or a dining room at Wynwood Kitchen & Bar. The restaurant boasts dining rooms with high ceilings and walls covered with sketches, colorful murals, and massive paintings hung throughout. The ambiance is fitting due to its location next to the Wynwood Walls attraction, which you can admire from the patio area.

As you see the plates come out of the kitchen, you’ll realize that the artistic theme translates to the food as well, with each plate crafted like a work of art. The menu is a fusion of different influences from Latin to Mediterranean, with a variety of large plates or small plates to share. Start with the shrimp ceviche with pineapple coconut sauce or roasted beets with Valencia orange and a champagne-honey vinaigrette. Larger plates range from seared duck breast with bok choy and miso ponzu sauce to braised short ribs with a red wine demi-glace. Those just scrape the surface- there is truly something for every palate.

Save some room for one of their decadent desserts like Latin misu, which combines traditional tiramisu with dulce de leche!

Wynwood Kitchen & Bar
2550 NW Second Ave
Miami, FL 33127
(305) 722-8959
www.wynwoodkitchenandbar.com/home.html

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Geoff Peters 604