For years people have said Little River would become the “next” Wynwood. Although we hope it never becomes that commercial, big changes are coming to the neighborhood located South of Miami Shores and North of Little Haiti. The epicenter is Sunny’s Steakhouse, back after a two-year hiatus. This gorgeous restaurant has an outdoor bar under a banyan tree and a cozy swanky circular bar inside. Happy hour starts at five Wednesday-Saturday and on Sundays at 4 pm. You can order a martini a hundred different ways with one of the best steaks in town, warm Parker rolls and a crisp Caesar salad.
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Across the street is homework gallery currently exhibiting mujeres showcasing art by eleven women artists. Artists Carlos Betancourt and Hoxxoh have studios down the street that you can book time to visit. A block away Machialina is building their new concept Bar Bucce and Fooq’s is reopening soon. Rumor has it El Bagel, Itamae, Alinea and ten other restaurants are coming.
Two blocks west you will find Imperial Moto Cafe where fans of vintage motorcycles hang out and sip coffee in leather couches in a cool industrial building. You can shop gear and try one of their pastries and empanadas. Around the corner is the Brazilian clothing store eliou with modern jewelry and a collection of bright-colored crochet knitted pants and jackets.
Half a block south is the cozy Le Naturale restaurant known for its thin sourdough pizza a great selection of natural wines. Across the street, you will find our new favorite furniture store Casa de Barcelona. Owned by an ex-baseball player who fell in love with Barcelona, each piece is handpicked and then brought back to life. Think Milo Baughman sectionals reupholstered in Kelly Wrestler fabrics. You need to make an appointment and make up your mind because each piece is one of a kind and clients in NY and LA are ordering online.
The Garden just opened across the street. Owned by a Miami-based artist, you can shop for art or hang out and listen to music. Walk south two blocks and you will pass Ogawa which means Little River in Japanese. This small gorgeous room specializes in Edomae cuisine and has a private japanese garden.
Continue one more block to thrift shopping 2.0: mids market thrift store. Opened a few months ago, this is the most meticuously organized thrift store we have ever visited. Rumage through bins organized by price or by categories like college sports, professional ports or tv shows. They have a cool vinyl bar with leather sofas where you can spend a couple of hours playing video games.
Head on back up to The Cathedral of St. Mary on 75th Street. Artist Carlos Betancourt told us about the gorgeous blue vitraux that span the wall of the cathedral. Continue to 80th street and 2nd Ave. and pop into the Carolina K. store. Carolina Kleinman works with a cooperative of artisans from Tepoztlan, Mexico, to create beautiful handmade dresses and home goods.
In 82nd street you will find La Santa Taqueria restaurant with great tacos Al Pastor and margaritas. Next door is the Vietnamese restaurant Tran An here you should order the Beef Pho and the shrimp spring rolls.
One block up is Magie wine bar, a large lounge with natural wine, escargot, tinned fish, charcuterie and cheese boards. Next door is the cozy Gaucho Ranch that imports beef and wine from Uruguay.
Across the street is the Citadel food court where you can get one of the best burgers in the city at USBS (United States Burger Service) or you can get pho at Pho Sho owned by the Phuc Yea team. They have a couple of stores that carry independent designers from Latin America, a cool thrift store called Sir Thrifty, an art gallery and a rooftop bar with the view of the neighborhood.
Pop in next door to Plant The Future, a plant design store owned by artist Paloma Teppa that has a beautiful garden overlooking the canal and spend some time looking at their living plant sculptures.
If you prefer a vegetarian place for lunch, walk south to The Plantisserie on 72nd St. where owner Maria Laura Alemann created a novel concept of healthy, clean, homemade-style food you can purchase by the pound. She “veganized” all of her childhood recipes and hired grandmothers to cook daily.
Next door is everyone’s favorite Cindy Lou’s cookies. Here you will find over 20 types of delicious cookies and cakes and the friendliest staff. You can also see our interview with Cindy in Our Gurus section.
End the day at the outdoor music venue zeyzey on 61st street. They have great bands from around the world and a fun crowd.
