100 June 27- July 3, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times b e s T o f m i a m i ® 2 0 2 4 701 S MIAMI AVE 4TH FLOOR, MIAMI, FL 33131 • (786) 598-8012 WWW.MARABURESTAURANT.COM Florida suddenly offers the Taiwanese treat. It’s a refreshing iced tea mixed with chewy, sweet tapioca balls that you suck through a comically large straw. Bubba Tea N Smoothies, located in the heart of Wynwood, makes ‘em better than the rest. It offers ten milk tea varieties, and for the lactose intolerant and vegan among us, a septet of fruit teas, each more delicious than the next. But if you’re not content with their Miami melon, melon and black tea infused with black pearls, or their coco jelly, coconut-milk tea fused with coconut jelly, you can Dr. Franken- stein your own concoction with ten different fruit flavors and ten different types of boba. BEST COFFEEHOUSE (MIAMI-DADE) Ricky’s rickysinmiami.com instagram.com/rickysinmiami While this coffeehouse is a truck exclusively stationed at the University of Miami on Tues- days and Thursdays, we’re sure it’ll become a traveling staple offering pick-me-ups all over town. Anniel Chapel and Nathalie Moreno, a Hialeah couple, converted a newspaper delivery truck into the blue, vintage-inspired mobile unit we’re blessed with today. Ricky’s knows how to treat its customers right, offering regular cou- pons and combo deals, like a $3 croissant with any coffee purchase. And you definitely do want to pair a guava and cheese croissant, artfully prepared in house, with a cup of joe. With plans to expand, Ricky’s is set to spread its mobile magic beyond the UM campus, but until then it remains this city’s best-kept coffeehouse secret. BEST COFFEEHOUSE (BROWARD) Wells Coffee 737 NE Second Avenue Fort Lauderdale, 33304 954-982-2886 wellscoffees.com Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village continues to rise in a graffiti art-draped, hip fashion. At its undeniable epicenter with a true community vibe is Wells Coffee. On a given day, there’s a line for the likes of its pour-over delights, horchata cold brew, and Japanese-style iced coffee. It’s also a remote worker favorite with stellar Wi-Fi and bright, modern confines. Wells keeps it fresh — there’s an onsite roast- ing operation and, through the past decade, the spot has become a major fresh-beans dis- tributor to individuals and businesses near and far. Adding to its charm is its staff, who, in true specialty coffee fashion, are always happy to talk you through the coffee and roasting lingo. Beyond Flagler Village, Wells also has an equally as friendly operation in Tarpon River. BEST BAGELS (MIAMI-DADE) El Bagel 6910 Biscayne Boulevard Miami, 33138 and 3015 Grand Avenue, Suite 122 Coconut Grove, 33133 elbagel.com The New York and New Jersey transplants cer- tainly made it known that the bagels from their home states are the best in the world. But the 305 had its own trick up its sleeve, and that’s the independent bagel shop simply named El Bagel. Opened in 2016, what was once a quaint bagel store in Midtown has expanded to Coco- nut Grove and even the Fontainebleau Las Ve- gas. Their fluffy bagels have only five ingredients — no preservatives, syrups, or con- ditioners. Each of their bakers works in the middle of the night to construct the thick, warm pounds of dough into sellable works of art, which customers can customize with scal- lion or garlic chive schmears, bacon, eggs, cheese, salmon, and whatever else your bagel- loving heart desires. For Miamians, it’s our own prideful take on the delicacy. And who knows, maybe our northern friends don’t think it’s half bad either. BEST BAGELS (BROWARD) Mitch’s Downtown Bagel Cafe 540 N. Andrews Avenue Fort Lauderdale, 33301 754-779-7599 mitchsdowntown.com The bright neon sign inside proclaims, “Bagels Don’t Count As Carbs.” Ah, if only it were true. But let’s be real, Mitch’s Downtown Bagel Cafe can load as many damn carbs as it wants in its dozen-plus bagel concoctions — it’s totally worth it. Cofounder Adam Shidlofsky is the face of the brand these days and may often be found mingling with patrons throughout the week. His dad started the company in 2002 and additional outposts in Weston and Hallandale Beach. Beyond bagels and flavored cream cheeses (the bacon-scallion cream cheese, dear God!), its beyond-Instagrammable BECTA sandwich is a communal fave, piled with two scrambled eggs, thick-cut bacon, avocado, cheddar, and white truffle oil. Mitch’s also has super-solid deli staples spanning potato knishes to matzo ball soup. BEST BREAD Zak the Baker 295 NW 26th Street Miami, 33127 786-294-0876 zakthebaker.com Great bread in Miami is typically two things: Cuban bread made with lard and slathered with butter or, a healthier option, naturally leavened, certified kosher sourdough with wholesome ingredients from Zak the Baker. Founded by Miami native Zak Stern, the cafe and bakery has been honored as a Michelin Bib-Gourmand for three years in a row, and for good reason. The bread is top-notch, as are all of the other pastries and dishes on the menus, whether sea- sonal or steady. Now you can find Zak’s bread at Whole Foods and other markets across Miami, but at the Wynwood location you can watch your bread being baked, and there’s an oppor- tunity to take some cute selfies with your loaf in colorful Wynwood. BEST DOUGHNUTS The Salty 6 area locations, including: 50 NW 24th St. #106 Miami, 33127 saltydonut.com When you think of handcrafted, artisanal doughnuts with innovative but also locally at- tuned flavors, you think of the Salty. Founded in Miami at a pop-up in a vintage camper in Wyn- wood with a line down the block, this doughnut and coffee shop helmed by power couple
