12 August 21-27, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Month XX–Month XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | there’s never been a café here that feels like a true extension of this magical place — a spot where you can eat, study, work, or bring your kids, all while being wrapped in a green em- brace of banyan trees, wild orchids, and other native plants. Bohemian Spark Café isn’t a place you rush. It’s a place you linger. You order a break- fast sandwich and a hot vanilla latte, then you take your time to eat, to smell, to breathe, to enjoy. The air is softer here, the noise re- placed by the gentle rustle of leaves and the laughter of toddlers. By the corner, you’ll find a mother cooing at her newborn baby under a warm blanket by the black baby grand piano. There’s a cozy reading nook and play area for children, a gorgeous patio shaded by ancient trees, and the kind of serenity you rarely find in Miami. Yesterday, I spent six hours work- ing here without even realizing it. I glanced up at the clock, and it was suddenly 4 p.m. Owner Carmen Rodríguez has created something extraordinary, not just for Pinecrest Gardens, but for the entire commu- nity. And soon, the quaint cafe will begin din- ner service in September. “We’re going to have cocktails on brunch days and Saturdays and Sundays,” she says, smiling. “Pinecrest Gardens hasn’t had a restaurant operating here in 35 years. The last time they had a res- taurant was when it used to be Parrot Jungle. They had Juan Valdez, but it was only coffee. And then the kitchen they remodeled from what it used to be in 2018. They were going to do a concession, but 2020 came, and this was pushed back. Finally, in 2023, they opened up the concession, and I won.” Winning that concession wasn’t luck — it was a vision. “You have to submit your pro- posal, and 21 restaurants applied,” Rodríguez recalls. “I was blessed that they chose me.” Bohemian Spark is as much about family as it is about food. “Right now, only three of us are working here,” Rodríguez says. “My daughter, her boyfriend, and I, who is a culi- nary chef in the kitchen. It’s literally a small family business.” I tried the breakfast sandwich, which was absolutely soft, made with fresh ingredients, and hit the spot just right. Accompanied by a cortadito and later a great vanilla latte, I had the most perfect afternoon working (and writing this article), from there. What’s funny is that I had no intention of visiting for the sake of a story, but I left so touched by her and the beautiful space that I had to rush to my keyboard as quickly as possible. It was as if my fingers had a life of their own. In a city where dining often means fight- ing for parking and shouting over the noise, this café is a breath of fresh air —literally. It’s the kind of place that makes you slow down, savor the moment, and remember why living in Pinecrest feels like living in a secret garden. Bohemian Spark Café at Pinecrest Gardens. 11000 SW 57th Ave., Pinecrest; 305-280-2628; pinecrestgardens.org or visit their more up-to- date Instagram page, instagram.com/bohemi- ansparkcafe. NICOLE LOPEZ-ALVAR ▼ COCONUT GROVE SMITTEN WITH SANDOS If you’ve noticed a queue outside a storefront a stone’s throw from the Coconut Grove Me- trorail station lately and are wondering what the hell is going on, New Times has gotten to the bottom of it. Miamians are going crazy for Japanese sandos (sandwiches) made with fluffy, authentic Japanese milk bread, espe- cially those from the grab-and-go shop Aiko & Mumu. On social media, food influencer Michael Zein (@mikeiseating) describes the viral tamago sando, a Japanese-style egg salad sandwich made with freshly-made Japanese milk bread, as “so soft, so decadent.” Even though the sandwiches sell out as soon as the shop opens at 11 a.m., Infatuation Miami’s Mariana Trabanino says the hassle is worth it. “They’ll probably be out of everything ex- cept the highly overlooked (but equally im- pressive) sushi boxes,” she quips with a laugh. Did we mention that this shop has been open for barely two weeks and sells out of its sandos the moment it opens? The sando stands apart from Western- style sandwiches thanks to its delicate flavors bookended by pillow-soft milk bread (AKA shokupan). “A Japanese sando is a healthy, light, and visually beautiful type of sand- wich,” the team at Aiko told New Times over email. Sandos can be savory or subtly sweet and filled with fruit, such as strawberries and oranges. They are so popular in the Land of the Rising Sun that they are widely available at mom- and-pop shops and convenience stores — or combinis — like 7-Eleven and Lawson. “We’ve been truly surprised by the level of demand,” the Aiko team tells New Times. “It’s gone far beyond what we imagined.” The most in-demand sandwiches are the tamago and strawberry. Aiko also offers ton- katsu (panko-breaded pork), chicken katsu, and matcha strawberry varieties with prices ranging from $11.50 to $16. If you are wondering why all the fuss about some sandwiches, know that Aiko has a serious pedigree behind it. Chef Richard Wang worked under chef Atsushi Okawara at the Den at Azabu, a Michelin-recommended restaurant. Wang moved on to Rakki Sushi & Omakase in Doral, eventually reuniting with Okawara to open Aiko and its evening pop-up Mumu right off U.S. 1 near Coconut Grove, where a portion of the sales goes to local chil- dren’s hospitals and charities. “During the day, we serve Japanese sandos and sushi; in the evening, we become an Asian bistro that blends Chinese and Japa- nese cuisine,” the team says. Beyond the san- dos, Aiko also serves sushi boxes and donburi (Japanese rice bowls). “Our chef team is al- ways experimenting with new creations — such as the tuna sando and onigiri — that we hope more guests will try,” they add. While walk-in orders are accepted, your best bet to ensure you get a chance to try these in-demand Sandos is to preorder online — even then, they still sell out quickly. The shop is open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m. Aiko & Mumu. 2770 SW 27th Ave., Ste. 2, Miami; 786-860-5993; aikoandmumu.com. JOSE D. DURAN YOUR BEST BET TO ENSURE YOU GET A CHANCE TO TRY THESE IN-DEMAND SANDOS IS TO PREORDER ONLINE.
