24 Hours in Miami’s Chic Shopping District
9 a.m.: Breakfast at Dr. Smood’s Organic Café
2230 N.W. Second Ave.
Start your morning off right with a “Smoody,” a cold-pressed juice that’s full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, from Dr. Smood, one of Wynwood’s most upscale juicing spots. Danish businessman Rene Sindlev created the café with his Italian model/architect wife Patrizia Manici Sindlev. While not a fully vegan cafe, Dr. Smood still offers a variety of plant-based, energizing juices, coffee, non-dairy “mylks,” and vegan-friendly bites that boast incredible health benefits and are all organic and dairy-free. Each item on the menu rings in somewhere between $6 and $15 and comes with a color-coded label that announces the benefits you can expect to receive, spanning from immunity to energy and even beauty. For those with a sweet tooth, there’s even a slew of vegan pastries such as their delicious cinnamon rolls.
10 a.m.: Visit the Insta-worthy Wynwood Walls
2520 N.W. Second Ave.
Take a quick walk up the street to Wynwood Walls, an outdoor museum that features the largest collection of street art murals in the world. Completely free and open to the public, this collection of more than 40 vibrant, wall-sized canvases are the Instagram backdrop of your dreams, so be sure to grab a selfie or two. The space spans 30,000 square feet and features the work of 50 leading artists from around the world—from Brazil’s Os Gemeos to Shepard Fairey (of the famous Barack Obama “Hope” posters). The walls, which feature everything from life-sized murals of the Dalai Lama to abstract paintings of aliens to graffiti-style quotes, are constantly changing with artists coming back to update their work and unveil new pieces—all the more reason to book a return trip soon.
11 a.m.: Plant The Future
2511 N.W. Second Ave.
After viewing the famous Wynwood Walls, head across the street to the whimsical eco-wonderland that is Plant the Future. Plant the Future founder Paloma Teppa fuses nature and art to create imaginative living plant arrangements — from cheery, flowering cacti to butterfly cocoons and even art masterpieces with actual plants in them. The flora-filled boutique gallery sells much of their beautiful greenery at a number of different price points, like their baby cacti ($6) or their best-selling Signature Butterfly Garden ($98). Even if you’re not in the mood to shop, it’s worth taking a visit for some much-needed inspiration.
12 p.m.: Lunch at GLAM Vegan
3301 N.E. First Ave., Suite 103-1
Located on the edge of Wynwood, GLAM (a.k.a. Green Living Animal Matters) delivers vegan dishes packed with serious flavor. The menu, with dishes ranging in price from $11 to $30 and created by chef Todd Erickson, features gluten-free options, colorful salads, gourmet flatbreads, and an array of delicious desserts. The modern restaurant’s commitment to green living doesn’t just extend to the cuisine. Expect to find gold matte reusable tableware and a staff dressed in all-vegan attire.
1:30 p.m.: Shopping at ANTIDOTE
2613 N.W. Second Ave.
New to Wynwood, Antidote bills itself as a conscious boutique created from ecological materials such as natural woods and non-toxic paints, and is brimming with luxury, ethical clothing, accessories, and shoes with price points ranging from $150 to $2,000. Founded by French-born Sophie Zembra, a pioneer in the sustainable fashion movement, Antidote, though not entirely a vegan boutique, strives to be the remedy for fast fashion by ensuring every single item is made ethically. Zembra organizes her products by a number of categories — from “made in the USA” to “artisanal” and “eco-friendly.” Her selection of vegan fashion is colorful, on-trend, and carefully curated: upcycled jeans from influencer favorite Re/Done, LemLem gauzy dresses supporting women’s empowerment in Africa, and strappy bikinis from Stella McCartney.
2:30 p.m.: Treat Yourself to Luv
3246 N. Miami Ave.
Top off your shopping excursion with a visit to Luv Nail Shop, a spa-like boutique offering a vegan nail experience in a pretty, Pinterest-perfect setting: glamorous grey walls, chic ghost chairs at each manicure station, and tea and fruit-infused water offered while you get pampered. At this health-focused nail salon, avoid toxic solutions with vegan-friendly and five-free (which means toxins such as formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate and toluene have been removed from the formula) brands such as Smith & Cult and Deborah Lippman. And if you’re really in the mood to pamper yourself, go for Luv’s Redefined Package, which includes exfoliation, an extended massage, a hot towel wrap, and a fresh $30 manicure.
4 p.m.: Sweet Treat at Cielito’s Artisan Pops
2750 N.W. Third Ave., Suite 20A
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a decadent vegan pop from Cielito’s, Miami’s first artisanal ice-pop shop. The ice-cream shop’s popsicles taste just as good as they look and range in price from $4 to $9. Each pop features natural, high-quality ingredients, including local guava and hibiscus flower. Their fruit pops are vegan and gluten-free and come in a range of seasonal flavors like ginger-mint pineapple and starfruit pomegranate. Cofounders Sindy Posso and her husband Ivan Sussman run the mom-and-pop business, which offers anywhere from 16 to 23 flavors daily and an impressive lineup of vegan toppings (edible flowers, coconut flakes, and even organic rose petals). Cielito’s high-end frozen desserts deliver that refreshing break you need to survive a hot day in America’s coolest city.
5 p.m.: Happy Hour at No. 3 Social
50 N.W. 24th St. – Rooftop
Cool down with yummy $7 cocktails while taking in the city views at No. 3 Social, the only rooftop bar in Wynwood, and a favorite among locals. With the direction of James Beard award-winning chef Norman Van Aken, the bar’s menu features drinks inspired by local ingredients as well as a select list of wines and craft beers, some of which are vegan-friendly. If you’re in the mood for a margarita, sip on a Norman’s Revenge, a namesake of the chef, for a delicious combination of tequila, lime, agave, jalapeno, and black salt.
7 p.m.: Dinner at Plant Miami
105 N.E. 24th St.
Located at Sacred Space Miami, Plant Miami offers upscale, plant-based cuisine using local and seasonally inspired ingredients, including 57 varieties of edible flowers, microgreens, and white-oyster mushrooms, which are all sourced from their sister property, Paradise Farms. Led by executive chef Horacio Rivadero, the innovative dishes change seasonally and range from $31 to $50. This season’s favorites include summer squash lasagna, banana leaf tamales, and cauliflower steak. Check the website for the updated menu.
Banner photo by Plant the Future.
