1. Edward Beiner
City: South Miami, FL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (305) 661-1205
Address: 5817 Sunset Dr.
Description: Miami-based eyewear designer Edward Beiner has star-studded clients including Lindsay Lohan, Alicia Keys, and Heidi Klum. In addition to the Edward Beiner brand, stores also carry brands including Gold & Wood, Oliver Peoples, Chrome Hearts, Chanel, Alain Mikli, Cartier, and Judith Leiber. Visit the website for additional locations.
2. Eye Care Optical
City: South Miami, FL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (305) 665-2353
Address: 7300 SW 57th Ave.
Description: This South Miami optometry office has a wide selection of name-brand eyeglasses and sunglasses—Prada, Tory Burch, and Chanel, to name a few. Those who aren’t patients are welcome to shop and the helpful staff will work with customers until they find a perfect pair. Multitask and get an eye exam with Dr. Andrea Koven, who will ensure the pair you pick is fitted with your prescription.
3. Gardner’S
City: South Miami, FL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (305) 667-9953
Address: 7301 SW 57th Ave.
Description: Gardner’s has been voted best gourmet market and is well known for its catering and seasonal menus for various holidays. High quality foods are their mantra and seasonal produce is sold throughout the year. Seasonal is also important to Gardner’s during the holidays, when prepared meals are available for purchase—Easter, Thanskgiving, Passover, Memorial Day, and St. Patrick’s Day are only a few of the many and a separate catering menu is also available. Additional locations are at 3117 Bird Ave., Coconut Grove (305-476-9900) and 8287 SW 124th St., Pinecrest (305-255-2468).
City: South Miami, FL
Category: Shopping
Address: 8247 South Dixie Hwy.
City: South Miami, FL
Category: Shopping
Address: 9549 Sunset Dr.
6. Wall’S Old Fashioned Ice Cream
City: South Miami, FL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (305) 740-9830
Address: 8075 Ludlam Rd.
Description: The name says it all—Wall’s has stuck to its old-fashioned tagline and remains one of the most popular ice cream spots in the city. Ice cream floats, milkhakes, sodas, and malts are on the menu, but their extensive ice cream list is really what visitors flock to. Basics like chocolate and vanilla are always solid options. Interesting flavors range from pistachio to cinnamon and a slew of toppings add to the fun. Outdoor seating is ample—as long as you miss the after-school crowd, which fills the place up.
7. Whip ’N Dip Ice Cream
City: South Miami, FL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (305) 665-2565
Address: 1407 Sunset Dr.
Description: This family business has been a Miami staple since 1985, when husband and wife team George and Nancy opened their doors with the help of their kids who worked in the store. Their customer service is known to be top-notch (read: family business) and suggestions are always welcome. In addition to traditional flavors such as vanilla, chocolate, rocky road, and coffee, interesting flavors including pumpkin and cookies combo are on the menu. Lite and sugar-free options are available as well as custom cakes and cookies for special events.
8. Buttercream Cupcakes & Coffee
City: South Miami, FL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (305) 669-8181
Address: 1411 Sunset Dr.
Description: One of Miami’s leading cupcake purveyors, Buttercream Cupcakes offers 8 cupcakes daily along with milk and coffee to wash them down with. Interesting offerings include lime, vanilla Oreo, and chocolate orange. Check the bakery’s website for the daily cupcake schedule. Individual cupcakes can be purchased for $2.75 and a baker’s dozen is $33 and can be ordered on the website.
9. La Sweets
City: South Miami, FL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (305) 665-5288
Address: 5701 Sunset Dr.
Description: It doesn’t stand for Los Angeles, it stands for Letty Alvarez, the mastermind behind this cupcake central. Alvarez focuses on using top-notch ingredients and offers a cozy environment to enjoy the products in. There’s free Wi-Fi, board games, and a flat-screen TV in the sitting area, which is home to sugar lovers throughout the city. Chocolate and vanilla cupcakes and frosting are easy go-to flavors, but those who are adventurous should try some of Alvarez’s interesting flavors: Bacardi rum, key lime, fresh orange, piña colada, and sweet potato—topped with buttercream flavors such as cream cheese, marshmallow, pineapple, and raspberry.
10. Sweetness Bake Shop And Cafe
City: South Miami, FL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (305) 271-7791
Address: 9549 Sunset Dr.
Description: As mentioned above, this bake shop does so much more than simply cupcakes, but cupcakes are by far one of its strongest suits. Mini, regular, and jumbo sizes are available and there are dozens of flavors to choose from. In addition to the basics, try unique specials such as 24 Carrot, with carrot cake sweetened with crushed pineapple and topped with cream cheese frosting; Peanut Butter Cup, chocolate cake filled with peanut butter chips, peanut butter buttercream, and topped with a chocolate buttercream; or Coconut Keylime, coconut cake filled with key lime pie filling topped with cream cheese frosting, and crushed graham cracker, among many more. Try global options with Latin, European, and Asian inspirations and seasonal flavors as well.
11. Miami Twice
City: South Miami, FL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (305) 666-0127
Address: 6562 Bird Rd.
Description: Perhaps its name is a double play on secondhand and the owners, a mother and daughter team. Miami Twice sells new and used items and may seem more like a Halloween resource center to some. In fact, it draws an enormous crowd for Halloween and costume-related events, though there is a vintage selection available. Vintage paraphernalia such as posters, postcards, and the like are for sale. Follow Miami Twice on Twitter (www.twitter.com/MiamiTwice01) for posted sales and events.