Top 5 Coffee Shops You Can Stroll to from Brickell Metrorail Station in Miami

Jun 19

4 min read

Metromover/Metrorail and glimpse of Underline Walking Path

Since this blog has a transit and caffeine focus, let's start at the core of Brickell, the Brickell Metrorail station, which is part of Miami's rapid transit network. It is served by both the Orange and Green Line trains, as well as the Metromover--Miami's fare-free automated people mover.

For those interested in statistics, here's a fun fact: Brickell Station ranks as the second busiest station in the system. It is situated in the median of SW 1st Ave and SW 11th Street.

After leaving the station, you will see a bike and ride rack located on the lower level of the exits, next to Metropath. This is a 10-mile bike and pedestrian path stretching from the Miami River to Dadeland. The path is currently undergoing rebranding and redevelopment into a linear park known as the Underline, which will be covered in a future blog post.

The first stop on the coffee tour is the Publix Supermarket's La Ventanita, which is across the street from the station. For those who don’t know, Publix is a privately owned Florida-based grocery chain with 878 stores throughout the state.

Translated as 'little window,' la ventanita is a tradition that Cuban immigrants brought with them from their homeland. It is a street-facing window that serves espresso-based drinks, pastries, and savory snacks to people passing by. Notably, Cuban espresso has existed long before the recent surge in popularity of espresso-based drinks across the United States! A useful tip for the humid weather is that most ventanitas offer ice water available, too

I suggest trying my favorite Miami drink—café con leche. You might wonder what that is. While it translates to coffee with milk, it offers so much more!

It is essentially a concentrated latte, enhanced with caramelized sugar that creates the espuma or foam on top.

It's an excellent way to kickstart an energizing morning.

For a decadent sugary breakfast, your café con leche can be accompanied by a pastelito de guayaba, a guava-filled pastry wrapped in a triangular-shaped flaky crust. Between the café con leche and the pastry, you will be on a sugary caffeine-induced cloud nine!

The Next stop on our coffee-fueled adventure is Crema Gourmet, located at 1010 Brickell Ave, at the base of the 1010 Brickell Condominium Complex. It is a local chain with 21 locations in Florida and New York, and serves up a full menu of salads, omelets, sandwiches, and even pasta. It is known for its extensive coffee and tea selection, along with comfortable outdoor and indoor seating. I found it a great place to people watch and eavesdrop on the multilingual conversations swirling around me.

The next stop is Pura Vida, literally translated as 'pure life'--but probably more accurately as 'living a life filled with a positive outlook, which is a Costa Rican Spanish saying. The chain boasts 36 locations in South Florida and New York. According to its website, it is the” ultimate gathering place for health-conscious and wellness-oriented individuals. "

The interior and exterior are quite comfortable, primarily featuring a white color scheme that gives off a classy, relaxed tropical ambiance that Miami is known for. The Brickell location features a shaded patio with white umbrellas and elegant rattan seating reminiscent of a Parisian café. I recommend the cortadito with the smoked salmon sandwich. Smoked salmon and caffeine are always a winning combination! You can find Pura Vida at 1104 S. Miami Avenue.

A coffee truck with a bayside view. Who knew? Pardon the pun. Racoon coffee, located at 609 Brickell Avenue, is a food truck parked next to Biscayne Bay. It's known for its coffee, breakfast items, and sweeping view from its outdoor location. I recommend the healthy arepa and a cortadito. Their menu also features smoothies, refreshing on hot summer days. Grab your food, enjoy the view, soak up the vibe (and wear sunscreen)!

Pasion del Cielo Cafe is located at 907 Brickell Avenue. The cafe features coffee from around the world. There is a large shaded outdoor patio, perfect for the consumption of an iced beverage.

Since there were so many coffee houses to choose from in walking distance, I decided to add one more: Cordatito Coffee House, located at 800 S. Brickell, which is across the street from the Pasion del Cielo Cafe.

According to the Miami Times newspaper, Cordatio Coffee House has the best café con leche in Miami! Located at 800 S. Brickell Ave, the menu offers extensive Cuban coffee beverages, traditional and updated, along with breakfast and lunch items. The food looked fresh, and the portions seemed ample. A good choice if you want something more substantial than a pastry with your coffee!

All thoughts, reviews, and suggestions are welcome. Let me know your favorite Brickell coffee spot!