#ThankYouMiami for Hidden Gems - @LekokeWines

Little Havana is a mecca of hidden gems, most of which have been effectively discovered thanks to how quickly word of mouth spreads around here. Alas we were surprised when we were invited to discover a hidden gem of which we'd never heard. In fact, without said invitation we never would have seen Lekoke Wine and Bites sitting pretty on Calle Ocho, just west of NW 12th Ave. But now we know—and now YOU know—and our life is all the better for it.

There are three reasons why you need to visit Lekoke: stellar wine, stellar food and stellar prices. During our visit we savored a delicious red without abandon, comforted by the knowledge that Lekoke has a huge selection lining the walls among which we spotted some of our go-to wines. (There's something super therapeutic about being surrounded by good wines, no?) For dinner, we enjoyed a prix fixe menu that they offered exclusively for $45 with wine pairings during the Miami Spice months and which we're officially petitioning they bring back.

While we get our petition going, you can order most of our favorite Lekoke items straight off their regular menu. You can't go wrong ordering any of the cold bites but don't neglect the light and delicious caprese salad in your excitement over charcuterie. That would be a rookie mistake. The hot bites are also a win-win scenario, with the empanadillas (in their warm croissant dough), the bruschetta and the kokito toston as the stand-outs in our book. Pro tip: If you ever spy a seafood pasta on their specials, get it. No questions asked. It was our all-time favorite from our visit and the primary motivator behind our aforementioned petition to bring back their prix fixe.

As far as prices go, their regular menu is reasonably priced at a range of $8 to $18 per appetizer dish—a steal from Tuesday through Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. when you can accompany them with 2-for-1 beer and wine. They also launched a boozy Sunday brunch last weekend with all you can eat and drink for $35 that we hope they will continue to repeat. Whether you're looking to shake up your Little Havana routine or drown your sorrows with vino and food, Lekoke's got you. And, since it's still one of Miami's best kept secrets there are no waits, no crowds, just unadulterated goodness.

#ThankYouMiami for Photo Perfection

In case you've been living under a rock, this past weekend was Miami Swim Week. And, while the primary focus was on the season's new swimwear collections, the influx of visitors and media also put Miami in the limelight. Honestly, could there have been a more fitting backdrop for babes in bikinis than a city that needs no filter? But even in paradise, when it comes to photo perfection, there are good spots, better spots, and the best spots.

In today's post for Localeur, #ThankYouMiami contributor Brad Wells tallies the places in Miami with the best backdrops so you can make your friends Insta-jealous. His recommendation includes some of our tried-and-true favorites like South Pointe Park and the Standard Miami. Read the excerpt below and click on the photo for the full feature. Plus, if you join Localeur, you can add a place to the list and boost your influence so what are you waiting for?

What are some of your favorite photos to take a photo? What makes it so beautiful? Which of the places on our list have you visited? Which one(s) are on your must visit list? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami How-To: Discovering Miami in Under 24 Hours

Miami is a popular place for layovers. There's always someone coming or going on the way to or from somewhere else. Our reputation is so that in 2014 the Travel Channel featured Miami on The Layover with Anthony Bourdain.

In our latest feature for Cruise Port Advisor, we talk about why Miami Culinary Tours is the ideal itinerary for discovering Miami during a layover. And, while the piece is geared toward cruise passengers, worry not - Miami Culinary Tours is perfect for anyone who has less than 24 hours but wants to explore the food, culture, and history our beautiful city. In fact, we recently took the Little Havana tour with two groups who flew into Miami and out internationally on the same day (pro tip: they took an Uber straight to the airport when the tour ended).

Read the excerpt below and click on it for the full feature. But first don't forget to scroll all the way down to catch four photos that did not make it into the article!

Photo Outtakes: Our Little Havana Miami Culinary Tour Experience

Has there ever been a more Miami photo than this one of fresh guarapo juice and a shrine to Cuba from Los Pinareños?

#ThankYouMiami How-To: Make The Most of a Short Miami Stay

Whether you're visiting Miami or you're a local entertaining visitors, the Miami experience is hard to capture during a short stay. However, as your personal Cruise Port Advisor Miami insider, we wracked our brains for the best ways of getting a quick taste of the Miami experience. In our latest Cruise Port Advisor, we identified three must-visit neighborhoods and the spots that can make that happen. Read the excerpt below and click on the photo for the full feature.

What other Miami areas do you frequent or recommend to make the most out of a quick Miami visits? What must-visit spots in the three neighborhoods we featured do you enjoy the most? What must-visit spots did we miss? Is there anything else you would like to see us cover for Cruise Port Advisor? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Music, Food, and Culture - Calle Ocho Festival

 

Every March, Miami gathers to celebrate music, food, and culture during Carnaval Miami. The nearly month-long celebration culminates with a one-day street festival along Miami’s famed Calle Ocho, or SW 8^th Street, that draws thousands of locals and visitors. During the Calle Ocho Festival, the main street is lined with vendors and the side streets are converted into concert venues. Even though the focus is primarily on the Little Havana neighborhood’s Cuban roots, the Calle Ocho Festival is an annual tradition for Miami locals regardless of their cultural background.

This past weekend, true to form, the 38th Annual Calle Ocho Festival delivered nearly 20 blocks of Miami-style music, dancing, and flat-out fun. Thanks to Telemundo51 we got a chance to catch the backstage action at one of the hottest stages. We also joined the crowds on the streets, where Miami's locals redefined street style by proudly displaying their heritage on and with their garments, and engaged in some serious people watching. From flags to typical dresses, the Miami community’s diversity and vibrant culture were on full display.

If you missed this year's Calle Ocho Festival, check out the photos we snapped throughout the day so you can absorb some of Miami's incomparable spirit. ¡Nos vemos el próximo año, meng!

Photo courtesy of Sandi Abbott