Follow the Lights to Miami's Hot New Neighborhoods: Little River

The New York Times
By Amy Tara Koch

While much of Miami is about the shiny and new, two of the city's once run-down neighborhoods have gained new energy by repurposing dilapidated buildings as hotels, restaurants and shops, all localy owned and delightfully devoid of name-brand glitz.

Little River

For artists and entrepreneurs, a run-down neighborhood with cheap rent is a form of fairy dust. Cool artist enclaves soon attract restaurants and retail. That's what happened in Little River, where a local real estate developer began buying up the grid of gritty warehouses in the predominantly Haitian neighborhood.

Restaurants

Imperial Moto Cafe, tricked out with gleaming vintage Harley-Davidsons and distressed leather seating, is a cross-section of cycle and car enthusiasts who gather for sustainably farmed, Miami-roasted coffee.
La Natural is laser-focused on "neo-Neopolitan" pizza and natural wine, which has earned it three Michelin Bib Gourmands since it opened in 2020. Whitewashed walls and rustic ceramics set the stage for sourdough-started, cold-fermented pies.
Sunys' Steakhouse, a beloved pandemic pop-up known for parties under its twinkle-light-covered banyan tree, has become a permanent restaurant, delighting legions of local movers, shakers, and their nattily dressed crews drawn to the distressed palm tree mirrored screens, whimsical martini-filled elephant ice buckets and "grandma fabulous" touches like mismatched serving platters.

Shopping & Art

Mids Market is a deal finder's paradise for reasonably priced secondhand clothing. Garments are spread over 12,000 square feet and cleverly divided into categories. There's also a vinyl listening lounge, a "rework station," and community programming.
Contemporary galleries are stippled throughout the neighborhood, including Primary Projects, Homework, and Dot Fiftyone, all showcasing edgy, boundary-pushing work, and printmaking studio Miami Paper & Printing Museum, which hosts bookbinding and pattern block print classes.

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