Sometimes, all you want is dessert and a drink or two—there’s no need for a full-on meal. When that happens, you can trust these six eateries to hit the spot:
Bachour Bakery & Restaurant
You can’t write a dessert list in Miami without mentioning Bachour Bakery & Restaurant, the renowned establishment from internationally acclaimed pastry chef Antonio Bachour. The restaurant—which has multiple locations in South Florida—is a dentist’s nightmare and your sweet tooth’s dream; the selections are so colorful that you can’t help put to stare in awe. Expect to find a large assortment of delights like strawberry and mascarpone croissants, tropical rice pudding tarts, cookies, cream macarons, black forest bonbons, and so much more. Drink selections vary by location, but at a minimum, wine and beer will help you wash everything down.
Bachour Bakery & Restaurant has multiple locations in Miami. For more information, visit their official website.
Patio Isola
MiMo’s premier Italian eatery has made a name for itself with tasty pastas and pizzas. While those items don’t leave much room for an end-of-meal sweet, Patio Isola’s dessert options are at least worth a look whether you just ate or not. The tiramisu is a classic and among the best ones in town, while the parmesan cheesecake is a fun twist on a traditional dish. For something decadent and very Instagram-worthy, consider the sfogliatella lobster tail—it’s a beauty. Drinks-wise, expect a full bar with an emphasis on Italian wines, beers, and spritzes.
Peacock Garden
Peacock Garden in Coconut Grove looks like it’s straight out of a movie—the restaurant is super charming. Once you’ve stopped gawking, go to town on the eatery’s short-but-seriously-sweet dessert selection. Keep things light with a mango panna cotta or key lime tart or throw caution and your diet to the wind with a dark chocolate tartufo or pina colada mousse cake. Just as tasty as the dessert menu is the drinks menu. There’s a BIG emphasis on cocktails here: the hibiscus martini and the cucumber smash are great for cooling off in Miami’s year-round summer weather.
Peacock Garden is located at 2889 McFarlane Road, Miami, FL 33133. For more information, visit their official website.
Riviera Focacceria
Everywhere you look, there’s a restaurant in Midtown Miami. You can’t take a few steps without coming across something new and grand. But among all that glitz and “new restaurant” glam, there are tried-and-true favorites like Riviera Focacceria, whose longevity is a sign of quality. Restaurants come and go in this area, but not Riviera Focacceria.
For years, the restaurant has served up impressive Italian fare, including some tantalizing desserts. Pistachio mousse, tiramisu, panna cotta, Nutella tarts… Do yourself a favor and order more than one decadent treat here. Bring a friend and load up on sweets while splitting great Italian wines. The good food, drinks, and vibes will make you lose track of time.
Seawell Fish & Oyster
We’ve written at length about the stellar seafood at Seawell Fish & Oyster, but we haven’t really focused on the desserts—shame on us. This cozy South Beach eatery is the perfect backdrop for enjoying some delicious confections and champagne (or your drink of choice). You could stick to something classic like the key lime dessert, but treat yourself to the indulgent Something Like S’mores, which lives up to its name with Valrhona chocolate ganache, graham cracker streusel, marshmallow brulee, and salted caramel. It’s not for the faint of heart. On the lighter side of things, you can’t go wrong with the coconut sabayon or toasted almond ice cream. To help you eat all that up, there’s wine, beer, and cocktails galore. Fun fact: visit during the oyster hour for $9 prosecco and aperol spritz.
Toscana Divino
At Mary Brickell Village’s Toscana Divino, you won’t go thirsty: The Italian restaurant is home to one of the largest wine collections in South Florida—we’re talking hundreds and hundreds of bottles. You can easily spend an entire afternoon here if you’re not careful. Whatever your wine preferences, odds are the staff will help you find something on its extensive list. Don’t worry, non-wine drinkers: There’s a full bar and plenty of beer to go around. Once you have your drink in hand, it’s time for dessert. Our recommendation is to go with the warm chocolate cake or the crème brulee; both will satisfy your sweet tooth without feeling like too much. You can also choose to switch things up with an assortment of Pecorino cheese if that’s more your style. You won’t regret your choice either way.
