Between local staples like Vicky Bakery and Pinecrest Bakery, you can get your pick of croquetas here in Miami. But no one is doing it as right as Dos Croquetas, a Cuban restaurant putting its modern spin on the classic Latin hors d'oeuvres. The self-proclaimed "croqueta bar" has locations in both Little Havana and Bird Road and a pop-up in Hialeah, where customers can sample different handmade croquetas, from classic ham or cheese to new culinary takes including mac & cheese and medianoche croquetas. They also offer a decent Cuban sandwich, Cuban fritanga wrap, or areparada sandwich, all of which build on the brand's favorite delicacy. These delectable croquetas can even be shipped nationally for friends or family looking for a taste of the Magic City. For those with a sweet tooth, Dos Croquetas also has one hell of a mango shake, cloud coffees (with flavors from tiramisu to white chocolate cinnamon), and even chocolate croqueta bites that you can dip in icing. For anyone and everyone looking for a fun remix on their abuela's favorite snack, see ya at Dos Croquetas.

Filled to the brim, the arepas at La Latina are easily the best in Miami. Made with gluten-free corn flour and antibiotic- and hormone-free meats, there's nothing but flavor to savor with these babies. They're crunchy on the outside, packed with juicy meats and melty cheeses, and complemented with delicious garlic and cilantro sauces that are made in house. Since 2011, this somewhat hidden gem has been cranking out these corny portable meals with more than a dozen filling options (think: cheese, sweet plantains, and avocado or shredded beef and cheese) in a cozy space just on the edge of ever-evolving Midtown. Perhaps the best part is how well they travel/deliver, making them the ideal poolside, party, or beach snack.

When the summer sun shines, it's time to cool down with something refreshing and light to keep you from melting at high noon. Enter Dr. Limón, a Peruvian slice of paradise specializing in the country's signature meal of raw fish "cooked" in lime juice. If you're a first-timer, try the "remedio casero," featuring a fresh catch of white fish bulwarked by sweet potato, choclo (large Peruvian corn), fried corn kernels, and a delicate topping of pickled onion. You could, of course, spice it up more with "Dr. Tokyo," tuna, pineapple, and hot limo pepper inside a fried tortilla chip. The dish, whose history goes back thousands of years, is a beautiful pairing of flavors, prompting Dr. Limón to have thirteen ceviche options, all as deliciously sour and fatty as the last.

When it comes to ramen, nothing matters more than a good broth –– and no establishment in South Florida makes a ramen broth quite like Shimuja Ramen. Tucked away in a Southwest Ranches strip mall, the laid-back restaurant has been slinging bowls of authentic Japanese ramen since 2018. It's one of those places where everything on the menu is just right, like their flavorful Japanese curry, immaculately crisp karaage chicken, and addictive shishito peppers. However, most people make the journey deep into suburbia for one particular item: the Kagoshima special ramen. A generous bowl consisting of an 18-hour pork-bone broth and rich pork belly, jammy boiled egg, and thick noodles, the hearty soup warms your soul and fills your belly (literally, it's enough to feed at least two or three people). Starting at $20, it's pricier than your average ramen, but we'd argue that's because it's far better than your average ramen.

With so much brewery goodness stemming from Broward County, picking a favorite one is like picking a favorite child. Well, let us choose. Tarpon River Brewing is the undisputed golden child for its consistent brews, community happenings, and badass space. Housed in what once was a 1929 horse barn, it's an oft-open-air experience with a tap room, tasting room, brewery, kitchen, and plenty of seating for consuming it all. Whereas other breweries are getting obnoxiously experimental, Tarpon River Brewing does the classics well. Its Deflated IPA and Morning Express stout are fool-proof and should never, ever leave the menu, period. Beyond booze, its grub is upper-tier, with LOL-worthy named plates like the "Cluck Norris" fried chicken sandwich and "Et Tu, Brute" caesar salad.

Open less than a year and already Miami's best brewery? Yes, dreams come true when they are deserved. The brainchild of Haidar Hachem (of Lincoln's Beard Brewing Co. fame) and his amazing wife, Marilyn Orozco, Sho_jo_'s Dojo is Florida's first sake brewery. It occupies the former Ceiba space but has quickly made an identity all its own. Beyond housemade sake brews, the spot has a killer craft beer selection. And, yes, you can order a sake bomb for $9 with your choice of a craft brewski and shot of sake. Pro-tip: Don't skip out on a sake-infused cocktail either, with a menu curated by Giovanny Gutierrez (@ChatChowTV). Mari's mule, with lemongrass-infused sake, lime, and ginger beer, and a dehydrated lime bedazzle is a chef's kiss.

Miamians who are into vinyl bars but don't want to deal with the hype of hot-spots like Dante's HiFi have a more subdued but just as cool option with Miami Sound Bar. Nestled between a pizza shop and a pilates gym downtown, Sound Bar was inspired by Japanese listening bars. It has an excellent high-fidelity sound system that's been used properly by some of Miami's best DJs, like Jovigibbs and Sinopoli. The intimate setting, with its suede red couches and low lighting, also makes this an easier place to connect with party companions than nearby bars like Lost Boy or Mode. The rotating cocktail menu is definitely one of the highlights, with musically inspired drinks like "Leaving on a Jet Plane" with pear-infused bourbon and the "Blind Melon," a tequila-Midori mixture. Bonus: This is easily one of the best spots for a first date with a vinyl-curious Gen Zer.

We love character when it comes to a bar, and Swizzle Rum Bar and Drinkery is full of it. This Miami Beach bar is nestled (AKA fairly well-hidden) inside the Stiles Hotel, which also goes by the name Viajero Miami hostel, a totally unassuming building on Collins Avenue in the heart of South Beach shenanigans. Once you find your way in, you're welcomed into a dark drinking den with shelves of spirits, mainly rums, from all over the world. Bartenders are slinging drinks — ranging from classic negronis and old-fashioneds to fun riffs and tailored tropical drinks. Owner Danilo Dacha Bozovic made his way to Miami nearly a decade ago as the principal bartender for the now-defunct Employees Only Miami. When it abruptly closed (in a very Miami fashion — lease battles), he was determined to create a new bar where he and his team could continue to serve well-crafted drinks in a warm, hospitable environment. And so, Swizzle was born.

In an unsuspecting shopping plaza in the heart of Victoria Park next to a Winn Dixie is a hidden speakeasy with masterful cocktails. No joke. Once you step in, away from the mundane strip mall energy, you're struck with a whole new vibe that just starts with the golden draped curtains. Blue velvet booths, crystal chandeliers, a bar with a black counter and dark green backsplash, and even a Zoltar Speaks machine give No Man's Land a vintage look that sucks you in. Despite the upscale appearance, you can totally show up in shorts if you want — hey, it's freaking Fort Lauderdale (though you may want to dress up a bit for the Miami Beach location). But whatever your getup, you'll stand beside your fellow drinkers amazed by the creatively conceived cocktails, like the $16 "Dirty French Toast," their take on an espresso martini, and tasty bar bites that the bar sets up with more options each Tiki Tuesday.

If you're looking for a gay bar in the "don't say gay" state, you need to locate the most in-your-face, unabashedly G-A-Y bar you can find. The place you are looking for is Ramrod. The suggestively named bar is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and it's easy to see why, in the ever-changing landscape of South Florida nightlife, the Ramrod remains. You won't find supportive parents or bachelorette parties in search of drag queens here; this is an assertively queer establishment. While it calls itself "a Levi, Leather, Uniform bar," Ramrod is not hung up on your clothing or lack thereof. You may come as you are. They keep people coming with theme nights like Leather, Jockstraps, or Fetish Fridays each week, featuring a few provocative contests for those interested in competing. From the annual Mr. Ramrod pageant to their insanely long happy hour stretching from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Ramrod has something to do from sunup to sundown.