Insiders Dish on the Best of South Florida

From Miami to Palm Beach, residents in-the-know share under-the-radar spots and local quirks that make the region distinct

South Florida is known for its sun and sand, but according to locals, it is so much more than that. From Miami’s international food scene to Palm Beach’s thriving performing arts culture, this balmy region has as much for culture vultures as it does for snowbirds.

Gabe Orta, 39, is co-creator of BarLab, the hospitality group responsible for Miami’s James Beard Award-nominated bar Broken Shaker, which opened in 2012. Mr. Orta and his business partner Elad Zvi, 37, have expanded BarLab’s reach with Broken Shakers in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. However, Miami is still the heart and soul of Mr. Orta’s and Mr. Zvi’s business, and where they launched 27 Restaurant in 2015 and The Anderson, another cocktail bar, in 2016. Mr. Orta has lived in Miami since 1996.

What he loves about Miami:

Mr. Orta cites Miami’s diversity as its key strength. A melting pot of cultures, the city is home to a number of ethnic enclaves, such as Little Havana and Little Haiti. And that, Mr. Orta says, makes for a varied and increasingly sophisticated culinary landscape.

“The food scene has exploded in the last 10 years,” he said. “A lot of great chefs and bartenders call Miami home, and you see it with the different styles of food and drinks around town, making it a very fun place to explore all kind of flavors.”

Mr. Orta, understandably, also takes advantage of Miami’s famous coast. He said he enjoys kite surfing and paddle boarding, and has found Purdy Avenue in Miami Beach to be a hub for wellness, with health eateries and yoga studios.

Insider tips:

Orta recommends the farmers market held on Saturdays in Legion Park, located on Biscayne Bay in the Upper Eastside neighborhood. Another perk that comes with Miami’s balmy climate—the market is held year round.

He also loves Naomi’s Garden Restaurant and Lounge, in nearby Little Haiti on NW 71st Street. “What started as a hub for food for cab drivers has become one of the tastiest places in town, where all the food is cooked by Haitian women,” he said.

Photo:: Stefan Merriweather, Sydell Group

Photo:: Stefan Merriweather, Sydell Group

Photo: Alexis Espejo

Photo: Alexis Espejo

Dervin Webb, 37, is a W Hotel Insider with the hotel’s luxury concierge service in Fort Lauderdale. He was born an raised in the city and has worked for W since 2013.

What he loves about Fort Lauderdale:

This Fort Lauderdale native has seen his city evolve into a cultural destination in its own right. While the city is known for its canals and Art Deco architecture, it has been quietly building its art scene and nightlife, drawing in visitors from Miami seeking a more low-key vibe.

Mr. Webb said he loves the ArtWalk held on Saturdays in FATVillage Arts District, a historic neighborhood of warehouses. The ArtWalk features artisans selling their crafts and draws lots of innovative food vendors, as well. “We’re getting a hipster scene,” he said.

Insider tips:

One spot Mr. Webb loves is Rhythm and Vine on NE 5th Terrace, which plays to Fort Lauderdale’s new hipster crowd. This beer garden uses a repurposed Airstream trailer as a bar, and brings in high-profile DJs and food trucks. Mr. Webb describes the decor as being similar to “the garage in sitcom ‘That 70s Show.’”

As a true local, Mr. Webb also knows the hometown characters who bring quirk to this pretty beachside city. Right on Beach Place, the epicenter of Fort Lauderdale’s spring break scene, there is a man who keeps eight parrots who never fly too far away from their owner. “We call him the Bird Man,” he said. “He never told us the secret of why they stay with them.”

Danielle Butler, 44, is the co-founder and managing partner of Luxury Law Group in Fort Lauderdale, a legal practice focusing on transactions regarding luxury goods such as yachts, jets and artwork. She was named one of the most powerful women in Broward County by Gold Coast Magazine in 2017. She has lived in Fort Lauderdale since 2001.

What she loves about Fort Lauderdale:

Ms. Butler’s adoration for Fort Lauderdale comes down to the city’s signature feature: water. Known as the “Venice of America,” the city’s canal system makes it a delight for boaters.

Yachts make up a large part of Ms. Butler’s legal practice, and she also owns a 40-foot Sea Ray. Boating culture is a big part of not just the leisure culture in Fort Lauderdale, but the business landscape. “There are more yachts, and marine-related businesses and employees here than anywhere in the world,” she said.

While the canals have always been a draw for visitors, Ms. Butler, like Mr. Webb, said she has noticed how the city’s food scene has advanced, especially along Las Olas Boulevard. “I have seen such a transformation of this area from a small, sleepy town, to a vibrant, cultural city.”

Insider tips:

If you visit Fort Lauderdale, get yourself a boat, Ms. Butler says. It’s easy for day trippers and snowbirds to rent vessels on the low end, all the way up to giant luxury yachts. That’s how you can get in with the “water-centric” locals, she said.

Every weekend, people take out their boats to a central location, forming a floating platform where they socialize and grill, hopping from boat to boat. The location is passed around by word of mouth, but the party is easy to spot and join. “Boaters love boaters,” she said. “Whether you know each other or not, you can ask to moor up.”

As for eats, Ms. Butler recommends upscale-casual restaurant S3 on the A1A and The Indian Harbor, a contemporary Indian restaurant in the Harbor Shops near Port Everglades.

Courtesy of Danielle Butler

Courtesy of Danielle Butler

Photo: Palm Beach Opera

Photo: Palm Beach Opera

Daniel Biaggi, 48, has served as the general director of the Palm Beach Opera since 2009 and is currently the chairman of the Cultural Executives Committee of the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County. In addition to his work in arts administration, Mr. Biaggi is also a classically trained opera singer. He has lived in Palm Beach since 2005.

What he loves about Palm Beach:

Mr. Biaggi says he loves the region’s thriving cultural scene (with, of course, a slight bias towards opera). In addition to Palm Beach Opera, some of the other key institutions that make up the performing arts landscape include West Palm Beach’s Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, the Maltz Jupiter Theater and the Miami City Ballet.

Thanks to the weather, Mr. Biaggi  himself has been able to organize outdoor opera performances in December. He said there is a real “festival feel in the middle of the winter.”

That is in part due to all of the vacation-home owners in Palm Beach who are happy to escape northern winters. The influx from people from all over makes for a uniquely cosmopolitan community, according to Mr. Biaggi.

Insider tips:

An upcoming event Mr. Biaggi is excited about is “Harmony,” an outdoor performance by the Palm Beach Symphony and the Dreyfoos School of the Arts’ Dance Department to be held at the Meyer Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach in February.

It’s not all about the fine arts, though. Mr. Biaggi is fascinated by airplanes, and Palm Beach is a great place to be an aviation enthusiast. In addition to Palm Beach International Airport, located only a few miles from West Palm Beach’s downtown, there is a nearby civil terminal where the glitterati fly in on their private jets and helicopters. “It’s great fun to be at the end of the runway,” he said.