You can start the day at any of the little walk up Cuban bodegas and have a strong cafe Cubano and a pan Cubano. This is a super strength espresso fortified with a lot of sugar and served in a thimble (trust me - a little goes a long way) with a raft of crispy toasted extra light grill-pressed bread. Miami runs on this breakfast of champions. Most places serve right out on the sidewalk through a little window, but some have a counter inside offering just squeezed juices too. Check this out one morning...
If you are more a bacon and eggs type, the Front Porch Cafe on 14/Ocean Drive has a lovely menu to start the day. The News Cafe is further South at 9/Ocean but is a go-to spot for visitors and locals alike.
You can also do what every red-blooded American does and walk 10 steps in any direction and find a Starbucks to customize a cup of something... with a low fat muffin to go. You want them - we have them. There are 3 separate Starbuck's on Lincoln Mall. Plus, Denny's 29/Collins and McMuffins @ Lincoln/Washington and all the greatest hits too.
There are lovely brunches as well. On Sunday - Spend a little extra at Nemo (100 Collins) and you can eat all you want and you will want to eat PLENTY. The food is spectacular and not the usual sweaty chafing dishes most places fill with stale eggs and dry ham. The kitchen has an open counter top and the dishes they refresh all morning are filled with unusual treats you're not soon to forget. Meanwhile, along the horseshoe-shaped bar, the pastry chefs set out cakes and cobblers and cookies and pie - oh - my!
Just across the street at 2/Collins is the all day and all night diner Big Pink which serves huge plates of breakfast standards (including my favorite breakfast burrito) and a host of giant salads, juicy burgers, wrap sandwiches and hefty desserts too. Be sure to substitute sweet potato fries for the regular ones on someone's order - they are wonderful! Oh - did I mention the fries come in a BUCKET? So do the beers...
Around Lincoln Road, the other breakfast and brunchy-lunchy places worth mentioning are
Ice Box Cafe 1657 Michigan,
Balans 1022 Lincoln (which is actually cheaper on weekdays and has a lovely eggs benedict),
Nexxt 700 Lincoln (giant portions),
Van Dyke (live jazz every night on the 2nd floor), and
Paninoteca Sandwich Shop 809 Lincoln.
Just north of the mall on Meridian is David's Cafe, the Cuban storefront to visit for that jet fuel cafe and a super reasonable breakfast menu (all locals, you'll see, open 24 hours!!)
Also near by is A la Folie Cafe on Espanola for a French pastry and a latte.
For the rest of the day and evening, you can check out the following places.
La Sandwicherie at 229 14th Street
San Loco Tacos next door to La Sandwicherie
Spris/Tiramesu Italian 721 Lincoln
Miss Yip's Chinese across from David's on Meridian
Piola Pizza 1625 Alton at the west end of the mall under the movies for just-baked little pies
Hosteria Romana on Espanola Way for great Italian
Parilla Liberty 1925 Liberty Ave for grilled Argentinian meats
Chalan on 15/Washington for wonderful Peruvian food
Rosinella 525 Lincoln for pasta
Grillfish seafood 14/Collins
Bond Street 150 20th for hip sushi
Sushi Siam 646 Lincoln for Thai
Altamar seafood 1223 Lincoln
or the comfort food destination Joe Allen's 1787 Purdy 305-531-7007 (a favorite local hangout).