16 Uniquely Miami Things to Buy

Whether you are a sophisticated cigar aficionado or a stogie newbie, in Miami you have hit a tobacco puffer’s jackpot! From the popular Monte Cristos and Cohibas, to unknown locally hand-rolled sticks, there is a treasure trove of authentic cigars waiting to be lit up. Add to that a line of beautifully crafted humidors, cigar cutters and presentation boxes, and you have a cigar lover’s idea of paradise.

For an authentic cigar-smoking experience, head to Little Havana’s Calle Ocho (8th Street) where you will find a plethora of cigar stores, all complete with the ubiquitous scowling wooden Indian with the exotic head dress. Buy an individual stick to puff away or buy a bundle to take back home. Either way, from now on, every time you smell a cigar, it will take you right back to that bustling street, which is quintessential Miami.

Price: $2-$30/individual cigar. Also sold in bundles of 3 and more.

Want to take home the sweet flavor of this tropical paradise? In Miami, you will find a range of exotic fruit jams, preserves and honey that will transform your regular slice of bread or bagel into a gourmet affair. From honeybell preserves and vidalia onion sweet relish to key lime, amaretto or wildflower honey, you will find something to satisfy everyone’s sweet craving.

Happily, these sweet delights are easy to carry and easy to find. If you happen to be strolling down Miami Beach’s famous Lincoln Road on Sunday, head to the Lincoln Road Farmer’s Market for a plethora of delicious treats. Otherwise, on your way to Key West, stop by a Florida institution, Robert is Here, Fruit Stand and Farm, in Homestead. It will be an experience like none other. You can indulge in a Tamarindo milkshake, eat some Carambola, marvel at an Ugli Fruit, and stock up on locally-made jams, jellies and relishes. If you can’t do either, don’t worry. You can buy your quota of Miami jams and honeys at stores, such as Sedano’s Supermarket, that use the local farmers as their source. No matter where you get it from, your gift recipients will have a sweet disposition towards you for a long time!

Price: $5-$10 for jars. Prices vary depending on size, fruit type and location.
$3-$6 for key lime products and candy.

When visitors to Miami take the tour of the vast Everglades, alligators floating lazily through the deep waters under the bright blue Florida sky form an essential part of this experience. While you might not want to take home an alligator, you can take back some rather unusual alligator products that will remind you of the deadly predator of Florida. If you are looking for gifts that are literally off the beaten track, head to the Everglades Gift Shop, after your swamp tour. You will not be disappointed! From an alligator claw backscratcher (for $3.99, that is the cheapest and safest way to get close to an alligator!), gator jewelry, to alligator heads for the really adventurous, you will find something that will be almost as unique as the colossal Everglades!

Prices: $2.95-$115.

Balmy breezes, azure waters, and nearly pristine beaches dotted with beautiful bodies make Miami an international tourist destination. While you can’t quite package sun, sand and sea to take back in your suitcase, you could pick up a couple of pieces from the versatile AQUARIUS line of innovative beachwear that captures the ocean-fresh essence of the city.

Miami-based designer Daniela Sredni has knocked traditional beachwear on its head to create a line of brightly colored beach apparel with sinuous silhouettes that transform from swimsuit cover-up to dégagé street chic, with the addition of a sexy sling back. Called “a beach to street line,” AQUARIUS is available in a number of hotel gift shops, as well as high-end boutiques. You can get casual separates and beautifully cut summer dresses that flatter and flirt. Take them back as gifts and the women in your life will be happier than the proverbial clam!

Prices: $53-$200

The Art Deco style of architecture and Miami Beach are an inseparable combination, much like Miamians and their café con leche. Walk through the historical Art Deco district of the city and you will see exquisitely restored buildings, painted in various hues of peach, periwinkle, purple, and turquoise, and adorned with intricately crafted motifs. Defining the character of Miami Beach, this extravagant style of architecture inspires a sense of decadent leisure.

If you want to replicate a similar sense of relaxation at home or present a slice of Miami’s easy repose to a loved one, pick up a couple of vibrant Art Deco posters from the many stores lining Collins Avenue or Ocean Drive. Alternatively, you can head to the Art Deco Welcome Center and Gift Shop, which is part of the oldest Art Deco Society in the world, to find an incredible collection of artwork and books.

Prices: $9.99 and up at kiosks and beachfront stores.
$20 per poster at the Art Deco Gift Shop.

The oh-so-fragrant key lime is the fruit mascot of Florida. The juice of a key lime lends its distinctive flavors to a range of Miami favorites, from alcoholic drinks to milkshakes, from pies and cakes to a variety of key lime confectionery. Indeed, one famous key lime flavored bundt cake made it all the way to Oprah’s list of favorite things, back in 2004.

To get the best key lime products, go to Key West Key Lime Pie Co., which has multiple branches located on the bohemian streets of old-world Key West. Its shelves bulge with such wondrous offerings like Key Lime Ginger Wasabi Jam, Key Lime Pie Cheeseball, Key Lime Pie Soap-on-a-Rope and Key Lime Margarita Lip Lickers. If you can’t quite get all the way to Key West, the Miami InterCulinary Center has a range of key lime products in their all natural Florribean line that can be found at Whole Foods Markets. Ranging from Key Lime BBQ Sauce with Ginger, Key Lime Cookies, Key Lime Savory Oil to Key Lime Syrup, you can get them all. No matter which key lime flavored edible gift you take back, this will be one gift that will make the flavor of Miami linger.

Prices: Key West Key Lime Pie Co. products: $2.99 and up. Prices vary depending on product and size. For example, $6.99 for 6.9 oz. jar of Key Lime Ginger Wasabi Jam.
Floribbean products: $5.99 and up. Prices vary depending on product and size.
For example, $5.99 for an 11 oz. jar of Key Lime Marmalade.

If you have a long list of gifts to buy and not very much time to indulge in shopping, then the plethora of handcrafted products made by the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida is the answer to your dilemma. Beaded jewelry; sturdy woven baskets from sweet grass; endearing dolls dressed in patchwork made from palmetto husks; and a range of hand carved wooden products, such as bowls, spoons, toys and souvenirs, will leave you spoilt for choice. Book a tour to the Miccosukee Indian Village and not only can you buy their handiwork but you can also watch how the centuries-old craftwork is done. A perfect synergy of utility and art, your Miccosukee craft pieces are more than just decorative mementos. They are tiny pieces of living history.

Prices: $3.99 and above.

Miami is a collage of fun, fashion and frivolity. It’s always sexy, sometimes strident and oh-so-bold. If you want to take home some of that Miami casual-chic, head over to one of the Peace Love World stores that are the brainchild of Miami-based designer, Alina Villasante. Almost an overnight sensation, the PLW merchandise combines fashion gear with philanthropy. From funky everyday clothing for men, women and kids; a range of accessories from buttons to boots; props for your car, home, party and pets; to yoga gear and towels - you have a bewildering range of products to choose from. And if your bag of gifts is flowing over, there is a line of travel accessories to choose from, including a rather nice “I am Travel” black duffle bag ($198). No matter what you pick, be assured that you will be spreading some peace and love among your world of family and friends!

Price: $1.50-$2400

Once considered a wallflower of the culinary ballroom, Miami has slowly emerged to become a gastronomic contender with a style all its own. From the Colombian or Venezuelan arepa (a thick flat corn cake) with their myriad fillings, the stuffed Cuban or Dominican savory empanada (stuffed savory pastry), Jamaican jerk chicken, to the Brazilian barbecued churrasco - the myriad cuisine choices of this South American-Caribbean hub will leave you wanting more.

So, before you head home, stop by in Little Havana, where the tiny country-specific local markets stock an extensive variety of cooking rubs, spices and sauces. Step into one of the ‘ethnic’ supermarkets where the residents shop for Latin foods. For some genuine local flavors, head to El Nuevo Siglo Supermarket or El Rey Supermarket on Calle Ocho, the main street of the Latin Quarter. From adobo blends (a mix of salt, granulated garlic, oregano, black pepper and turmeric), mojo (onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, black pepper, orange, and lemon juice) marinades, to Sazon Completa or complete seasonings, you will get a range of spices that will inspire you to whip up a Latin meal, muy auténtico!

Prices: $1.19 and up. Prices vary depending on product and size.
For example, $2.19 for a bottle of Mojo Marinade (10 oz.).

While the Miccosukee Indian Tribes of Florida are largely known for their casinos and resorts, you will find that they have a lot more to offer than slot machines, spas and fine dining. Deep in the heart of the Florida Everglades is the Miccosukee Indian Village, a repository of their culture and rich traditions. And in this space of living history, you can see Native American artisans produce stunning patchwork clothing, bags and decorative artwork. Intricate designs developed over centuries tell the stories of the tribe, an essential part of their heritage. Whether you choose a tiny patchwork key-chain, a finely designed vest, or a piece of tapestry, you will walk out with some gentle Miccosukee magic!

Prices: $4.99 and up.

With white tigers and brightly colored macaws, orangutans and red kangaroos, Jungle Island is an interactive zoological park that is a popular tourist destination of Miami. A major attraction for families, it offers a range of experiences, such as Winged Wonders, Tales of the Tiger, and the Petting Barn. Memorialize your interactions with the wild and wonderful with mementos from the Island Treasures Gift Shop. The shelves are lined with bears and lions, snakes and gators (stuffed toys and glass figurines, not the real ones!). You will also find clothing with the distinct Jungle Island logo. There are mugs and glasses, key rings and stationery, blankets and books. Not only will these gifts mark your day at the zoo, but the proceeds go towards the upkeep and maintenance of this immense animal habitat. Now that is genuine shopping for a cause!

Price: $1-$1000.

You will love the warm air and smooth sands of Miami, but that glare from the sun can give you some nasty wrinkles around your eyes. So this might be a great time to check out some high-end designer sunglasses from Miami-based eyewear retailer and designer, Edward Beiner, Purveyor of Fine Eyewear. Besides the established luxury brands in his stores, you can also choose from his signature Edward Beiner Lunettes line, an exquisitely designed collection of eyewear. Additionally, if you enjoy hitting the links, skiing or watersports, Edward Beiner also offers a line of high performance eyewear. Head to one of his nine stores in some of the most exclusive shopping areas of Miami, and prepare to be dazzled by his range of eyewear, both contemporary and classic. Your eyes will thank you!

Price: $200-$300 for Edward Beiner eyewear.

Strolling through the streets of Miami Beach, driving around in Coral Gables or exploring the nooks and crannies of Little Havana, you can’t help but notice the distinctly Latin flavor of South Florida. From churros to sweetly delightful dulce de leche; guava paste to crunchy plantain chips; palito (sesame sticks) to panela (unrefined whole cane sugar), the variety of mouthwatering foods will make you want to risk going over your airline’s baggage limits. And, happily, you can get them all and more at one store that is a piece of history.

For a genuine Latin food shopping experience, head to Tropical Supermarket and you will be overcome by a sense of nostalgia for an era predating corporate supermarket chains. Shelf after shelf holds gastronomic treasures in boxes and bottles that are easy to carry but perhaps not that easy to part with. So buy two of each, your gift recipients will thank you!

Prices: $2.99 and up.
For example, $2.99 for a pack of palitos and $5.99 for Dulce de Leche (8 oz.)

Located in the heart of Coral Gables, the University of Miami is an embodiment of South Florida’s commitment to higher education and philanthropy, even as you party! Established in 1925, UM is known for its beautiful campus, top-rated medical, marine sciences and law programs, and its football team, the Miami Hurricanes. And this is one set of Hurricanes that Miami continues to love! So if you want to take an unquestionable Miami gift, ditch the “My friend/sister/brother went to Miami and all I got is this lousy t-shirt” t-shirt and pick up some UM gear, instead. You can choose from a range of clothing, car and home accessories, or novelty items, and you will be reminded of Miami that goes beyond just beaches and bars.

Prices: $2.99 and up. For example, Miami Hurricanes Hoodie: $23.99.

The guayabera arrived in Miami decades ago and is here to stay. The pleated, button down shirt and its many variations is very popular with the local population. From old men playing dominoes to formal wear at weddings, many favor this Latin shirt, especially in Miami’s sweat drenching hot months. From cheap polyester off-the-rack versions to exquisitely embroidered shirts made of high-end linen that can cost as much as $400 and more, guayaberas are also available for women and children too.

Head to Guayaberas Etc. in tony Coral Gables and choose from a range of beautifully cut shirts, dresses and kids’ outfits. Operated since 1978 as a family-owned business, the store sells a wide range of guayaberas and its adaptations in a rainbow of colors. Pick up a couple and the smooth cotton will remind you of hot Latin charm and cool Miami nights.

Price: At Guayaberas Etc.: $22-$125+

No trip to Miami is ever complete without indulging in some Latin cuisine. And no meal, whether Cuban, Caribbean or Puerto Rican, is complete without some crisp tostones. Tostones are double-fried green plantains (unripe bananas) that accompany the main course or are topped with cheese or ceviche as an appetizer. This mouthwatering dish is easy to make if you have the right equipment. After all, who can’t fry a flattened banana?! All you need is a tostonera, a plantain press. Made of wood, plastic or metal, a tostonera can be of two types: one for flattening the plantains after frying and the other for a more decadent stuffed and fried plantain. Either way, tostones or fritos, as they are also called, can be easily made and will help you indulge in some gastronomic nostalgia at home.

You can find tostoneras and other Latin cooking equipment, such as flan kits and empanada molds, at the charming Sentir Cubano, a Cuban memorabilia and food warehouse distinguished by lime green walls and bright murals depicting life in the Latin Quarter, painted by famed life artist, Tony Mendoza. You can also find this nifty kitchen helper at local supermarket chain, Sedano’s Marketplace. A tostonera will make a perfect gift for the chef and the fried food lovers in your life.

Price: $5.99 and up.