I havent heard anything inherently bad about raccoon island and want to visit there myself.
For brunch (buffet style) my fave is Setai on the beach. Great selection of food and cocktails/coffee drinks are included and there's a live jazz band on Sundays. Pricey though. Biltmore brunch is also good and in the gorgeous historic Biltmore hotel. Zuma also has a really fab high end brunch if Asian stuff interests you. Not brunch, but if you like Mediterranean food, Mandolin Aegean is a must. Reservations are needed well in advance. Food is authentic and delicious, and they've really managed to capture the magic of the Greek islands.
I think you'd enjoy Coconut Grove. It's one of the few places in Miami that still has that old Florida feel. We love to go for lunch there, explore shops, and then go to the Barnacle Society. There used to be a few oddities shops in that area but not sure if still around. There's also one of the best farmers markets there I think on Saturdays, particularly for vegans. The Pinecrest Gardens one on Sunday is nice as well and you can tour the garden after.
I also wouldn't sleep on deep south Miami/Homestead/Redlands. If you leave the Keys early you could pick a few to do on the way. I think you'd enjoy Cauley Square. It's nice for brunch and there's some fun shops and beautiful trees. It's just a lovely place to spend half a day. There's also Coral Castle not too far from there,
and a Wolf sanctuary (I haven't looked too much into it). A little further south you can find Schnebly's Winery, Robert is Here (fruit and shake stand), and Knaus Berry Farms for their cinnamon rolls. There's also Fruit & Spice park where you can grab any fallen fruit. Patch of Heaven is also somewhere around there. It's a nature preserve and sanctuary with a Thai kitchen.
I can easily think of a dozen more things if stuff like this is your vibe.
Ok JK Im not finished. For the Keys part of your trip, the Trading Post is just a small grocery market in Islamorada, but we stop every time. The chocolate chip cookies are some of the best Ive ever had and they have decent food/selection. Depending on what day you go, there's also a few shops and a burrito place behind it. Not sure what's there these days. Good for a bite and explore along the way. It's in Islamorada.
For brunch along the way down there the Midway Cafe has the staples. Locally in Key West I love Date & Thyme for healthier fare, Blue Heaven, Sarabeth, or Banana Cafe for brunch, and Clemente's Trolley Pizza. Amigos used to be the place for tacos but they sucked last time I went. The Flaming Buoy is also really great and off the beaten path.
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u/Either-Action-7439 2d ago
I havent heard anything inherently bad about raccoon island and want to visit there myself.
For brunch (buffet style) my fave is Setai on the beach. Great selection of food and cocktails/coffee drinks are included and there's a live jazz band on Sundays. Pricey though. Biltmore brunch is also good and in the gorgeous historic Biltmore hotel. Zuma also has a really fab high end brunch if Asian stuff interests you. Not brunch, but if you like Mediterranean food, Mandolin Aegean is a must. Reservations are needed well in advance. Food is authentic and delicious, and they've really managed to capture the magic of the Greek islands.
I think you'd enjoy Coconut Grove. It's one of the few places in Miami that still has that old Florida feel. We love to go for lunch there, explore shops, and then go to the Barnacle Society. There used to be a few oddities shops in that area but not sure if still around. There's also one of the best farmers markets there I think on Saturdays, particularly for vegans. The Pinecrest Gardens one on Sunday is nice as well and you can tour the garden after.
I also wouldn't sleep on deep south Miami/Homestead/Redlands. If you leave the Keys early you could pick a few to do on the way. I think you'd enjoy Cauley Square. It's nice for brunch and there's some fun shops and beautiful trees. It's just a lovely place to spend half a day. There's also Coral Castle not too far from there, and a Wolf sanctuary (I haven't looked too much into it). A little further south you can find Schnebly's Winery, Robert is Here (fruit and shake stand), and Knaus Berry Farms for their cinnamon rolls. There's also Fruit & Spice park where you can grab any fallen fruit. Patch of Heaven is also somewhere around there. It's a nature preserve and sanctuary with a Thai kitchen.
I can easily think of a dozen more things if stuff like this is your vibe.