Tucked away in Coconut Grove, Si Papa is a small, candlelit Italian neighborhood gem—intentionally simple, with no menu and no distractions, just lasagna done right.

We arrived around 6:30 p.m. on a Saturday to beat the crowds and were greeted by two servers in the cozy, compact space. Seating is limited (about 24 seats), which gives the restaurant an intimate, almost speakeasy-like feel. We grabbed seats at the bar and ordered right away.

My husband chose the bolognese, while I went with the vegetarian (pesto, peas, and green beans). Both were rich, comforting, and absolutely worth the hype. As more patrons trickled in—waiting patiently for tables—the lively Italian playlist added to the warm, inviting atmosphere.

We ended the night with their homemade tiramisu, the perfect excuse to linger just a little longer and soak in the ambiance.

Come hungry and leave full. With a cozy vibe, honest pricing (lasagna is around $15), and great value, it’s easy to see the appeal. The intimate wine bar keeps things focused, serving only Chef Rossi’s signature “Si Papa” lasagna, a curated selection of about a dozen Italian wines, and a decadent tiramisu.

Si Papa
3190 Commodore Plaza
Miami, FL 33133

Founded by the team behind Cotoletta and San Lorenzo.

The 62nd Annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival, presented by First Horizon Bank, closed Presidents’ Day weekend with record-breaking sales, national attention, and collector momentum that reaffirmed its standing as one of the country’s most respected outdoor art events.

Fresh Talent, Powerful Sales

Forty percent of this year’s exhibiting artists were new to the festival, bringing fresh perspective and energy to the waterfront showcase. Across all three days, buying remained strong, with 95 percent of participating artists reporting they were very happy with their sales.

The weekend’s defining milestone was the official commemorative poster by Kenneth Kudulis. Sales reached an unprecedented $40,000, more than doubling the previous three-day average of $16,000. All proceeds directly support year-round art scholarships, funding access to arts education for emerging artists. Kudulis’ work now stands as the most successful poster in the festival’s six-decade history.

The festival’s influence extended beyond South Florida. The Mayor of Beverly Hills attended the event and met with Executive Director Camille Marchese to gain insight into the Grove’s sustainable, artist-centered model — a clear sign of the festival’s growing national stature.

Festival Winners

Awards were presented in signature Grove fashion: executive leadership and board members traveled booth to booth in golf carts, bagpipers in tow, personally congratulating each winner to the applause of festivalgoers.

Best in Show was awarded to Nathalia Toledo Barcia (Painting/Clay), who earned a perfect score of 30 from the judges along with a $5,000 prize.

Gold Ribbon recipients included Bobby Goldsmith (Drawing), Cali Hobgood (Photography), Carrie Pearce (Painting), Christopher Buonomo (Sculpture), Helen Gotlib (Printmaking), James Pearce (Wood), Kenneth Kudulis (Digital Art), Michael Hayes (Glass), Olga Nenazhivina (Drawing), and Oliver Hampel (Jewelry).

An additional 35 artists received Silver and Bronze ribbons and automatic invitations to return next year.

Beyond the Canvas

For the fifth consecutive year, Miami-based Loud And Live produced the festival, continuing its transformation through expanded programming and elevated guest experiences.

Festival partners added dimension throughout the weekend. NBC 6 South Florida and Telemundo 51 energized families with interactive activations, while Lincoln Motor Company and Ford Motor Company showcased their latest models across the festival footprint.

At The Stacks, presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, street artists transformed industrial shipping containers into bold works of art, including the striking “Mi Gente” mural by Carlos Solano and Paulina Guajardo. The space also served as a performance stage featuring KerreKe and Venezuelan-American violinist Daniela Padrón’s Latin GRAMMY®-winning Joropango, alongside programming from the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.

A Cultural Cornerstone

Produced annually over Presidents’ Day weekend, the festival features 285 juried artists along Coconut Grove’s scenic bayfront streets. Managed by the Coconut Grove Arts & Historical Association and supported by Miami-Dade County’s Department of Cultural Affairs, proceeds fund impactful year-round initiatives including scholarships for Florida International University and Miami-Dade high school students, the Visiting Artists Program, and the Next Generation Emerging Artist Program.

With record sales, national recognition, and unwavering community support, the 62nd Annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival once again solidified its role as a defining force on South Florida’s cultural calendar and a powerful champion for artists and arts education.

Who says Miami doesn’t get to enjoy fall? Sure, our palm trees don’t shed their leaves and our “sweater weather” involves light linen at best—but thanks to Salt & Straw, we can savor the cozy flavors of the season without ever leaving the tropics.

Starting Friday, August 29th through October 2nd, the beloved, Portland-born ice cream brand is rolling out its latest monthly flavor series: The Apple Series. This hyperseasonal lineup is a love letter to apple season—think apple-picking, autumn harvest parties, and sipping warm cider—reimagined in true Salt & Straw style: playful, decadent, and just a little unexpected.

Here’s what’s on the menu:

• Apple Cider Donuts – Royal icing ice cream loaded with chunks of apple cider donuts and drizzled with a cinnamon-vanilla caramel swirl. Yes, it tastes like fall in a scoop.

• Apple and Cheddar Cinnamon Rolls – Back by popular demand! Sharp white cheddar ice cream meets apple pie–stuffed cinnamon roll bites and a gooey cinnamon ribbon. Sweet, savory, and absolutely genius.

• Vanilla Apple Custard Tart – A silky apple cider–spiked vanilla custard with buttery, housemade vanilla-apple tart bites folded in. A pastry lover’s dream.

• Caramel Apple Sherbet – A crisp, refreshing apple sherbet swirled with vanilla-infused caramel. Perfect for Miami’s “endless summer.”

• Hoppy Apple Cider Sorbet (v) – A dairy-free sorbet crafted with dry-hopped apple cider, paying homage to the Pacific Northwest’s harvest traditions (and giving us major hard-cider-in-ice-cream vibes).

Co-founder and head ice cream maker Tyler Malek has once again taken nostalgic flavors and given them the Salt & Straw twist we adore. Each scoop is like a trip to an autumn orchard—without the airfare.

Pumpkin Spice, Elevated

As if the Apple Series weren’t tempting enough, Salt & Straw shops nationwide are also unveiling a fall treat that’s destined to be a seasonal obsession: the Pumpkin Spiced Waffle Cone, created in partnership with beloved spice company Diaspora Co..

Infused with an aromatic blend of warming spices, this cone elevates the vanilla-caramel flavors of Salt & Straw’s signature recipe with cozy notes of cinnamon and allspice. Guests can order any scoop on the Pumpkin Spiced Waffle Cone, or go all out with the Pumpkin Spiced Brownie Sundae—a decadent combo of Chocolate Gooey Brownie ice cream, dark chocolate sauce, whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles, and a Pumpkin Spiced Waffle Bowl.

Where to Get It

The Apple Series is available at Salt & Straw scoop shops nationwide, including right here in Miami, and for those who prefer to cozy up at home, nationwide shipping is also an option. You can even order through ShareASale affiliates, making it dangerously easy to stock your freezer.

In honor of the Summer Solstice on June 20th, Salt & Straw will be offering a free scoop promotion at all locations. Customers who order a single scoop will get to make it a double for free to celebrate the longest day of the year. *Customers need to mention the promo when they’re ordering / at checkout to reword. 

Customers can choose from classic flavors like Double Fold Vanilla, Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons, Honey Lavender, or choose from the limited-edition Summer Pie Series that is available through June 26th, and features a series of five flavors inspired by the classic summer dessert and the Pacific Northwest’s best seasonal produce, ranging from vine-ripened tomatoes to mouth-puckering lemons. 

Flavors include:

• Wild-Foraged Berry Slab Pie – Wildberry pie filling with bits of double-baked pie crust folded into salted vanilla ice cream.  
• Rhubarb Crumble with Toasted Anise – Rhubarb jam is streaked through vanilla ice cream and topped with a toasted anise crumble. 
• Wildflower Honey and Lemon Chess Pie – Pops of lemon chess pie folded into creamy cultured frozen yogurt, sweetened with wildflower honey and finished with a drizzle of housemade lemon curd. 
• Gruyere and Tomato Custard Tart – A savory gruyère cheese & tomato jam is baked into a buttery, flaky pie crust, diced into bite-sized morsels and tossed into a salt & pepper custard ice cream. 
• Coconut Cherry Pie with Almond Crust (v) – Sour cherry pie filling and shortbread almond crust folded into a lush coconut cream.

In the heart of Downtown Doral, Bombay Darbar has opened its newest location adding colorful flavors to this growing community. The beloved restaurant that has been a fan favorite since 2011 originated in Coconut Grove and has received rave reviews as one of the top Indian restaurants in South Florida.

On our visit we were treated to some of the most incredible dishes; every bite was an explosion of flavors.

To begin our journey, we enjoyed the Chili Chicken appetizer, crispy bite size chicken with fresh bell peppers in a tangy chili sauce, the Samosa Chaat, a deconstructed deliciousness served with fresh yogurt and mint, and the Saag Paneer, the traditional Indian cheese simmered in a mixture of fresh spinach, onions, tomatoes, and Indian spices.

For our main entrée, our wonderful server took it upon himself to order some of the house favorites. Our top choices were the Mango Chicken Curry, a boneless chicken cooked in delicious cashew sauce, mango puree and spices was exceptional and the Fish Goan Curry, an aromatic curry with a blend of spices, garlic, ginger and onion along with fresh tomato and coconut, with of side of Garlic Naan, traditional Indian flat bread topped with garlic and cilantro.

For dessert, and you must make room for dessert, we had the Kheer,
traditional Indian rice pudding that is made in-house, lightly sweet, garnished with sundried grapes, pistachio and cashew nuts. Absolutely fantastic.

The restaurant itself is quite a beauty with a grand Buddha that strikingly stands in the main dining room. The bar has an extensive menu of craft cocktails as well as wine and beer.

Bombay Darbar’s atmosphere and service will make for an unforgettable dining experience that will surely transport you and your tastebuds to a flavorful destination.

Bombay Darbar located in Downtown Doral Park at 8405 NW 53rd Street, Suite E101 and is open for lunch and dinner.

For more information visit: Bombay Darbar .

MISO- The Miami Symphony Orchestra will once again host a free concert at Peacock Park in Coconut Grove on Saturday January 14, 2022 at 6:30 pm. Pack a chair or blanket, picnic and a fellow music lover to enjoy some of the most beautiful music ever written and performed. Maestro Eduardo Marturet is sure to delight and surprise audiences as per usual.

The concert is free and open to the public.