Wedge salad with Beltran's bacon from Chug's Restaurateur Michael Beltran's latest hot spot is a Cuban take on the American diner where chef Giovanni Fesser (a man wellknown for his decadent pastelitos) dishes out selections such as Abuela's Breakfast (a plate of white rice, fried egg, black beans and maduros), as well as a medianoche with duck confit, orange mustard, country ham, Swiss cheese and housemade pickles. 3444 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, 786.534.8722, chugsdiner.com

Chef Michelle Bernstein and mixologist Jose Cabrera;

The lounge area at Cafe La Trova.

Cafe La Trova

Master mixologist Julio Cabrera and James Beard winner Michelle Bernstein are cooking up beautiful things at their Little Havana spot, which is an homage to the music from Santiago de Cuba. Rum-based cocktails like the Hotel Nacional and Hemingway Special (Papa Doble) are plentiful, and Bernstein's take on Cuban standards is enticing. Case in point: her paella croquetas, which are stuffed with the rice favorite and served with a shot of seafood broth and saffron aioli. 971 SW Eighth St., Miami, 786.615.4379, cafelatrova.com

chef Francisco Vinas; Parcela's Scarlett Begonia cocktail

Parcela

Cuban and vegan are not terms you often hear together, but Parcela does right by non-animal product eaters with its version of avocado toast (which forgoes egg with a roasted tomato, cucumber and hemp seed) as well as the mamey pastelito with nut cheese. Even a traditional pan con bistec can be made vegan by substituting churrasco for adashah, a lentil-based protein similar to tofu. And chef Francisco Vinas is the man to thank for all that. Life House, 528 SW Ninth Ave., Miami, 866.466.7534, lifehousehotels.com