You’re not in Starbucks anymore
Within Wynwood’s technicolor concrete jungle sits the hub of daytime socializing. Panther Coffee is where the bustling art and design district gets its buzz. Hipsters unite in this repurposed storage facility – one of many in the neighborhood – awash with thick-framed glasses, Macbooks, tattered shirts, and skinny jeans.
The facade used to sport an Escher-esque green-and-red three-dimensional checkerboard, but after vandals relentlessly tagged the mural, Panther’s frontage was painted completely black. Ironically, the monochromatic exterior makes it stand out amid Wynwood’s brightly painted buildings and walls. But what truly sets Panther apart is their otherworldly coffee. Priding itself on diligent sourcing and quality, Panther buys its beans in small batches in the raw, then roasts and grinds in-house.
Info
Address 2390 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33127, +1 305.677.3952, www.panthercoffee.com | Hours Mon–Sat 7am–9pm, Sun 8am–9pm| Tip A short walk east on NW 24th St will bring you to Gramps (176 NW 24th St), a tavern advertising “Air Conditioning, Cold Beer, and Cocktails” on the front of the building.
Humanity is tightly packed into this small, raucous caffeine cloister. The line to place an order snakes its way through the tiny room. If you haven’t figured out what you want by the time you reach the front of the line, you’ll have to read the small clipboard menu at the counter quickly to keep both the human traffic and drinks flowing. You’ll see selections from across the globe, and you can’t go wrong with any of them. Go ahead and blurt out the first thing that sounds good, hand the nice barista your payment, and wait with the rest of your comrades-in-coffee, huddled around the vintage bean roaster on display at the back of the shop, until you hear your name being shouted across the room.
With seats nearly impossible to find inside, brave the heat and humidity and enjoy your espresso drink on the front patio. Panther’s courtyard, furnished with concrete benches and tables, has become a breeding ground for networking and creative collaborations. Relax and watch the ideas hatch over a steaming cappuccino made from scratch.