Ventanitas of Miami

A big part of Miami culture providing quick snacks for the city, highlights explores two of these little windows.

BY ARIANNA PEÑA, THE SCENE EDITOR AND MARCELA RONDON, STAFF WRITER

Mary’s Café

The smell of fresh baked pastelitos (pastries) de guayaba and lavender detergent intertwine at Mary’s Café and Coin Laundry located on 2542 SW 27 Ave. Mary’s Café is a staple for many in the Coconut Grove and Coral Way area.

Founded in the early 1980s as a laundromat, the owner, Victor Sanchez, noticed that many young people preferred to wash their clothes at night, so he added a small ventanita (a small window where customers can order coffe and snacks) serving coffee. As the business became more popular, the location expanded and opened a small cafeteria with more seating options for customers.

“It is a great place. I swing by here in the morning before work and sometimes bring my kids in the afternoon, it’s cheap and good for a quick bite,” customer Gabriel Flores said.

At any time of day at Mary’s Café, you are sure to find at least one person seated outside on the chrome tables enjoying a flan with coffee. The dual location—where customers can purchase a meal while waiting for their laundry to be finished—is busy but homey, with a warm and welcoming feel. Both the laundromat and ventanita are open 24 hours, catering to early risers, viejitos, night owls and everyone in between.

They feature a wide assortment of dishes, ranging from sandwiches to deserts to smoothies. Some menu items include their house sandwich, “Mary’s Best,” which includes ham, salami, pepperoni and swiss cheese for only $6.50. Bakery items such as empanadas sold for $2 and buttery croissants, sold for $1.95. They also have specialty smoothies with mixed fruits that are all under $5.

While Mary’s Café is typically busy at all times of day, due to the coronavirus pandemic business has been slower.

La Esquina De La Fama

The colorful vicinity of Little Havana is fueled by cortaditos — espressos with warm milk — and Cuban sandwiches. With tropical decor and authentic Cuban food, La Esquina De La Fama, or The Corner of Fame is the perfect place to get your midday pick-me-up.

Aptly named for housing the iconic Little Havana mural of wellknown Latin-American and American presidents, this ventanita and restaurant stands proudly at 1388 SW 8th Street.

La Esquina De La Fama, which is open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., is attractive to both tourists and locals due to their affordable prices and colorful menu.

The ventanita offers a limited selection of menu items, including breakfast foods, grilled sandwiches, pastries and beverages. Most notably, they offer a special take on a Miami classic: the Cuban sandwich. The “Super Cuban Special,” filled with pork, ham, swiss cheese, cantimpalo sausage, roasted pepper, mozzarella cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and the special house sauce is sold for $11.

Their most popular non-alcoholic menu item is batidos — smoothies made with fresh fruit and milk — for just $3.50. These Cuban milkshakes come in a variety of flavors like mamey, chocolate, vanilla, pineapple and strawberry.

“It is really difficult for the employees and the owner [amid the pandemic] because normally during weekends [La Esquina De La Fama] is always filled with tourists and people and right now [the restaurant] is just slow and empty. We want everything to get better so we can continue to move forward,” employee Ilyanis Sosa said.

Currently, La Esquina De La Fama is operating at full capacity and has outdoor seating for its main restaurant. Customers can also place orders by calling 786-953-5019 or using Uber Eats.