MADE IN MIAMI

FROM FOOD TO FITNESS TO FASHION, THESE MAGIC CITY BUSINESSES ARE EXPORTING THEIR SUCCESS AROUND THE WORLD

- STORY BY JENNY STARR PEREZ ILLUSTRATION BY JUSTIN METZ

A friend of mine, a Miami native, recently traveled to Portugal for the first time, eager to soak in the Gothic spires, rococo palaces and Atlantic horizons. We all followed along through her Instagram stories, scrolling past tiled facades and sweeping ocean views.

Then, suddenly, sandwiched between centuries of Portuguese history, was something instantly familiar: the bold lettering of Coyo Taco. For her, it was a comforting sight—Miami's own Wynwood-born fast-casual spot, as celebrated for its hidden nightlife as it is for its Mexican fare. If there's no place like home, sometimes home has a way of finding you.

From velvet-roped nightclubs and poolside cabanas at five-star hotels to a dining scene that now keeps Michelin inspectors busy, Miami offers myriad ways to pass the time. But the city's pleasures aren't all fleeting. Over the past two decades, a slate of Miami-born businesses has built identities so strong, they've crossed state lines—and some international borders. Love it or hate it, there's something in the water in Miami, and clearly the rest of the country is buying what it's selling.

TACOS, TEQUILA AND A PASSPORT

When Bodega Taqueria y Tequila opened in South Beach in 2014, it immediately became more than a taco shop. It married late-night culture with casual Mexican street food, served out of a retrofitted Airstream by day and paired with a speakeasy-style lounge by night.

Cofounders Keith Menin and Jared Galbut managed to bottle the chaotic fun of Miami nightlife into a format that travels well. Bodega has expanded to Chicago's West Loop and River North as well as Washington, D.C., introducing locals to its tacos and tequila-fueled dance floors. "Growth is exciting, but it's never easy," Menin says.