Baker and Barista
Bakery · Miami
4582 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137
Highlights
"As its name implies, this Buena Vista women-owned spot serves just baked bread paired with expertly made coffee. Whether you order the matcha latte, espresso frappe, or traditional cappuccino, be sure to pair it with a sourdough cinnamon roll." - Alona Martinez
"At the very literally named Baker and Barista, you will be served by a baker and a barista, who are both excellent at their jobs. The coffee here skews Italian—cappuccino and shakerato—and is great. But the baked goods are why you're coming. If you see the sourdough cinnamon roll, point to it like you just found Waldo on a particularly difficult page. Come early for that and the sweet apple galette. Or, if you'd rather eat lunch, arrive closer to noon when the schiacciata sandwiches, savory focaccia, and thick slices of pizza occupy the counter. Just don’t plan on working at the small cafe. There’s no wifi, and the food’s too good to concentrate on anything else anyway. Food Rundown photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc Sourdough Cinnamon Roll An important rule: don't take this to go. Eat it there, and let them warm it up for you. You just won't do as good a job as them, and this tangy cinnamon roll deserves the attention and care of professionals. video credit: Ryan Pfeffer Maritozzi Think of this morning special as a sort of Italian Twinkie or a dessert hot dog. It’s a classic rendition of the Roman pastry: a sliced-open soft brioche bun stuffed with whipped cream sticky and thick enough to make it look like you’re about to shave your cheeks. If you see it available, order one. photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc Pizza This is the kind of simple, minimal pizza that really lets the dough shine. And what a dough it is: light and airy inside, but with enough structure and crunch to remain stiff when you lift it with one hand. Sometimes you’ll find a big Roman-style slab of margherita. Other times they have a few Sicilian sfincione options. Both come out of the oven around noon, so time your trip accordingly. photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc Croissants Croissant purists and sweet croissant lovers can coexist here. Baker & Barista’s plain croissant has a crisp yet fragile exterior, and inner air pockets you could live in one if you ever found yourself shrunken to the size of a pea. Over on the sweeter side of the spectrum, they make almond and pistachio croissants that aren’t so buried with sugar that you can’t tell there’s a croissant underneath it. photo credit: Cleveland Jennings / @eatthecanvasllc Rotating Sandwiches The highlight of the sandwiches (which rotate daily and usually come out around 11:30am) is the schiacciata bread it’s stuffed into. It’s sort of a thinner version of focaccia, which Baker & Barista prys open like an envelope to stuff with simple combinations of ham, mortadella, turkey, or whatever else they feel like making that day." - Ryan Pfeffer
"The Beach: Any beach you want. This is the only place on this guide that’s not actually located on Miami Beach (or Key Biscayne) but it's worth the detour. And it’s a small detour too. This Buena Vista bakery is only six minutes from the Julia Tuttle. Just know that these aren’t early beach sandwiches. The sandwiches usually come out around noon, so timing matters. But if it all works out, you’ll be rewarded with mortadella, ham, or something else delicious stuffed into crisp schiacciata. These are designed to sit on the counter at room temperature, so they’ll make the commute to the beach beautifully and instantaneously make seagulls jealous when you whip it out of your bag. " - ryan pfeffer, mariana trabanino
"This little bakery is another Buena Vista spot worth knowing about if you're walking around the neighborhood. Their Italian coffee drinks like cappuccino and shakerato are great. And the baked goods are excellent too. Options rotate often, but if you see the sourdough cinnamon roll, point to it like you just found Waldo on a particularly difficult page. Come early for sweet pastries like apple galette, or closer to noon when the sourdough sandwiches and Roman-style pizza occupy the counter. Just don’t plan on working at the small cafe. There’s no wifi, and the food’s too good to concentrate on anything else anyway. " - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo, mariana trabanino
"The huge slabs of square pizza come out of the oven around noon at this Italian Buena Vista bakery (but they’ll warm it up for you if you’re a little late). This is the kind of simple, minimal pizza that really lets the dough shine. And what a dough it is: light and airy inside, but with enough structure and crunch to remain stiff when you lift it with one hand. Toppings are usually pretty simple—some crushed tomatoes, pockets of fior di latte mozzarella, and maybe a few sprigs of basil. Even if you don’t get to eat it fresh from the oven (the tastiest option), it’s still delicious if you decide to bring it back to life in your own oven. " - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo
