Café Dior Miami

A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to travel with my mom to Miami for fashion week. It was a quick trip but nonetheless an incredible experience. Over the course of our three days in Miami, I learned of a new concept which immediately caught my interest: designer brands having cafés and/or restaurants. I was very curious regarding how designers incorporate food and coffee into their brands, which lead to my weekend getaway quickly becoming one which revolved around food and coffee; very typical of me.

I did some research and found a café on the third floor of the Dior store in the Design District of Miami titled Café Dior. Initially I had many questions, including: do I have to buy an item of Dior clothing to be able to eat at the café? Is it exclusive? Is there a dress code? Do I need a reservation? Is it extremely expensive? Do they serve meals or just coffee? Eventually I convinced my mom and friend Beth to come with me to assess the situation and answer some of my questions. I wore a simple white dress and some sandals, curled my hair, and put on a full face of makeup, which matched the moderately formal attire everyone else at the café was wearing.

The store itself is very white, bright, and modern, including a few silver accents throughout the inside and outside of the building. It has a very clean and polished interior, filled with impressive designer pieces all intricately displayed. In order to reach the café, one must take the back elevator, which can be a little difficult to find. After attempting and failing to take the stairs all the way up to the top floor, the workers pointed us in the right direction. In those initial moments I learned that the café is not exclusive, you do not need to make a reservation, and you do not need to purchase a Dior clothing item to be eligible to enter.

The café is entirely outside on the rooftop, decorated with lots of greenery, white tables and umbrellas, and animal statues all covered in Dior's famous print. The rooftop layout is breathtaking, but can also get extremely hot, even when under the shade of the umbrellas. The menus are short and simple, with no item costing above $25. The food menu consists of three categories: bread and bakery, fruits and dairies, and salty, and the drink menu has two sections: hot drinks and cold drinks. The most expensive item on the menu is the burrata, and it is definitely worth splurging.

The order contains truffle burrata served on a plate with tomatoes, greens, and toasted whole grain bread. I personally enjoyed it best by putting everything on top of the bread and eating it together. The burrata melts in your mouth and the truffle flavoring is exceptional. I also ordered a latte, which is $14, and is displayed with Dior logo latte art. The latte is very lush and foamy, without tasting like there is too much milk. Although $14 is expensive for a latte, I feel as if the atmosphere and luxury of Café Dior is worth it. If you are looking to enjoy the classy experience without spending a lot of money, you are able to go to the café and spend as little as $8 for an espresso or a croissant.

I highly recommend Café Dior for anyone who enjoys the little luxuries of life. It is the perfect spot for enjoying a coffee and light brunch, but on a whole new level. It elevates the simplicity of a morning coffee and allows it to be a luxurious task. Whether you are wanting to spend $50+ or $10 for the designer brunch experience, both can be accommodated for at Café Dior. Being associated with an expensive fashion brand can be daunting to some, but fortunately the café is much more approachable than people may assume. I am very excited and intrigued by the concept of fashion brands opening cafés and/or restaurants, let me know if there are any others out there I should try.