Miami is fast becoming an exciting foodie destination, with the focus of restaurants now shifting from the party atmosphere to the flavor. A melting pot city that brings together Latin American, Caribbean and Cuban influences, with new eateries popping up on a monthly basis, it can be difficult to decide where to feast to experience it all. The culinary scene has become a popular theme for festivals too; after all, a day spent eating top quality fare at a food and wine festival in Miami sounds like a pretty perfect day. If you happen to time your visit right, the event we recommend is the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine and Food Festival, and here’s why…

Five Days of Food

For five days at the end of February each year, celebrity chefs and culinary personalities come together to cook up an impressive food and wine festival in Miami (do excuse the pun). Popular with highly regarded industry experts as well as the 70,000 strong turn out, there’s so much more than just eating and drinking to do. Demonstrations, parties and seminars will inspire your foodie passion, while giant tents are pitched up right on the beach for a party like no other. Many events are hosted on Lincoln Road, with the rest spanning the Miami-Dade county, there’s no time like it to go out for brunch, lunch or dinner.

The Events

There are lots of events to tempt your taste buds during the SOBEWFF. Previous years have seen the Oyster Bash by Joseph Capon of Lure Fishbar at the Loews, Tastes of Puerto Rico by Jose Andreas at SLS South Beach, Tacos After Dark by Michael Symon at the Loews and Wine and Cheese Happy Hour hosted by none other than Martha Stewart at No. 3 Social Roof Bar & Lounge in Wynwood. For a more hands-on experience at this epic food and wine festival in Miami, join a masterclass and learn how to make fresh pasta or cookies. Start your day at the fitness boot-camp and watch the nation’s most revered tiki bars compete for the title of ‘Tiki King’. Take your dog to Yappie Hour and enjoy live music at Mixing It Up as you sip cocktails on Miami River. Then soak up the carnival atmosphere at the Bicardi Beach Carnival. The SOBEWFF is the food and wine festival in Miami that has a little slice of something for everyone.


Red Loop Route, Stop: Ocean Drive

So there you have just some of the reasons why we think SOBEWFF is the food and wine festival in Miami to head to. An event that aims to ‘Eat. Drink. Educate’, the proceeds raise millions for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida University - eating is even rewarding here. A line-up to satisfy just about every craving, when you’ve sampled all you can eat, witnessed a live demo and dabbled at a workshop, you can sit back and relax on a Big Bus tour for a day or two of sightseeing while you digest. For more ideas on how to fill the rest of your time in this lively city, check out our 3 Days in Miami itinerary.