The best time of year for tropical fruit lovers has arrived! With the start of mango season, the Miami Design District is ready to celebrate. Tropical flavors are appearing everywhere, from morning oats and fine-dining crudos to boozy scoops at the neighborhood’s 21+ ice cream bar. Here is a delicious guide to the season.
WHERE MANGO SEASON LIVES
James Beard Award-winning Chef Michael Schwartz has been celebrating mango season at Michael’s Genuine for nearly two decades, and the approach hasn’t changed. Rather than sourcing from a produce company, the culinary team forages the fruit from neighbors, employees, and friends with trees to spare. “There’s an energy and excitement around mango season that feels distinctly Miami,” Schwartz says. “It’s one of the most special times of the year for us.”
This season, that translates to a Red Snapper Crudo with local mango, basil, coconut milk, fermented chile oil, and mango crisp, and a Mango Sticky Rice topped with homemade mango sorbet and toasted coconut. At the bar, lead bartender Jen Murphy reimagined the mango lassi as the Mango Gang, a clarified cocktail made with pandan-infused Havana Club Anejo Rum, Florida mango, fresh lime juice, and elote liqueur. The zero-proof Modest Mango pairs Florida mango with fresh pineapple juice, pandan, lemon, and a hint of habanero. Both are available through the end of the season.
SIPS FOR THE SEASON
Pura Vida’s smoothie menu boasts a wide array of refreshing tropical flavors. The “Welcome to Miami,” crafted with passion fruit, mango, and banana, is thick and creamy. For a bright alternative, try the “Coco Azul,” which features coconut water, pineapple, mango, banana, blue spirulina, hemp seeds, and shaved coconut. The limited-edition “Coconut Cult Probiotic” is also generating buzz online, packing organic coconut cream, mango, pineapple, passion fruit, spirulina, and lime into a single jar. For those seeking something more traditional, the Mango Pineapple Refresher pairs those signature fruits with either lemonade or coconut water for a classic seasonal treat or if you’re a matcha lover, their mango matcha has a vibrant blend of fresh mango & pineapple purée, organic ceremonial grade matcha, and milk of your choice.
FROZEN & SPIKED
Aubi & Ramsa operates on a proven theory: tropical fruit tastes even better when it is boozy and frozen. The Piña Colada, a blend of pineapple and coconut cream ice cream made with Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, captures the season in a single scoop. The Passion Fruit Margarita sorbet, featuring Casamigos Tequila, is bright, tart, and highly addictive. For a dessert that feels like a beach vacation, the Coco Loco offers tropical coconut ice cream spiked with Espolon Reposado. If you prefer a non-alcoholic option, the Virgin Piña Colada delivers all the coconut and pineapple flavor with zero ABV.
MORNINGS MADE TROPICAL
Petite Maman in Palm Court has mastered the art of the tropical breakfast. Their Piña Colada Overnight Oats, soaked in vanilla with coconut and pineapple and topped with banana chips and toasted coconut flakes, make a great case for starting your day in the neighborhood. The seasonal drink to order at Petite Maman in Palm Court right now is Martha Stewart’s passionfruit green tea palmer, passion fruit puree muddled with strawberries and lemon, topped with sparkling water and fresh mint. It’s tropical without trying too hard.
BOTTURA’S TROPICAL WINK
At Massimo Bottura’s Michelin-recognized Torno Subito, the “Ciao Modena” features a surprising yet delicious pineapple gel atop balsamic-glazed Wagyu short rib. The “Cocktail di Gamberi Rossi” steams red shrimp with orange and seaweed in a foamy cocktail sauce, making proving citrus belongs at the dinner table. Even the Cacio e Pepe gets a local twist, finished with Florida citrus essence. For a sweet finish, be sure to ask about the seasonal tropical flavors available in their Gelati e Sorbetti selection throughout the summer.
