When Australian DJ Tigerlily (real name: Dara Kristen Hayes) comes to Miami, you won’t find her partying until the sun comes up in South Beach. That’s just what she does for work. The cyan-haired vegan prefers to spend her free time scouting the local veggie scene, eating her way through some of Miami’s best vegetarian restaurants. Proper nutrition is key for the 24-year-old beauty, who this November will run the New York Marathon to raise money and awareness for Lifeline, a suicide-prevention charity in Australia. In between training sessions, Tigerlily is also in the midst of a major national tour, which hits LIV nightclub this Wednesday. Always on the hunt for amazing eats in Miami, we caught up with the DJ ahead of her show at the Fontainebleau to get the scoop on her favorite plant-based dining spots in the city.
Choices Café
This restaurant has a huge range of plant-based choices, ranging from tacos to salad and pancakes to burgers. I love the double-decker burger with lentil patties, tempeh bacon, cashew cheese, avocado, tomato, lettuce, and vegan chipotle mayo—definitely a treat-day meal!
Full Bloom
Beautiful, organic vegan cuisine in an incredible location. My favorite dish is the vegan mac and cheese—yum!
Plant Theory Botanical Cafe
Any place that has kombucha on tap has a place in my heart. This restaurant serves a heap of raw food, which I love. They also have a range of amazing sweets, and my all-time favorite breakfast, the famous acai bowl. (744 6th St at Meridian Ave, Miami Beach, 305-672-5785)
Plant Food and Wine
This restaurant is beautiful; it’s fine dining gone plant-based. I love their spicy kale salad. They also have a killer brunch menu, on which you’ll find my favorite Gypsy Toast topped with coconut cream and seasonal fruit!
Della Test Kitchen
This stationary food truck inside The Wynwood Yard makes delicious, plant-based bowls. Think a rainbow assortment of vegetables and grains all brought together with an array of colorful sauces that are bursting with flavor. There’s even a garden behind the truck where the owner grows her own veggies!
Photograph: Masson Liang
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