Shireen's Favorite Things

Lunching on Lincoln Road at Segafredo, the best place to people-watch, have a yummy cocktail, reminisce and celebrate 100 years of Negroni – I’ll drink to that! 🍹

When I first moved to Miami, I was obsessed with Lincoln Road. I had an unadulterated love affair with the eclectic shops, art galleries, busy bars and of course, the restaurants. Especially Segafredo. It was always one of my favorite spots. Every weekend, there I was, taking it all in: the sunshine, the retail therapy, the drink-y poo’s and oh, that flea market. My house is still bathed in treasures I unearthed there all those years ago.

Who could blame me for being so gung-ho? I had just moved from Indiana, where my entertainment reporting consisted mostly of midwest pubs and proper antique stores, but now, I was in MIAMI. The Magic City. The Big Orange. The 305. The place where director Mike Nichols brought the movie, “Bird Cage”, to life. The city that birthed “Scarface,” one of the best gangster films of all time.

The city that gave Cuban singer, Gloria Estefan, her superstar wings and produced two of the best rappers to ever walk the face of the earth: Rick Ross & Ace Hood. It was ALL a dream come true and so was my job at Deco Drive. I was in career heaven and nothing could stop me. Especially on my days off, when I basked in the beauty of South Beach. More specifically, hanging out on Lincoln Road. Then, well, life happened.

The demand of a high octane job put a major crunch in my extra-curricular activities, especially as I traveled the world interviewing movie, television and reality stars. Then came the quest to become a bonafide film critic, to tell engaging feature stories and nab a hosting position on Deco Drive. I assure you, none of the aforementioned included strolling down my favorite SoBe road, but then, the blog was born and…

Becoming a tv host allowed me to stay in one place long enough to gain stability, zip code wise, and explore all my #FavoriteThings. So, here we are, present day and accepting an invite from my beloved Segafredo (the original South Florida location.) A place that, through the years, has been busy growing and changing, just like myself.

Last year, it went through a major renovation, but its excellent quality, intimate charm and amazing coffee remains the same. I know first-hand: I was there last week for #Spotlight and yes, I love it just as much as I did back in my “wet behind the ears” journalism days. Especially when you bump into good, old and new friends. I’ll get to that in a minute…

First, I sipped on a decadent “Sexy Colada” made with rum, pineapple juice, re’al coconut cream, coconut water, ginger and a secret ingredient 🤫. A tropical drink always makes people-watching all the more fun. In full disclosure, when I first arrived, they sent out a #dirtymartini right away. In case you’re not a regular blog reader, it happens to be my favorite, especially when made with Tito’s and big juicy olives. Hmmm… #SlowDownSandoval 🍸

This year, Segafredo is Celebrating 100 years of Negroni and naturally, I wanted to help. So, we toasted the major milestone with a “Classic” from the “Italians Do It Bitter,” part of the menu; made with Campari, Gin and sweet vermouth. The “Antipasto Segafredo” signature platter, piled high with cured meats, cheeses and veggies, was the perfect accompaniment. I especially liked the Brie, which is something you don’t always see on an Italian meat board. If you’re drinking your calories and prefer to eat light, ask for the “Swordfish Carpaccio.” It’s not on the menu, but it’s a special they serve almost every day. The “Pizza Capricciosa”, with yummy toppings like mozzarella, baked ham, mushroom, artichoke, olives and oregano, was my favorite part of lunch. #NomNom

Last but not least, I savored every morsel of the “Torta Caprese (chocolate cake) with Pistachio Gelato Almond” and what’s dessert without a famous Segafredo coffee? The “Marocchino” espresso with hazelnut spread and milk foam to be exact 🤗☕️.

Now to that friend part — just as I was wrapping up Spotlight, my good buddy Craig walked by and a short time later, so did my new friend Chad. Both joined me for a drink; we talked, laughed and watched the cute dogs and people meander by. Thirty minutes later, I saw an old television colleague. We hugged, reminisced a bit and vowed to get together soon.

That’s the thing about “Segafredo L’Originale”. It’s not just about the great drinks, delish appetizers and Sobe atmosphere, it’s a place where friends meet, mark milestones and remember days gone by — that’s why it’s one of my #FavoriteThings.

Segafredo
1040 Lincoln Road
Miami Beach, Florida 33139

Sunday – Thursday: 10:00am-1:00am
Friday & Saturday: 10am-2am

FYI: Segafredo on Lincoln has complimentary cocktails for ladies every thursday 8pm-10pm.

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IG: @segafredolr
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