Las Palmas photo
Audio By Carbonatix
Las Palmas Cafeteria, the downtown Miami lunch counter known for its cafecitos and Cuban sandwiches, will close Friday, November 14, after 45 years in business. The small spot at 209 SE First St. has long been a neighborhood mainstay, feeding office workers, residents, and regulars who treated the counter as part of their daily routine.
The owners announced the closing last week on Instagram, thanking customers for decades of support. “After 45 years serving the downtown Miami community, nine under our tenure, the day has come where we must shut our doors for the final time,” the post read. “Without you, we could not have made it this far.”
Las Palmas photo
A Downtown Fixture Since 1980
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Opened in 1980, Las Palmas built a loyal following for its classic Cuban and Latin comfort food. The 33-seat cafeteria became a morning stop for coladas and tostadas and a lunch destination for ropa vieja, vaca frita, pan con bistec, and carne con papas.
The Magalhaes family purchased the restaurant in 2016. Mario Ferrari Magalhaes and his mother, Carla, took over after his father was diagnosed with cancer and sought a business that would keep the family stable. Before owning Las Palmas, they ran a travel agency in downtown Miami for more than 30 years. Mario grew up nearby and remembered visiting Las Palmas with his father before it was theirs. When the family took over, they kept the menu nearly identical to the original, adding only small Brazilian influences to reflect their heritage. On Fridays, Carla often prepared Brazilian dishes alongside the traditional Cuban fare.
Las Palmas photo
Under the Magalhaes family, Las Palmas remained both a community space and a restaurant. The family organized fundraisers for victims of natural disasters and children with terminal illnesses, provided meals for the homeless, and hosted local events, including comedy nights and small concerts. “It has been a communal Brazilian meeting point to hear the gossip and talk of the town,” Mario told the Miami Herald.
Regulars often described the restaurant as one of the last places downtown where people from every background could share a counter. Prices stayed low, with coffee still under a dollar and full plates that rarely topped ten.
Why It’s Closing
Las Palmas survived hurricanes, economic downturns, and the COVID-19 pandemic, but 2025 brought new financial challenges. Rising food costs, higher rent, and slower summer business made it difficult to stay open. “The last three weeks have been record days,” Mario said. “But it’s too little, too late.”
Carla, 65, said she plans to rest after decades behind the counter. “I have good memories of this place, and I made a lot of friends,” she told the Herald. “But I’m tired, and my son has to make his own life.”
Las Palmas Cafeteria. 209 SE First St., Downtown Miami. Closes Friday, November 14.
