Cafe Nikki Opens Friday With Free Coffee for SoFi Residents, One-Dollar Muffins

If you've been griping about the high price of everything in South Beach, where a cup of coffee and a muffin can cost over ten bucks, check out Cafe Nikki, which opens Friday, August 21. This little oasis of calm and caffeine happens to be located in Nikki Beach's courtyard but feels miles away from an evening at the luxury beach club and its party scene.

This little French cafe serves light breakfast and lunch fare like coffees and teas, croissants, quiches, pastries, European marmalades, and Zak the Baker bread in a charming courtyard filled with greenery at reasonable prices. And by reasonable, we mean reasonable. In other words, how does a muffin or a cookie for one dollar sound? After perusing the menu, I seriously had to confirm the pricing with a rep for the cafe. She replied in the affirmative, adding, "Café Nikki was truly created for the local community. We wanted an accessible menu that had something for everyone within a comfortable environment."

Open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Cafe Nikki is a little respite from the South Beach crowds and DJ sets, with its bookshelves, wicker swings, and communal tables.  

Menu offerings include pastries and croissants baked daily in a French-imported Pavailler oven, served with Alain Milliat marmalades imported from Lyon, France. These little treats are also sweet to your ever-weary wallet. Butter croissants cost only $1.50, chocolate croissants are $2,  and a Serrano ham and cheese croissant is $4.

Want something sweet but short on cash? Glazed cinnamon buns, sweet cheese danish, biscotti, chocolate chip cookies, and assorted muffins are all one dollar each. 

If you're looking for something a little more filling, a quiche made with salmon cured in-house or Florentine quiche is $5 each; a fresh fruit and Greek yogurt parfait is $5; and a basket filled with two slices of Zak the Baker bread, butter, cream cheese, and assorted jams is $3.

Cafe Nikki also offers smoothies, juices, teas, coffee drinks, and frappes — all at less than you'd pay at Starbucks. Parking is also free for the first two hours and there's complimentary Wi-Fi. 

To introduce themselves to their neighbors, cafe employees are making random bicycle deliveries of complimentary hot croissants throughout the South of Fifth neighborhood. If you're still not convinced and you live in SoFi, drop in any time before September 30 and nab a free cup of Joe. Bring a dollar for a muffin and you've got breakfast on the cheap!