Miami's Five Best Batidos

With its year-round supply of fresh fruits and Latin culture, Miami boasts batidos that range anywhere from tropical and classic to daring and artistic.

A milkshake, usually made with tropical fruits mixed with milk and ice, batidos originated in Latin America, with almost every country creating its own take. Popular flavors include fresa (strawberry), chocolate, and malteada (malted milk). In Miami, batidos have come a long way with places concocting new flavor combinations like Key lime pie and strawberry banana, and some been elevated to full dessert status with restaurants adding sweet treats on top of them.

With another Miami summer on the way, now is a great time to cool off with these five best batidos.
5. El Palacio De Los Jugos
El Palacio De Los Jugos is popular among locals thanks to its authentic batidos and natural juices. Choices include classic mamey and chocolate, but opt for the mango ($2). It's equal parts crisp and sweet and made with fresh, locally sourced fruit. El Palacio De Los Jugos also leans light on the sugar, allowing the fruit to shine through.
4. Los Piñaneros Fruteria
At Calle Ocho's Los Piñaneros, an open fruit market that boasts a variety of food and drinks, try the mamey batido ($3). The shake has notes of brown sugar, honey, and pumpkin — all thanks to the fresh mamey used in the drink. If you want to recreate it at home, the market sells the fruit right there. Just bring cash because this old school establishment doesn't accept credit cards. 
3. Mark Light Milkshake
Anyone who has been to a baseball game at the Mark Light Field at the University of Miami can attest to the popularity of the milkshakes. By the concession stand, there's a little booth easily spotted by the huge line surrounding it. Within it you will find Mark Light Shake, which is family owned and has been operating at UM baseball games since 1986. Choose from 40 flavors, with strawberry banana ($6) being one of the most popular. The line can easily be upwards of 20 minutes long, but the batidos are so good they're worth the wait.
2. Robert Is Here
The Homestead fruit shop carries a menu of 20-plus batido flavors making it hard to choose the best. However, given its proximity to the Florida Keys, go for the Key lime shake ($6.50). This batido is a fresh take on the original Keys dessert — a liquefied Key lime pie that's tart enough to pucker your lips with a sweet, creamy finish. Make a day of your experience by visiting the property's on-site petting zoo and enjoying live music on most weekends.  
1. Bocas House
The shakes at this newly opened Venezuelan spot, located at 10200 NW 25 St. in Doral, are almost too pretty to eat. Dig into the Nutella batido ($16), a hazelnut shake topped with different types of brownies, vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Essentially, it's a dessert within a batido. The best way to tackle this giant is to remove the brownie and ice cream toppings onto a plate and drink the shake in conjunction with it. Another unique choice is the cocada batido,  a coconut-based Venezuelan shake. No matter which you choose, given it's massive size, people often opt to share them.