Popular Cuban Bakery Makes Its Florida Keys Debut in Key Largo

For Miamians, a trip down to Key Largo is practically a rite of passage. It's the closest escape to turquoise waters, salty breezes, and a slower pace of life just an hour south of the city. Many South Florida residents, especially those of Cuban descent, have spent decades shuttling back and forth between Miami and the Upper Keys, whether for a weekend fishing trip, a beachside barbecue, or just to breathe in that island air.

And now, for the first time ever, we can pair those memories with a cafecito and pastelito from Vicky Bakery, the Cuban bakery institution that has defined Miami mornings since 1972. Located at 97630 Overseas Hwy. in Key Largo, the new bakery, coming off the heels of winning New Times' Best Croquetas 2025, marks Vicky's 30th store, and its very first in the Florida Keys. Even more special about this location? It'll be home to Vicky Bakery's first-ever, full-service bar. Because down in the Florida Keys, a piña colada is necessary with your cafecito.
For those who've packed coolers full of pastelitos to haul down U.S. 1 before hitting Key Largo, this feels like a game changer. No more pit stops along Bird Road before hitting the Turnpike; no more praying the guava filling doesn't ooze all over the Tupperware. Now, Cuban coffee, croquetas, empanadas, and fresh-baked breads are waiting for you the second you roll into the island.

The story of Vicky Bakery is the story of Miami’s Cuban community itself. Founded by Antonio and Gelasia Cao, who once worked side by side at Havana's famed La Vencedora bakery before migrating to Miami as exiles, Vicky was born from a determination to carry Cuba's flavors into their new home. The couple opened their first bakery in Hialeah in 1972, naming it after their daughter. What started as a single neighborhood shop soon became a staple for Cuban families across South Florida, with recipes passed down through generations and baked fresh every morning.
Today, Vicky is run by the Cao family's next generation, and its expansion has been nothing short of impressive. But for many of us, the heart of the bakery remains the same: the buttery flakiness of a pastelito de guayaba, the satisfying crunch of a croqueta, the strong sweetness of a café con leche. That Vicky Bakery is now in Key Largo is more than just convenience; it's a piece of home transplanted into paradise. And in true Keys fashion, this location will even debut something new in September, a full-service bar, where piña coladas can be paired with pastelitos.

So the next time you hop onto the Overseas Highway, you'll be greeted not just by mangroves and marinas, but by the smell of fresh Cuban bread wafting through the air. For Miami residents who have long considered Key Largo their backyard escape, this is history in the making.

Vicky Bakery Key Largo. 97630 Overseas Hwy., Key Largo; 305-735-4052; vickybakery.com.