By Krista Marinelli
If you’re looking for the next fresh and healthy eating experience in town, come to Pura Vida Wellington. Originally founded in Miami Beach in 2012 by Omer Horev, the brand has since established itself as South Florida’s premier destination for healthy and wholesome eats with an extensive menu that can be enjoyed at breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. The Wellington location on the East side of 441 just opened September 15th and is already catching on. Pura Vida currently has 17 locations including Miami locations, West Boca, West Palm Beach, Qatar (where they opened in celebration of the World Cup) and now Wellington.
“Wellington is an exceptional place with people from all over the world, and the equestrian season attracts some of the most vibrant people. I’m really excited to share our brand with both visitors and residents and bring a touch of Miami’s tropical vibe to the area.”
– Jennifer Horev, Chief Brand Officer of Pura Vida
Highlights from the Menu
My friend and I were immediately impressed with the light and airy atmosphere. “This feels like a spa,” she remarked as we noticed the white couches, lush greenery and white wicker chairs. We sat down and started with beverages. I had a pumpkin spice latte, made with almond milk, and she had mint tea. I ordered the Croissant Sandwich, which includes pasture-raised eggs, and I added turkey bacon to it. My friend ordered the Mango Salmon Bowl. The presentation of both dishes was beautiful and quite colorful. We dove right in.
The Croissant Sandwich was perfectly toasted, and the slightly spicy aioli sauce on the side was a perfect complement to the sandwich. The Mango Salmon Bowl included oven-roasted salmon on a bed of quinoa, with arugula, avocado, mango, pickled red onion, cherry tomatoes, toasted sesame seeds and Pura Vida sauce for dipping. It’s a delicately balanced array of flavors and even better dipped in the special sauce.
Above: Mango Salmon Bowl
Next time we visit, which will be soon, I want to try the Crunchy Vegan Veggie wrap, which comes with green tahini dressing on the side. I also want to try one of the wonderful salads, which all looked beautiful and can all be made vegan, just by a simple adaptation of the dressing. I also want to try one of their smoothies and an acai bowl on a future visit.
Above: Croissant Sandwich
By the way, there are many vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options on the menu, which makes it easy for me to eat there with my whole family.
Above: Crunchy Vegan Veggie Wrap
We ordered a couple of desserts to go, which turned out to be a decadent and delicious idea. My friend enjoyed a chocolate croissant, and I brought home a gigantic vegan chocolate chip cookie…yum!
You generally order at the counter, and they bring the meal to your table. It’s a very comfortable atmosphere and you might want to stay a while.
Above: Omer and Jennifer Horev of Pura Vida
Giving Back
I was happy to hear that Pura Vida doesn’t just serve healthy food, but they give back to the community. There is literally no food wasted, as they compost all of it. A truck comes twice a week to pick up their compost. They also donate soil to local farms in Miami. Further strengthening their brand’s dedication to the environment, Pura Vida partners with various organizations in the community to participate in quarterly beach clean-up events.
Whether you want to eat healthier, enjoy delicious meals or be a part of an eco-conscious brand, with Pura Vida you can accomplish all of these things. Now open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Pura Vida is a culinary breath of fresh air.
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Pura Vida
440 S. State Road 7
(305) 535-4142
