If you haven’t been to Bayside Marketplace in a few years, then you probably still think that it’s an outdated shopping strip and tourist trap with the aim of luring in cruise passengers who just don’t know any better. But this is FAR from the truth.

These days, the Downtown marketplace has undergone some major upgrades (and expecting many more in the upcoming years), creating a homey waterfront setting that caters to both locals and visitors alike. Knowing this, the team behind Segafredo Espresso L’Originale on Lincoln Road decided that Bayside would be its next location.

On Wednesday, December 16, Segafredo Bayside {401 Biscayne Boulevard, Downtown; 786.420.2496} hosted its official grand opening, welcoming over 100 guests and live music by Spam All Stars. The celebration kicked off with a proclamation from Alyce Robertson, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority, declaring that December 16 would officially be Segafredo Day. Pamela Weller, senior general manager of Bayside Marketplace, joined co-owners Luca Voltarel and Graziano Sbroggio for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The state-of-the-art 580-square-foot kiosk with a full self-contained kitchen and an expansive bar is situated in the center of the marketplace, with a 2,500-square-foot outdoor space that overlooks the marina. The design features the two large “S” in the logo’s style and Segafredo’s signature color red throughout.

This is definitely our new favorite place to sit outside, sip a cocktail, nosh on some fresh, Italian fare, and watch the world go by.

—Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor