Top 5 Date Spots Near El Portal

1) Have quiet morning with the manatees at Manatee Bend Park 

457 NE 77th Street Rd, Miami, FL 33138

A peaceful morning immersed in nature, with a delicious morning spread on a patch of grass, and manatee sightings in between? 

No, this isn't from some rom-com you saw a few years back — it's a romantic scene waiting for you at Manatee Bend Park, a 1.2-acre park with open green spaces and fields right on the river, just 5 minutes from El Portal.

Located on the banks of the historic Little River, wedged up against the bustling neighborhood of Miami Ironside, this tiny park's claim to fame may be its dog-friendly grounds, yet it's also an ideal spot for a morning date, especially if you want to start yours simple, stress-free, and maybe with your favorite furry buddy tagging along!

Here, you and your date can take your pups for a stroll along its small, partly-shaded looping concrete trail, perimeter sidewalk, and a concrete trail that follows along the river's edge. 

It also offers benches along the edge of the grass and a rocky shore that descends into the water, so you can get a few nature snaps in while you marvel at the view — or park yourselves until noon to catch a manatee relaxing in the water.

Really, how many people can say their first date had manatees showing up as surprise guests?

2) Have a coffee-fueled sensory reset at Plant the Future 

8484 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33138

Nothing says "I planned this for you" than a simple coffee date spent in the greener-than-green, expertly curated setting of Plant the Future, a discovery of Biophilic Art, design, and coffee, just moments from El Portal.

Set within a spacious indoor-outdoor environment that doubles as a refreshing visual escape, this unique café and gallery features layer after layer of plants, sculptural arrangements, and moss-covered elements that blur the line between nature and design — every corner intentional, immersive, and striking.

Their menu complements the mood and ambiance with specialty coffee, matcha, herbal teas, and pastries, ideally savored while sitting beneath hanging plants or wandering through the greenery with a drink in hand.

At Plant the Future, nature is a canvas and experience, creating a calm, photo-ready scene that offers a genuine sensory pause from the city — WITHIN the city.

It's effortless at its best.

3) Turn the special day into a keepsake at Fluid Bear Workshop 

7929 NE 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33138

Dinner and drinks are great, but if you want a date that leaves you with something to take home, Fluid Bear Workshop should be on your itinerary — it's just a 3-minute drive from El Portal.

It's a hands-on art experience that invites you to create custom, paint-poured bears using fluid art techniques, guided step by step, so you don't need an artistic bone in your body to enjoy it. 

The process is playful, a little messy, and structured enough to keep things fun without feeling intimidating — we bet your date hasn't done anything like it!

As you choose colors, pour paint, and watch each bear take on its own personality, you don't even have to think of a topic for a conversation because there's always something happening, something to react to, and something to laugh about. 

And by the end of it, you'll leave with two one-of-a-kind keepsakes that mark the occasion, whether it's a first date, anniversary, or something in between.

4) Take your taste buds on a soulful Italian culinary journey at Osteria 

8001 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138

If you're going to spend at least a few minutes waiting on a table (if you didn't reserve one, that is), pay a ridiculous amount for a bottle of wine, and embrace a few extra calories, it might as well involve really good Italian food, right?

Here's some awesome news — we know just the place!

Welcome to Osteria, a neighborhood Italian restaurant offering time-honored recipes, simple ingredients, and dishes defined by tradition, care, and passion for the culinary arts, just 3 minutes from El Portal.

Here, you'll find a menu featuring handmade pasta, wood-fired pizzas, and expertly prepared entrées, including signature plates like rich ragù-driven pasta and delicate gnocchi, along with a posh wine list and cocktail selection.

Osteria's ambiance? Well, it might just seal the deal!

We're talking warm lighting, wood accents, white tablecloths, and a cozy layout with pops of hues, where you can enjoy a candlelit dinner right across your favorite person of the night.

It's a dinner win, from the first bite to the last sip!

5) Honor community, connections, and a curated selection of cocktails at Conventillo 

749 NE 79th St, Miami, FL 33138

Everyone's bringing their dates to fancy wine bars and cocktail lounges for a late-night drink before they head their separate ways, but only a true romantic knows that nothing beats sharing a round in an intimate hole-in-the-wall like Coventillo, just 5 minutes from El Portal.

Celebrated as one of the coziest places to clink cocktails under a canopy of string lights and good energy (at least for some locals who know it exists), Coventillo is a treasure hidden behind Battubelin, an Italian gem on NE 79th — a bar that will make you feel like you're in someone's rustic yet expertly styled backyard.

We're talking inventive cocktails in various flavors and sizes, led by classic Italian aperitivos and signature concoctions that will raise your eyebrow (in a good way), best paired with a plate of focaccia and burrata.

Not hungry? Step outside, find a table and drink up, and let the conversation flow naturally — romantic moments are like second-nature in the historic patio of Coventillo.

If you're lucky, you might stumble into one of Conventillo's artsy events, like Clay & Cocktails, where you can sip and sculpt, Ghost style!