Missing Puerto Rico? These 6 Florida spots feel just like home

These six spots in Florida — including a bakery with the flavors of the island, a stylist who does “peinados de novia,” and a park that celebrates El Yunque — will transport you back to Puerto Rico. 

A bright orange flamboyán sways under a royal palm tree as the afternoon sun bathes the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Merced in light, colorful painted houses line narrow streets paved with adoquines, and, in that old familiar corner, the one near the neighborhood bodega, a piragüero is selling that refreshing treat made of shaved ice and covered with fruit-flavored syrup that brings back so many memories of the island.

Who doesn’t long for a familiar place when living far from home? Boricuas living on the mainland know that when the nostalgia for Puerto Rico hits them hard, there’s only one thing to do: visit the places that make them feel right at home. In Florida, home to more than 1.2 million Puerto Ricans, many visit these unique spots with sabor a Puerto Rico. 

1. Taino’s Bakery

Founders Liza Padilla and Nicolas Fusté arrived in Central Florida from Morovis, Puerto Rico, with a suitcase full of dreams. One of them was to bring the delicious comforting flavors and aromas that filled their life on the island, to their new home in Florida. 

Luckily for Boricuas living in the Sunshine State, their efforts paid off. From the moment you step foot into Taino’s Bakery, you smell, hear, and feel as if you are back in Puerto Rico. That’s because every single one of their ingredients and recipes are carefully chosen for authenticity. And with 7 Florida locations, there is sure to be one near you. 

For more information, please visit HERE. 

2. El Yunque Splash Pad 

Puerto Ricos’ Bosque Nacional El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the United States, is home to plant and animal species that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. For this reason, and for its spectacular beauty, it’s a source of pride — and warm memories of family excursions — for all Boricuas.

Imagine being able to visit a park in Florida that has been inspired by this national treasure! 

Located at 100 Astor Court in Buenaventura Lakes, a vibrant Boricua community in northern Osceola County, near Kissimmee, El Yunque Splash Pad has many innovative features, like a button near the front gate that visitors can use to activate the water, and over 30 splash pad elements, from bubblers to a 250-gallon dump bucket. The park also includes restrooms, picnic tables and benches, and a lawn for those who want to put down a blanket and enjoy the warmth of the sun, just like in Puerto Rico. 

“Touches reflective of El Yunque help make this a special place for those who have fond memories of that Puerto Rican treasure,” Commissioner Viviana Janer said at the opening of the park in 2022. 

For more information, please visit HERE. 

3. Stilo Salon by Jean C

Having a good estilista is vital to Puerto Ricans, chicas or chicos of any age. Enter Jean Carlos Reyes, a beauty professional who has worked for over 15 years in three beauty salons in Puerto Rico. He decided to open a fourth location in Kissimmee to bring his expertise to his community. 

At this elegant but friendly place, dad can get a shave, or razurado, as good as they got on the island, and mom can have a haircut, alisado, or manicure, while the kids get a trim. 

Located at 1400 E. Vine St., in Kissimmee, the place is so Boricua that it even reproduces hairstyles typical of Puerto Rico, like the peinado de novia, or bride’s hairstyle, which is a traditional bridal coif adorned with flowers and intricate braids.

For more information, please visit HERE. 

4. El Grande Supermarket 

Want to recreate a traditional Puerto Rican dish at home, using all the ingredients you miss from home? At Tampa’s El Grande Supermarket, located at 8413 Hanley Rd., you can buy recao, cilantro, Coriander leaves, and everything you need to make a really good sofrito, which you know is la clave del buen sabor. 

Here you will also find all manner of goodies from the island, such as Conchita guava paste, calabaza, yucca, plantains, and even “empanadillas de pizza” (or deep fried pizza turnovers), which are available uncooked and frozen so you can enjoy the delicious Puerto Rican delicacy in the comfort of your own home. 

But that’s not all you can find here. There are also those special pots and pans Boricuas love, like a big caldero to make a delicious Sancocho, and all at a very good price. 

For more information, please visit HERE. 

5. Cocoa Beach

Going to the beach is one of those memories all Boricuas treasure, no matter where they live. And yes, it is true that even in Florida, all beaches don’t have that Caribbean vibe that caribeños miss.

With its azure waters, white sands, and tropical palms swaying in the breeze, Cocoa Beach offers many quiet beaches that remind Boricuas of the beautiful playas at home. 

One of Cocoa Beach’s attractions is enjoying the flavors of Puerto Rico, which are minutes away at Kafé del Puerto Puerto Rican Eatery. Located at 7000 N Atlantic Ave, Cape Canaveral, this homey spot offers delicious mofongo and the best tostones! 

For more information, please visit HERE.

6. La Casa del Artesano

Stepping into Casa Del Artesano, a charming boutique in Downtown Kissimmee, is like being transported back to “la islita” with all its unique charms. Here, the Puerto Rican identity is celebrated in all its richness and color: the Taino, the Spanish, and the African. 

This colorful space is filled with typical paintings, handcrafted soaps, porcelain dolls, and gorgeous jewelry created by artists from different corners of Puerto Rico. There are paintings that recreate traditional activities such as mundillo (lace-making) or the preparation of the very Boricua pasteles. And who can forget abuela making coffee by straining it through a bolsita (coffee sock)? 

The backdoor will lead you to Pa’l Callejón (a spot off Pleasant Street), a lively alleyway that features a bar, live music, and a food truck serving Boricua treats.

This delightful rinconcito Boricua in Downtown Kissimmee will fill your heart with memories of home. 

For more information, please visit HERE. 

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.