This hidden cafe near Aventura is where locals go to escape the mall vibe

The Alchemist Coffee shop is redefining coffee culture.

The Alchemist has its own design, menu, art, and theme -- things that create “The Alchemist Magic,” which provides a refreshing space for those wanting to get away from the malls.

“I realize the culture here in America is like Starbucks: Get your coffee and leave,” said Sivan Navon, 29, who opened the Alchemist near Aventura with husband Ehud Simhi and friend and business partner Chen Shabbati, which they license from Baristocrat, LLC and Roasters and Slicers..

“[The Alchemist] is about the experience; it’s about meeting people.”

Navon always loved the book the Alchemist, the longtime New York Times bestseller which follows a shepherd boy on his journey as he learns to understand his dreams and follow his heart. While visiting Brazil, Navon coincidentally met the author of the novel, Paulo Coelho, and was inspired to start working on her own dream.

Both Navon and Ehud moved from Israel 12 years ago, where she was a law student and he was a contractor. They had both started to do property management and real state investment.

“When I moved [to Miami] I wanted to talk to people: I wanted to know people and it was like literally everyone is on the corner or on a phone call. So I thought that it was really important to do something to bring everyone together.”

They picked Aventura because they realized how quickly it was developing. The Alchemist is situated between Greynolds Park and the train tracks that separate Aventura Mall from what used to be an empty lot. Whether it be the old art and furniture inside or the surrounding vegetation outside, the Alchemist presents a comfortable space to spend a few hours working, reading or hanging out.

“From the first second I was shocked by the good vibes,” Alchemist regular Larissa Madler said, who goes to the Alchemist at least once a week to work or hang out with friends. She likes the fact that she never feels rushed to leave. “The environment is something you don’t encounter on a daily basis.”

The outside space is filled with diverse vegetation from all around the country, which ranges from roses to bougainvillea, which was inspired by their recent trip to Colombia. The most noticeable is a huge oak tree that circles around a table where people sit next to one another, nicknamed the “Magical Tree.”

Inside, in the middle of the small tables lies a large platform made for many to sit together surrounded by a mix of antique and contemporary artistic artifacts, including vintage typewriters, old clocks and paintings.

Navon said the ideas in the Alchemist design and dishes come from her trips abroad, which she takes to find what can add to “the Alchemist magic.” When she returns from a trip, she explains her vision to Simhi, who then builds the art himself through his own welding process he learned while working with his father and grandfather in their carpenter business.

Their recent additions include a “Cuba Corner,” which has an old radio and camera from a store in Cuba, and The Alchemist Lover corner, with a Mona Lisa painting inside an old frame that Navon and Ehud painted themselves, old train tracks hanging on the wall, a roasting machine Ehud built from scratch, and an old bicycle hanging in the hallway.

“Five years ago, there were weeds everywhere and today, there are people reading novels outside under the Magic Tree drinking coffee and watching the train pass,” Simhi said.

But the process wasn’t easy. Ehud said it took them three years to build the place and start getting people to notice it, which happened almost entirely through social media and by word of mouth.

“Everybody used to be in the mall, in the plaza, in the shopping centers. Some of them took a chance, and I’m really glad it was [for] us.”

When COVID-19 hit, the restaurant struggled to maintain the social atmosphere they worked so long to create.

“We don’t do deliveries, so our businesses basically went from 100 to zero in a day,” Nevon said.

They were closed for over a month, after which they decided to open with a staff of one barista and a cook until little by little employees came back.

“Our team and customers have been amazing during these hard times and everyone made sure to check on us and cheer us up when we were closed,” Nevon said.

“Even after we opened we were still slow and everyone was there to support and give their 100% at any moment. I feel this is what The Alchemist is all about. Our community and staff were there when we needed them. I believe this is what gave us the motivation and strength to stand up on our feet again after the pandemic and be back even better.”

The Alchemist

Where: 17830 W Dixie Hwy, North Miami Beach

Info: 786-916-3560 or https://www.thealchemist.cafe/

This story was originally published July 23, 2021 at 6:00 AM.