About – Beco

The side-street guide to Florida's independent scene.

Spots covered

Cities

National chains

We find the independent restaurants, cafes, bars, and boutiques that define a city's real character — and we tell people about them.

What we are

Local only

Every spot we cover is independently owned. No national chains, no franchises. A local chain owned by one family across one city? That counts. A second location of a corporate concept? It doesn't.

Worth going to

We don't list everything. We list what's good. Every spot in the guide has been chosen because it offers something a visitor — or a local — would be glad they found. Quality over volume, always.

Real voice

Beco is a media brand, not a directory. We have opinions. We have a point of view. We write about places the way a knowledgeable friend would — directly, specifically, honestly.

The name

beco /ˈbe.ku/ noun, Portuguese

A narrow alley or side street — the kind you only find if you know where to look.

beco /ˈbe.ko/ noun, Ours

Short for Becoming a Local — the feeling you chase every time you travel.

"The best spots aren't on the algorithm. They're on the side street."

— Beco Local

Why Beco exists

Every city has two versions of itself. The one on the algorithm — the chains, the sponsored posts, the same ten restaurants in every "best of" list. And then the real one: the cafe that doesn't have a sign, the bar where everyone knows each other, the boutique that's been on the same corner for twelve years.

Beco was built for the second version. We cover independent businesses only — nothing national, nothing chain. Every spot is chosen because it's worth going to, full stop.

Explore our cities

Where we are