If you live in south Florida you’ve probably heard of Mitchell Kaplan, even if you prefer the boob tube to a book. Former president of the American Book Sellers of America and co-founder of Miami Book Fair International (North America’s largest, most prestigious celebration of the written word), Kaplan is also the owner of Book & Books, a local chain with three Miami locations and one in the Cayman Islands.

His landmark Coral Gables bookstore and café surrounds a Mediterranean-style, flower-filled courtyard. Smaller stores are open in upscale Bal Harbour Shops, and on Lincoln Road on trendy South Beach. Every writer on tour speaks here, from the Clintons to Barbara Walters.

But when the book signings are finished and hot writers want some local inspiration, Kaplan often brings them to Versailles, the vast, iconic Cuban restaurant in Miami’s Little Havana district, on Calle Ocho.

“All of Miami comes, all day and night,” Kaplan says. “Latino movers and shakers, the late-night dinner crowd, families, after-theatre patrons. I took the humourist Calvin Trillin there after a Book Fair presentation, and he joked that he liked this Versailles better than the one in France.”

DOOR “There’s sometimes a line at peak times, but it moves.”

DÉCOR “Lots of mirrors and chandeliers—the Versailles connection, I guess. The décor is comfortable and retro, more diner than upscale, despite the name.”

DRESS “Really casual, but, if you wear something linen—a suit, a guayabera shirt, you’ll fit right in. You’d feel comfortable here in any style.”

DRINK “Tropical fruit drinks and sangria are the best anywhere, and their rum mojitos include sugar cane to chew on. The café con leche can keep you going till early morning.”

DISH “Prices are reasonable and portions are huge. I eat the vegetarian dishes, but my friends usually order shrimp creole with black beans and fried sweet plantains, arroz con pollo, or the combination plate with chicken and picadillo—a spicy ground-meat dish.”

Versailles is open from 8 a.m to 2 a.m. on Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m to 3 a.m. on Friday, 8 a.m to 4:30 a.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m to 1 a.m. on Sunday.