COCONUT GROVE

 

 

Coconut Grove is a sophisticated yet casual Miami neighborhood with a bohemian vibe on the Biscayne Bay shoreline. This lush, tropical neighborhood is one of the greenest in Miami with tree-lined streets and bayfront parks and forests. Coconut Grove is also the city’s oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood. Coconut Grove was established in 1825 and is home to many of Miami’s oldest properties.

 

Its spacious and ultra-desirable single-family homes include the 1920s, mid-century, and contemporary properties in eclectic styles. There are also condominium complexes with stylish living spaces built from the 1970s onward. Buyers in Coconut Grove may also choose to construct their own custom dream homes. Many of Coconut Grove’s attractive estates feature exotic landscaping and pools.

 

I’ve lived in Coconut Grove for over 20 years and truly believe it is one of the best neighborhoods in Miami. The mix of classic and contemporary homes gives Coconut Grove a unique flavor, and the neighborhood is teeming with things to see and do. The parks along the Biscayne Bay waterfront are some of the top attractions in Miami.

 

Coconut Grove offers an enticing mix of boutique shopping, upscale dining, and trendy nightlife in the three-block Village Center downtown area and along the Biscayne Bay waterfront. Strada in the Grove serves authentic old-world Italian dishes in a funky modern setting. Sapore di Mare is another fine choice for Italian dining. This intimate, nautical-themed restaurant pairs exquisite Italian coastal cuisine with an exceptional wine list. Chef Michael Beltran’s Nave also focuses on fresh pasta and sublime Italian coastal fare. Next door, its sister restaurant Ariete draws on French and Cuban influences for its creative cooking. Ariete is a must-visit for serious foodies, and its plant-filled indoor and outdoor seating areas make for one of Coconut Grove’s best dining environments. Check out Chug too for a diner modern experience with authentic Cuban delights! Whether you are looking for pizza or sushi you will find it all in the newly renovated Village of Coconut Grove!

 

The sidewalk seating at Greenstreet Café and sister cafe LULU has been a favorite Village Center spot for decades with its eclectic Mediterranean-influenced eats, happy hour drinks, and unbeatable people-watching. Lokal is a hip choice for artisanal burgers and craft beers, and their sister joint, Kush Coconut Grove boasts the Village Center’s best happy hour drinks alongside an impressive selection of surf ‘n’ turf that includes greatest hits from Spillover an Kush, eclectic, internationally-influenced main courses, farm-fresh veggies, and even a choice of eats prepared specifically for dogs. At the Park Grove condominium complex, Major Food Group opened, Sadelle's which is a hip modern twist on New York classic dining served in a stylish contemporary space. Close to the bayfront Peacock Park, Bellini at the Mr. C Hotel has elegant indoor and outdoor dining areas for enjoying refined Italian cuisine paired with outstanding wine and cocktails.

 

CocoWalk was the heart of shopping and dining in Coconut Grove upon its opening in the 1990s. The area has been reimagined for the 2020s with chic new hotels, stores, and eateries. New restaurants like Sushi Garage, Planta, Botanico Gin & Cookhouse, Mister O1, and Los Generales Mezcal & Grill offer delicious eats, while stores such as women’s boutique LoveShackFancy, FP Movement, Unika and the Showroom are excellent shopping and entertainment destinations.

 

Books & Books is another revamped Coconut Grove retailer. Located in the iconic Engle Building, it offers two stories of shelves stacked high with all kinds of books. Books & Books also has a café and 60-author events every month.

 

The Coconut Grove Arts Festival—a three-day celebration that takes place over Presidents’ Day Weekend—is the neighborhood’s premier annual event. Hundreds of jury-selected artists participate, and their artworks stretch for one mile along the Biscayne Bay waterfront. Along with artworks covering 15 different categories of visual art, the festival features cooking demonstrations from some of Miami’s top chefs. Other annual events include the fun King Mango Strut Parade in December, the Coconut Grove Food & Wine Festival in April, and May’s lively Bahamian Goombay Festival with Caribbean music and food.

 

Several large public parks are located on Coconut Grove’s Biscayne Bay shoreline. The nearly 10-acre Peacock Park has sports fields and courts, a children’s playground, and a boardwalk bridge with beautiful bay views. During the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, musical performances are held on Peacock Park’s open fields. The 20-acre Kennedy Park has separate dog parks for large and small breeds, plus sand volleyball courts, a large playground, asphalt running paths, and an outdoor gym. The Kampong is a nine-acre botanical garden with a wide variety of flowering trees, palms, bamboo, mangroves, and tropical fruits such as mango and avocado. Structures in The Kampong include a dormitory used by visiting students and researchers and the historic 1928 Fairchild-Sweeney House. The 1891 Barnacle Historic State Park transports visitors back to frontier times with a historic home and replica sailboats located amid a mangrove forest. Coconut Grove’s historic landmarks also include the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, an opulent 1916 waterfront estate with 32 rooms and 10 acres of gorgeous gardens.

 

Coconut Grove has many excellent private and public school options. The public schools are zoned to the Miami-Dade Public School District. Highlights include: