Miami’s oldest neighborhood is also one of its most beautiful. Lush, bayside Coconut Grove has a laid-back, tropical vibe and bohemian charm. Banyan trees, palms and live oaks line quiet residential streets, parks and green spaces dot the Biscayne Bay shoreline, and peacocks are known to roam wild.
With Bahamian roots dating to the 1870s, Coconut Grove is home to one of Miami’s historic Black communities. In the area recently renamed “Little Bahamas,” you’ll find farmers markets, art galleries and historic Black churches.
Coconut Grove is famous for boating. It’s home to the Dinner Key Marina, and a multitude of sailboats are moored just offshore. Learn to sail at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club, or enjoy the spectacle of a weekend regatta from picturesque Peacock Park or David T. Kennedy Park. People with mobility challenges and other disabilities can experience sailing in specially designed watercraft at Shake-A-Leg Miami, which offers adaptive watersports.
In “The Grove,” as it’s known by locals, sidewalk cafes abound, with hot spots like GreenStreet Cafe and LoKal drawing crowds on sunny weekend afternoons. Trendy bars, artisanal coffee shops and tiki torch-lit bayfront restaurants share the neighborhood with fine dining options, such as MICHELIN-starred Los Felix and Ariete, as well as the chic Bayshore Club. You can enjoy stunning bay views while splurging at the rooftop Bellini, housed in the ultra-elegant Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove hotel. Or, dine under the stars in the secret garden at Peacock Garden Resto Bar & Grill.
Coconut Grove’s compact layout makes shopping the local boutiques a breeze, and the recently reimagined CocoWalk, an upscale open-air shopping and dining hub – with a luxury cinema – is a destination in itself.
Cultural gems like the Italian Renaissance-inspired Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and The Barnacle Historic State Park are huge draws for visitors who love both history and the outdoors.
Art lovers will want to make plans to visit in February, when the Coconut Grove Arts Festival takes over the neighborhood, showcasing work by local and international artists in an outdoor setting.
Keep scrolling to learn more about fun and funky Coconut Grove.