As Miami’s oldest neighborhood, Coconut Grove offers no shortage of things to do, from roaming Italian-inspired gardens to drinking sauvignon blanc frosé to indulging in honey-infused spa treatments. Yep, this plot of bohemian land has it all. Here’s how to spend a dreamy weekend away in one of our favorite neighborhoods.
How to Spend a Charming Weekend in Coconut Grove
•
Published Oct 25, 2019
Photo courtesy of Villa Vizcaya/Facebook
What To Do
You’re here to escape the chaos of Miami, so head straight to the Kampong. This six-acre garden along the Biscayne Bay is filled with vibrantly colored plants and flowers, numerous exotic fruits and more than 50 varieties of mangoes. Then make your way to Villa Vizcaya, an Italian-inspired estate replete with waterfront views and Versailles-esque winding gardens. Enjoy a guided tour of the property, which also includes indoor and outdoor art installations. Make sure to roam CocoWalk, which is where a majority of the Grove’s restaurants, shops and bars are located. (Show some love to Miami’s independent bookseller Books & Books, which runs a two-story shop with an on-site coffee spot.) Whatever you decide to do, be sure to take a walk in Regatta Park and marvel at the sailboats during sunset.
Courtesy of RM Studio Corp
Where To Eat
Between the charming courtyard garden and the all-day pizza service at Isabelle’s Grill Room & Garden, it’s hard to go wrong. (Order the one topped with zucchini, mozzarella and Gorgonzola.) A visit to the Grove wouldn’t be complete without a meal at chef Michael Beltran’s Ariete. Plan to share just about everything, including the wood-grilled oysters and the signature Chug Burger, which is one of the best in the city. For brunch, check out Michael Schwartz’s newest restaurant, Tigertail + Mary. (We’re eyeing the house-made labneh with wood-fired pita, and the Brussels sprouts topped with a fried egg, Parmesan and kale pesto.) Other standouts include Matt Kuscher’s burger bar, LoKal, and seafood spot, the Spillover; and a slice of pie from the legendary Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop.
Courtesy of the Commodore
Where To Drink
Located within one of our favorite green spaces, Peacock Park, Glass and Vine is a great spot to take refuge under a large shady tree with a refreshing glass of sauvignon blanc frosé in hand. In the evenings, find us lounging at the Commodore, a swanky cocktail den inside the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove. Count us in for prosecco rosé and cucumber mules paired with a classic meat and cheese board. (FYI: Happy hour runs from 5 to 7 p.m. daily, even on weekends.) If you fancy yourself an oenophile, you’ll feel like a kid in a candy store at Happy Wine, which boasts more than a thousand bottles.
Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove
Where To Stay
We know, we know: Coconut Grove is practically in our backyard, so you may be wondering why you’d bother to spend a few nights here. But it feels like a whole other world compared to Greater Miami (plus, no chance of pesky travel delays). For top-notch luxury, book a room at the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove. This upscale, villa-like hotel features gorgeous floor-to-ceiling marble bathrooms (hello, home inspo), bright balconies overlooking the bay and a next-level spa featuring organic Florida Keys honey in almost every signature treatment. If they’re booked, you can’t go wrong with the recently opened Mr. C Coconut Grove or the Mayfair, both located a stone’s throw from CocoWalk.
