Coconut Grove

Coconut Grove is Miami's oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood, a leafy village on Biscayne Bay about 10 to 15 minutes south of Downtown, known for banyan-shaded streets, sailboat marinas, bayfront parks and sidewalk cafés. It is worth visiting for a calmer side of Miami, especially if you pair it with Vizcaya Museum and Gardens on its northern edge.

The Grove suits families, couples, sailors, runners and anyone who prefers green space and history to nightclubs. It is not a beach destination, and its evenings are relaxed rather than late, so party seekers usually stay in South Beach or Brickell and visit for the day.

How do you get to Coconut Grove and get around?

Coconut Grove has two Metrorail stations, Coconut Grove (SW 27th Avenue and US-1) and Douglas Road (SW 37th Avenue), plus Vizcaya station for the museum. The Metrorail fare is $2.25 through December 31, 2026 and $2.75 from January 1, 2027. From the stations, the free City of Miami Coconut Grove trolley loops into the village center Monday to Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

By car, the Grove is about 20 to 30 minutes from South Beach and roughly 15 minutes from the airport outside rush hour. Garages at CocoWalk and The Mayfair, plus metered street spaces paid by app, serve the center, but they fill on weekends and festival days. Once there, the village core around Grand Avenue, Main Highway and the bayfront is compact, flat and easy on foot or by bike.

What are the best things to do in Coconut Grove?

The best things to do in Coconut Grove are touring Vizcaya's villa and bayfront gardens, visiting The Barnacle's pioneer house, relaxing in Peacock Park and Regatta Park, getting out on the water from Dinner Key, seeing The Kampong's tropical garden, and browsing CocoWalk and the village shops. One full day covers the main sights.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Vizcaya, at 3251 South Miami Avenue, is an Italian Renaissance-style winter estate built in the 1910s, with furnished rooms and formal gardens on the bay. It is open daily except Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Adult tickets are $25 from November 1, 2026, a discount from the usual $32 while restoration work continues; children 6 to 12 pay $10 and kids 5 and under enter free. Some areas, including the Maze, the Theater Gardens and some Main House rooms, are closed for preservation, so we would book a morning slot and check the site for what is open.

The Barnacle and The Kampong

The Barnacle Historic State Park, at 3485 Main Highway, protects the oldest house in Miami-Dade County still on its original site, set in a hardwood hammock that runs down to the bay. Grounds entry is $2 per person on foot or bike, and guided house tours ($3 for ages 13 and up) run at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. It is open Thursday to Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The Kampong, a historic botanical garden at 4013 South Douglas Road run by the National Tropical Botanical Garden, opens Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (last entry 3 p.m.). Reservations are encouraged, partly because parking is limited.

Parks and the waterfront

Peacock Park is the Grove's main lawn by the bay, good for picnics and sunsets. Just north, Regatta Park has wide bayfront paths and hosts sailing events and festivals. Farther up South Bayshore Drive, Kennedy Park has a fitness course, a waterfront trail and an area for dogs.

Coconut Grove calls itself Miami's sailing capital. Dinner Key Marina and the neighboring sailing clubs are the place to look for sailing lessons, charters, kayak and paddleboard rentals.

Shopping and village life

CocoWalk is the open-air center for shops, restaurants and a cinema, with more boutiques and cafés along Grand Avenue, Commodore Plaza and Main Highway. Look for the wild peacocks that wander the residential streets. The historic Coconut Grove Playhouse is being restored and is not yet open.

Where should you eat in Coconut Grove?

For a short list of places verified open in 2026, try GreenStreet Cafe for sidewalk breakfasts, Glass & Vine for lunch or weekend brunch in Peacock Park, Le Bouchon du Grove for French bistro dishes, and Grand Public Kitchen & Bar, which opened at CocoWalk in May 2026.

• GreenStreet Cafe on Commodore Plaza is a long-running people-watching spot for breakfast and casual meals.
• Glass & Vine sits inside Peacock Park with tables under the trees and bay views.
• Le Bouchon du Grove on Main Highway serves classic French bistro plates.
• Grand Public Kitchen & Bar is on CocoWalk's second floor, 3015 Grand Avenue.

Older guides may still list Lokal, the burger spot that closed in June 2026, and the Last Carrot, which closed in February 2026. See our best Coconut Grove restaurants for more, and check bills for automatic service charges, which Florida now requires restaurants to disclose.

Where should you stay in Coconut Grove?

Stay in the Grove if you want a quieter base with bay views, walkable dining and Metrorail access to Downtown and the airport. Hotels cluster around CocoWalk and along South Bayshore Drive. Compare current options on our Coconut Grove hotels page.

Is Coconut Grove safe for visitors?

Coconut Grove is generally considered one of Miami's safer areas for visitors, with busy, well-lit streets in the village center and plenty of families out in the parks. Use normal precautions: keep valuables out of sight in parked cars, stick to the main avenues late at night and keep an eye on bags at crowded festivals.

• Traffic on US-1 and South Bayshore Drive is heavy on weekdays at rush hour.
• Bring insect repellent for The Barnacle, The Kampong and Vizcaya's gardens.
• Check Vizcaya and The Barnacle opening days before you go; both close on Tuesdays.

When is the best time to visit Coconut Grove?

November through April is the most pleasant time to visit, with dry weather for gardens, sailing and outdoor dining. The Coconut Grove Arts Festival fills the bayfront each February, and the satirical King Mango Strut parade takes over the streets in late December. Summer is hot, humid and stormy in the afternoons, and hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30.

Coconut Grove quick facts

Prices and hours were checked in October 2026 and can change; confirm with each attraction before you go.