Hugging the coast of Biscayne Bay, with sailboat masts bobbing along picturesque marinas, Coconut Grove is Miami’s oldest neighborhood. Long beloved for its decidedly laid-back, salty, bohemian vibe — especially in contrast to Miami’s flashier, fast-paced neighborhoods — Coconut Grove is an ideal place to while away an afternoon strolling along its tree-lined streets.
It’s also home to some of Miami’s best new (and classic) eateries helmed by some of the most inventive restaurateurs and chefs in the business.
As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.
THE CLASSICS
Greenstreet Cafe
Greenstreet Cafe is a Coconut Grove institution. The sprawling sidewalk café, complete with tufted red velvet sofas for lounging, is located at the foot of leafy Barnacle Historic State Park.
Breakfast is served daily until 2:45 p.m., making it a popular brunch destination any day of the week, especially with items on the menu like coconut-crusted French toast, scrambled eggs with jerk spices and bloody marys and mimosas.
At lunch and dinnertime, you’ll find craveworthy dishes like the juicy Angus cheeseburger, lobster ravioli and goat cheese pizzetas. Pro tip: Start with an order of the chorizo mac ‘n’ cheese to share with the table.
Bombay Darbar
Whoever said it’s hard to find delicious, authentic Indian food in Miami simply hasn’t made the pilgrimage to Bombay Darbar. With sidewalk seating beneath an arcade breezeway and a stylish, neon-lit dining room, the restaurant dishes up aromatic platters of Indian delights.
Choose from classic chicken tikka masala, lamb vindaloo, vegetarian dal and clay-oven tandoori dishes served with basmati rice, warm naan bread and crispy vegetable samosas. Whether you’re a newcomer to Indian cuisine or know your favorite dishes by heart, Bombay Darbar will guide you through a memorable (and delicious) dining experience.
THE NEWCOMERS
Ariete
It’s hard to choose between a table on the shaded outdoor patio or inside the warm, wood-paneled dining room at Ariete. The good news is you really can’t go wrong either way.
With sumptuously creative yet straightforward dishes by Miami native Chef Michael Beltran, Ariete puts a fine dining, classical touch on Cuban and New-World American cuisine.
Think fresh-caught fish with chorizo, runner beans and pickled tomatillo or venison tartare with black-garlic aioli. It’s also an ideal weekend brunch spot, with bottomless mimosas, the Frita Benedict made with chorizo, and one of the best burgers in town: double patties topped with American cheese, bread-and-butter pickles and special Ariete “chug” sauce.
Strada in the Grove
For Northern Italian cooking paired with a selection of fine wines, look no further than Strada in the Grove. This elegant restaurant serves a full menu of Italian delicacies with a twist, starting with lamb ossobucco crostini and crispy saffron arancini balls, then moving along to classics like beef carpaccio, charcuterie and cheese plates.
Their pasta, fish and meat dishes offer just as many temptations — like the risotto frutti di mare or the veal scaloppini. Add to that a bottle of Barolo and you’re in for a night of sublime fine dining. Oh, and save room for the tiramisu with a glass of vintage port for dessert.
Kush by Spillover
Specializing in locally caught, sustainable seafood, as well as a cider and mead bar, the team behind Lokal (Coconut Grove’s longstanding beloved burger and craft beer joint) brings you Kush by Spillover.
With a retro-eclectic vibe, including a bar fashioned out of Old Bay seasoning tins, they’ve created a warm and welcoming environment for you to sink your teeth into fresh conch salad, fried oyster and shrimp po’boys, jambalaya and whole fried fish.
Part of the Spillover’s mission is to introduce diners to the unfiltered, farmhouse-style ciders of Spain and France, such as the full-bodied Gurutzeta Basque Cider. And what the heck is mead, anyway? It’s wine produced from fermented honey and water, and the best way to sample it is with the Spillover’s flight of four, hand selected by their beverage director.
Related Articles
