Coral Gables

The University of Miami is well known for its top academic programs in business, marine science, medicine, music and other fields. It also is well known for its premiere athletic programs. With five national championships since the early 1980s, the University of Miami football team has won more national championships than any other Division I football program. Its baseball team also is a national powerhouse and has won the College World Series numerous times.

This planned section of town is an oasis of quiet stately homes, shopping and Miami restaurants in the heart of Miami. If you're tired of South Beach and the downtown scene and are looking for some classy fun, take a trip to the Gables.

The city is home to many historic landmarks as well as 22 parks, 33 public tennis courts, two public golf courses, and other first-class recreation amenities. Among them: the largest tropical botanical garden in the continental United States, a spring-fed grotto swimming pool made of native coral rock with underwater caves, tree-lined bike paths and walking trails, and more.

In the past three decades, the city has experienced healthy growth, which has bolstered the economic base. Today, Coral Gables is home to 175 multinationals, 26 consulates and trade offices and more than 30 fine art galleries. It is also known as the Fine Dining Capital of South Florida and has the highest concentration of live theater in Miami-Dade County. Growth in the commercial sector has brought a wealth of new activities for residents, including nighttime entertainment, live music, casual and fine dining, and new retail options. It has also helped maintain low property taxes. At the same time, the residential areas have remained protected from commercial intrusion.

The city supports both the residential and business sectors with excellent city services, having attained the highest possible standards in every field. In fact, Coral Gables is the only city in the state of Florida and one of only two cities nationwide to have a Class 1 Fire Department, a fully-accredited Police Department, and the highest awarded Building and Zoning Department rating. In addition, Coral Gables has been named a "Tree City USA" for 14 consecutive years, it has an award-winning Communications Division and offers one of the most comprehensive Parks and Recreation programs in the state.

Coral Gables is well-known for its outstanding restaurants. With more than 40 great places to eat, all within walking distance in the downtown area, the hardest decision will be which one to try first. There are places to meet for a casual outdoor lunch as well as elegant, top-rated restaurants for fine dining.

As part of the Miami urban area, there are many routes that can be taken to access Coral Gables. Miami International Airport is not far north of Coral Gables. FL-953 (42nd Ave) goes south from the airport to Coral Gables. FL-976 enters the city from the west. US-1, or the Dixie Highway passes through Coral Gables coming out of Miami.

If going via mass transportation, the University stop (for University of Miami) is the station in Coral Gables.

Miami-Dade Transit runs buses around Coral Gables and to nearby MetroRail stations.

The Coral Gables Trolley is a free circulator through the city. It runs primarily north and south along Ponce de Leon Boulevard with stops at the central retail district, Miracle Mile. It also connects to the Douglas Road MetroRail station and local buses.

• 🌍 Coral Gables Merrick House, 907 Coral Wy. Sa-Su 1PM/2PM/3PM (guided tours). Former home of George Merrick, founder of Coral Gables, dating from 1907. Accessible by guided tour only. $5/adult, $3/senior/military, $3/student, $1/child (cash. (updated Nov 2023)
• 🌍 The Barnacle Historic State Park, 3485 Main Highway, Miami, ☏ +1-305 442-6866. Su-W 9AM-5PM. A preserved house built in 1891. $2 per person. (updated Dec 2021)
• Coral Gables Congregational Church, 3010 De Soto Blvd, ☏ +1 305 448-7421. Historic church built by George Merrick, founder of Coral Gables, in the Spanish Renaissance style. 
• 🌍 Matheson Hammock Park, 9610 Old Cutler Rd, ☏ +1 305 665-5475. Open daily from 6am to sunset. Man-made atoll with scenic walks, boating and picnic area. 
• 🌍 Venetian Pool, 2701 DeSoto Blvd, ☏ +1 305 460-5306. 11AM-5PM every day, but call to verify hours. Public pool in a Venetian style, with natural grottoes and a sunbathing area. In the 1920s Denman Dink transformed this limestone quarry into a pool with a waterfall, an area for kids and an area for adults. The water in this pool comes from a spring and is drained daily. In addition to the swimming facilities there is a snack bar (you cannot bring outside food into the Venetian Pool) and lockers. Swimming lessons are also offered here. The Venetian Pool is best known for having Esther Williams and Johnny Weissmuller (the silver screen’s first Tarzan) swim here. $6 people 13 years and older, $3 children under 13 $ (November to March); $9 people 13 years and older, $5 under 13 (April to October). 
• 🌍 University of Miami (junction of S Dixie Hwy and Stanford Dr). The main campus for this premiere university is situated in the city, including the Convocation Center, Hurricane Sports, Lowe Art Museum, Cosford Cinema, Gusman Concert Hall, Jerry Harman Ring Theater and John C Gifford Arboretum. 
  • 🌍 Lowe Art Museum, 1301 Stanford Dr, ☏ +1 305 284-3535. W-Sa 10AM-4PM. With many antique art, ceramics, pottery and sculptures ranging from Greco-Roman times, Renaissance, Baroque, Art of Asia, Art of Latin America, and ancient potteries, the Lowe Art Museum offers a great range of art through the centuries. $12.50/adult, $8/concession, children under 12 free. (updated Jun 2020)
• 🌍 Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd, ☏ +1-305-667-1651. 09:30-16:30. An 83-acre (34 ha) botanic garden, with extensive collections of rare tropical plants including palms, cycads, flowering trees, and vines. It is a museum, laboratory, learning center, and conservation research facility. It is home to the only outdoor rainforest in North America, several famous outdoor art installations (including world famous Chihuly glasswork), the January Chocolate Festival, and world-famous Mango Festival (every June or July featuring information on and samples of hundreds of different mango varieties). It is also home of the American Orchid Society. $25 adult / $18 senior / $12 child 6-17. (updated Feb 2018)

• 🌍 Miami Hurricanes. The University of Miami's sports teams are a major local attraction. Most of the venues are on campus, most notably the Watsco Center (basketball) and Alex Rodriguez Stadium (baseball). However, the most prominent Hurricanes team, the football team, plays its home games in Miami Gardens at the home stadium of the NFL's Miami Dolphins. 

• 🌍 Miracle Mile, 224 Miracle Mile, ☏ +1 305 569-0311. The main shopping district. 
• 🌍 Village of Merrick Park, 358 San Lorenzo Ave. An outdoor shopping mall, very similar to Bal Harbour Shops. This mall features mostly designer stores such as Jimmy Choo, Neiman Marcus and is the home of Miami’s first Nordstrom. Restaurants and small boutiques abound as well. 
• 🌍 The Collection, 200 Bird Road. Whether you're in the market for a new car or simply like to drool over Ferraris, Porches, and Maseratis, The Collection helps fulfill your need for speed. 
• 🌍 Sunset Place, 5701 Sunset Dr, ☏ +1 305-663-0482. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-9PM. In addition to nationwide chains such as the Gap, Urban Outfitters and Victoria’s Secret, this mall has a Niketown store, and a large movie theater. 
• 🌍 Dadeland Mall, 7535 North Kendall Dr, Kendall (in Kendall), ☏ +1 305-665-6226. M-Sa 10AM-9:30PM, Su noon-7PM. Dadeland is one of the United States’ first malls. Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue are some of the stores now represented at Dadeland. 

• 🌍 Cafe Abbraci, 318 Aragon Ave, ☏ +1 305 441-0700. (updated Aug 2021)
• Talavera, 2299 Ponce de Leon Blvd. M–F 11:30AM–11PM, Sa 11AM–11:30PM, Sun 11AM–11PM. Mexican. Its cuisine is refined (think chicharones with the guacamole) with a full bar. The margaritas are highly touted. 

• 🌍 The Bar, 172 Giralda Ave (2 Blocks from the Hyatt and Westin Omni), ☏ +1 305 442-2730. 11:30AM–2AM daily. The Bar's kitchen is open late and the food has been voted "Best Bar Food in Miami." Another accolade comes from Maxim Magazine 2002 claimed The Bar was the "Best Bar in America.". Has drink specials every night of the week. 

• 🌍 Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Avenue, ☏ + 1 305-445-1926. Four star hotel and South Florida's only National Historic Landmark resort. 
• 🌍 Hyatt Regency Coral Gables, 50 Alhambra Plaza, ☏ +1 305 441-1234. Mediterranean-style hotel. 
• 🌍 Terrace Inn, 1430 South Dixie Highway. Good location for the university campus. 

Coral Gables is in the metropolitan area of Miami. Nearby is Crandon Park Beach in Key Biscayne (on an island in the Biscayne Bay) and Parrot Jungle Island in Miami (close to the port).