The best things to do in Coral Gables, the "City Beautiful"

This verdant, 83-acre tropical oasis features a lush rainforest with a splashy waterfall, sunken gardens, dramatic vistas, an enormous vine pergola, a butterfly garden and museum of plant exploration. Fairchild’s collection of rare palms, orchids and other flora are no doubt stunning, but for something more hands-on, plan your visit to coincide with events like morning dog dates and evening sip and strolls; classes to sharpen your painting or gardening skills; or festivals celebrating everything from chocolate to mangos.  

Don’t Miss: Night at the Garden, where Fairchild opens over the holidays with a cornucopia of beautiful lights, illuminated installations and kid friendly activities. 

Begin where the Gables did, at the George E. Merrick House. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973, this limestone home stood here long before the city took shape, back when guava trees and grapefruit groves grew where multi-million dollar mansions now stand. 

Don’t miss: Guided tours on weekends at 1, 2 and 3pm

Majestic, luxurious, palatial—Coral Gables’ premier hotel is a stunning example of European grandeur thanks to its Mediterranean revival-style architecture, French and Spanish antiquities and hand-painted vaulted ceilings. Spend the day golfing on its world-class golf course, relaxing at its full-service spa or enjoying a sumptuous Sunday brunch with flowing Champagne, oysters and more.

Don’t miss: Traditional afternoon tea service in the hotel’s grand lobby. At $72 per person, it includes a selection of exotic teas, savory bites like foie gras and sweet delicacies. 

While you’re at The Biltmore, why not book a show at the adjacent Coral Gables Theater? Helmed by veteran artistic director Joe Adler, this intimate live theater leads the charge for avant-garde productions in the city. Smart, provocative shows with solid production values and excellent acting are the standards here, and Gablestage has won numerous awards in its 20-plus–year history because of it.

Don’t Miss: Pulitzer prize-winning comedy Fat Ham, described as “Hamlet, but with more barbeque and disco.”

Driving around, you might notice a few blocks that fall out of line with the city’s stringent Mediterranean revival-style aesthetic. These are the seven Villages of Coral Gables and were commissioned by Merrick himself to attract buyers who maybe didn’t want to feel like they lived where you “rivierad.” There’s the Dutch South Africa Village and Chinese Village, the French Normandy and the Florida Pioneer. Scattered throughout this sprawling city, see if you can spot the others as you drive around.

Don’t Miss: The annual village bike tour, which takes place in December. Led by the Coral Gables Museum, you’ll cycle to all seven villages while learning all about them from an expert guide. 

This charming nonprofit cinema shows indie and international films, award-winning documentaries and classics of the cult and box office hit varieties 365 days a year. There’s a small café onsite that serves affordable wines, beer and popcorn, which you can enjoy within its cozy single-room theater.

Don’t Miss: Screenings during the Miami Film Festival, which takes place annually in April.

Have you ever wondered what the inside of a classic Coral Gables home looks like? Every year the Coral Gables Community Foundation hosts the Tour of Kitchens, wherein residents open their doors so that you can admire their good taste as you savor bites from Coral Gables restaurants. But let’s be real; this is one instance where you’re not coming to satisfy your appetite for food, but for interior design. The event takes place in February and tickets start at $150 a pop. 

Downtown Coral Gables’ main drag is lined with bridal shops, jewelry stores, trendy boutiques and a multitude of restaurants. Following an extensive, million-dollar renovation, the strip features wider sidewalks, a greater selection of outdoor dining options and more tree-lined areas to go for a stroll. When you’re done on The Mile, head one block north to the entirely pedestrian Giralda Plaza for al fresco dining. 

Don’t miss: Books & Books, with its stacked shelves and quaint courtyard, Café Demetrio, the city’s oldest coffee house, the Bakery, a new shop on the mile with exotic snacks and vintage, and Armstrong Jazz House, with live music seven nights a week. 

Opened in 1923, this glittering freshwater pool boasts waterfalls, tropical foliage, cave-like grottos and a mini sandpit to lay your towel on all summer long. There’s also a café that serves snacks, pizza by the slice and different types of ice cream. It was formed out of the former coral rock quarry where limestone used to build The City Beautiful was taken, and every day this 820,000-gallon pool is drained and refilled with fresh spring water for the enjoyment of Gables residents and visitors alike. The pool is open only in the spring and summer and be warned—it is always cold. 

Don’t Miss: The annual Paws in the Pool event, which takes place every October. It’s the only day of the year where four-legged friends can doggy paddle throughout this historic body of water. 

Put on by Kiwanis of Little Havana, Carnaval on the Mile is a lively two-day festival that celebrates the Caribbean and Latin culture through community. The entirety of Miracle Mile is lined with tents housing local artists and food vendors, and Miami's best live bands fill the street with music and live performances. The event is free and open to the public and takes place in early March.

Don’t miss: Performances by some of the biggest names in Latin American music. Past years have featured Gente de Zona, Daddy Yankee and, of course, Mr. 305 himself: Pitbull. 

One of South Florida’s seminal companies for more than 30 years, this nonprofit theater puts on staged productions of award-winning shows and musicals from Broadway and beyond. A prime location on Miracle Mile makes this a great destination for theatergoers, who can enjoy a bite and a drink pre or post-show. 

With a serene bayside lagoon hugged by sandy atoll, hiking trails through mangroves and hardwood forests and coral rock pavilions in which to picnic, Matheson Hammock is a beloved daytime getaway for everyone. Catch a boat to go snorkeling through Biscayne Bay or just spend a day on the sand or taking a dip in ocean water, sans waves or fish. 

Don’t Miss: A delicious dinner overlooking the bay and atoll at Noma Beach by Redfish Grill. As the restaurant's view partially faces south, it’s especially beautiful at sunset. 

It’s fitting that the museum dedicated to all things City Beautiful is housed within its former police and fire station. Just one block off of Miracle Mile, the Coral Gables Museum gives a historical overview of the area, highlighting its early settlers, European architecture and melting pot of cultures. Once you’ve whizzed through the small structure learning everything there is to know about the Gables, experience it IRL on one of the museum’s guided walks or bike tours.  

Don’t Miss: Gables Gallery Night, where the museum and participating galleries open their doors to residents and visitors alike. It takes place on the first Friday of every month, aligning with Live on Giralda, which brings live music to the plaza just down the street.   

This vibrant seasonal market takes place between January and March, highlighting artisanal vendors and local farmers during the only time of the year it’s not too hot to shop outdoors. It’s small and won’t overwhelm you with a massive selection. Plus, there’s plenty of street parking for easy and pleasant grab-and-go shopping in between errands.

Opened in 1950, South Florida’s first museum sits on the University of Miami campus and features 5,000 years of Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities as a part of its extensive permanent collection. When you’re done perusing the museum, take a stroll through UM’s gorgeous campus filled with palms, rare plants and amazing mid century architecture. 

Don’t Miss: Beaux Arts, the museum’s annual art festival which features 200-plus artists. Taking place in January, it also happens to be Miami's longest-running juried art festival. 

Running parallel to one of Miami’s most scenic drives, the Old Cutler Trail is a lushly canopied pathway that’s popular with bikers and hikers alike. The 11-mile trail is almost entirely shaded by ficus and banyan trees and will take you past other Gables landmarks like Matheson Hammock and Fairchild Tropical Garden, as well as some of Miami’s most beautiful homes. The trail begins where Old Cutler, Sunset, and LeJune Roads convene and ends at 87th Avenue in Cutler Bay. 

Don’t Miss: Pinewood Cemetery, one of the city’s oldest and most beautiful, boasting an eerie, forlorn, old Florida feel. 

Coral Gables’ idea of a mall is a pristine, open-air shopping complex with greenspace for little ones to play, outdoor restaurants and designer shops galore. With more than 100 stores, Merrick Park offers a mix of midprice retailers like Lululemon and Madewell as well as luxury stores like Gucci and Neiman Marcus.

Don’t Miss: A newly released flick at the luxe Landmark Theater. Located on the third floor of the mall, it’s got a full bar, delectable dishes and movie seats you can sink into. 

Did you know that the University of Miami’s lauded music school brings GRAMMY, Emmy, and Tony award-winning artists and ensembles to The City Beautiful? Over 100 concerts are scheduled annually for Frost Music Live, where anyone can enjoy an intimate concert, whether they like classical music, jazz or pop. Tickets are usually between $15 and $30, making this a wonderful cultural treat for any day of the week.

Don’t Miss: Any show of your choosing from the Frost Signature Series, which brings musical top guns to the stage to play alongside UM students and professors. Jazz, classical, experimental—every month brings a plethora of concertos.

When it comes to cuisine, the Gables keeps getting better and better and no time is more opportune to make your way through the city’s varied food scene than during Taste the Gables. Put on by the City of Coral Gables, this annual event takes place in July and sees a number of restaurants in the area touting pre-fix menus at pre-fix prices, from fast casual joints to high-end destinations. 

Don’t Miss: Restaurants like Zitz Sum, Eating House or Beauty and the Butcher. 

Held at the University of Miami, this annual arts event features over 150 outdoor fine-art exhibits, local vendors, a beer garden, live music and lots of food. And at 73 years old, it happens to also be Miami's longest-running juried art festival.