Coconut Grove

Overview

Coconut Grove is one of Miami's oldest settled areas, on the bay south of Brickell. It is part of the City of Miami, not its own city. People know it for big trees, marinas and a small walkable village, but the Grove is really several places with different histories.

Know the area

• Center Grove. The village around Main Highway, Grand Avenue and McFarlane Road, with CocoWalk, cafés, shops and bars.
• North and South Grove. Mostly homes, from old wood cottages to modern houses, under heavy tree cover along the bay.
• Little Bahamas / Village West. The West Grove, settled in the late 1800s by Black Bahamian families who helped build the early Grove. The city now formally recognizes it as the Little Bahamas of Coconut Grove.

Bahamian roots

Many of the Grove's first workers came from the Bahamas. They built homes along Charles Avenue, one of the oldest streets in the area. The Mariah Brown House and homes linked to E.W.F. Stirrup, a Bahamian builder and landowner, still stand there.

Rising prices and new building have changed the West Grove. Many longtime families and churches are working to keep its history and community in place.

Landmarks and parks

• The Barnacle. An 1891 house at 3485 Main Highway, one of the oldest homes in Miami-Dade still on its original site. The grounds open on set days, and the inside is seen only on a guided tour.
• Peacock Park. A bayfront park at 2820 McFarlane Road, a short walk from the village.
• Dinner Key. The marina area that holds Miami City Hall, sailing clubs and boat slips.
• Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. A 1910s bayfront estate with formal gardens on the Grove's northern edge.

Places to eat

• Chug's Diner. A Cuban-American diner in the village.
• Ariete. A chef-driven restaurant near the center of the Grove.

Getting around

• Metrorail. Coconut Grove station sits on US-1, about a mile from the village center, not in it. Plan for a walk, bike or short ride.
• Biking and walking. Shady streets and the bayfront make the village and nearby streets easy to explore on foot or by bike.