The Top Restaurants in Coral Gables
Coral Gables is a movable feast, a veritable mecca of fine dining. It has the highest density of quality restaurants for any city in South Florida – close to 100 good dining establishments. The restaurants do cluster near the main street of Miracle Mile, but are also spread throughout the Gables. This is not the sort of town where one wanders about in large shopping malls, but nonetheless there are some hidden gems to be found there and even in out-of-the way strip malls.
Dining hours in the Gables stretch from the early evening – when it is common to see people at restaurants close to where they work – until late at night, when it’s not unusual go to a restaurant at 10 p.m. and the place packed, even with children.
Many of the restaurants in Coral Gables are world-class. But the culinary scene is also changing. Where once the top-flight, traditional dining spots catered to lawyers, bankers, businessmen and diplomats, there is a new crop of edgier places, with young chefs and new tastes, catering to a younger clientele.
What follows is our list of the tried and true, and the innovative and new. We dine at all locations anonymously, and we list only the places where we love to eat.
$ Under $25
$$ $25-$40
$$$ $35-$75
$$$$ $70-$100+
Prices are per person for appetizer and entrée, no tax, tip or drinks. Prices are approximate
AMERICAN
Bachour
Maybe it was the lure of pastries by world-renowned chef Antonio Bachour, but this airy, industrial chic spot has become the new power breakfast place in town, with amazingly good eggs benedict and challah French toast. Also open for lunch and an early dinner, with great Greek salad and roast chicken breast. $$
2020 Salzedo St. 305.203.0552
Cebada Rooftop & Raw Bar
It’s hard to pigeonhole this new rooftop restaurant by Chef Jorge Ramos (fresh from his acclaimed Barley restaurant in Dadeland). He calls it “contemporary American with a Latin overlay” which means roast bone marrow with salsa verde and baby back ribs with pimiento marmalade. A good raw bar, a great view. $$-$$$
124 Giralda Ave. 786.409.2287
CRAFT
A classic take on American food with an emphasis on breakfast, CRAFT is one of the latest additions to Giralda Plaza, open early (8am everyday) and serving everything from picante pizza sprinkled with Doritos, jalapeños, and onions to their Post-Apocalyptic Brunch Plate (eggs, bacon, mini croissant, mini waffle, granola, prosciutto and melon bite, avo-toast, goat cheese croquette). Surprisingly, some of the best bacon we’ve ever had. $-$$
127 Giralda Ave. 305.339.5981
Doc B’s Restaurant + Bar
Doc B’s Restaurant + Bar serves crave-able American fare dishes made from scratch daily. Offering brunch, lunch, dinner, and a solid happy hour, signature dishes include the Wok Out Bowls. But our favorites are the candied bacon, the grilled artichokes and the Southern fried chicken. $$
301 Miracle Mile 786.864.1220
The Globe
The Globe is a Gables icon, and one of the coolest places to eat in the city – assuming you like a smart, Euro-style bistro. Decorated with classic paintings (and globes over their old-world bar), the menu is mostly American dishes – salads, burgers, fish, steaks, etc. – perfected over the years. Best conch fritters. $$
377 Alhambra Circle 305.445.3555
The Grammercy
They meant it to be over the top, and they succeeded. To us it feels a little like a bordello in New Orleans, circa 19th century. But this is now the singles hot spot, replacing Tarpon Bend. Good sushi counter, interesting sides, and wagyu hamburgers, but happy hour is where they shine. $$$-$$$$
65 Miracle Mile. 786.747.4854
Hillstone
There are very few restaurants in the Gables where clients will wait in a line outside. Hillstone is one of them. A power lunch spot, a happy hour singles anchor, and a family restaurant at night, the food and service are consistently top notch, with an elegant interior that is both comfortable and sophisticated at the same time. $$$
201 Miracle Mile 305.529.0141
Lion & The Rambler
At the newly opened Lion and the Rambler, everything is made from scratch, from the creme fraiche down to the finishing salts, which are extracted from Miami seawater and hand-delivered to the restaurant by a local fisherman. The inventive restaurant serves up a nine-course tasting menu as much inspired by the three-Michelin-star Denmark restaurant Noma as the humble Cool Ranch Dorito. Try an infladita and see what we mean. $$-$$$
804 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.603.7612
Orno
Located in the same building as Mamey (Thesis Hotel), Orno is Chef Niven Patel’s latest creation, focusing on “New American” cuisine with a focus on farm-to-table local produce. An eclectic menu lets Patel stretch his culinary imagination, using a wood-burning oven and a wood-burning grill. Be prepared for new and fascinating flavors. $$$
1350 S. Dixie Highway (Thēsis Hotel) 305.667.6766
Public Square
This popular re-configuration of the former Shula’s steakhouse still serves great steaks and burgers, but with lots of other options (seafood, pasta, sushi, salads). Expansive bar and outdoor seating on Red Road and San Ignacio Avenue, a neighborhood favorite. $$$
6915 Red Rd. 3221.342.1695
Seasons 52
The restaurant for healthy eaters who enjoy quality as well. The menu, changing four times a year with each season, is always full of inventive treatments for fresh veggies, soups and salads. Their fish and meat dishes are great values, and the flatbread menu is a nice touch. It’s a chain, but we forgive them. $$
321 Miracle Mile 305.442.8552
Tap 42
Tap 42 is big, noisy, and fun, with a huge island bar and lots of booths. Reliably good ribs, steaks and burgers, plus shines in the sides (roasted Brussels sprouts with maple mustard, truffle mac & cheese with parmesan crust). Nice random Asian dishes (grilled salmon Zen bowl, Asian coleslaw). $$-$$$
301 Giralda Ave. 786.391.1566
Vinya Table
A wine lover’s retreat and former pop-up, Vinya is a full restaurant with seafood, pasta, charcuterie, and a 42 oz tomahawk steak, among other meats. But if you’re not looking at the wine list first, you might be in the wrong place. Categorized by region, rarity, price, flavor profile, winemaking, and varietal, Vinya has wines for every kind of sommelier wannabe and then some. And they have food to go with your wine too! $$-$$$
266 Miracle Mile. 305.203.4229
Yard House
A cavernous space with huge screens for sports fans, oversized paintings, classic rock in the background and large booths, all making for a comfortable space in which to pick and choose from an immense and reliable menu of American classics with Asian dishes interspersed. Literally something for everyone. $$
320 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.9273
ASIAN
Crudos Fusion Art
For art lovers and foodies alike, Crudos blends both into an Asian fusion dining experience complete with sushi rolls and a variety of mojitos (available for the amateur bartender in “Do it Yourself” kits). The new Coral Gables spot is Crudos Fusion Art’s fourth location under Executive Chef-Partner Edixon Hernandez and includes a Japanese highball whiskey lounge, Aka, on the second floor. Try the POP sushi roll for something different — pop rocks included –in this “immersive experience.” $$-$$$
2415 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.392.0054
Ichimi
This off-Mile eatery has developed a cult following, with diners content to wait and stand and stare, just for the opportunity to eat Ichimi’s Japanese noodles and rice bowls. And the wait is worth it. Delicious, rich and faraway flavors in dishes you can’t find just anywhere, in a raw, cool space. $-$$
2330 Salzedo St. 305.960.7016
Izakaya
Located across the street from the Colonnade building, this tiny, bustling Japanese restaurant serves a great bento box – along with an impressive array of daily specials that are posted on the wall in chalk. Super popular lunch spot, for good reason. $$
159 Aragon Ave. 305.445.2584
Khaosan Road
Formerly Bangkok, Bangkok, this Giralda Plaza mainstay – with plenty of outdoor tables – has reinvented itself as the new home for Thai street food. Think you know Thai food? Be prepared for new and delicious tastes. $$
157 Giralda Plaza 305.444.2397
Malakor Thai Isaan
This eatery on Miracle Mile prides itself on delivering true, tasty Thai food. That means pork skewers with sticky rice, grilled fatty pork neck sliced and tossed with lime juice, or the Gang Aom, a Thai curry with fish sauce, dill and herb paste. $$
90 Miracle Mile 786.558.4862
Miss Saigon
Repeatedly voted the best Vietnamese restaurant in Miami by the readers of New Times, Miss Saigon serves the kind of vegetable-rich food that makes you feel light and clean afterwards. Excellent seafood choices, and any of their crispy rolls or dumplings make great starters. their clear, hearty soups – what they call Pho – are the big winners here. $$
148 Giralda Ave. 305.446.8006.
Moon Thai & Japanese
Can’t decide between Japanese or Thai food? No problem. Here, you can have a Japanese house salad or miso soup as an appetizer and pad thai as an entrée. Truly the best of both worlds. Comfy booths inside and umbrella-covered outdoor tables. Great duck. Across the street from UM’s campus. $-$$
1118 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.668.9890
Namaste
Hidden on a side street off Ponce, the last standing Indian restaurant in the Gables is small and humble (“namaste” means “I bow to you”) yet superb in its rendering of classic Indian dishes, from tandoris to biryanis. Our favorite is the mango curry chicken, followed by the chef’s special black pepper shrimp. $$
221 Navarre Ave. 786.534.2161
Sakura Japanese
A vast menu for rolls, along with selections of noodles, yakitori, katsu, tempura, teriyaki, etc. But they serve some of the best sushi and sashimi in town, if raw fish is your thing. We also love their seating – a half dozen alcoves that line the walls and provide a sense of private space. $$
440 S Dixie Hwy. 305-665-7020
Sawa
Delicious take on Japanese flavors served in parallel with Lebanese Mediterranean, Sawa offers seating inside or outside at Merrick Park. A vast selection of sushi rolls and tapas that range from chicken yakitori to octopus ceviche, along with super fresh Middle Eastern comfort food. World’s best lamb chops. Also has a doggy menu. $$$
360 San Lorenzo Ave. (Shops at Merrick Park) 305.447.6555
Sushi Sake
Just one block south of Sushi Maki, Sushi Sake is the latest contestant in the battle for sushi fans, with an upscale edge and a menu that stretches past sushi, sashimi, and handrolls to hibachi, katsu, and noodle dishes. A full bar gives them happy hour honors (weekdays 4-6 pm) with half off drinks, appetizers, and Thai donuts. $$-$$$
202 Miracle Mile. 786.636.8125
Zitz Sum
Brought to you by Chef Pablo Zitzmann of No Name Chinese fame, this “pop up” restaurant off the huge lobby of the 396 Building feels like it’s here to stay. The result of a year-long pandemic dive into dim sum by Zitzmann, the dumplings (dinner only), hand-rolled daily, are superb. Other menu items are highly inventive and flavorful. $$-$$$
396 Alhambra Circle. 786.409.6920
FRENCH
Brasserie Central
Secretly owned by Pascal’s on Ponce fame, the restaurant is half inside half in the courtyard of the Shops. A typical French bistro with wonderful onion soup, fresh bread and superb paté. Everything on the menu is fresh, French, and all you would expect from Pascal. Lots of little French touches. $$-$$$
Shops at Merrick Park 786.536.9388
Chef Sucre Café
“A French restaurant bistro with a Latin Twist,” this inexpensive café serves breakfast all day – including great croque madams and croque monsieurs. Good sandwiches, lovely croissants, and a flourless chocolate cake to die for. $
475 Biltmore Way. 305-444-2025
Chocolate Fashion
This restaurant and bakery is a breakfast and lunch hotspot. Lunch is a steal with most sandwiches priced around $11, with a side salad and cornichons – those mini pickles the French are famous for. Don’t forget the French pastries and desserts, ready to go. $-$$
248 Andalusia Ave. 305.461.3200
Frenchie’s Diner
It looks like an all-American diner (which it once was) but this is pure French cooking in a small but comfy setting. Frenchie himself is usually there. Some items on the menu can get pricey (filet mignon, $34) but the onion soup ($9) and escargots ($11) are great values, and the croque monsieur ($14) for lunch is a meal unto itself. $$$
2618 Galiano St. 305.442.4554
Gustave
Launched by a couple of friends with a track record in Paris, Gustave’s a light-filled, lovely addition to the local French cuisine scene. With a good selection of baked goods, this is a Paris-style café with good coffee and solid fare. Good to know where you can get a croque monsieur for lunch and boeuf bourguignon for dinner $$-$$$
366 Miracle Mile. 305.640.5675
Pascal’s on Ponce
Elegant, quaint, and delicious, the home and culinary canvas of owner-chef Pascal Oudin, who brings authentic French cuisine to the heart of the city. Oudin excels in seafood, soufflés, and foie gras. Try the diver sea scallops and tomato tartin. $$$-$$$$
2611 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.444.2024
ITALIAN
Amore
Small Italian spot with a half dozen tables and umbrellas outside. A wide selection of pastas, including pumpkin and lobster ravioli, and fagottini de pera – pasta stuffed with mascarpone and pears. Great homemade gnocchi. Nice service, reasonably priced, good house wines. $$
94 Miracle Mile. 305.200.3216
Bugatti
Bugatti prides itself on its pasta – and for good reason, since the restaurant started as a pasta factory. The décor is simple and contemporary, with lots of booths, abd the service is crisp and superb. The dinner menu is straightforward, with pasta dishes mostly under $20 and entrees mostly under $30. And as many dessert listings (12) as pasta choices. $$
2504 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.441.2545
Caffe Abbracci
A Gables icon, Nino Pernetti’s Italian restaurant is both a power lunch favorite for the business elite and a cozy evening gathering place for families and couples. Abbracci is quiet and elegant, and the food is so consistently good that Pernetti had to publish his own cookbook. $$$
318 Aragon Ave. 305.441.0700
Caffe Vialetto
Not a huge menu, but when it comes to risotto, pappardelle, fettuccini, and ravioli, they do it right. And we love their Wednesday and Thursday “Family” dinners for $100, with lots of great dishes, that serves four or five diners. Reservations required, always full. $$$
4019 Le Jeune Rd. 305.446.5659
Coppola’s Bistro Ristorante
Making use of the brick oven from Spritz’s old days, Coppola’s Gables location has started making pizzas in addition to their regular authentic Italian specialties, a move that may prove fruitful in the ever-ongoing battle for the best Italian restaurant in Coral Gables. They have seafood, salads, pasta, chicken, and beef, as well, but pizza is the star here. $$
2305 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.444.3388
Fiola
Brought to you by Washington, D.C. chef Fabio Trabocchi, this is fine dining at its finest. From the place settings to the artwork to the innovative cuisine, Fiola offers an exquisite dining experience. Among their must-try dishes are the porcini mushroom soup, sea scallops ceviche, and the signature lobster ravioli. Beautiful presentations. $$$$
1500 San Ignacio Ave. 305.912.2639
Fontana
The ambiance is as elegant as it comes: the Biltmore’s famed fountain courtyard. You can sit under the stars, in a covered archway, or inside to enjoy classic Italian dishes. Fresh ingredients, from the salads to the pasta that is made daily. Excellent seafood, pastas cooked perfectly. One of the most romantic restaurants in the Gables. $$$
1200 Anastasia Ave. (Biltmore Hotel) 305.913.3200
Fugato
They will tell you they serve “continental” fusion cuisine, and yes there is a touch of French and Spanish cooking here. But the chicken Florentine, Ravioli aragosta, ravioli zucca, golden calamari and veal ossobuco say otherwise. Well prepared dishes in an intimate setting make this a romantic choice. $$$-$$$$
325 Alcazar Ave. 786.420.2910
Fratellino
Small, family run, with a fanatically loyal fan base, brilliant Italian comfort food. The long narrow set up with tile floors, wooden chairs and tablecloths makes it feel like New York’s Little Italy. Their calamari, in any variation, is superb, as is the fettuccine with prosciutto, mushrooms and green peas. $$$
264 Miracle Mile 786.452.0068
Luca Osteria
The latest place by local celebrity chef Giorgio Rapicavoli (the Eating House), Luca Osteria became an overnight, reservations-only hit for dinner on Giralda Plaza. His inventive take on classic Italian food is fresh and new; the Pasta al Limone and mortadella toast with fig balsamic are just the beginning. Great Italian cocktails. $$-$$$$
116 Giralda Ave. 305.381.5097
Opera
Chef Consiglio, along with partner-chef Gianluca Canna, makes a point of offering an array of dishes that include veal ossobuco, 10 varieties of pizza, fresh “al dente” pastas and starters, including a wickedly delicious plate of truffle oil-laced prosciutto with baby artichokes ($16). But for us, the trip is worth it just for the branzino. $$
130 Miracle Mile. 786.391.1276
Salumeria 104
Tratorria-style Salumeria is now two years old, with a loyal clientele, especially at lunchtime. Partly that is because the food and ambience is authentically Northern Italian and rustic. It may also be thanks to their inventive pastas, and sandwiches of artisan cured meats, always fresh and flavorful. Those sliced salumi meats are buono! $$
117 Miracle Mile. 305.640.5547
Villagio Ristorante
Surprisingly good prices in this cavernous restaurant in the Shops at Merrick Park, with lots of outdoor seating. Even the dinner menu serves pasta entrees for less than $15, and the amazingly extensive selections of meat and fish mostly run in the mid to low twenties. Also – randomly enough – the best apple pie anywhere. $$
358 Sand Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.8144.
Zucca
Located at the elegant St. Michel hotel, this is a star in the galaxy of Italian eateries in the Gables. Distinctly northern Italian, with recipes that chef Manuel Garcia developed in a career that included the legendary Casa Tua on Miami Beach. Lovely outdoor seating, modern Italian design inside, sophisticated, with great service. $$$-$$$$
162 Alcazar Ave. 786.580.3731
LATIN AMERICAN & CARIBBEAN
Aromas del Peru
Yes, they serve a dozen types of ceviche here. But it’s the breadth of the menu that impresses, with traditional soups, grilled meats, wok stir fries, and signature dishes such as aji de gallina (shredded chicken in yellow pepper sauce) and seco de res (beef stewed in beer and cilantro, with vegetables). Good service, good prices, nice ambiance. $$
1930 Ponce de León Blvd. 305.476.5886
Divino Ceviche
Bringing a taste of Peru to Giralda Plaza, Divino Ceviche is known, as you might guess, for its ceviche. From the Ceviche Tradicional to Ceviche de Mercado to Ceviche Nikkei, there’s no shortage of the stuff. The restaurant also has notable non-ceviche dishes like octopus croquetas and a tasting of three different causas (layered potatoes with chiles, avocados, tuna, boiled eggs, onion). $$
160 Giralda Ave. 786.360.3775
Ecléctico
Brought to you by the folks at nearby Sawa restaurant, Eclectico is an open, airy Latin-fusion restaurant that serves “light” and inventive variations on Latin American small plates with a Mexican overlay – and a truly awesome selection of mescal and taquilla. A new and fun place for dinner. $$
320 San Lorenzo Ave. 786.615.5735
Graziano’s
This large, popular Gables mainstay is true Argentine. A deep selection of Argentine wines (which line several walls) go with beef slowly roasted over a quebracho wood fire, old school style. They have seafood and pasta, empanadas, and salads, but come here for the meat, a carnivore’s delight. $$$
394 Giralda Ave. 305.774.3599
Mamey
Chef Niven Patel, who is fast gaining a national reputation, hits it out of the park with this restaurant, heir to the creative Caribbean cuisine of Ortanique, but with its own unique and refreshing overlay of Polynesian, Thai and Indian gastronomy. If your taste buds seek a new adventure, this is the place. $$$
1350 S. Dixie Highway (Thēsis Hotel) 305.667.5611
Talavera Cocina Mexicana
Recently renovated, this a pleasant place to dine, but it’s the authentic fare that shines. The place for Mexicans homesick for cooking that’s not Tex-Mex. The chicken mole poblano is a winner at $20, and their huarache grill – masa flatbreads that are really haute tacos – are great at $17. $$
2299 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.444.2955
MEDITERRANEAN
Calista Greek Seafood Taverna
There aren’t many pure Greek restaurants in Coral Gables—Mediterranean is a better bet—but Calista is aiming to change that, serving up authentic Greek dishes with fresh ingredients sourced from local farmers’ markets. Their specialty dish is the Moussaka, an eggplant or potato-based dish reminiscent of a lasagna that is commonly served in Egypt, the Balkans, and the Middle East. Also excellent spinach and feta phyllo pie. $$
150 Giralda Ave. 786.310.7660
TUR Kitchen
This relative newcomer to the Gables has a wonderfully inventive menu of Mediterranean cuisine. Chef Christian plates beautiful dishes that combine the flavors of Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, and Egypt. Amazing stuffed Turkish pide bread, stunning braised goat with gnocchi. Elegant seating under arches along Giralda. $$$-$$$$
259 Giralda Ave. 786.483.8014
Maroosh Mediterranean
Inside, the impression is Turkish, thanks to paintings of men wearing the Fez (made popular by the Turkey-based Ottoman Empire). Even the tea glasses, which sit in brass holders, feel Turkish. The food, however, is pan-middle eastern, which means dishes like falafel with tahini sauce, lamb kababs, baba ghanoush, and hummus. $$-$$$
223 Valencia Ave. 305.476.9800
Sawa
While the menu has a huge selection of well-crafted Japanese sushi and rolls (plus yakitori and dumplings), for us the play here is their parallel Lebanese menu, with freshly made baba ganoush, falafel, tabouli, lamb lollipops, kefta, kibbe, kebabs, etc. Also, good burgers, salads, pasta, fish and duck, but who does baklava better? No one. $$-$$$
360 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.6555
SEAFOOD
Gringo’s Oyster Bar
A great selection of oysters at this neighborhood favorite. And they change sources twice weekly – like malpeques from Canada, or wellfleets from Main, or steamboats from Washington state. Also, great lobster rolls, crab cakes and conch ceviche. Specials include Lobster Tuesdays and a daily oyster happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. when prices drop in half. $$
1549 Sunset Dr. 305.284.9989
MesaMar
Some of the best – if not THE best – seafood in the Gables with inventive fusions between Peruvian and Japanese cuisine. Their fish is caught daily in local waters and brought to your table for inspection. Their whole fried fish is a marvel. Also, make sure to try the lobster tacos. $$$
264 Giralda Ave. 305.640.8448
Redfish Grill
The only waterfront restaurant in the Gables, Redfish was reborn last year after being closed for years from hurricane damage. The menu presents a stellar display of gourmet seafood, although we’re not sure yet what changes will be made now that Chef Adrianne has departed. $$$$
9610 Old Cutler Rd. 305.668.8788
Sea Grill
Sea Grill is a popular weekend destination for lovers of Mediterranean seafood. A large, brightly lit and futuristic space with lots of energy, it serves fish that is caught in the Aegean Sea and flown to the Gables. Their octopus, which takes two days to prepare, is simply the best. Lots of outdoor seating. $$$
4250 Salzedo St. (Shops at Merrick Park) 305.447.3990
SPANISH
Bellmónt
Modern décor meets traditional Spanish dishes. Their house specialty is the roast suckling pig. If you want the whole pig ($230 for 4) you need to order four hours in advance. If it’s just you ($49), you’ll need to wait just 50 minutes. As for the rest: authentic Spanish cuisine, with great seafood dishes, fantastic paella. $$$
339 Miracle Mile 786.502.4684
Bulla Gastrobar
As valued for its cocktails as for its tapas, Bulla is also something Coral Gables needs – an informal, smart neighborhood hangout with a young, boisterous vibe. Great “small plates” and refreshing sangria. Yes, it is a national chain, but it still feels local. $$
2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.441.0107
La Taberna Giralda
Routinely rated among the top tapas places in South Florida, La Taberna brings the added twist of a chef from Galicia, who puts his own regional spin on the dishes. It’s a small place with a neighborhood vibe, orange walls, string lights and live flamenco on the weekends ($5 cover), so reservations are a must. Great lunch specials. $$
254 Giralda Avenue 786.362.5677
Las Tapas Coral Gables
Intimate setting in the space previously occupied by Mynt, Las Tapas is the newest entry in the category of fine Spanish cuisine. Fish flown in from the Atlantic and Mediterranean, with a special focus on dishes from Galicia in the northwest and Barcelona on the east. $$$-$$$$
276 Alhambra Circle. 305.381.0636
STEAK
Christy’s
Touted as Coral Gables oldest steakhouse, Christy’s was long the power lunch go-to – until it stopped serving lunch except on Fridays. Still, its aged steaks are consistently excellent, as are the seafood entrees. Their classic Caesar salad is still the best in town, and the jumbo shrimp cocktail is a house specialty. $$$
3101 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.446.1400
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
Fantastic, aged steaks, a seafood tower that won’t quit, and a wine cellar that appears to have no end of depth. A place for special celebrations. Recently redecorated, but the open kitchen with its copper “sash” across the top still gives the main dining room a warm glow. Good menu at the bar. $$$-$$$$
2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.569.7995
Fogo de Chao
At Fogo de Chao, meat reigns supreme. Try the “churrasco experience” ($61) and let expert gaucho chefs keep the finely cut slabs coming, from beef ribeye to flank steak to lamb pincanha. If you’re a Wagyu fan, this is the place to be. The interior is as grand as the experience, which is a show in itself, Brazilian style. Great cocktails in the upstairs lounge for before or after. $$$-$$$$
2801 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.297.8788
Morton’s The Steakhouse
Morton’s in the Gables is not just another Morton’s. Its setting in the Colonnades gives it a unique elegance, with outdoor seating under the arches. Dependable quality, prime-aged beef, and excellent salads. Good place to take that important client. Great bar food with filet mignon sandwiches or short rib tacos. $$$
2333 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.442.1662
Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
The youngest entry among Coral Gables steak houses, Perry’s is a Texas chain that gets its beef from the heart of the Lone Star State. Great outdoor space with fire pit and a huge interior with its own piano bar. The entrees are all carefully concocted, including excellent reduction sauces for the finer cuts and their famous five-finger giant pork chop that is carved at the table and can feed two. $$$$
4251 Salzedo St. (Shops at Merrick Park) 786.703.9094
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Some of the most expensive steaks in the Gables, but also some of the best. A chain with a surprisingly sweet backstory in Ruth Fertel, who bought the original steakhouse in New Orleans in 1965, their Gables location is both spacious and business-like. Almost all the beef is USDA Prime and the menu ranges far beyond steak, including menus for those on specialty diets (keto, gluten-friendly, vegetarian). $$$-$$$$
2320 Salzedo St. 305.461.8360
PUBS & CAFES
Bagel Emporium
And you thought all the great Jewish delis had disappeared. Not this one. Rated the best bagels and deli sandwiches in Miami, it’s also a great breakfast spot (waffles, blintzes, French toast). But this is where you come for a real pastrami or corned beef sandwich on rye. Yes, $20 a pop, but a time machine to New York’s lower East Side. $$-$$$
1238 S. Dixie Highway. 305.666.9519
Bay 13 Brewery and Kitchen
The cuisine is largely Australian pub food – salmon Rangoon, chicken skewers, meat pies, fish & chips – the setting is spectacular, and the beer unbeatable at this newest hot spot. You can sit inside by the vast beer tankards, or outside with a fine view of the Alhambra fountain. $$
65 Alhambra Plaza. 786.452.0935
Fritz and Franz Bierhaus
Be transported from Coral Gables to Oktoberfest. Enjoy German comfort food like Weisswurst and Heringsschmaus. Our favorite is the currywurst. Naturally, you must order a beer, but here you can have it served in a giant glass boot. $$
60 Merrick Way 305.774.1883
Sports Grill
A go-to spot for any major sporting event, but also a popular destination for any given night of the week. You don’t even need to look at the menu: the pub is home to the Special Grilled wings, dipped in their signature sauce, then charbroiled and lightly covered in a secret sauce. $
1559 Sunset Dr. 305.668.0396
Tinta y Café
Funky and comfortable, this former gas station turned Cuban café has 1) the best Cuban coffee 2) great fluffy eggs for breakfast 3) furniture that makes you feel like you are in someone’s living room and 4) all the other things that make you love Cuban food, like croquetas and media nochesandwiches. $
1315 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.285.0101
Threefold Café
You have to love a place that is dedicated to breakfast all day long. But who needs dinner when you can get shrimp tacos for breakfast, along with salmon scrambled eggs, chicken parma, and that Millenial favorite, smashed avocado toast? The brainchild of Australian Nick Sharp, Threefold is also popular for Sunday brunch. And the coffee is some of the best around. $$
141 Giralda Ave. 305.704.8007