Coral GablesArea Guide
Overview
Coral Gables is a city near Miami, in Florida. It's home to the 1920s Venetian Pool, carved from a rock quarry, with its grottoes, towers and bridge. Coral Gables Merrick House is the restored childhood home of city founder George Merrick. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden includes tree-lined lakes, a tropical rainforest and a butterfly display. The collections at Lowe Art Museum include Cuban and Caribbean works. These canals, now lined by yachts rather than gondolas, and the heavily vegetated streets which accompany them make Coral Gables special.
The canals are figured prominently in founder George Merrick’s 1921 vision of a “Venice in Florida,” as are the iconic barrel tiled roofs and Mediterranean architecture– a vision that gave birth to today’s heavily sought-after community.
Coral Gables’ founders imagined both a “City Beautiful” and a “Garden City,” with lush green avenues winding through a residential city, punctuated by civic landmarks with playful architecture.
CORAL GABLES
Coral Gables is to Miami what Greenwich is to New York City, what Beverly Hills is to Los Angeles, what Wellesley is to Boston, and what Marin County is to San Francisco. It’s an established, affluent, close-in suburb with prestigious addresses and some of the best of everything – gardens, parks, recreation, culture, schools, restaurants, and shopping.
Coral Gables is unique in Miami. The rest of Miami is comprised of numbered streets laid out on a grid – not Coral Gables. Both North and South Coral Gables use street names – all named for Mediterranean counterparts. Until GPS came along, it could be challenging to find an address on a winding Coral Gables street suddenly interrupted by a bridge over one of its many canals.
These canals – today lined yachts rather than gondolas, – and the heavily vegetated streets which accompany them make Coral Gables special. Canals figured prominently in founder George Merrick’s vision in 1921 of a “Venice in Florida,” as did the iconic barrel tiled roofs and Mediterranean architecture– a vision that gave birth to today’s sought after community.
Books have been written about Coral Gables. A few paragraphs can’t begin to do it justice. Histories have been compiled, and legends have been made in “the Gables.” Even its signature landmark, the Biltmore Hotel, boasts hidden staircases, which guests used to evade the Feds during Prohibition. To this day a stay in the Biltmore’s “Al Capone suite” is considered a special experience. The city has a rich history.
Education
“It’s all about the U!” as the locals say. The University of Miami dominates the higher educational sector in South Florida. The University is located in Coral Gables and ranks 44th among national universities by U.S. News & World Report 2014. UM is known throughout the world for its research and degree programs, including its Latin American studies, its medical school, and the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Top college basketball and baseball takes place right in the Gables – and, of course, the UM football team is legendary. The UM campus spans 239 acres in the heart of Coral Gables.
The Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University has also chosen to open a Coral Gables location at 90 Alhambra Plaza, offering an Executive MBA program.
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Education at all levels is a priority in Coral Gables. One of Miami’s top private schools, Gulliver Preparatory School, is also located in Coral Gables and serves children from pre-school through high school. International Baccalaureate programs are offered at both Gulliver and Coral Gables Senior High. And G.W. Carver Middle School was named the number one middle school in Florida. A number of excellent religious-affiliated schools are located in the Gables, as well as many of the county’s best public schools.
If you’re interested in a specific property, visit the Dade Schools Map to search by address and see which school district it falls into. Below is an alphabetical listing of the addresses and websites of the public schools in Coral Gables. Bear in mind, also, that some neighborhoods in the Gables, such as those south of North Kendall Drive, are located in the top-rated Palmetto School District located in nearby Pinecrest, whose addresses can be found at the bottom of this list:
Contact information for Palmetto School district schools is as follows:
Private and religious-affiliated schools serving Coral Gables are:
CULTURAL LIFE IN THE GABLES
If life is enriched through the arts, then life in Coral Gables is bountiful. The Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami houses a curated collection of 13,000 objects – from Greco-Roman antiquities to the best of Western contemporary.
Galleries abound in the city, and one of the best times to visit them is on the first Friday of every month during Gables Gallery Night. You can hitch a ride on the Coral Gables trolley and stop off at any number of participating art galleries, enjoy a glass of wine and “expand your cultural horizons.”
One go-to guide on cultural happenings in the Gables is Greatgables.com.
THEATERS AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCES
For theater buffs, there is a wide offering as well. Actor’s Playhouse on Miracle Mile is a multiple award-winning regional theatre, and the University of Miami Jerry Herman Ring Theater mixes professional and university talent. We also recommend visiting GableStage at the Biltmore Hotel to watch a performance piece.
Musical performances abound. UM’s Gusman Concert Hall seats 600 and features a variety of shows during the academic year. The renowned Seraphic Fire ensemble is based in Coral Gables and performs year round, and a locals’ favorite is the summer concert series hosted by the Coral Gables Congregational Church – just to name a few.
SHOPPING AND RETAIL
As anyone who has ever been on a mission to find the perfect pair of shoes knows, shopping opportunities know no city boundaries.
There are numerous shops and boutiques in Coral Gables that offer every imaginable item – and the city is also surrounded by some of the county’s best shopping. The main business thoroughfare is aptly named “Miracle Mile” because of the many shops and restaurants lining the street.
PARKS AND MALLS
A short drive south of Miracle Mile and Downtown Coral Gables is a mecca of upscale shopping, The Village of Merrick Park, where you can find both Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, as well as a bounty of well-known designers and a few choice restaurants including a local favorite – Yard House. Just outside of the Gables, but still close by is the newly expanded Dadeland Mall to the south or the Coconut Grove shopping district to the north. Options are endless.
For additional information on shopping and dining in Coral Gables visit Shop Coral Gables.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Other than Biscayne Bay itself, if there is a richer natural treasure in Miami than Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, it’s hard to think of one. Fairchild is an 83-acre wonderland of some of the finest tropical plants in the world – including the largest collection of palm species – Fairchild Gardens is pure joy. Its walking paths, rainforest, butterfly house, lakes, and many art exhibits and special events are a big draw from throughout Miami.
Matheson Hammock Park, right on the bay, would also be near the top of anyone’s list of outdoor treasures in Coral Gables. A gorgeous place to bicycle, watch kite-surfing, and explore endless wading beaches, Matheson also houses a marina and restaurant – Red Fish Grill – with one of the most romantic views in Miami.
Opportunities for outdoor recreation in Coral Gables are everywhere – kayak the waterways, golf at Granada or the Biltmore play tennis at a number of public or private tennis courts, cycle along the Old Cutler Road bike path, dip in the ornate Venetian Pool – you name it, Coral Gables has it. Find other attractions on the Coral Gables Where to Go page. For residents of the south Gables neighborhoods, Pinecrest gardens on Red Road is an easy bike ride away, as well.
For families with children, one of the most attractive features of Coral Gables living is its large and multi-faceted Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center The center houses a full gymnasium, fitness center, roller hockey rink, theater, childcare, classrooms, and more.
RESTAURANTS
Some of the best restaurants in Miami are located in Coral Gables. A complete listing can be found at the Coral Gables.com “Where To Dine” guide. Some noteworthy establishments include the gourmet Le Palme d’Or at the Biltmore Hotel, the velvety Christy’s, Italian favorite Abbracci, Pascal’s on Ponce, Southern themed Swine, Morton’s, Ruth’s Chris, Fleming’s, Bulla, Ortanique, Graziano’s, La Palma, Le Provencal, and Randazzo’s, just to name a few. And of course, the world-famous Cuban restaurant Versailles is located on Calle Ocho in Coral Gables.
For additional information on dining and retail in Coral Gables visit Shop Coral Gables.
FARMER’S MARKET
For those who like to cook there are two top-notch farmers’ markets, one of which is right in front of city hall. It is open Saturdays during winter from 8 am to 2 pm.
Check out its offerings.
Another excellent farmer’s market takes place all year round Sundays from 9 am to 2 pm at Pinecrest Gardens, an easy hop from south Gables neighborhoods. Visit Pinecrest Gardens Farmers Market.