I loved here. AMO aqui. I enjoyed very Spanish and Cuban culture…read more There were a lot of restaraunts and suvenier shops. I felt history. I loved the chickens. They were so adrable that I could not eat them!

More like 4.5 stars. I like Little Havana. I really don't come here very often. In fact, I have…read morebeen more on the west side of 8th Street compared to Little Havana. I find the Little Havana area to be charming. There are some nice restaurants in this area. I got to eat at Ciao Havana and was happy eating there. There is Old's Sandwich near there. That looked really good. I would like.to.eat there at some point. I like this area because of the history. I walked by a barber shop and saw how busy it was and how the barbershop seemed to be taking pride in their work. That is so nice to see. I look forward to coming back to this area. It is a nice break from Broward where I live.

Another great excursion during your staycation or if you're visiting something other than the…read morebeach! This "village" was built in 1926-1927, and was designed by architects John and Coulton Skinner. They are supposed to resemble a 15th century French village. It's difficult to see much beyond the white stuccoed walls as you walk around the block. However, the profusion of flowers is amazing with wisteria and bougainvillea. The connected houses were not always privately owned. In 1935, the Village was sold to nearby University of Miami and served as homes to five fraternities. Next, during World War II like most of the iconic Art Deco hotels in South Beach, they were used to house soldiers here for training.

George Merrick is the founder of the City of Coral Gables. His family came to Miami from PA two…read moreyears after Henry Flagler brought the railroad to Florida. It was the dawn of the development of Florida. George Merrick attended Rollins College in Winter Park and in 1922 he meticulously planned Coral Gables. The houses were so well made that they survived hurricanes before there were building codes and his architecture was so charming that Coral gables is called the city beautiful. He also created the University of Miami. At first he wanted his buildings to be strictly Spanish and later Mediterranean style. Eventually he expanded his vision to include seven unique villages inspired by different international influences. The villages were built during the land boom years in the 1920's. It was a joint venture between Merrick, The American Building Company and former Ohio Governor Myers Cooper. The original plan was for more 1,000 residences in a series of villages based on architecture from around the world. The plan was never fully realized when the housing boom crashed from two hurricanes followed by the Great Depression. In the end only seven villages were built including this French Normandy Village. By 1928 George Merrick was forced out of the city he founded and ended up in the Keys. He returned to the city two years before he died to serve as postmaster. You can learn more about George Merrick by taking a tour of his family home in Coral Gables. The French Normandy village is based on a 15th century French Village. It is one of three of Merrick's villages that showcases different periods of French architecture. Architects John and Coulton Skinner built the eleven townhouses that make up this village between 1926 and 1927. The townhouses are characterized by hollow tile, poured concrete, and white stucco are crisscrossed with half timbering and topped by flat, shingled, gabled roofs. The grounds have traditional kitchen gardens, enclosed courtyards, and open-air porches. The village is bounded by LeJeune Road, Viscaya Court, Viscaya Avenue, and Alesio Avenue. In 1935 all of the French Normandy townhouses were purchased by the University of Miami to use as men's dormitories. During World War II, they were used as barracks for soldiers. Today they are all privately owned. The homes in the villages are some of the most sought after residences in the Gables. They rarely go up for sale and are always in high demand. Today there are 80 homes left. Expect to pay close to a million for a French Normandy residence. Once you see these beautiful homes you can easily understand why they are so coveted.

George Merrick is the founder of the City of Coral Gables. His family came to Miami from PA two…read moreyears after Henry Flagler brought the railroad to Florida. It was the dawn of the development of Florida. George Merrick attended Rollins College in Winter Park and in 1922 he meticulously planned Coral Gables. The houses were so well made that they survived hurricanes before there were building codes and his architecture was so charming that Coral gables is called the city beautiful. He also created the University of Miami. At first he wanted his buildings to be strictly Spanish and later Mediterranean style. Eventually he expanded his vision to include seven unique villages inspired by different international influences. The villages were built during the land boom years in the 1920's. It was a joint venture between Merrick, The American Building Company and former Ohio Governor Myers Cooper. The original plan was for more 1,000 residences in a series of villages based on architecture from around the world. The plan was never fully realized when the housing boom crashed from two hurricanes followed by the Great Depression. In the end only seven villages were built including this Italian Village. By 1928 George Merrick was forced out of the city he founded and ended up in the Keys. He returned to the city two years before he died to serve as postmaster. You can learn more about George Merrick by taking a tour of his family home in Coral Gables. Built between 1925 and 1926, the French Country Village was inspired by 18th-century rural French provincial farmhouse estates and chateauxs. There are two different style of architecture. Architect Frank Forster designed country homes and farm buildings and architects Edgar Albright and Philip L. Goodwin designed a rustic chateaux style of home. They were all built in the country style and they have have spacious yards and gardens. Design elements include steeply-pitched roofs, turrets, carved wood and wrought-iron balconies, red brick, and tall ceilings. You can find them on the 500 block of Hardee Road. When you see this neighborhood you feel like you stepped into Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Belle sings there must be more than this provincial life but I would be quite happy here. Since there are only 12 homes the demand for them is extremely high. When they do hit the market the price is over 2 million if you could even be lucky enough to get one.

See my other reviews there are a few "villages" in Coral Gables to depict different styles from…read morearound the world, this area is French country. See below for some information. French Country Village On the 500 block of Hardee Road are homes inspired by 18th century rural French architecture. This thematic district has two evident styles. Architect Frank Forster designed the farm styled homes, while architects Edgar Albright, and Phillip L. Goodwin designed the homes that are more rustic in style. I came for a drive around during covid - and definitely saw "French architectural styles" from the car, check out my pictures and you decide!

Super cute and a nice photo op too. This 120 year old Banyan tree is a central inside the cute and…read morelush Upper Buena Vista, a sanctuary that offers local independent shops, and cute restaurants. This tree is known as is "the Bodhi Wish tree." Adorned in colourful ribbons. This tree is reputed to have special magnetic and spiritual values. An ancestral Asian tradition suggests that writing a wish on a ribbon and tying it to the tree could lead to eternal blessings. If you look closely at the ribbons, you'll find that each one carries a special wish! Upper Buena Vista partners with non-profit One Tree Planted, which plants trees in North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Pacific to support reforestation and preservation of nature. So, purchase a ribbon, write your wish and there will be a tree planted in your honour.

I love a historic tree so much that I even have a collection on Yelp. I discovered the Bodhi…read moreWishtree on a recent visit to Upper Buena Vista. The Bodhi Wishtree is a 120 year old banyan tree located in Upper Buena Vista retail and dining development which was actually designed around it. The tree is said to have spiritual and magnetic properties. According to Asian tradition you can write a wish on a ribbon, tie it to the tree, and receive eternal blessings. Ribbons used to be sold by the The House of Findings for a $1 donation given to the non profit One Tree Planted foundation that seeks to support reforestation in four continents. The House of Findings is currently closed except for appointments so I'm not sure how they are handling ribbon sales now. The tree is the centerpiece of the Upper Buena Vista complex providing shade, shelter, and positive energy to visitors. Beneath the tree is a giant colorful Pinocchio sculpture. Tons of people were getting their picture taken in front of the tree and it is the perfect backdrop for an Instagram shot of one of the amazing drinks from Amazonica.. Upper Buena Vista is such a cool place and the Bodhi Wishtree is front and center of all of the fun.

Moon Over the Gables in Ponce De Leon Circle is a cultural event surrounding the public art piece,…read moreMuseum of the Moon by UK artist Luke Jerram. Museum of the Moon is a replica of the moon that is lit from within and measures seven meters in diameter. The surface of this moon features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. Each centimeter of the sculpture equals 5km of the moon's surface. Museum of the Moon has been on tour around the world and will also be displayed in Spain, Chile, and Germany. Several moons have been made and they are touring simultaneously. A number of museums throughout the country have also purchased replicas of this piece for their collections. The City of Coral Gables hosted different events around the base of the artwork during several evenings in March. Events included story time, arts and crafts, yoga, and on the night I visited live music and food trucks.

My wife and I went to this event and we had had a very good time. When we arrived, they had parking…read moremonitors that were directing us where to park. Once you go in, they had Security making sure that no one was bringing in any weapons or vapes as well. We enjoyed walking the trail and seeing the different light fixtures, and the reflections they had on the plants. As we were walking, they did have 3 food trucks, a vendor that sold shaved ice, and they were selling alcoholic beverages. We spent an hour and a half there and had a very good time and we do recommend this for a date night or for family. If you do have a little children that requires a stroller, there are some places that you have to go down and it's hard with the stroller but it's not impossible . I saw that this was rated very low, and I am perplexed by that, but I can understand maybe because people feel like the price is expensive for what you get. It cost us about $$32 each and the food trucks were on the pricier end. They cost about $16-$18. For the amount of the ticket, we did have to think about the fact that there are monitors out there and so you don't feel like your car can be broken into. I appreciate the safety value. Now that I know what to expect, for the next time, we will bring a blanket so we can have more time to just sit down and enjoy the experience and have some snacks on hand. Overall, the experience was very nice and simple. People also need to understand that this is a garden so you're not going to get a lot of disturbance of nature. It's about taking the beauty of it in and relaxing yourself. The only critique that I would give is that they need to have better array of food selections because it was just burgers and sandwiches.

What a wonderful experience! I enjoyed visiting the NightGarden at Fairchild to get some holiday…read morevibes in our tropical climate. After 6pm, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden lights up with disco balls, fairies, and lots of light shows. My son loved the talking tree that you could talk to. I enjoyed the fun light show inside the Rainforest area. While their restaurant and cafe are closed at that time, they do have food trucks and a bar for this event!

We love art! You got to--to appreciate this space. Great staff Rachel (so informative), Alex in…read morespray paint, and Alex -the one checking tickets- all sooo friendly and great. Rachel is above and beyond awesome. Beautiful art space outdoor and indoor (this was a great break from the heat). The outdoor fans, great idea but they aren't cold so not helping anyone cool off hehe On our second visit we brought the kids and did some spray painting on canvases and a skateboard. Such a great experience. Alex and her partner Andres were so helpful made the experience very enjoyable.

Wynwood Art Walk Tours isn't just walking past murals. It's walking with someone who knows which…read morewalls have stories attached, which artists took risks, which pieces cost the neighborhood something. The murals themselves are massive and they're professional, but scale alone doesn't make art work. Context does. Shepard Fairey's augmented reality layer is the differentiator here. It's not a gimmick. When you scan a mural with your phone, the piece opens up into layers and motion. It's the artist's way of saying "there's more here than what you see." It works because it's restrained, not constantly pulling you into your screen. You're still in the neighborhood. You're just seeing deeper. The guide we had knew the economics of gentrification in Wynwood. Knew which artists have been here for years and which are new money. Knew the politics of murals, why some walls get painted and others get buffed, why some artists collaborate and some don't. That knowledge cost something to build. You're paying for it. We took three teenagers, ages 14-17. Not a group naturally inclined to stand still for street art. They asked questions about technique, about why certain artists choose certain walls, about whether the AR experience changes how you see the piece or adds distraction. They engaged. That's not about impressive art alone, that's about the tour structure creating room for actual thinking instead of passive consumption. The neighborhood is dense and chaotic and intentional all at once. You'll see pieces that are technically flawless next to pieces that are deliberately rough. Some murals are massive, some are character-scale. Some artists are making statements about politics, some about beauty, some about ownership. The variation is what keeps it alive. A sanitized art walk would kill this. Walking it yourself is free and worth doing once. Walking it with the tour is $29 and worth doing if you want to understand why these walls matter to the city and why some artists chose to paint them. The difference is context. Context costs something, but you leave with more than photos. The sun hits different at 4 PM than at 11 AM, so timing matters if photography is part of your thing. The neighborhood gets foot traffic but it's not overwhelming. You're in a real place, not a theme park. That texture is part of why this works.

You could easily pass this wooden art man and not take notice of it. I was taking a stroll along…read moreBiscayne Bay from Bayshore Landing and on my way back I finally noticed him and that he had a name, Hurricane Man. Hurricane Man made his debut at the Miami International Boat Show in 2018. He was constructed by Harry Hogan, founder of Shake A Leg Miami, from the remains of the sailing dock that was destroyed by Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017. Shake a Leg is the largest community watersports program in South Florida. It offers sailing, boating, and kayaking programs for children, adults, veterans, and people with disabilities. Hurricane Man was created to symbolize recovery and growth. Maybe he is a good luck talisman too. Since he has been standing watch at Biscayne Bay, South Florida has not been hit by any major hurricanes.

An unusual sculpture entitled "Hurricane Man" was originally on display at the Miami International…read moreBoat Show. The figure is made from the wreckage of the docks of Shake A Leg Miami, which were destroyed when Hurricane Irma plowed through Florida on September 10, 2017. Designed by Harry Horgan, founder of Shake-A-Leg Miami, Hurricane Man is a poignant symbol of recovery and new possibilities in the aftermath of the terrible storm. You will find this little fellow on display more or less opposite Montys - a cool spot to take a picture of and show your kids. (https://communitynewspapers.com/biscayne-bay/hurricane-man-sculpture-on-display-at-miami-international-boat-show/)

AMAZING!!! Valerio, Ángel and staff should publish a book about hospitality. The food, the service,…read morethe ambiance...each deserves 5-stars. We couldn't have picked a better place to celebrate my wife's Mother's Day dinner. Thank you guys for the wonderful Dining experience. We'll definitely be back real soon. Sebastian, Ivette &. Nina

Exceptional service from start to finish, attentive, warm, and highly professional. The decor is…read morecharming and gives off a lovely, authentic Italian family feel. The food was top-tier: fresh salad, delicious gnocchi, spaghetti ai frutti di mare perfectly al dente. Everything was fantastic! Thank you for a wonderful experience.

Coral Gables is known for it's numerous plazas, entrances, and fountains from 1920's. That's why I…read morefind it so interesting to see what current works of art are being added. Anything new needs to harmonize with the beautiful features that George Merrick added in when he created the city. In 2014 the city approved two sculptures to be installed at the traffic circles along Segovia Street. They were designed by New York-based artist and sculptor Alice Aycock. The two installations are the first public art pieces to be added since George Merrick was alive. The sculptures are inspired by the passion flower and are constructed of more than 4,000 pieces of metal. The two sculptures are different. The sculpture on Biltmore is larger and has two flower designs. The Coral Way sculpture is designed to mimic a flower flowing in the breeze. More than 180 submissions were judged before a panel selected Aycock's design. The flowers have received mixed reviews from the community. Many feel that the modern art is not in keeping with the look of the city. A group of residents tried to have the sculptured removed but did not muster enough signatures for the ballot. Some of the complaints are that the sculptures are not Mediterranean and that accidents have increased at the traffic circles since the sculptures were installed. Others complain bitterly that they are not even able to choose a paint color for their house yet the city has moved away from the Mediterranean look of the city without consulting them. The city has decided to keep the sculptures despite the protest of some people who do not care for the look of modern art in their 1920's Mediterranean Revival city.

Interesting new metal art located near the golf course and situated on two roundabouts. There are…read moretwo pieces one on each roundabout - They are passions flowers. Other people here have told the history about them so I will leave it at that. However what I did read about on the net and thought was amusing - was some local residents were not very happy with them, thinking they did not represent Coral Gables mediterranean image, so they started a petition to get them remove. They did get over a thousand signatures but no where near enough to make an impact and get them removed. Looks like they are here to stay. I was not too keen when I first saw them and had a little chuckle to myself as the largest one is situated in front of a plastic surgery office (HE HE)...(apt? - you decide). However after walking around and actually really looking at them, the location, the area, they started to grow on me!...Let me know what you think - when you go for a look!