Exploring Culinary Delights: Top Dining Spots in Coconut Grove
- Editor OGN Daily
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
Miami's Coconut Grove is a foodie paradise with waterfront seafood and everything from upscale Latin and fusion cuisine to New York-style Chinese dumplings.
The area's leafy, historic streets have a bohemian charm that brings locals back time and again. But if you're just visiting... you might be wondering what restaurants are worth visiting. With so many options, choosing where to eat can be overwhelming. Don't worry, this ranked list has you covered. It's based on food quality, restaurant atmosphere, and dining experience.
Miami is welcoming over 28 million visitors in 2024, generating $22 billion in spending. Most of that money goes to restaurants, whether visitors want a quick bite or a memorable dinner at a waterfront restaurant in Coconut Grove.
8 Best Restaurants in Coconut Grove
This list covers the best spots to visit right now. It's a ranked list based on food quality, atmosphere, and overall dining experience.
Bayshore Club Miami: This waterfront restaurant offers the Miami experience in a single meal. Picturesque bay views, fresh seafood, and everything you love about Coconut Grove dining combine to make this one of the best restaurants in Coconut Grove. What makes it great:
Prime waterfront location with views of the bay
Fresh seafood and coastal-inspired dishes
Memorable for special occasions and casual dinners
Outdoor seating areas taking in the Grove's natural beauty
The location, food quality, and service all rank high to put Bayshore Club on top of this list.
Glass & Vine: Miami chef Giorgio Rapicavoli, a Miami native, has returned home to Coconut Grove to create Glass & Vine in the heart of the Grove. Located in Peacock Park, the restaurant gives diners farm-to-table fare in a garden setting with indoor and outdoor seating options. The highlights:
Seasonal menu with a focus on local ingredients
Chef Rapicavoli is back in Coconut Grove after time in New York and abroad.
Creative cocktails and a strong wine list
Weekend brunch draws long lines of eager diners
The restaurant gives off a "for locals, by locals" vibe longtime Grove residents love.
Cotoletta: The new kid on the block has burst onto the Coconut Grove scene and quickly become a neighborhood favorite. Chef Jesus Jimenez opened Cotoletta in 2024 with one mission in mind: serve up the best veal Milanese in Miami. Why has it worked? Focus. Instead of a broad menu, Cotoletta narrows in on a specialty and perfects it. Pan-fried in butter and oil until golden brown... The rich and tender veal is served with crispy edges and simply divine.
Sereia: Portuguese cuisine with a Miami twist. Sereia's chef Henrique Sá Pessoa brings international flair to modern seafood dishes. Seafood is the star of the menu, but the dishes stand out from other Miami seafood restaurants. Fresh catches are combined with Portuguese cooking techniques to create memorable meals.
RedFarm: A New York hot spot, RedFarm brings its big city energy to Coconut Grove. Creative dim sum and unique spins on Chinese classics make RedFarm a must-try in the neighborhood dining scene. Vibe: trendy but not stuffy. Group diners will love the atmosphere of sharing plates and trying a little bit of everything. Can't forget the Pac-Man dumplings…
Amal: The team behind popular restaurant Byblos branched out to serve Lebanese food at its newest, chic spot Amal. The menu is a balance of traditional middle eastern cuisine and modern plating. Expect mezze platters to elevate your hummus and fresh pita bread that's still steaming hot when it arrives at your table. The vibe matches the quality of the food.
Chug's Diner: For Cuban-American comfort food done creatively and with a modern twist, Chug's Diner is where nostalgic dishes meet inventive execution. Food standouts include:
Buffalo chicken croquetas with bleu cheese crumbles
Plantain-crusted snapper
Rotating house-made ice cream flavors
Comfort food that proves it doesn't have to be boring.
Los Felix: You know a restaurant is good when it's earned Michelin recognition. Los Felix, up for a Michelin star this year, gives diners upscale Mexican food in a sophisticated setting. Attention to detail is evident in each dish. Here you know you're in the hands of culinary experts.
Which Restaurant Is Right for You?
It all depends on what kind of dining experience you're looking for. If you want a romantic dinner... Head to one of the Coconut Grove waterfront restaurants. Bayshore Club's sunset views over Biscayne Bay provide a perfect setting. Planning a family outing... Casual brunch spots and Cuban diners often offer kid-friendly menus with food that's still quality. Chug's Diner is a great example. Client dinner and you need to impress... Upscale seafood spots and Michelin-recognized places like Los Felix are perfect. They offer elevated experiences suitable for business diners.
Weekend brunch in the Grove is a ritual. Glass & Vine has become a brunch hotspot with hours going from 11:30 am all the way to 3 or even 4 in the afternoon.
Pro Tips for Dining in Coconut Grove
The dining scene in Coconut Grove moves fast. Here are some tips to make the most of it... Make reservations. Popular restaurants book up quickly, especially on the weekends. Don't expect to walk up and snag a table at the best restaurants in Coconut Grove without planning ahead.
Look for happy hour deals. Upscale restaurants offer steep discounts during early evening happy hours. This is the easy way to get a taste of high-end dining without the high-end price.
Ask about Miami Spice. The annual program runs August through September when participating restaurants offer three-course prix fixe menus for $30-$60 per person. Sounds like a pretty great deal to me.
Time your visit strategically. Peak crowds come in winter and spring break.
The Takeaway
The best restaurants in Coconut Grove serve up something for every taste and occasion. Waterfront seafood. Cozy Italian. Award-winning fine dining. Creative Cuban-American comfort food... The Grove delivers in all of them. What makes this neighborhood special, though, isn't just the food. It's the atmosphere. The leafy streets, the bay views, the mix of longtime locals and recent arrivals. Quick recap of the rankings:
Bayshore Club Miami
Glass & Vine
Cotoletta
Sereia
RedFarm
Amal
Chug's Diner
Los Felix
Start at the top and work your way down the list. Every restaurant on it offers an experience worth having.
