Coconut Grove

Coconut Grove is the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood in Miami, a lushly wooded district set along the shore of Biscayne Bay south of downtown. Known locally as "the Grove," it is prized for its dense tropical canopy, its bohemian and pioneering history, and its relaxed, village-like atmosphere distinct from the rest of the city.

Its history predates the city of Miami itself. Settlers arrived in the 1870s and 1880s, among them Bahamian laborers, New England intellectuals, and adventurers, giving the Grove an early reputation as an artistic and independent community. The Bahamian settlers brought building styles and traditions still felt in the neighborhood, and the historic Coconut Grove was later absorbed into the growing city of Miami in 1925.

In character, the Grove is green and shaded, its streets winding beneath banyans and palms past a mix of historic cottages, grand bayfront estates, and modern development. Its most famous landmark, the opulent Vizcaya estate, lies just to the north, while the neighborhood core around CocoWalk offers open-air shopping, sidewalk cafes, and a lively evening scene. Sailboats crowd the marinas along the bay, and waterfront parks open onto the water. The Coconut Grove Arts Festival each February fills the streets with painters and sculptors, drawing large crowds to one of the biggest and longest-running outdoor art fairs in the region.

For visitors, Coconut Grove offers strolling beneath the canopy, dining and browsing in the village center, and access to the bay for sailing and kayaking. The Barnacle Historic State Park preserves an 1890s pioneer home on the water, and the neighborhood's laid-back mood makes a pleasant contrast to the intensity of South Beach. It is reached by the Metrorail and by road, is largely flat and walkable, and is at its best in the dry, warm months from late autumn through spring.