About a dozen miles southwest of South Beach sits the city of Coral Gables. An entirely different type of destination than the endless party with ocean views to its north, the Gables, as locals call it, is a lively, verdant and painstakingly preserved municipality — its Biltmore Hotel is one of three national landmarks in Miami-Dade County, and many of its Mediterranean Revivalist buildings have landed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A visitor could easily spend several days sampling this charming city’s assets. The restaurants? Delicious. Cases in point: Ortanique on the Mile, for Caribbean jerked chicken and rum-soaked banana fritters, and Por Fin, a mouthwatering Spanish retreat serving dishes from gazpacho to seafood paella. Culture? Theaters, galleries and cultural venues, including the newly opened Coral Gables Museum and the landmark Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, seemingly dot every turn. Yet it’s the dynamic shopping scene in Coral Gables that attracts smart spenders from South Florida and beyond who come to browse, buy and dine. Miracle Mile (shopcoralgables.com) — also known as 24th Street — is the main commercial corridor, where you’ll Tnd shops from jewelry stores to sprawling fiagships for furniture brands such as Kettal and Mia Cucina. Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as a tour of Coral Gables’ shops can quickly turn into a daylong excursion.
Many of the stores in Coral Gables don’t open until 11 a.m., but an early morning arrival will secure you a premium parking spot. Start with a visit to Chocolate Fashion (chocolatefashiononline.com) a deliciously local way to fuel up for a day of foot-propelled consumer indulgence. Once you’re sated with a quiche Lorraine, buttery flaky pain au chocolat and a creamy latte, it’s time to move on.
Just a half-block away, Luminaire (luminaire.com) is the Ferrari of design emporiums. Owners Nasir and Nargis Kassamali started their business in 1974 as purveyors of European lighting, but over time their inventory grew to include iconic pieces of modern furniture and accessories from the likes of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Jen Risom. Since 1984, the Kassamalis’ Coral Gables location has been the mecca for design mavens from around the globe. Staged like an interactive museum, this starkly lit, two-level showroom is a beautifully envisioned home for the wares of the world’s most celebrated designers. The Birdie’s Busch floor lamp by Ingo Maurer and the Bend Sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia are sure to impress.
Em-po-ri-um (shopemporiummiami.com) resides a few doors down. At this charming, welcoming boutique, owner Sara Zamikoff greets each guest with a warm smile and a cold glass of water. Highly stylized goods from home décor and chocolates to clothing and greeting cards make this the perfect spot to find a unique gift for a special someone (edible hibiscus flowers, anyone?), and to do a little self-indulging. After all, doesn’t everyone need an eco-friendly handbag from Big Buddha or a free-flowing frock by local designer Nikki Poulos?
From Em-po-ri-um, a short westward stroll brings us to Valerio Antiques ~ Art Deco (valerioartdeco.com). For more than 20 years, owners Antonio Amado and Roberto Bertran — both noted experts in the world of French, American, German and Austrian antiques — have cultivated an impressive collection of art-glass vases, furniture, sculptures and accessories from the celebrated art-deco era. Lalique, Le Verre Francais, LeLeu, D.I.M., Le Faquays and Preiss are just a sampling of the artists and companies represented at Valerio Antiques’ lavish 5,000-square-foot showroom.
By now, our stomachs are grumbling. On we go to Charlotte Bistro (305.443.3003). Just a year old, this intimate French eatery is a welcome alternative to many of the larger chain restaurants along the Mile. The Amélie-meets-Anthropologie 10-table interior creates a cozy, romantic ambience, and chef Elida Villarroel’s menu is tantalizing. Favorite bites include the crab risotto with truffle-oil emulsion and the turmeric corvina with cauliflower gratin.
Our final stop, Books and Books (booksandbooks.com), has been a Coral Gables institution since 1982. Over the years, this nationally recognized, independently owned bookstore has evolved into a literaryarts venue with more than 60 author events a month and has become a cherished gathering space for the local literati. Order an iced herbal raspberry tea from the full-service courtyard café, and it’s easy to lose yourself, and the rest of the afernoon, in the stacks.
From Miracle Mile, you can head to the Village of Merrick Park (villageofmerrickpark.com), bordered by Le Jeune Road and Ponce de Leon Boulevard. This landscaped outdoor mall — manicured grounds with plenty of palm trees to remind you you’re in South Florida — has the air of Palm Beach’s Worth Avenue. Bigwig department stores like Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom (where music from its signature baby grand piano entertains shoppers) anchor the mall.
Find strappy platform sandals at shoe stores like Donald J. Pliner and cuff-strap sandals and cork wedges at Jimmy Choo. Fresh, sophisticated designs with a focus on natural fabrics from Spanish designer Adolfo Dominguez are found at his eponymous boutique. New stores like Koko & Palenki roll out youthful designs and sleek jeans for the fashionista crowd. If you’re shopping for serious jewelry, there’s Tiffany & Co. as well as the Brazilian jeweler H. Stern. You’ll also want to stop at the new Van Der Bauwede Geneve store to eye the Swiss timepieces.
The Village of Merrick Park also has its share of eateries. At Mariposa at Neiman Marcus, ladies lunch on popovers with strawberry butter and chicken consommé. For something more exotic, try Sawa, where Mediterranean and Japanese cuisines converge. Enjoy tapas and sushi in an open-air lounge, where sinking into a cushy sofa is a great way to end a day of shopping.
Want to Spend the Night?
- Biltmore Hotel – It’s the grand dame in Coral Gables. A historic Mediterranean gem, the hotel serves tea in the lobby and a Sunday champagne brunch in the courtyard. biltmorehotel.com
- Westin Colonnade – Conveniently located one block off Miracle Mile, this hotel boasts a memorable neoclassical rotunda and a rooftop pool with views of the city. starwoodhotels.com
- Hotel St. Michel – Seems like this hotel was plucked from Europe and plopped down in the Gables. French furniture and an Italian eatery reinforce its Old World charm. hotelstmichel.com
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