The Neighborhood of Coral Gables

Community Info

Coral Gables is a city located southwest of Downtown Miami. It is loosely bounded by Kendall to the west and Biscayne Bay to the east. Conceived by South Florida’s legendary developer George Merrick, it was one of the areas first planned communities, and part of the City Beautiful Movement. Architecture is mainly Mediterranean Revival Style with some Spanish Renaissance homes as well. A wonderful place to live and raise a family, the lush environment of Coral Gables has a European feel and a very warm community. Plus, it’s also home to the University of Miami! Go Hurricanes!

Here are just a few things that make the Coral Gables neighborhood stand out:

The City of Coral Gables: It’s got that feel – somewhere between a big city and a small village. It’s a rare thing to have such an active community making sure the quality of life in the city continues to improve for the residents – a youth center, it’s own public library, various parks and activities – it’s a great place to live.

Passionate about preserving its charm: The city is dutifully strict about keeping the look and charm of the city intact. Through their detailed building codes to their active historical preservation, it has done a great job of making sure Coral Gables continues to be unique.

International business hub: Many call Coral Gables the “Gateway to Latin America,” and there are many reasons it can say that – over 150 international businesses call Coral Gables home – not to mention more than 20 consulates and foreign government offices.

A short history of the Coral Gables neighborhood:

  • George Merrick, after inheriting 3000 acres of citrus groves from his father, began developing the city in the early 1920’s and founded the city in 1925.
  • Merrick was more than a daring developer, he was a poet. He published a collection of poetry called ‘Song of the Wind on a Southern Shore’ around 1920.
  • University of Miami was also founded in 1925 with a donation of 600 acres and a pledge of five million dollars by Merrick.
  • The Biltmore tower was inspired by the Giralda tower of the Cathedral of Seville, Spain.

Restaurants & Attractions

Some of our favorite places to dine around Coral Gables:

Brunch at the Biltmore Hotel: The world-famous Biltmore Brunch is not just a Miami thing. People from around the universe come to experience this culinary fête – food stations of every kind, from caviar to baked goods, are laid out before you so you can satisfy any craving that bubbles up. A small warning – such extravagance can be pricey – nearly a hundred dollars per person. But it’s totally worth it.

Grazianos: If you’re a meat lover, this Argentine mainstay will satisfy. Blessed with a fire pit and two large grills, you can experience a great steak cozied up to a well paired bottle of wine. The very knowledgeable staff will help you with your choices if you need some help deciding between sirloin and ribeye. Huge steak knives included.

Seek + Find Kitchen and Bar: SFK is a great spot for a meal and drinks. A tapas-style joint with an eclectic, Latin inspired menu – it’s the perfect place to bring friends and family for a fun night out. The food here is for sharing, so order a few plates and let the conversation go where it will. Plus – they are attached to a lovely speakeasy lounge called Room 25 if you want to move dinner into a more intimate setting.

Favorite things to do in and around Coral Gables:

Miracle Mile: This two mile stretch of Downtown Coral Gables is always hopping. Dense with shops, art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and coffee shops – you’ll be hard pressed not to find something that fits your mood day or night. Personally, we enjoy walking up and down just to talk and people watch. Sometimes keeping it simple is a winning decision.

Venetian Pool: Opened in 1925, the Venetian Pool is the largest freshwater pool in the US and the only pool on the National Historic Register. How’s that for a couple of distinctions! Play Marco Polo in the caves, swim, sunbathe or just relax at the cafe. It’s a great place to spend the day with the kids, without ever seeing them. You’ll feel like you’re in an Italian spa far from the Miami madness.

Lowe Art Museum: When the Lowe opened in 1952 it was the first art museum in South Florida. A lot has happened since. Located at the University of Miami, it now holds over 19K objects, representing a wide swath of Western and Eastern culture; Renaissance, Baroque, American, Ancient and Native American, and Asian art.

Actors Playhouse: For over 30 years the Actors Playhouse has been producing contemporary musicals and plays for South Florida. Based in the renovated Art Deco Miracle Mile Theater, they continue to rack up accolades as one of the countries best theater companies.

Coral Gables Demographics

  • There are 51,095 people living in Coral Gables.
  • In 2000, 24.45% of households had children under the age of 18.
  • Median household income in the city is $93,934.

Distance to popular areas
South Beach: 11.9 miles
Design District: 8.9 miles
Midtown: 9.1 mile
Wynwood: 9.6 miles
Downtown Miami: 8.1 miles
Brickell City Center: 8.7 miles
Miami International Airport: 4 miles
Aventura Mall: 21.7 miles

Neighborhood Schools

Public schools
Coral Gables Preparatory Academy K-8
Henry S. West Laboratory Elementary K-6
George Washington Carver Middle School 6-8
Ponce de Leon Middle School 6-8
Coral Gables Senior High School 9-12
International Studies Preparatory Academy 9-12

Private schools
Gulliver Academy PreK-8
St. Theresa Catholic School PreK-8
St. Philip’s Episcopal School PreK-5
St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School PreK-5

Are you in love with Coral Gables?

Email or call me (305.318.8557) to learn more, talk about what’s available and hopefully visit a few of these amazing homes. I can’t wait to show you around.