Coral Gables, known for its tree-lined boulevards and Mediterranean-style architecture, is also home to some of the best dining in Miami. The neighborhood offers a mix of time-honored institutions and newer, more innovative restaurants. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed brunch, a casual café lunch, or dinner at one of Miami’s top Italian restaurants, Coral Gables has a wide range of options to choose from.
Below, I highlight some of the best restaurants in Coral Gables, each offering its own distinct flavors and atmosphere that help define the area’s vibrant food scene.
Table of Contents
The Best Restaurants in Coral Gables
Portosole
Best for: Italian seafood, date night, special occasions
Coral Gables is home to several of the best Italian restaurants in Miami, and Portosole is one of the best of the best. Named after a small marina in Italy, the restaurant is known for its coastal Italian menu, with an emphasis on fresh seafood flown in from across the Atlantic.
Owner Lucio Zanon grew up in Venice and worked at the famed Harry’s Bar for decades before joining the Cipriani Group and eventually moving to the U.S. He has since set out to recreate an authentic Italian dining experience here in Miami.
The menu at Portosole is diverse and distinctly Italian, ranging from salads, crudi, and antipasti to freshly made pastas and seafood dishes. House specialties include the Ravioli ai Funghi Porcini and Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe, along with seafood standouts like Grilled Branzino and Dover Sole. But the perfect meal for me starts with the pulpo (octopus) appetizer, followed by the spaghetti with zucchini.
Zitz Sum
Best for: Creative dining, tasting menus, special occasions
Zitz Sum is an unconventional dim sum experience that blends Asian influences from Japan, Korea, and China with occasional Colombian and Italian elements.
Colombian chef Pablo Zitzmann turned a pandemic-era pop-up, where he was selling dumplings out of his house, into one of Miami’s most exciting dining experiences. The ever-changing à la carte menu and seven-course tasting menu have helped elevate Zitz Sum from one of the best restaurants in Coral Gables to one of the best restaurants in all of Miami.
On any given night, you might find dishes like an oxtail bao bun with sofrito and labneh, ramen noodles, or even cavatelli with crabmeat in a Japanese curry.
The restaurant has earned a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand award and seats only around 30 people, so I highly recommend making a reservation.
Luca Osteria
Best for: Modern Italian, outdoor dining, date night
Luca Osteria is known for its creative take on Italian cuisine, blending traditional Italian dishes with subtle Miami-inspired flavors. The menu changes regularly, but you can always expect a range of dishes, from appetizers through dessert, that balance classic technique with a more modern approach.
Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli showcases his Italian roots through lighter, simple dishes like Pasta al Limone, Pasta al Pesto, and Cacio e Pepe. There are also heartier options on the menu, including seafood dishes, risotto, lamb shank, and the very popular Patate Fritte, made with potatoes, black truffle, parmigiano fonduta, and egg yolk.
Located along the pedestrian-friendly Giralda Avenue, Luca Osteria also offers comfortable outdoor dining, making it an especially pleasant spot in the evening.
Other Top Restaurants
The restaurants listed above only scratch the surface of the great dining options in Coral Gables. Excellent Italian food can also be found at Zucca inside the Hotel St. Michel, as well as at Fiola and the somewhat over-the-top Erba.
For French cuisine, Bouchon Bistro is a classic option from Thomas Keller. And on Miracle Mile, Motek offers kosher-style Mediterranean cuisine with influences from Lebanon, Morocco, Turkey, and Yemen.
Brunch in Coral Gables
Bachour
Best for: Pastries, brunch, coffee breaks
Bachour is a bakery and café led by internationally renowned pastry chef Antonio Bachour. It’s best known for its exquisite and visually stunning pastries. While the macarons, tarts, and other sweets are all top-notch, it’s the selection of French baked goods, particularly the viennoiserie, that sets Bachour apart and makes it a Miami alternative to places like Dominique Ansel or Bien Cuit. The pistachio croissant might be the single best baked good in Miami.
Beyond pastries, the café menu is surprisingly diverse, with a strong lineup of breakfast and brunch options. Standout dishes include the Guava and Cheese Pancake, Challah French Toast, and one of the better Eggs Benedict I’ve had in the city.
Eating House
Best for: Brunch, creative comfort food, outdoor dining
While it’s a great option for any meal, I especially like Eating House for some of the best brunch in Coral Gables. Like its sister restaurant, Luca Osteria, it’s located right on the pedestrian-friendly Giralda Avenue, which makes for especially pleasant outdoor dining.
Classic weekend brunch dishes like the chicken and waffles, breakfast sandwich, and loaded tater tots are all crowd-pleasers. But the more indulgent Eggs on Eggs, soft eggs served on brioche with crème fraîche and caviar, is worth ordering if you’re in the mood to try something a little different.
For something sweet, there’s French toast topped with a cinnamon crumble and the popular Cap’n Crunch pancakes. And if you have room for dessert, the Dirt Cup, which genuinely looks like a cup of dirt, might quickly become your new post-meal obsession.
Threefold Cafe
Best for: Breakfast, brunch, coffee
Threefold Café is a breakfast haven that also doubles as a coffee shop. Inspired by the Melbourne café scene, Threefold has been serving standout breakfast dishes since 2014. Breakfast favorites are available all day, making it an easy spot to satisfy a brunch craving well into the afternoon. The menu blends a variety of global influences, pulling in ethnic breakfast dishes from different cuisines.
A must-try is the Emperor Nasi Goreng, an Indonesian fried rice dish made with chicken, scallions, jalapeños, a fried egg, cilantro, and crispy shallots. The meat pie is a classic Australian staple, and the selection of avocado toasts is guaranteed to make at least one millennial at the table happy. As a side note, it’s often claimed that a café in Sydney was the first to add avocado toast to a modern menu back in 1993, long before the trend took off.
Whether you’re looking for some of the best brunch in Coral Gables or just a great cup of coffee, Threefold Café delivers on both.
Coffee Shops & Cafes
Jholano's Deli
Best for: Italian sandwiches, hidden gems, casual lunch
Jholano’s Deli is the best sandwich shop in Coral Gables that you’ve probably never heard of. It’s hidden inside an apartment complex behind a largely unmarked red door, and it’s the best reason to take a day off from ordering a Cuban sandwich or pan con bistec. This is where you’ll find some of the best Italian sandwiches in Miami.
Sandwiches are served on either traditional focaccia or strecci doppio, a pan-baked focaccia-style loaf. Some of the best sellers include:
- Il Tradizionale: hot capicola, salami, pepperoni, and ham with lettuce, tomato, hot peppers, and onion
- 3am in Rome: salami, capicola, fresh mozzarella, and hot honey
- 6pm in Tuscany: chicken cutlet, soppressata, mozzarella, arugula, tomato, and onion
Throw on your adventure shoes and try to track this place down, because Jholano’s Deli is one of Coral Gables’ true hidden gems.
Tinta y Cafe
Best for: Coffee, casual lunch, sandwiches
Tinta y Café is my go-to spot for a quick coffee, especially the iced café con leche for me and a dirty chai latte for my significant other. There’s a service window for fast to-go orders, or you can grab a seat at one of the indoor or outdoor tables if you have time for a more relaxed meal.
It also appears on my list of the best Cuban sandwiches in Miami with its Patria sandwich. While it deviates from the traditional Cuban by using mortadella and a baguette instead of Cuban bread, it still works surprisingly well.
Sandwiches are served on freshly baked bread, and the menu also includes soups, salads, and pastries. If you’re looking for a casual lunch, Tinta y Café is one of the best places to eat in Coral Gables.
Café Demetrio
Best for: Coffee, relaxed meetups
Café Demetrio is Coral Gables’ first coffeehouse and is housed in a 1920s-era building decorated with Renaissance-style portraits and antique kitchen accessories. The signature drink is the original Café Demetrio, a cappuccino made with cacao powder, milk, a double shot of espresso, and just a touch of sugar.
Whether you’re meeting colleagues, catching up with friends, or settling in for a solo study session, Café Demetrio offers a cozy yet elegant atmosphere that works for just about any occasion. It’s easily my favorite coffee shop in Coral Gables.
The Café at Books & Books
Best for: Coffee, light meals, wine, relaxed evenings
The Café at Books & Books is a haven for book lovers and coffee enthusiasts alike. Set inside the city’s well-known independent bookstore, it’s an easy place to settle in with a cappuccino and get lost in a book. You can sit indoors or head out to the peaceful outdoor patio, surrounded by lush plants, and comfortably lose track of time.
As evening approaches, the courtyard takes on a more romantic feel, making it a great spot to enjoy light fare, a glass of wine, and unhurried conversation.
Grou Coffee + Cowork
Best for: Coffee, working remotely, coworking
At Grou Coffee + Cowork, you can enjoy specialty coffee drinks while also supporting the local community. This coffee shop focuses on using locally sourced ingredients, with a portion of each purchase going back into the surrounding area. One standout feature is the affogato bar, which combines ice cream and coffee for a simple but satisfying treat.
In addition to the café, Grou offers boutique coworking offices designed for small teams of two to three people. It’s a great option for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and professionals looking for a productive workspace with good coffee close at hand.
Wine Bars
Vinya Table
Best for: Wine lovers, happy hour, casual dinners
Vinya Table is an offshoot of the popular Key Biscayne wine shop and offers an extensive wine selection where you can grab a bottle off the shelf at retail price and enjoy it on-site for a small corkage fee.
The food menu pulls from a range of cuisines, with starters like short rib empanadas, braised lamb baklava, and oysters. It’s also one of the better spots for happy hour in Coral Gables, with discounted food and wine that make it an easy place to stop by after work.
If you’re looking to explore beyond Coral Gables, you can also check out my list of other top wine bars in Miami.
Rooftop Bars in Coral Gables
Cebada
Best for: Rooftop drinks, cocktails, small plates
Cebada, Coral Gables’ first rooftop bar, serves creatively named cocktails that pay homage to the Magic City, with standouts like “Your Wife Is in My Piña Colada” and “Every Belen Guy’s Christmas Vacation.” The drink menu pairs well with Cuban-inspired bites that reflect the owners’ heritage, including croquetas, rabo encendido (oxtail stew), and chicharrones de pato, crispy duck breast served over foie gras brodo with a sour orange and fennel mojo.
Cebada also features a raw bar with options like oyster platters, Alaskan king crab, and Argentine red shrimp aguachile, making it just as appealing for food as it is for cocktails.
If rooftops are your thing, you can also check out my list of other top rooftops in Miami
Other Unique Spots
Chocolate Fashion
Best for: Desserts, pastries, breakfast and lunch
Chocolate Fashion is a longtime Coral Gables favorite, best known for its illuminated pastry case filled with oversized glazed fruit tarts, delicate cakes, cookies the size of a baby’s face, and shot glasses of chocolate mousse topped with chocolate macarons. It’s a paradise for anyone with a serious sweet tooth.
But Chocolate Fashion is more than just a bakery. It’s a multi-faceted spot that also operates as a restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, a patisserie, chocolaterie, and confiserie. There’s also a small market where you can find items like Lavazza coffee, French sardines, and rose petal jelly, making it an easy place to linger longer than planned.
ManKind
Best for: Drinks, unique experiences, pre- or post-appointment stops
ManKind Grooming & Services goes beyond offering hot shaves and shoeshines by combining a men’s barbershop and salon with a bar. The space also features an upstairs members-only lounge, adding to its distinctive appeal.
You can sip freshly brewed coffee during the day or explore a selection of draft beers on tap later on. For something a bit more refined, the menu includes fine wines and handcrafted cocktails, with standouts like the Slim Jim Bloody Mary and the Margarita.
Coral Gables has one of the most well-rounded dining scenes in Miami, offering everything from standout Italian restaurants and creative tasting menus to casual cafés, bakeries, and hidden neighborhood gems. Whether you’re planning a special night out or just looking for a great place to grab lunch or coffee, there’s no shortage of good options to choose from.
This list is based on places I’ve spent time in and would happily return to, and it’s one I’ll continue to update as new restaurants open and others evolve. If you’re willing to explore beyond the obvious, Coral Gables rewards you with some of the best food experiences in Miami.
