Would come here more often except the parking situation is atrocious. I have no problem coming early in the morning for breakfast at Greenstreet Cafe but almost always hope “this time will be different” when attempting to come to Bombay Darbar for lunch, drive around for 5-10 minutes to never find street parking, and head to Coral Gables. They do have antiquated parking garages with small spaces that do not account for today’s larger SUV’s, meaning my nice sports sedan is likely to get dinged....sorry, too many other neighborhoods to visit without the hassle as The Grove....for those who think the situation will get better when condo construction ends, what about all the residents and guests who will occupy and visit those new buildings??..no thanks.

Excellent walkable area in Coconut Grove. There is a CVS for knick knacks, excellent restaurants (try Glass & Vine, MrC and Amal, which is a high end Lebanese restaurant). I There is Starbucks, and small cafe types if you want to be budget conscious. The only way to by pass the parking fees is to stay in an Airbnb that offers parking, otherwise you're spending down town NYC parking charges (or Uber). Coconut Grove is 12miles from South Beach but it might as well be 50 miles as it will take you 45 minutes to an hour to get there- But totally worth it. The beach feels and looks like the Caribbean Riviera, with the water temperature feeling like about 75 degrees. I would recommend a separate day for South Beach unless you're on a tight time line and want to capture as much as you can. Visit the Barnacle Historic Park ($2), Vizcaya and Wynwood Wall if time permits. The town has an upscale vibe and is well lit at nights- once you start traveling away from the restaurants and lights, the mood gets to be more urban . Walk along the bay and visit Monty's. There is a free bus which takes you to Brickell - I didn't go, but found the free bus/trolley to take you there.

The entirely fortunate people who call this tiny pocket of the greater miami area home are the luckiest. It is a gem. I love the quiet intimacy and privacy of its commercial area, its almost bohemian atmosphere, and its artistic bent. It feels like a world away from the grit and swagger of muscular Miami. This is a quiet and refined version. Love it here.