CoralGablesMagazine.JUL-AUG2025_Issuu by Coral Gables Magazine

CORAL GABLES

JULY-AUGUST 2025

Celebrating 10

Years of Transforming Iconic Pieces of Land Into Vibrant Communities.

BILTMORE ROW

ALHAMBRA PARC

BEATRICE ROW

THE VILLAGE AT CORAL GABLES

BILTMORE PARC

ALTHEA ROW

THE GEORGE

THE HEARTBEAT OF THE GABLES

STRONGER TOGETHER

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Facelift Variations

There might be some confusion these days among prospective patients, caused by claims made on social media, that one type of facelift might be better, more effective, or longer lasting. Confusion leads to anxiety and more confusion, which is not helpful. So, let’s focus on what matters when it comes to your face.

Most facelift patients care about safety and want to end up with an aesthetic and natural looking result. They wish to look younger, refreshed but still like themselves - not pulled, not weird, not different, and certainly all with minimal or no unnecessary risk. How a surgeon proposes to accomplish this goal, isn’t really their concern, it is the surgeon’s job and challenge. In aesthetics and plastic surgery there isn’t always one way of doing things. Different approaches and innovations are fundamental to progress. With years of training in plastic surgery and actual facelift experience, capable surgeons will evolve different, personalized techniques and nuances which work best in their hands and optimize their patients’ safety and aesthetic outcomes. Imposing one particular ‘technique’ on every patient isn’t sensible. Patients are different, anatomically, medically, and emotionally, and surgical techniques should allow for these variations.

It is worth noting that your result is created by your plastic surgeon, not a particular technique. Excellent surgeons generally create excellent results, and consistently, with whatever technique they have evolved, and which has proven itself safe and effective in their hands. One particular ‘technique’ applied inappropriately or poorly by a less experienced or less skillful surgeon will not guarantee a happy result. Thus claiming one particular ‘technique’ to be superior to another is really more about marketing and selfpromotion than the patient. With that in mind, let’s briefly review variations in facelifting.

Facelifts started decades ago as a skin-only procedure, sometimes resulting in a pulled or ‘surgical’ appearance. Despite its potential shortcomings, it remains a reasonable option in certain patients.

Anatomic face studies in the 1970’s revealed the presence of a strong support layer below the skin. The difficult to pronounce name given by anatomists to this layer was abbreviated as ‘SMAS’. Plastic surgeons began to add this layer to their previous skin-only facelifts and learned that, when skillfully performed, this new SMAS lift did improve aesthetic outcomes and generally provided longer lasting

... Your plastic surgeon should be experienced and flexible in his/her approach to your anatomic uniqueness ...

results when compared to most skin lifts. Why? Because the tension to lift the face was transferred from the skin to the deeper and stronger SMAS layer. The skin was thus allowed to re-assume its natural function to cover the face, not to lift and hold it up, which really is the job of the deep support (SMAS) layer.

In the late 80’s, early 90’s, some surgeons ventured below the SMAS, and while keeping the skin and SMAS together, lifted it as a single (or composite) unit. Though initially called a ‘composite lift’, the name was soon simplified to the ‘deep plane lift’. But this deeper layer, below the SMAS, is the territory of glands, the muscles of facial expression and their nerves. Careful evaluation and experience with the ‘deep plane lift’ by plastic surgeons, along with live, simultaneous

comparison operations at scientific meetings of our principal plastic surgery societies (ASPS, ASAPS) unfortunately (or fortunately?) did not demonstrate better or more effective or longer lasting results, despite its potentially increased risks to sensitive deeper structures, which could result in months of patient distress. Most plastic surgeons therefore abandoned this technique a few decades ago.

Despite the ‘deep is dangerous’ concern by experienced plastic surgeons, the ‘deep plane lift’ of the 1990’s remains a technique that some surgeons may prefer and select for their patients. In recent years, however, graduates from ear, nose and throat (ENT or Otolaryngology) training programs, self-designated as ‘facial plastic surgeons’, have engaged in marketing campaigns, especially on social media, to resurrect the ‘deep plane lift’, and claiming it to be superior with regard to result and longevity. Any claims of superiority of the ‘deep plane lift’ are simply opinions, not fact!

Returning to what matters to you, the patient. There is more than one way to get a good or excellent and long-lasting facelift result. Your plastic surgeon should be experienced and flexible in his/her approach to your anatomic uniqueness and select the appropriate technique he/she is most experienced and comfortable with to give you the result you seek, and in the safest way possible!

There is agreement that a modern facelift today should in most patients provide ‘deep support’ with tightening of the strong connective tissue (SMAS) layer in the cheek, along the jawline,

... Patients are different, anatomically, medically, and emotionally, and surgical techiques should allow for these variations ...

as well as the superficial muscles of the neck (platysma). Yet it is equally important to mobilize and remove lax, sagging skin, particularly in the jowl and neck areas. The combination of ‘deep support’ and skin tightening, when skillfully performed, will provide a smooth jawline (the key feature of youth and beauty!) and a pleasing, refreshed appearance, and with the least amount of risk to deeper structures. The skill required to do so well will vary greatly among surgeons, so research and evaluate your prospective surgeon with care before entrusting your face.

Dr. Baker is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, with decades of experience in facelifting, and a Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

STEPHAN BAKER, MD, FACS

Plastic Surgery of the Face Breast and Body

Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery

305.381.8837 | www.drbaker.com

3850 Bird Road Suite 702, Miami, FL 33146

The Palace spends a fortune designing and furnishing every new community to look like a Palace. There’s nothing else like it.

The staff is amazing. In fact, The Palace was rated Fortune’s #1 Workplace in Aging Services in the nation in 2023.

The Palace is not corporate-run. It’s family run, by Helen & Jacob Shaham and their two sons. The owners give you their personal phone number so you can call them about anything.

The Palace invests in the newest and the most innovative technologies. That’s why we have our own Oculus Virtual Reality so residents can visit any place in the world virtually. And we are the only senior community in South Florida with our own hyperbaric chamber for oxygen therapy.

Nothing is typical. And almost everything that goes into this remarkable life they give us is included.

YOUR POOL IS OUR CANVAS

Departments

EDITOR’S NOTE

The Test of Picking the Best

READERS’ LETTERS

Readers’ Feedback

STREETWISE

TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF NEUROSCIENCE

Through visionary research, technology and investment, Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute is pioneering care for the brain, spine and nervous system. From reversing tremors through high-intensity focused ultrasound to targeting depression with transcranial magnetic stimulation, we’re providing patients with life-changing treatments.

As the only facility in the world with every major radiosurgery delivery platform available, we’re not only a leader in South Florida, but a global training destination. And with the new state-of-the-art Kenneth C. Gri in Center on the way, we’ll be providing the best in neurology, neurosurgery and neurorehabilitation right here at home – all under one roof.

Support the future of brain and spine care.

Justin M. Sporrer, M.D. Director of Functional Neurosurgery

Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute

THE BEST OF CORAL GABLES 2025

Each year, we ask our readers and our staff to decide what is the crème de la crème, the jewels in the crown, the pick of the bunch – you get it – the finest our city has to offer in food, shopping, entertainment, and public spaces.

CAPTURING THE GABLES

The Coral Gables Museum holds an annual photo contest called Capture Coral Gables, in which photographers are invited to submit their shots of the city to a jury that reviews them for creativity, professional quality, and artistic merit. Here are the winners.

REBYL WITH A CAUSE

George K. Zain, the “father” of Miracle Mile, and his tireless wife Rebyl became a force in Coral Gables when they arrived in 1943. The pair devoted themselves to developing the iconic main street that was officially named “Miracle Mile" in 1955.

HOME & GARDEN

A look at three of the most desired home improvements to make the outside a more luxurious and enjoyable place to hang out: The Best Backyard in Coral Gables, Cool (Designer) Pools, and Secret Gardens.

Cover: The Best of Coral Gables 2025. Illustration by Markham

The Best of the Best

Our summer “Best Of” issue is one of our favorites, as we face the pleasant challenge of trying to decide what are the best restaurants, bars, shops, arts, entertainment, sports, recreation, architecture, and public places in the city. As always, we give our readers their say-so, which we publish alongside the choices made by our dedicated staff. We often agree but frequently disagree. Sometime the gradations of quality are so subtle that it’s a matter of splitting hairs. And I am not saying that we know better than our readers, but it is our full-time job to scope out the best there is.

This year’s selections are slightly different than last year’s. We left out a few categories simply because there was no reason to take a vote. There is no better cinema than the Coral Gables Art Cinema. There are no other Best Theaters than Actors’ Playhouse and GableStage. And this year we left out the categories of the Best Place to Meet Women and the Best Place to Meet Men, after readers told us that the suggestions of Books & Books (to meet women) and Hillstone (to meet men) just was not panning out. We still left in the Best Place to Park, even though most readers responded with variations of “I’m not going to tell you,

because then you’ll snag my spot!”

Beyond our annual listing, this issue also carries several Best Of articles and acknowledgements. We really do think that Peter Iglesias is the best city manager. And that our Summer Best Bets are the best things to do this summer. And that the Black Room at the Globe is the best place to hold a party. And that Kogin 2.0 the best fusion restaurant in the Gables. And that the winners of the Capturing the Gables photo contest were the best pictures taken. With such a plethora of best things, we again thank our luck stars to be part of the Coral Gables community, one that was set into motion 100 years ago by one of the best city planners in the country, George Merrick. And for that matter, Rebyl Zain, who we profile in this issue, was the best leader when it came to creating the best downtown – aka Miracle Mile – in Florida. Enjoy this issue, enjoy your city, and don’t hesitate to let us know what you think.

JP FABER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE

CEO & PUBLISHER

Richard Roffman

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

J.P. Faber

EVP / PUBLISHER

Gail Scott

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Amy Donner

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

Monica Del Carpio-Raucci

VP SALES

Sherry Adams

MANAGING EDITOR

Kylie Wang

DIGITAL EDITOR

Amanda Martell

ART DIRECTOR

Jon Braeley

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Jorge G. Gavilondo

WRITERS

Yousra Benkirane

Andrew Gayle

Katelin Stecz

Tina Wyngate

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Rodolfo Benitez

Jonathan Dann

PROOFREADER

Lesley Fonger

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Luke Chaney

Viviana Caram

CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION

CircIntel

OFFICIAL FRAMER Adam Brand / Frames USA

Coral Gables Magazine is published monthly by City Regional Media, 1200 Anastasia Ave. Suite 115, Coral Gables FL 33134. Telephone: (305) 995-0995. Copyright 2025 by City Regional Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without prior written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Send address changes to subscriptions@coralgablesmagazine.com. General mailbox email and letters to editor@ coralgablesmagazine.com.

Cronin

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Each month, we print letters we receive from our readers. We encourage all commentary, including criticism as well as compliments, and of course any commentary about our community. If you are interested in writing to us with your opinions, thoughts, or suggestions, please send them to letters@coralgablesmagazine.com. Letters may be edited for brevity.

Market the Mile

I’m writing as the owner of Essence Boutique on Miracle Mile to express concern about the continued decline of retail sales over the past two years. While neighborhoods like Wynwood, the Design District, and Doral are thriving with tourists and local visitors, Miracle Mile is being overlooked.

We urgently need the City of Coral Gables to launch a strategic marketing pan that promotes the Mile as a vibrant destination for shopping, dining, and culture. Without it, our local business will continue to suffer, and the heart of our city will lost is identity.

Essence Boutique

Save the Dominos

What efforts are being made to showcase Art Installations in the Gables portion of The Underline? I’m confident that several local developers would gladly step up to the opportunity. Will all or some of the Miami Dominos be preserved? The University

MetroRail Station would also make an ideal location for a popular Gables Domino Park. Harry Emilio Gottlieb

My Progress Since

I hope you’re doing well. I just came across the May issue of Coral Gables Magazine and was both surprised and truly honored to see myself featured in it. Thank you so much for including me!

Since the issue was published, I’ve graduated from law school (May 10), presented to the UN Legal Subcommittee (slides available here: https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ ourwork/copuos/lsc/technical-presentations.html), and just heard that one of my papers will be published by the UN for their upcoming session in June. After I take the bar at the end of July, I’ll also be giving presentations in Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand before returning to the U.S. — it’s been an exciting time!

Tuana Yazici

EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

A Real UM Alum

I particularly loved The U Turns 100 article (May issue). FYI – my grandmother was in the first graduating class at UM. She is in the photo, below, of the first commencement that is on the commencement page of the UM website, and featured in a number of articles and videos. (Abbie Newton is show below on the left.) I also have her yearbook for 1926-1927, which will be on loan at the Coral Gables Museum in the early fall.

Deborah Swain

100 YEARS OLD. SOLD IN 100 DAYS.

YOUR CORAL GABLES HISTORIC HOMES EXPERTS

Selling a historic home isn’t just a transaction it ’ s a responsibilit y The Smith Formosa Team approaches these rare properties with reverence, strategy, and results In just 100 days, we sold three centur y-old homes in Coral Gables, each one a masterpiece of timeless architecture

From tailored marketing and expert matchmaking to con in preser ving the past while maximizing value

Thinking of selling or buying a historic home? Trust the team that makes histor y move.

1203 Alhambra Circle 27 10 Columbus Blvd

1706 Countr y Club Prado

TASTE THE GABLES: A FLAVOR-FILLED JULY!

July just got tastier — Taste the Gables is here and better than ever.

Over 70 local restaurants are rolling out prix-ﬁxe menus, and irresistible offers all month long. Whether you’re in the mood to splurge or snack, dine fancy or dive into comfort food, there’s something for every craving. Your ﬂavor tour of Coral Gables starts now.

THE COLLAB

Streetwise

An Interview

with Peter Iglesias

See page 26 PLUS NEWS FROM CITY HALL TALK OF THE TOWN

PHOTO BY RODOLFO BENITEZ

From City Hall

DURING ITS LAST MEETING IN MAY, THE CORAL GABLES CITY COMMISSION:

THE RETURN OF IGLESIAS

Voted 3-2 to reinstate former city manager Peter Iglesias in his past role, effective May 23. Iglesias served in the city manager’s office from 2017-2024, before he was abruptly fired by the majority vote of Commissioners Melissa Castro, Ariel Fernandez, and former Commissioner Kirk Menendez. Fernandez alleged that Iglesias was “insubordinate,” though did not provide supporting his claim.

“The plan is to have, over the next 20 months, Mr. Iglesias come in as city manager, stabilize the city… move forward, and do a national or local search for the most competent replacement,” said Mayor Vince Lago. “And then, after that person has been named, have Mr. Iglesias stay a few months after to make sure the transition is seamless.” In response, Commissioner Fernandez again alleged that Iglesias had “actively kept [certain Commission members] in the dark” on certain issues. Both he and Castro voted against Iglesias’ reinstatement.

A FRANK STELLA TO COME

Voted 5-0 to acquire “Puffed and Inverted Star II,” an artwork by Frank Stella, to be installed at the Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park project. The sculpture was recommended by a 5-2 vote of the Cultural Development Board. Stella died in 2024 and is still recognized as one of the most important American artists, known for his abstract expressionism. His works are in prominent collections across the globe, including at the MoMA, the Met, and the Guggenheim.

AN ALHAMBRA SIDEWALK

Voted 3-2 to install a sidewalk with a concrete curb along Alhambra Circle from Salvatierra Drive to San Rafael Avenue. The vote ends a three years-long campaign by city staff and local residents to add a sidewalk to the area that pleases all – or, at least, most. At issue was which plan would move forward; some options required more trees to be removed, while others were considered less safe. The concrete curb addresses most residents’ concerns. Commissioners Fernandez and Castro voted no, saying the option presented was not “the safest,” despite the plan aligning with state safety regulations. Mayor Lago accused Castro and Fernandez of politicizing the issue and argued that the safest option would simply be to keep people in their homes or remove cars from the road, both obviously unrealistic.

A NEW BUILDING ON MINORCA

Voted 3-2 to approve the transfer of development rights for a mixed-use project called 299 Minorca, located at the parking lot

across from Bachour and the nearby Public Safety Building (PSB). The eight-story project will include 45 units and over 4,500-squarefeet of ground-floor retail. All city boards from the Board of Architects to the Parking Advisory Board have approved the project, with conditions including pedestrian streetscape improvements on Salzedo and Minorca.

Police Chief Ed Hudak, however, expressed concerns over traffic and parking potentially affecting the nearby Public Safety Building and police officers’ response times. He recommended the city conduct a traffic study to determine if heightened traffic would affect police officers leaving the building. Mayor Lago, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, and Commissioner Richard Lara voted to approve the project, explaining that the PSB’s location downtown made it inherently subject to traffic, and a development that had met all criteria and received unanimous board support should not be punished for the PSB’s location. Commissioners Castro and Fernandez were “no” votes, explaining that until a traffic study was conducted, they would not vote to approve the project. The Commission also voted 3-2 to grant remote parking to the project, in the form of 56 parking spaces at the 255 Alhambra parking garage.

A TRANSIT TRAVEL ZONE?

Listened to an update from County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, whose district encompasses most of Coral Gables, on Rapid Transit Zone legislation. The county’s Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit plan will expand transit options along six corridors, and include more housing, retail, and office developments near transit stations. Some Gableites have expressed concern over an ordinance sponsored by Regalado that would create a Coral Gables/University Station subzone which could encompass property within a quarter mile of the University Metrorail station, and therefore potentially upzone or over-develop it.

CONNECTING TO SEWERS

Voted 5-0 to modify the city code to be in accordance with Florida statutes regarding the compulsory connection to sanitary sewer laterals. The city’s current code states that a property abutting an existing sewer line has 120 days to connect. Now, the property owner will have 165 days, or 190 days if the septic tank is imperiled. The city will also take on responsibility for the portion of the sewer

lateral in the street, rather than having it continue to be the property owners’ purview. Sewer fees will increase by two or three dollars per month to offset the cost.

CITY HALL REPAIR FUNDING

Voted 4-1 to reallocate funds of $5 million from the Phillips Park project to City Hall repairs; initially, $7.1 million was scheduled to be reallocated, but that number was reduced after discussion. Commissioners Castro and Fernandez advocated for finding alternative funding methods for City Hall, rather than reallocating the money. Vice Mayor Anderson, meanwhile, pushed for a phased renovation approach to the park, rather than doing the entire renovations at once, which would keep the park open for longer and leave immediate funding for City Hall.

CITIZEN SALARY CONTROLS

Voted 4-1 to add a question to the November 2026 ballot asking residents if the city charter should require that any changes to elected officials’ salaries beyond annual cost of living adjustments receive an affirmative vote from residents. Commissioner Castro was the lone dissenter.

NO TO DOGE OVERSIGHT

Voted 3-2 to not transmit the city’s latest annual budget to the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Commissioner Fernandez, who sponsored the item and voted alongside Commissioner Castro in favor of supplying the budget information, argued that giving DOGE the data would increase the city’s favor in Tallahassee. However, the city’s finance team maintained that until more information on what criteria DOGE is using to make its analyses is released, transmitting the budget to them was a risk. Finance Director Diana Gomez made an example of backyard trash pickups, which would likely be considered inefficient, but are something residents in Coral Gables have come to expect and are a marker of the city’s world-class services.

CAPPING GENERAL FUND SPENDING

Voted 5-0 to add a question to the November 2026 ballot asking residents if the city charter should be amended to require that the city maintain a 25 percent General Fund and requiring the approval of the electorate prior to any expenditure of funds from the General Reserve outside of emergencies.

NO TO VIP PERMITTING

Voted 3-2 to halt the development of an expedited permit review services program that Commissioner Castro created. The program offered expedited services for those who paid an extra fee, something Mayor Lago called antithetical to “equity, fairness, and integrity” in the City Beautiful. “Residents should not have to pay for VIP treatment from their own government,” he said. “If permits are taking too long, the real solution is to address the root cause: the inefficiencies within the system; not to create a workaround that only those with the financial means can access…. By tying revenues to faster service, we inadvertently incentivize the slowing down of standard service in order to drive more applicants into the expedited lane.”

He added that an analysis of the Development Services Department is already under way, with consultants using surveys, focus groups, and other methods to determine where those areas of inefficiency are. Castro made an impassioned plea to keep the program, arguing that because independent contractors would be the ones dealing with expedited permits, city staff would be more available to help

those that chose not to pay the extra fee, meaning everyone would receive faster service. She and Fernandez were the lone detractors.

NO BONDS FOR PROJECTS

Voted 4-1 to rescind the previous Commission’s intent to reimburse certain project costs by going out for bond. “It’s very simple: the voters… do not want the city taking out a $59 million bond that would cost $40 million in interest,” said Vice Mayor Anderson, who sponsored the item. The previous Commission, with Menendez, had voted to use bonds to fund projects such as the City Hall renovations and sidewalk repairs, a move some considered fiscally irresponsible. Only Commissioner Castro voted against the resolution.

DURING ITS FIRST MEETING IN JUNE, THE CORAL GABLES CITY COMMISSION:

NO CONSULTING!

Voted 4-1 to prohibit City Commissioners from serving as paid campaign/political consultants for candidates vying for elected office in Coral Gables. The ordinance would also ban former elected officials from lobbying the City Commission for two years after their term ends. During the last election, there were rumors that Commissioner Ariel Fernandez was running then-Commissioner Kirk Menendez’s mayoral campaign. Commissioner Melissa Castro dissented on the basis that the legislation could potentially violate someone’s First Amendment right to political expression. She advocated for a revised ordinance with more specificity.

FIXING CITY HALL

Listened to an update on City Hall repairs. The plan was originally scheduled for two phases, but City Manager Peter Iglesias said his team is now attempting to condense it into one phase, which could save a year or more in time. The windows are awaiting approval by the Historical Board, which requested an assessment of them that Mayor Vince Lago and Iglesias opposed because of the cost – about $100,000 – and time involved. Instead of restoring the historic windows, new windows will be installed, though they will match the originals as much as possible while reinforcing safety standards.

SALVADORE EXPANSION

Voted 4-1 on second reading to approve the purchase of a parcel of land that will be used to expand Salvadore Park. The Commission initially voted 3-2, which effectively canceled the acquisition, as a supermajority vote of at least 4-1 was required. Later in the meeting, however, after comments from city staff on the importance of acquiring the land, Commissioner Fernandez changed his vote. He and Commissioner Castro initially voted against the item, saying the property was too expensive. Two city appraisals priced the property at $2.6 and $2.9 million respectively, but the city will be purchasing the land for $3.1 million, which Fernandez and Castro considered too expensive. The city initially offered $3 million, before agreeing to $3.1 million in negotiations with the seller, who initially wanted $3.5 million.

CHARGING TIME

Voted 4-0 to award a contract for 28 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to Blink. The stations will be in five parking garages and four parking lots, and will replace older units. Commissioner Castro was absent for the vote. ■

The Once and Future City Manager: An Interview with Peter Iglesias

Peter Iglesias is considered by experts to be among the most competent Coral Gables city managers to hold the position, which he did from 2018 until last year. An engineer by background, he successfully ushered in the Miracle Mile/Giralda Plaza Streetscape project and the construction of the Public Safety Building where police, fire, and emergency services are now located. He also took the city paperless with new Enterprise software, and refurbished the 417 Biltmore Way Building so that all city development services (permitting, inspections, code enforcement, etc.) could be located in one place.

Despite objections and pleas from a cavalcade of community leaders, he was abruptly fired last year by Commissioners Ariel Fernandez, Melissa Castro, and Kirk Menendez, who replaced him with retired federal marshal Amos Rojas, Jr. After the election of Richard Lara to Menendez’s commission seat, Iglesias was re-instated by Lara, Mayor Vince Lago and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson.

CGM: How did it feel when you first returned?

Iglesias: I got such a warm reception from everyone… This is a tremendous team that wants to get things done, and that’s what they told me, we’re glad you’re back, because we’d like to get things done. And that’s what we’re going to do.

CGM: What do you consider your top accomplishments in the past?

Iglesias: The new Public Safety Building, and the one-stop shop for development services. Also, we have become extremely strong – probably among the top five cities in the country – from an IT perspective. We moved strongly into technology, becoming a small city that works like a big city.

CGM: What is the status of City Hall? Is it safe? Will it be restored?

Iglesias: The building is approaching 100 years of age and it has some issues, like most buildings. But we moved back into City Hall [after a Fernandez/Castro/Menendez order to evacuate the building was reversed by the new Commission]. Is it dangerous? I work here and

I am not suicidal – this building was very well built. But we haven’t done major work on it in almost 100 years, so it needs a tune up.

CGM: What’s wrong with it?

Iglesias: The biggest issue is water infiltration from the windows. These windows leak like a sieve. So, the major problems that we have are on the perimeter, where we’ve had a lot of window leakage. We’re looking at new window system to correct that.

CGM: What is the plan?

City Hall will be vacated for the restoration work. We will be working on the Minorca garage [next to the Public Safety Building], getting offices set up there for the commissioners, for the parking department, for HR, and now the [county] tax collector. That space should be done by the end of the year, after which we can begin work on City Hall.

CGM: What are your future priorities?

Iglesias: We are adding additional 5G poles, which were made in Germany but which we adapted for our city – we actually designed them to be hurricane resistant. And so now those poles are being placed in various areas and will give us a lot of information, including traffic information and camera imagery… I guess the term would be operational awareness.

CGM: What else?

Iglesias: We fell behind with the new fire station [on Sunset Drive] which had a few construction issues. Now, we’re trying to get it done by August or September of this year…. We’re also looking at the permitting process, to improve that process as much as possible, especially now that we have gone paperless. We are currently looking at that as we speak.

CGM: Any final thoughts?

Iglesias: I’ve lived in this city for almost 50 years. It’s the city I love, and coming back is very special…. Morale is now sky high, and it’s been fantastic to return to the privilege of leading this team. ■

Photos by

Rodolfo Benitez

A Helping Hand for Artists

When Ray Corral started his fund to help aspiring artists three years ago, it was before Gov. Ron DeSantis cut funding for the arts in the state of Florida. Today, with dollars for the arts in short supply, it’s needed more than ever.

Working with the Coral Gables Community Foundation to manage a charity he calls the Corral-Cathers Fund – in partnership with the city’s Arts & Culture Specialist Catherine Cathers – Corral decided to give back to the artist community. He himself is an accomplished mosaic artist who has designed hundreds of mosaics for pools around the country.

“I started as an artist, here in the city of Coral Gables, and Coral Gables accounted for a lot of my first commissions when I built my mosaic company into a successful business,” says Corral. “Something inside of me wanted to give back.”

The fund started with $50,000, with awards of $5,000 each going to 10 artists. Last month, Corral increased the fund to $65,000, so that 13 artists would receive the stipend in a ceremony held at the University of Miami’s Lowe Art Museum. “I decided to give $15,000 more because of the caliber of the artists we are attracting, and getting more exposure for the fund” – which Corral hopes to expand, he says. “We need to bring in more money so that we can start giving $10,000, and then $15,000 or $20,000. That begins to really change an artist’s career. So, the goal is to start building it, to open the doors for more people to participate.”

Cathers says that while $5,000 may not seem a huge sum, “it can help a significant amount, like for three months of a studio space. The money has made it possible for some of the artists to pursue residencies they were ready to turn down, or help boost showings of artwork they’ve had so they can produce more work.” The paintings and photos of more than 80 artists were reviewed

in order to choose the 13 winners, she says. All were from Miami-Dade County, about half from Coral Gables. “There’s only so many resources at this time, so we’re really trying to grow the fund to support even more artists," she adds. – J.P. Faber

Young Talent Big Dreams

The Young Talent Big Dreams competition, presented by Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre and The Children’s Trust, continues to be a cornerstone of youth arts programming in Miami-Dade. Now celebrating its 15th anniversary, the county-wide contest is free and open to performers ages eight to 18, offering aspiring artists a platform to compete across multiple disciplines and experience professional-level productions.

CORRAL, BOTTOM RIGHT, WITH CATHERINE CATHERS BEHIND HIM AND THE ARTISTS

Categories include pop/rock/rap vocals, Broadway/jazz/classical vocals, dance, musical instruments, original spoken word, and original vocal/instrumental composition. Preliminary, semifinal, and final rounds are held on professional stages across the county, including Miracle Theatre, Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center, and Sandrell Rivers Theater. The competition emphasizes more than performance, nurturing confidence, creative expression, and life skills in its young participants while connecting them with mentors and a supportive artistic community.

The 2025 finals were held in May at Actors’ Playhouse. Winners included Antonella Laferriere (Broadway vocals), Caitlynn & Camilah Diaz (group dance), Soleil Nation (original composition), Nina Marie (pop vocals), Nyshelle Burns (spoken word), Benjamin Baralt (instrumental solo), and the Sunset Elementary Band (group instrumentals). Prizes ranged from performing arts scholarships and masterclasses to public performance opportunities, helping the students further develop their skills.

The grand prize went to 14-year-old Tamerlan Guliyev, whose high-energy dance routine brought the audience to its feet. His performance closed out the 15th anniversary showcase on a high note, capping off an evening dedicated to celebrating the next generation of Miami-Dade talent. – Amanda Martell

The Underline Breaks New Ground in Coral Gables

The Underline, originally conceived by Coral Gables resident Meg Daly to transform the space under the elevated MetroRail, is finally reaching home. The first re-birth of this space, with pocket parks and bike paths, was launched in Downtown Miami, where the Met-

roRail’s southern leg begins on the southside of the Miami River.

In June, a groundbreaking ceremony held at the corner of Stanford Drive and Ponce de Leon Boulevard marked the start of construction on The Underline’s Pineland Courts & Fitness Room in Coral Gables. Sponsored by Baptist Health, the project is part of The Underline’s Phase 3 – a 7.36-mile stretch of the Metrorail corridor connecting the Gables to Dadeland with pedestrian paths, public fitness amenities, and enhanced green space. Scheduled for completion by summer 2026, the site will include four public pickleball courts, a basketball court, an outdoor gym, and a mini soccer pitch, all open to the public at no cost.

Speakers at the event included Daly, founder of Friends of The Underline, and Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago, who emphasized that the $7 million in funding originated from development impact fees, not taxpayer dollars. “It’s an investment in long-term quality of life,” he said. Miami-Dade County District 7 Commissioner Raquel A. Regalado, who represents Coral Gables, lauded community engagement as central to the project’s success. Lourdes A. Boué, CEO of Doctors Hospital, reaffirmed Baptist Health’s commitment to wellness in public spaces. Added Eulois Cleckley, CEO of Friends of The Underline: “This is just one part of a bigger plan to make sure every resident can walk, bike, or take transit to the places that keep them healthy.” – Amanda Martell

Chapman Field Park Reopens

Chapman Field Park is ready for baseball games once again. Following a longer-than-anticipated 11-year closure due to abnormally high arsenic levels, the 483-acre park, located at 13601 Deering Bay Dr., reopened in June with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Mi-

YOUNG TALENT BIG DREAMS GRAND PRIZE WINNER TAMERLAN GULIYEV

FOUNDER MEG DALY (CENTER) WITH (R TO L) VICE MAYOR RHONDA ANDERSON, CITY COMMISIONER RICHARD LARA, MAYOR VINCE LAGO, AND DANIEL FERNANDEZ

Photos by World Red Eye

Summer

Hot in the City

in Miami brings unexpected opportunities to make real estate magic — in the Magic City

armer weather means a slowing down of Miami’s luxury real estate market, but the deal-making never stops entirely. With fewer buyers in town, there are opportunities for value, flexibility and even rare trophy properties during the June-September off-season. For buyers looking for investment or seasonal homes, the summer calm is a call to action: Focus on your property goals, search with clarity and intention — and act decisively. Your Miami home is out there – now is the time to find it.

THINK STRATEGICALLY

There are different considerations when looking for an investment property, even if you may ultimately use it yourself. Proximity to airports matter more, as does easy access to the beaches and waterways that make Miami so unique. Properties in commercial districts such as Brickell and Biscayne are ideal for corporate renters, while families are focused on schools and community resources. Ease and accessibility are key for newcomers, especially if only in Miami temporarily. Always keep that in mind.

AGE IS MORE THAN JUST A NUMBER

Buyers today are far more cognizant of a property’s age than ever – and with good reason. Changes in infrastructure codes mean condo buildings — even on the luxury side “may now be liable for sizable assessments depending on the year of construction and building size,” says Nathan Zeder, of the JillsZeder Team. Do your research and ask questions – this is not the time to be shy. Assessments not only impact current pricing, but also resale potential. Newer buildings may be priced higher up front, but they can avoid the cost of uncertainty down the line.

NIPS AND TUCKS

Simple steps can make a big difference when it comes to keeping an investment property vital and appealing. For older homes, a basic remodel every decade is key, followed by fresh paint and other aesthetic touch-ups every two years or so. Think up-to-date furnishings, eye-catching landscaping and flattering lighting. Maintenance need not be costly, but it should be focused: The goal, says Zeder, “is to make a property feel like home from the moment you walk in.”

INVEST IN YOURSELF

Even if searching for a seasonal or investment property, “always look for a place you would personally want to call home,” says Zeder. True, you may be buying as an investment today, but your family’s needs could change – and Miami’s enviable lifestyle and tax benefits can easily turn a second or third home into a primary residence. Miami is the ultimate “transitional” real estate market and the most important transition could very well be your own.

FIND YOUR PLACE

Whether looking for a home priced in the hundreds of thousands or tens of millions — there is a property for everybody in Miami. Don’t be afraid to ask for help finding it. Does a home need renovations, for instance? Does the condos only permit upgrade work during the summer? Do specific neighborhoods limit exterior or aesthetic alterations? “Buyers should have the fullest picture of the market,” says Zeder, and industry leaders like him are there to provide assistance.

The Zeder Family: Judy Zeder, Meredith Zeder, Nathan Zeder

ami-Dade County officials. “Chapman Field is one of our gems in the great parks’ system,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “This is long awaited. The community is just abuzz because they are so eager to have a place for practice and play. It was idle open space, and now it is going to be deployed for the benefit of our community.”

Left abandoned for much of the last decade, it wasn’t until August 2021 that serious progress was made on rehabilitating the first desolated baseball field. Now, the revitalized Chapman features two fully renovated baseball fields, as well as new open green space and a shaded gazebo. To prevent flooding, the parking area was elevated and rebuilt. The field is now managed by the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department.

As home to the locally renowned Howard Palmetto Baseball & Softball Association, the return of Chapman should help address the 200-plus percent growth of the league since 2019. The park will also hold other recreational sports, such as soccer and flag football. Of the two restored fields, one will exclusively be used for tee-ball. – Luke Chaney

Seniors Lead Seated Protest in Coral Gables

On June 14, a group of seniors gathered at the corner of LeJeune Road and Altara Avenue for a seated protest focused on federal policy; an alternative to the No Kings protests held across the country. Held from 1:30 to 2:30 pm, protestors included residents of Belmont Village Senior Living and members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Miami.

The protest addressed Medicare, Medicaid, and immigration – three issues at the center of an ongoing debate in Congress and throughout the United States. Seniors are closely watching propos-

als that could reduce Medicaid enrollment and limit benefits, while ongoing shifts toward Medicare privatization have raised concerns about coverage and long-term costs. Immigration was included for its connection to elder care, as many caregivers and support staff come from immigrant backgrounds. Changes to immigration policy could directly affect the availability of that workforce. Although the protest wasn’t officially affiliated with the “No Kings” movement, its message echoed broader calls to protect public programs and democratic access. Judith Rosenbaum, 84, a retired federal administrator, organized the event, which was structured to accommodate participants with mobility limitations. Most remained seated using walkers,

wheelchairs, or folding chairs, positioned along the sidewalk with signs visible to passing traffic.

There were no speeches or formal messaging – the aim was participation, not performance. Attendees held signs calling for policy protections, while remaining under shaded areas of the block. The location allowed residents to participate without traveling far, an important factor for those who can’t attend large-scale marches. For many, it was a first. – Amanda Martell

Local Awards Roundup

Several organizations in Coral Gables have recently been recognized and awarded for their contributions to architecture, community service, and cultural enrichment.

MG Developer’s Biltmore Row project has been honored with the 2025 Addison Mizner Award in the residential category. This prestigious award recognizes projects that advance classical architecture and urbanism. Designed by De la Guardia Victoria Architects & Urbanists, Biltmore Row features Spanish Colonial-inspired townhomes. MG Developer has also relocated its headquarters to the 400 University Drive building designed by Morris Lapidus (of Fontainebleau fame), signing a 7,216-square-foot lease to accommodate its growing footprint.

Meanwhile, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, which serves Coral Gables, was awarded the 2025 Corporate Citizen of the Year Award by the Rotary Club of Coral Gables. This honor celebrates organizations dedicated to serving the city and its community, recognizing the hospital’s continued commitment to providing excellent pediatric care. Mitchell Kaplan, founder of Books & Books and the Miami Book Fair, was also recognized by the Rotary Club, which named him the 2025 Citizen of the Year. The award, which celebrates individuals

who have made outstanding contributions to the community, recognized his role in fostering Coral Gables’ cultural and literary vitality. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has also received kudos. The garden was recently ranked North America’s most vibrant garden by Premier Inn, the UK’s largest hotel brand, in a study that analyzed satellite imagery and color theory for 150 gardens worldwide. Worldwide it ranked at 41; in North America, it edged out the Biltmore Estate Gardens in North Carolina and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.– Viviana Caram

FOR NEIGHBORS. BY A NEIGHBOR

Living in Coral Gables means knowing its rhythm how homes are valued, when buyers are most active and what makes one listing stand out from the next

CORAL GABLES SNAPSHOT (SINGLE-FA MILY HOMES)

226 Homes For Sale (+32

If you ' re wondering what your home might be worth, or how the current market could impact your next step I'm here to help you navigate it with clarit y and care

Cognitive decline can steal the past, but it doesn’t have to steal the future. Pioneered to curb the effects of cognitive decline, Circle of Friends® is a unique, evidence-based program for building brain fitness. It was developed by Belmont Village in collaboration with the nation’s top universities and healthcare institutions — and it works. Residents enjoy a rich, therapeutic program of physical and mental activities designed to maintain brain function and build self-esteem.

Learn more at BelmontVillage.com/CoralGables | 305-760-4408

A New Home in the Sky

When developer Armando Codina conceived of his downtown Coral Gables residential building Regency Parc, a big part of the idea was to create “a home in the sky” for himself. It was a matter of “right sizing” from his mansion in Gables Estates, now an empty nest after raising his four daughters there.

No fan of condominium boards, Codina decided to create an apartment building, albeit one with huge units leased out for years at a time. His penthouse would be 10,000-square-feet – the whole floor – as would the next four floors beneath him. The remaining 13 stories of the 18-story building would have smaller units.

As the building moves closer to completion, Richard Fain – former CEO and now chairman of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines – has announced he will be joining his friend Codina in the sky. Fain will take the next floor down.

After 36 years of living in a house off Old Cutler Road, Fain says he is ready for a change. “We are empty nesters, and this was an

opportunity to do something different,” he says. “We weren’t thinking of moving into an apartment, but this is not an apartment. It’s a home inside a 16-story building.”

The new digs will have four large bedrooms and a gym, as well as his-and-hers bathrooms. “Armando says the secret to a good marriage is separate bathrooms,” says Fain. “I’m not sure about that. We’ve gone 56 years without it, and it’s been fine.” For Fain, who retires from his role as chairman of RCCL at the end of the year, “the thing that really attracted us is that there is now so much going on in the community; all the activities down below.” Plus, having one of your best friends one flight up. – J.P. Faber

City Beautiful Awards

Each year, the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce recognizes businesses that are keeping the City Beautiful, well, beautiful. This year’s annual Commercial Beautification Award ceremonies continued the tradition, celebrating those that “have gone above and beyond with the beautification and maintenance of their storefronts and surrounding areas,” according to the city’s website. Criteria to be nominated range from undamaged and pressure-cleaned sidewalks in front of the establishment to the utilization of landscaping around the property. The city backs the contest, even providing the judges – the Sustainability Advisory Board, currently acting as the board of directors of Keep Coral Gables Beautiful.

The 2025 award winners were announced at the Chamber’s Good Morning Coral Gables breakfast in June. Each award-winning recipient received a plaque and a window sticker, as well as recognition on social media and at a City Commission meeting.

THIS YEAR’S WINNERS WERE:

SANCTUARY OF THE ARTS, FOR OUTSTANDING EXTERIOR FAÇADE –COMMERCIAL BUILDING

CREMA GOURMET, FOR OUTSTANDING INTERIOR – COMMERCIAL SPACE

SRA. MARTINEZ, FOR OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT DINING ROOM

LET THEM HAVE CAKE, FOR OUTSTANDING RETAIL INTERIOR SPACE OR SHOWROOM

VENETIAN POOL, FOR OUTSTANDING RENOVATION PROJECT

ALHAMBRA PARC, FOR OUTSTANDING YET UNBUILT PROJECT

The University of Miami and John Henry’s "American Lady" was also recognized for the Art in Public Places honor. – Luke Chaney ■

RICHARD FAIN, CHAIRMAN OF RCCL, JOINS REGENCY PARC

A NIGHTIME RENDERING OF REGENCY PARC

THE VENETIAN POOL

Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

Summer Best Bets

4TH OF JULY, SUMMER CONCERT SERIES, AND MORE!

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

The Community Arts Program’s summer concert series is back for a 40th year! In four concerts in July and August, concertgoers will have the chance to groove with the tunes of three jazz and one classical performance. All concerts will be held at the Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ across from the Biltmore Hotel, at 7:30 pm on Thursdays: July 10, July 24, August 7, and August 21. Ticket prices range from $35 to $50 with packages available for multiple concerts. 3010 De Soto Blvd. communityartsprogram.org

“STEP BY STEP”

This comedy written by renowned playwright Peter Quilter follows three women as they honor a recently deceased friend by embarking on a two-day hike to place a monument at the peak for her. The United States premiere, the play will take audiences on a rollercoaster of memories, emotions, and personal revelations with wit and comedic brilliance. The production will be at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre from July 16 to August 10 with performances Thurs. through Sun. at 8 pm and Wed. and Sun. matinees. Weekday ticket prices start at $40, with weekend ticket prices starting at $50. 280 Miracle Mile. actorsplayhouse.org

“SHREK: THE MUSICAL”

Enjoy the musical version of the animated classic “Shrek” at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre on Saturdays at 2 pm from July

5 to 26. There will also be a sensory-inclusive show on July 13. The production of “Shrek: The Musical” is a part of the 2025 Musical Theatre for Young Audiences series. Tickets for this fun-for-all-ages performance start at $35. 280 Miracle Mile. actorsplayhouse.org

The annual Mango Festival returns to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden on July 12 and 13 from 10 am to 5 pm. During this two-day celebration of the tropical fruit, guests are invited to sample and savor different types of exotic mangos, as well as try mango-inspired dishes from distinguished chefs. There will also be a mango sale, and other mango-themed events and activities. Tickets for the festival range from free to $24.95 for adults. 10901 Old Cutler Rd. fairchildgarden.org

The Candlelight Concert series at the historic Hotel Colonnade continues ASDFGH GT1July 18 from 7 to 8 pm and 9:30 to 10:30 pm with a tribute to legendary singer Whitney Houston. The string

MANGO FESTIVAL

A TRIBUTE TO WHITNEY HOUSTON

quartet’s ode to Houston will include the performance of several of her greatest hits, including “I Will Always Love You” and “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” Tickets are $22 to $70.50, depending on seating and time. 180 Aragon Ave. hotelcolonnade.com

TASTE THE GABLES

Throughout July, Taste the Gables is bringing back Restaurant Month in Coral Gables with more than 70 participating restaurants. Each of these will have specially-priced prix-fixe menus (starting at $35 for lunch and $45 for dinner) and exclusive promotions. Award-winning standouts include SHINGO, Zitz Sum, Bachour, Kojin 2.0, Beauty and the Butcher, and more.

GABLES BIKE TOURS

The next two Gables Bike Tours explore some of the city’s essential elements. On July 20, starting at the Coral Gables Youth Center, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson will lead a tour through some of the Gables’ most important water structures, including the Venetian Pool and the DeSoto Fountain. Starting from the Coral Gables Museum and led by a local expert, the following month’s tour on August 17 will inform guests about the city’s vibrant treescape. Both tours start at 10 am and cost between $5 and $10. 285 Aragon Ave. coralgablesmuseum.org

DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY CLEANUP

This End of Summer Edition of the City of Coral Gables’ popular cleanup series offers up a chance for Good Samaritans to work for their community by cleaning up downtown Coral Gables’ streets. On August 11 from 5 to 7 pm, participants will meet at the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce HQ and compete to see who can collect the most trash. Cleanup supplies will be provided by Keep

Coral Gables Beautiful and complimentary light bites and refreshments will be available at the end of the event. Volunteer hours are available upon request and registration is required. 201 Alhambra Cir., Suite 100. coralgables.com/kcgb

SUMMER WITH THE SYMPHONY: THE TITANS

The South Florida Symphony Orchestra will cap off its summer series with “Summer Chamber Concert III: The Titans.” This Miami finale, taking place on July 24 at 7:30 pm at the Coral Gables Museum, will include a meet-and-greet with the musicians after the show. Tickets cost between $17.50 and $35. Student tickets are also available with proof of ID. 285 Aragon Ave, southfloridasymphony.org

FOR MORE EVENTS IN CORAL GABLES, SCAN THE QR CODE TO SEE OUR EVENTS CALENDAR:

THE

DESOTO FOUTAIN

Into the Chamber We Go

TESTING THE HYPERBARIC EXPERIENCE

BY J.P. FABER

Most people first heard about hyperbaric chambers when it was reported that pop icon Michael Jackson was sleeping in one. Or at least using it – this strange chamber that pumped up the pressure and the oxygen. In a hyperbaric chamber, the air pressure is increased to two or three-times normal, while the patient is breathing pure oxygen. The pressure helps dissolve the oxygen into the patient’s blood, which then helps repair damaged tissue and organs. This is called hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and is widely used in medicine to heal such things as sports injuries, chronic wounds, diabetic ulcers, and radiation burns.

Because hyperbaric oxygen is also anti-inflammatory and can be used as a general restorative, it has followers who swear by its anti-aging health benefits, including celebrities like Justin Bieber, LeBron James, and Mayim Bialik. Feeling worn out? Into the hyperbaric chamber you go.

Anxious to give hyperbaric oxygen a try – who wouldn’t? – I went to Hydrology in the THesis Hotel. Hydrology is a futuristic rejuvenation center opened last year by Gables plastic surgeon Dr. Alexander Zuriarrain. It's a bright, fresh clinic with room after room for special treatments – a red-light therapy room, a cryogenic chamber, three massage rooms, a sauna with red light, a vitamin drip room, areas to relax and hydrate with water or tea – and two rooms with hyperbaric oxygen chambers. I was led to one of these.

The “chamber” looked like a large, chubby Nike running shoe. It was made of framed cloth and transparent plastic windows. Before you climb in, you remove your shoes, but you can leave your clothes on. You can also take your cell phone.

Inside, you sit on an inclined seat and tuck in with a soft blanket (there is a strong AC system inside). There is one large knob that will let you reduce the air pressure if it’s too much for you. You’re also given a walkie-talkie and a push-button remote that will sound a loud bell; both are in case you get claustrophobic, because next, you are fitted with an oxygen face mask and get zipped inside.

“You’re going to be wearing a face mask and then breathing pure oxygen, which we normally don’t do from day to day,” says Hugo Cambó, the manager at Hydrology. “You know, there is pollution in the air we breathe. It’s less than 20 percent [oxygen]. So here it’s 96 percent under pressure, and that pressure is going to help your cells receive that oxygen better. And that helps them to create [new cells] faster, so you heal faster.”

It’s also used for general well-being, and clients come in just to revive themselves. “It’s multi-purpose,” says Cambó. “It allows your body to regenerate cells faster, and then your body decides where you need those extra cells. What for? The oxygen can be good for your brain function as well.”

I thought I would find the space confining, but instead it felt cozy, like being inside the cockpit of a plane. As the pressure increased, I had to pop my ears a half dozen times, like I was gaining altitude. Then the pressure leveled off, and I was just breathing pure oxygen in a tiny room with a super cool AC. I was in a bubble where I could read, text, or just snooze off. It became very pleasant.

After an hour of gentle relaxation, my pod was unzipped by Cambó. I didn’t want to leave. But when I did, I felt a little lighter, a little more energetic. My hands, sore from doing a lot of heavy yard work over the weekend, felt better. And, of course, I felt smarter and more alert. ■

ABOVE: HUGO CAMBÓ, THE MANAGER AT HYDROLOGY

LEFT: OUR BRAVE EDITOR IN CHIEF IS ZIPPED UP INTO THE HYPERBARIC CHAMBER TO BREATHE PURE OXYGEN

Photo by

Rodolfo Benitez

with 28 years of Coral Gables leadership and real estate experience.

“Drew and his team are the best in the business, second to none. Our family is relocating to the area and the guidance we have received from Drew has made the process flow seamlessly. We met with several agents before making a decision on who could represent our interests and couldn’t be happier with our choice to go with Drew”.

Jaqueline Ogale

"Drew is an excellent agent. He brings value through his local knowledge, as well as his connections with sellers, buyers and agents. Although he has a team to assist him, you can always count on him to address any concerns or questions. You guys were great to deal with, thanks :)"

Andrew Ogden

DREW KERN Sr. Vice President BHHS EWM Realty

"Drew is truly an expert! He knew what we wanted and made it happen!! It was easy and smooth to work with Drew. His experience is of so much value. He is kind, diligent, accessible, and responsive. Thank You Drew!!! You're awesome!! "

Nicole Alfonso

Who you work with MATTERS! And Drew is who you want working for you. Drew and his team did an OUTSTANDING job at selling our home during a tough time in a tough market. I would HIGHLY recommend Drew to anyone looking to buy or sell their home!"

Nicole Figueroa

A Rose by Any Other Name

BY AMANDA MARTELL / PHOTOS BY RODOLFO BENITEZ

Not all flowers are created equal – and at Chateau Bloom, that’s the entire point. Now open at The Plaza Coral Gables, the bouquet kiosk offers a selective approach to fresh florals, prioritizing quality over volume and working with carefully chosen suppliers to ensure each bouquet meets a high standard. Roses are the focus, selected for their shape, longevity, and frequency – yes, frequency.

“Roses have the highest vibration of all flowers,” founder Alina Meledina explains. “They really make people happy… It’s one of the smartest things to do – to bring flowers to your workspace, your home, your living room, the dining room. It always makes people smile.”

Raised in Europe, Meledina spent summers in her mother’s garden surrounded by roses, gardenias, and peonies. “I’ve always, always loved flowers,” she says. “This shop brings me back to where I came from, where I spent every summer. My mom had a huge garden, and I would always see her working with the flowers.”

Chateau Bloom is a collaboration between mother and daughter. When Meledina’s mother underwent treatment for breast cancer, it only strengthened their bond and helped inspire the shop. “She’s the one behind the whole idea of arrangements and the special look of the bouquets,” Meledina says of her mother, who is now in Europe studying the newest trends in floral design. “She’s always looking for new ideas and solutions.”

Chateau Bloom itself is neatly curated,

with pre-made bouquets styled in muted tones. Customers can call ahead for custom orders or shop in-store. Subscription deliveries bring a rotating selection of ranunculus, carnations, and/or roses to homes and offices. The assumption is that roses will be the first choice. For $287 a month, Chateau Bloom will deliver two dozen long stemmed roses every week. For every other week, the price is $158 a month.

“Nowadays, we are so busy,” Meledina says. “We don’t have time to make our own food – we order. So, I wanted to do the same thing with flowers. You don’t have to spend time looking for them. We bring it to you.”

She even encourages businesses to use flowers as a morale boost. “On Friday, right

before the weekend, you can give the roses away to your employees, knowing that on Monday you’re going to get new flowers,” she says. “It’s a double treat.” Occasional floral workshops and seasonal events are also part of the offering, announced through Chateau Bloom’s Instagram.

“My mom and I built this together,” Meledina says. “She’s behind every artistic part of the business. [And] for me, working with flowers is my way of meditation. It calms me. And when you give something beautiful to other people... it’s very fulfilling.” ■

CHATEAU BLOOM BLOSSOMS WITH WEEKLY CORPORATE DELIVERIES

The House of Beautiful Things

The new luxury store Chiragan, which recently had a soft opening in its light-filled space a block north of the Shops at Merrick Park, is based on a simple concept: It is better to spend more for quality. Rather than buy something that will wear out or break or need to be replaced, it is better to acquire quality that will last a lifetime.

Chiragan derives its name from a palace in Istanbul, the very place where Turkish proprietor Ekrem Ozar and his wife Anna were married. “Chiragan is iconic for all things that are splendid,” says Ekrem, and that seemed a perfect brand for the high-end home goods store they developed together.

Inside Chiragan you will find things like 1,000-count linens from Italy, or hand-painted dinner plates from France, or ultra-soft bathrobes of Turkish cotton. The store is a wonderland of beautiful things that revolve around your bedroom, your bathroom, and the table you set – with some fun accessories to round things out, like silk pajamas or leather-bound backgammon sets, or gift items like wallets, notebooks, and passport holders. The objects at Chiragan are not all ultra-expensive. The baobab hand cream from Paris is $40, the Ephesus bath towel is $35. But those exquisite sheets? They start at $350 and go up to $1,100 a set. And those gorgeous Bernardaud “Augusta” dinner plates? $161 each. “The idea is quality versus quantity,” says Ekrem. “You don’t have to have 15 different things. You can have two or three that you leave to your children.”

You can visit the Chiragan shop at 255 Altara Ave., or explore their collection at chiraganhome.com. – J.P. Faber ■

EKREM OZAR OPENS CHIRAGAN IN THE MERRICK PARK DISTRICT

MARK DION & ALEXIS ROCKMAN: JOURNEY TO NATURE’S UNDERWORLD

Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman (with Aaron Delehanty, Loud

Bugatti, Bulla &Bolsheviks

A NIGHT ON THE TOWN MIXES PASTA, VODKA, AND THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

BY J.P. FABER

Iwas just a boy when I saw "Dr. Zhivago" for the first time, and it left an indelible impression on me. This bigger than life epic of life set in Russia before, during, and after the Bolshevik Revolution is full of deep romance and profound tragedy; it is also among the most visually stunning films ever made.

When a showing of David Lean’s masterpiece was scheduled for a Saturday night in June at the Art Cinema, I knew I had to go. So did a lot of other nostalgia-bitten cinephiles, creating a sold-out night at the theater on Aragon Street. It was also being shown, coincidentally, on my wedding anniversary.

Before viewing this three-and-a-halfhour film marathon, I knew my wife and I would have to fuel up. So, we stopped for an early bite at Bugatti, the Italian restaurant on Ponce just south of Miracle Mile. We recently learned that it is the oldest continually operating restaurant in the Gables, having originally served as a pasta factory before becoming an eatery in 1985. This is what

proprietor Carlos Amasifuen tells us anyway, and we have no reason to doubt him.

Much of the staff at Bugatti has been there for decades, which adds to its authenticity. With its roots deeply enmeshed in pasta, we ordered the Ravioli Bombay and the Lobster Ravioli. The Bombay is a rare curry-sauced pasta, stuffed with cheese and spinach and dressed in bits of apples, raisin, and almonds. The lobster comes with a rich sauce and Maine lobster inside each bite. Both were delicious. With the film starting early (at that length, 7 pm is about the latest you can start), we didn’t stay for dessert. Fortunately, snacks (along with beer and wine) are available at the cinema.

On our way to the movie house, we did dip quickly into Bulla’s busy tapas bar on the corner of Ponce and Valencia. I wanted a Moscow Mule, for a good bite of vodka with ginger beer, to brace myself for the movie. Unfortunately, their version was the Bulla Mule. This had the vodka, ginger beer, and

lime, but they add cardamom & currant-infused syrup, and candied ginger. Sweet and ebullient, which fits in with Bulla’s effervescent mood, but not right for the Russian front waiting at the cinema.

The Gables Art Cinema is one of the reasons to live in Coral Gables. Under the direction of their talented executive director Brenda Moe, the film selection on a weekly basis is extraordinary. Foreign films. Indie films. Current releases. Black and white classics. Film series by director. Late night horror flicks. Afternoon family musicals. And so on.

When the lights went down in the theater, the big screen romance between the radiantly beautiful Julie Christie as Lara and the darkly handsome Omar Shariff as Yuri Zhivago unfolded in all its majesty. The experience was everything I’d hoped for… and more. I may have mentioned to Brenda Moe that this particular night was my anniversary. So, she Photoshopped “Happy Anniversary, Lesley & J.P.” onto the opening screen of the film. This is something that can only happen in a community like Coral Gables. ■

TOP LEFT: BUGATTI PROPRIETOR CARLOS AMASIFUEN

TOP RIGHT: BULLA’S TAPAS BAR FOR THE BULLA MULE BELOW: GABLES ART CINEMA SCREENING OF "DR. ZHIVAGO"

Photos by

Rodolfo Benitez

RHONE

The Black Room at The Globe

ONE OF THE GABLES’ FINEST PRIVATE PARTY VENUES IS HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT.

BY J.P. FABER

On any given Saturday night, you can expect to hear excellent jazz at The Globe, the European-inspired café and bar on Alhambra just off Le Jeune Road. Typically, the bands play Afro-Cuban jazz in a setting that feels more like a bistro in Belgium or France than Coral Gables, with antique wooden floors, ornate chandeliers, classic paintings, and a long, mahogany bar with a dozen vintage globes on display, a nod to the establishment' s name.

Every so often, from closed doors behind the band, you might hear another stream of music, and what sounds like laughter and the clinking of glasses. W hat is lesser known is that behind those doors is The Globe’s Black Room, a private party space with its own bar and plenty of room for dancing or formal dinners.

“It’s really one of the Gables’ best kept secrets,” says Daniel Guiteras, who owns and runs the Globe along with his wife Lorraine. “We don't have flashy advertising campaigns or push an overwhelming online presence. I stead, we prefer letting the service, charm, and above all, our attention to detail and hands on approach speak for itself.” The result is an aura of exclusivity, making those who discover it feel they've stumbled upon a special sanctuary. According to Lorraine, from any given party, three or four of the guests will often book the space for an event of their own.

The Globe has been open since 1996, and by 2000 was booming as a happy hour haven. At its peak, the Friday night singles scene was so popular that the street outside had to be closed to traffic, with police barriers. Since then, the back room formerly called the Sand Bar, has grown in popularity for private affairs. In

2005 it was re-christened The Black Room, with black velvet walls, a trio of crystal chandeliers, floor to ceiling wood paneling and the rooms crowning center piece - a cove ceiling stacked in elegant, neo-classical plaster moulding. “We did ‘color drench’ before it became a thing, and really obsessed over every detail - I’m talking Wes Anderson level obsession says Danny. “Even today, twenty years on, when people come in, they are wowed.”

While the room is frequently used for corporate dinners and cocktail parties, The Black Room truly shines brightest when used as a birthday party venue. “We’ve had all kinds of party themes, running the gamut from The Great Gatsby to Studio 54,” says Lorraine “We’ve had stilt walkers, magicians, belly dancers and some serious hora loca conga lines. Recently, we did an Eyes Wide Shut masquerade ball, and we’ve also had several Bridgerton themed bridal and baby showers, because of our unique decor.”

Over time, as word of mouth referrals grew, the wedding business has boomed – and not just for the rehearsals and reception, but the nuptials themselves. For these ceremonies, the couples will often take the entire restaurant, Black Room included, so the bride can glide down a flight of elegant stairs that descend to the main restaurant.

Another reason for the Black Room’s popularity: patrons get charged only for the food and beverage, the latter often from the Globe’s well-honed menu. ‘People find it refreshing that we don’t nickel and dime them with hidden fees. They can go with one of our set party menus, or customize to their heart’s content,” says Lorraine. “That’s the beauty of a family run establishment,” she says. “We can help with every aspect – even flowers and decorations. For that we charge just what it cost us. We’ve also developed a pretty good stable of jazz musicians and DJs, as you can imagine, so we can point people in the right direction with confidence. Patrons tend to return for repeat performances; one customer held his 40th , 50th, and most recently, his 60 th birthday party there. “We had one couple who had their wedding here, and then their divorce party fifteen years later,” says Lorraine. “We gave them a discount on the second one…they were repeat customers after all.” ■

LEFT: THE BLACK ROOM CAN BE A VENUE FOR PARTY PEOPLE OR, ABOVE, FOR A WEDDING RECEPTION OR EVEN THE WEDDING ITSELF

Bites

Fine Dining Review

See page 58 PLUS QUICK BITES: SPICY(ISH) HAPPY HOUR NEW PLACES

MIAMI-NATIVE CHEF PEDRO MEDEROS AND HIS WIFE KATHERINE AT KOJIN 2.0, ON PONCE JUST SOUTH OF 8TH STREET.

Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

Quick Bites

Some Like It (Sort Of) Hot

Spicy foods are not for everyone. Connoisseurs of the heat know what it’s all about – that spike of intense flavor, that piquant rush of heat, the burn that feels good even while it hurts. But for other diners, spice is not so nice. Maybe what’s needed is a gentle introduction with a few dishes.

PISCO Y NAZCA

The Ceviche Mixto ($22.50) at Pisco y Nazca offers a perfect blend of subtle spice that is delicious and enjoyable. With a mix of fish, shrimp, octopus, fried calamari, rocoto leche de tigre, changa and sweet potato, it is the perfect balance between sweet, spicy, and citrusy. Light and refreshing, it’s an ideal choice for seafood lovers who enjoy a gentle kick without overwhelming spice. Vibrant, zesty, and satisfying. 101 Miracle Mile. piscoynazca.com

EMMY SQUARED

Emmy Squared advertises its pizzas as Detroit-style with a New York twist. The VIP pizza ($24) is one of our favorites: a thick square-cut ‘za with a crunchy sesame seed crust smeared lightly with homemade vodka sauce and topped with parsley pesto, pepperonis, and Calabrian chilies, which give it a special “oomph.” One of the few spicy pizzas that doesn’t rely entirely on jalapeños, we’d give this VIP a 10/10. 230 Miracle Mile. emmysquaredpizza.com

NAMASTE MIAMI

The Shrimp Biryani ($22) at Namaste Miami is layered with fragrant basmati rice, plump shrimp, caramelized onions, and a mix of turmeric and red chili powder that hits quick. Not everyone can handle Indian heat, and the high setting isn’t for the faint-hearted. We went for medium heat, enough to make our lips tingle, and wanted more – but that’s us. The sweetness from the onions also cuts the burn. 221 Navarre Ave. namastemiami305.com

MALAKOR THAI ISAAN

Malakor’s Pad Mee Ko-rad ($20) is a flavorful stir-fried noodle dish with tamarind sauce, shrimp, egg, peanuts, scallions, pickled radish, and beans. You can choose your heat level from one to five or ask for extra spice on the side to adjust as you go. Five is blistering, we’ll tell you right now. So, try a mild level one or two and see how it enhances things. 90 Miracle Mile. malakorthaiisaan.com

KHAOSAN ROAD

Our go-to for Thai street food, Khaosan Road’s Pad Gra Pao ($18) is a classic dish for those who aren’t entirely confident in their ability to handle spice. Here, you can order the dish with a range of different proteins and spice levels – but we recommend chicken, and a spice level of one or two until you can learn to handle a fiver. Served with sauteed veggies and a cup of rice, it’s healthy, delicious, and nicely customizable. 157 Giralda Ave. khaosan-road.com ■

VISIONARY FOUNDERS

PRINCIPAL MANAGING DIRECTOR

RAFI MALDONADO-LOPEZ

DOWNTOWN CAMPUS

410 ANDALUSIA AVENUE, CORAL GABLES, FL 33134

ST. MARY CAMPUS

136 FROW AVENUE, CORAL GABLES, FL 33133

www.sanctuaryofthearts.org (786) 362-5132

CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE

The Ultimate Fusion

KOJIN 2.0 IS AN AMERICAN/ASIAN MIX DRIVEN BY THE INVENTIVE MIND OF CHEF PEDRO MEDEROS

BY ANDREW GAYLE

Coral Gables is nothing if not a cauldron of new ideas in the world of creative cuisine. Sometimes it’s easy to pigeonhole a restaurant by its national source of cooking – Italian, American, French, and so forth. These are the restaurants of comfort food. Then there are the fusions, and the mixes of flavor that defy categorizing. Kojin 2.0 is one of these.

To begin with, you have a Hispanic chef trained in traditional French cooking who cooks American food. Add to that a spectrum of Asian flavors, layered with inspired nuances and clever pairings of texture and tastes. That might give you an inkling of the truly original array of dishes served at Kojin 2.0, which has already garnered a loyal clientele since opening last year.

The location, a cozy space on Ponce just south of 8th Street, has a history of creativity in the kitchen. It is the former home of Eating House, known for the clever concoctions of Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli (Cap’n Crunch pancakes anyone?) followed by The Lion and the Rambler, another bastion of tasting menus. Chef Pedro Mederos now wows clients with dishes like venison carpaccio with egg yolk jam and katsuomirin flakes, or shallot nut eggplant with maitake mushrooms. If you noticed the Japanese flavors added on, then you’ve hit on Chef Pedro’s métier.

The restaurant, run by Miami-native Pedro and his wife Katherine, feels like a neighborhood hangout in San Francisco. Off to one corner is a reading chair by a bookcase, which has a record player atop shelves filled with LPs; a Dizzy Gillespie album is on display. The food is all the more spectacular when contrasted with this humble, cool-vibe setting.

While you can avail yourself of one of two tasting menus ($95 for six dishes or $125 for nine), we stuck to the refreshingly short entree menu. This speaks to Chef Pedro’s obsessive search for the new and interesting, as well as his confidence in the selection. On the night we visited, the regular menu had six starters and four entrees. Period.

“Go to any restaurant, and the minute you have to turn pages

ABOVE: INTERIOR VIBE FEELS LIKE A NEIGHBORHOOD HANGOUT IN SAN FRANCISCO, WITH HOME STYLE FURNISHINGS AND BOOKSHELVES

OPPOSITE

TOP LEFT:

BOTTOM

TOP

BOTTOM

TOP: KOJIN 2.0, ON PONCE JUST SOUTH OF 8TH STREET, IS RUN BY MIAMINATIVE CHEF PEDRO MEDEROS AND HIS WIFE KATHERINE

SCALLOP CRUDO WITH SWEET AND TART APPLE YUZU SAUCE

LEFT: OSAKA CHICHARRONES (LATIN-STYLE FRIED PORK SKIN)

RIGHT: HAMACHI COLLAR WITH PARSNIP PUREE AND ASPARAGUS

RIGHT: SMOKED SHORT RIB ATOP SQUASH AND CELERY ROOT

KOJIN 2.0

Photos by Rodolfo Benitez

to get through an a la carte menu, there’s no way they’re executing all of this with any level of perfection,” the chef told us. “Some of the things are going to be dogs. The worst question a server gets is, ‘What’s good?’ Here, the menu is small, so everything is good.”

Among the starters, we tried the Osaka Chicharrones and the Scallop Crudo. The chicharrones, a Latin staple of fried pork skin ($9), became quickly addictive when dipped in the accompanying ranch-style togarashi sauce and Kyoto onion dip. The half dozen scallops ($18) sat in a pool of sweet and tart apple yuzu with pistachio sauce to the side, topped with a squirt of kosho, a Japanese chili paste with a citrus tang. A complex dance of flavors straight from Chef Pedro’s foodie brain.

For the main dishes, we enjoyed the Wreck Fish sauteed in beurre blanc, sitting atop a golden beet puree ($38). But we loved the smoked short rib with demi-glace, atop a squash and celery root puree to balance the smokiness with a touch of sweetness ($48).

Tender and exquisite.

The showstopper – and most unusual dish of the evening – was

the Hamachi Collar for Two, with parsnip puree, asparagus, and a smoked trout sauce ($80). Also known as grilled yellowtail collar, this is the part of the fish just above the gills and below the head, considered a delicacy in Japan. Kojin’s is served with a smoked trout sauce, which is really a rich white wine sauce based on the smoked trout roll, as our waitress explained, which brings an umami taste to the dish.

“A lot of the things on the menu are seasonal,” says Chef Pedro. "So, like the Wreck Fish, which is a hybrid of snowy grouper and yellow ridge grouper, that’ll be on the menu for as long as we can get it and then change to another fish. The hamachi collar? We’re honestly processing so much hamachi that I had to put something like that on the menu. But the minute that we stop using hamachi elsewhere, that collar will come off.”

So, while the collar will probably be gone by the time you read this, you will still thank us for heading to Kojin 2.0. While they don’t have a liquor license yet, their excellent selection of sake, wine, and Japanese beer makes up for it. ■

Photos

Rodolfo Benitez

Sharing at Sra.

A TASTE OF HAPPY HOUR AT SRA. MARTINEZ

While our favorite way to experience Sra. Martinez is at dinnertime, its new happy hour is a great introduction to what the larger menu has to offer. Beers are $5, wines are $6, and cocktails range from $6 to $10.

We started with the classic Mini Martini ($6) with Grey Goose vodka, which comes in an adorably small glass that got us right in the happy hour mood. Next up, we got a little more adventurous with the Garden Gimlet and the Blood Orange Mule (both $9), both refreshing and perfect for hot summer months. The gimlet was particularly interesting, served with green chartreuse, lavender, thyme, and lime. The drink is powerfully herbaceous, with a slightly peppery finish from the chartreuse – a rare find in Miami bars.

We paired both cocktails with a range of appetizers off the happy hour menu, which start at $8. Our favorite – so much so that we ordered two plates of them – was the Carbonara Croquetas ($8), which are exactly what you’d expect, filled with gooey pecorino cheese and cured egg yolk in a crispy fried shell. We also loved the Crispy California Artichokes ($9). Though a bit salty, the coriander dipping sauce tempered the taste to make each bite more pleasing. To finish, we ordered the Sra. Martinez Burger ($19), which is stuffed with two patties made from the ends of dinner steaks, with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and American cheese. A little expensive, but deliciously good to share, as was the experience. – Kylie Wang

TOP: OUR SRA. MARTINEZ FAVORITE WERE THE CARBONARA CROQUETAS BOTTOM: THE MINI MARTINI WITH GREY

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VSkinny Louie

iral Miami smash burger chain Skinny Louie recently opened a location in the Gables, replacing Chala Taqueria on Giralda Plaza. At its core, the burger joint revolves around simplicity. Its menu is straightforward, with three burger options and three milkshake varieties. Craving an American staple, we went for the classic double burger ($10.49) – two lightweight patties smashed on the grill for a crispy finish and topped with American cheese, tomato, lettuce, ketchup, and mustard. Mouth-watering and more than filling, even for a smash burger, we were surprised at both the inexpensive cost and the quality. We paired our burger with the cookies & cream milkshake ($6.99), also delightful, but the star of the show was the thin-cut fries ($3.99). Like the type everyone seems to crave from McDonald’s, they were served hot and salty.

If you’re feeling more upscale, you can opt for the Wagyu Louie ($16.86), which was recognized as the “Very Best Burger” at the 2025 South Beach Wine & Food Festival’s Burger Bash. This double-patty award winner features smoked gouda, truffle aioli, and a jalapeño relish. Other alternatives include the Skinny Louie cheeseburger ($7.49 single patty, $10.49 for double), crowned with double American cheese, grilled onions, and Louie Sauce, and the applewood bacon burger ($8.49, $11.49), which replaces the grilled onions with crispy bacon.

Founded by Argentinian Gonzalo Rubino, Skinny Louie now has five establishments, with more sites opening soon in South Florida. ■

NOW ON GIRALDA PLAZA: AT SKINNY LOUIE, WE ORDERED THE AMERICAN STAPLE, A CLASSIC DOUBLE BURGER AND THIN-CUT FRIES.

People

FEATURING:

Photo by Rodolfo Benitez

MAURICIO VIVERO

WENDY KORNFIELD

MARKHAM CRONIN

MAURICIO VIVERO, CEO OF THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

With decades of service in the nonprofit world, Mauricio Vivero has helped channel more than $200 million in philanthropic grants worldwide. A Cuban native, Vivero fled the Castro regime with his family in 1970 and moved to New York. In 1981, his family moved to Miami, which Vivero has made his home, despite a career that has taken him across the United States. As a student, he attended Miami Dade College and Florida International University before earning a law degree from Creighton University in Omaha. When an opportunity to head the Seattle International Foundation appeared, he took a turn away from law into the nonprofit world, running the organization for nine years before going on to advise others like Segal Philanthropies, the National Council of Nonprofits, Guidestar, and the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest. He most recently served as head of partnerships for a private family foundation in New York City and as corporate secretary of the Global Impact Social Welfare Fund.

“AS A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, BY DEFINITION, WE’RE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY...”

Mauricio Vivero

CEO, CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

On June 2, Vivero was named the new CEO of the Coral Gables Community Foundation (CGCF), after Mary Snow, a longtime fixture of the CGCF, stepped down. Vivero plans to continue to expand the Foundation’s scholarship program, which recently awarded a record-breaking $3.25 million to local high school students.

WHAT HE SAYS

“As a community foundation, by definition, we’re responsive to the needs of the community, and that means both needs that can be addressed through philanthropy as well as the needs and desires of the donors and residents,” says Vivero. “I really want to focus on [the scholarship program] because we have substantive leadership on education. The other focus of the work will be providing excellent service and being a great partner for families or companies that want to have an impact.” – Kylie Wang ■

Photo

Rodolfo Benitez

Wendy Kornfield has always been drawn to creativity – particularly the kind rooted in visual storytelling, where color, composition, and form take the lead. She took every art class her high school had to offer, and when there were no more to take, she enrolled in courses at a nearby college. Later, at the Rhode Island School of Design, she majored in graphic design – a practical decision that offered structure and job security.

Kornfield went on to spend nearly 40 years working as a graphic designer, building a career that became increasingly digital. Over time, she found the long hours in front of a screen and the technical demands of the job left little room for creative exploration. When she retired, she began looking for something more tactile, something rooted in expression rather than execution – though she still takes pride in much of her graphics work, including designing the iconic Baptist Health pineapple. One day, she signed up for a watercolor class at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. At a moment when she was navigating both retirement and personal loss, the class offered instruction, but also direction. And watercolor, with its movement and unpredictability, gave her a way to connect again with creativity on her own terms. Since then, Kornfield has turned her attention to painting the scenes around her: historic homes, gardens, and the everyday corners of Coral Gables.

Wendy Kornfield

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

“I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE EITHER CONNECT WITH THE IMAGE, OR THEY’VE HAD THAT PERSONAL EXPERIENCE...”

In 2024, Kornfield received the Coral Gables Community Foundation’s Corral & Cathers Art Fund award, which supports local artists who live and work in the city. The grant allowed her to participate in several art fairs, helping her connect with new audiences and share her work more broadly. Her prints and some of her original works can also be found for sale on the Little Local marketplace app.

WHAT SHE SAYS

“I left graphic design after nearly 40 years because there wasn’t much creativity left in it,” says Kornfield. “After I retired, I took that watercolor class at Fairchild, and I just fell in love with the medium. In my paintings, I feel like people either connect with the image, or they’ve had that personal experience. I hope that when people look at my paintings, they find something similar – a memory, an emotion. Something personal that comes back to them.”– Amanda Martell ■

Top producer Mauricio J. Barba has been a mainstay in Miami’s uber competitive high-end real estate market since 1994. Respected in his native community by clients and colleagues alike; he has logged top honors for elite performance in his field. Mauricio is connected worldwide but specializes in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne, Brickell, Village of Pinecrest, South Miami, Palmetto Bay/ Falls area and the Beaches. His expertise is demonstrated through his ability to facilitate trouble-free transactions winning him clients for life who also become friends.

Mauricio enters every room with confidence and professional approachability. But more importantly he is prepared and precise, saving you time and effort. Clients rely on him to deliver and he takes the responsibility very seriously. “People trust me with their single largest asset. It’s a role that drives me to push for excellence every day. I give 110% because my success is their success.”

“I was that kid who was always drawing on the walls,” Markham Cronin admits. That childhood passion for drawing was what inspired him, years later in his adulthood, to start Markham Yard, a creative advertising agency in Coral Gables. Before that, he spent nearly two decades in the creative departments of world-renowned agencies such as Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Carmichael Lynch, and Brighthouse, working with clients in every imaginable category, ranging from dot-com start-ups to Fortune 100 companies such as Coca Cola, AT&T, Delta Air Lines, Diageo, Home Depot, and Harley Davidson. Markham Yard, which Cronin launched in 2005, has picked up major clients like Virgin Voyages, Porche, Ryder, and City National Bank, as well as local customers like Visit Florida, University of Miami, and the Coconut Grove BID. This year, the agency swept the local Miami ADDYs and won gold for an animation it created for New York Blood Center Enterprises.

Markham Cronin

FOUNDER & CEO, MARKHAM YARD

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

“ I WAS THAT KID WHO WAS ALWAYS DRAWING ON THE WALLS...”

Markham Yard’s latest project is the creation of custom posters of Coral Gables for the city’s centennial, designed personally by Cronin. His designs for the City of Coral Gables’ centennial can be found (and purchased) on the Markham Yard website. One of them is featured on this issue of Coral Gables Magazine’s cover. Cronin, now a Gables resident of over 20 years, was inspired by the city’s legacy and the preservation of its history.

WHAT HE SAYS

“Our core philosophy is really based in the creative product and coming up with solutions that people choose to spend time with," Cronin says. "We have to reward people for their attention and the only way you do that is by creating something that entertains them or informs them or engages them on some deeper emotional level.” His posters attempt to capture “the sort of ephemeral, timeless aesthetic and philosophy that this community symbolizes,” he says. – Kylie Wang ■

COVERING A BROAD MARKET RANGE, COMMITTED TO HANDS-ON

Every

The Best of Coral Gables 2025

It is time once again to celebrate the best of the Gables. Each year we ask our readers, and our staff, to decide what is the crème de la crème, the jewels in the crown, the pick of the bunch – you get it – the finest our city has to offer in food, shopping, entertainment, and public spaces. With such an embarrassment of riches, it is no easy task to decide what makes the top grade. So we asked our readers (several hundred gave us their opinions) and then we asked ourselves (being students of the city we report on each month) to pick the best there is. Sometimes we were in agreement, sometimes not. Here, then, are our choices for 2025. And, as always, we welcome your feedback. Let us know what we got right, what we got wrong, and what we left out. Send your thoughts to: editor@coralgablesmagazine.com.

BEST FOOD BY TYPE

BEST BAKERY

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: BACHOUR

Chef Antonio Bachour is considered one of the best makers of pastries in the world. This is immediately apparent with his breakfast croissant, and even more so with pastries that are works of art – and which they package in Tiffany-blue boxes, like the jewels they are.

STAFF CHOICE: MADRUGA BAKERY

The fanatical following for Madruga Bakery is a testament to what a full-service bakery is all about, with everything from hearty loaves of artisanal bread to lemon poppyseed muffins –not to mention their cheesecake and apple pie.

BEST SEAFOOD

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: CALISTA GREEK SEAFOOD

Yes, they have spinach pies and baklava, as any good Greek tavern should. But they go deep into the Mediterraean seafood mix, with pan-seared branzino, grilled sardines, mussels “saganaki” (with feta cheese), grilled octopus, and lightly dusted calamari.

STAFF CHOICE: CVI.CHE 105

Peruvians are known for their seafood dishes, starting with the marinated chunks of fish known as ceviche. CVI.CHE 105 takes this to a whole new level, with colorfully plated dishes that infuse seafood with Asiatic sauces as well as traditional Peruvian flavors.

BEST SALAD

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: CRAFT CORAL GABLES

Forget your idea of the traditional green salad. These salads are wildly enhanced, by roast pumpkin, baked salmon, garlic shrimp, and pulled pork, with elements like cherry tomatoes, pickled cabbage, curried leaks – and some green leaves here and there.

STAFF CHOICE: PURA VIDA

The name says it all – the “pure life” – and the salads here rise to that occasion. These are salads – like the Thai almond with mixed greens, scallions, and red bell peppers, or their “citrus summer” with cucumber, grapefruit and mint –that make you feel healthier just eating them.

BEST STEAK HOUSE

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: RUTH'S CHRIS

Part of the national chain that prides itself on USDA Prime steaks seared at 500 degrees and finished with butter and parsley, this family-friendly atmosphere with a proper dress code also serves non-steak dishes like lobster mac & cheese, BBQ shrimp, and stuffed chicken breasts.

STAFF CHOICE: CHRISTY’S STEAK HOUSE

This is the real deal, what a steakhouse is supposed to be: red walls, a Cole Porter soundtrack, superb Caesar salads, shrimp cocktails, and impeccably prepared steaks. The only place in town that serves prime rib and baked Alaskas. A trip to another time, when scotch and martinis ruled.

BEST COCKTAILS

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: CEBADA ROOFTOP

The names alone may be worth it: the vodka/ ginger/lime/guava drink “Bro, Why Are Your Pants So Tight” or the tequila/lime/cucumber/pineapple/serrano peppers drink “Relax, It Only Tingles a Little” are just two of the extensive cocktail offerings.

STAFF CHOICE: ARCANO

Lucas Miller, the general manager of the selfdescribed “Hispanamerica” restaurant, invested serious time and engineering designing the cocktail selections here, which are both delicious and often come in fun, whimsical glasses.

BEST SANDWICH

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: SANGUICH

This is where traditional Cuban sandwiches have died and gone to heaven. All the classics are here, from Pan Con Lechon to Media Noche, with their special Sanguich de Miami adding a turkey, smoked bacon, swiss cheese monster to the mix.

STAFF CHOICE: TINTA Y CAFE

A truly neighborhood vibe, just off of Ponce de Leon in what was once a service station, with many inventive sandwiches, like their Madurito with plantains, pork, and caramelized onions, and their Francesita, with cream cheese, ham, and strawberry preserve.

BEST COFFEE HOUSE

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: GROU COFFEE

This cozy shop is one of the most welcome additions to the Merrick Park neighborhood abutting the Shops at Merrick Park, with specialty coffees and a cold brew that will perk you up on hot days – plus a co-working space so you can work as you imbibe.

STAFF CHOICE: CAFÉ DEMETRIO

Café Demetrio has superb Italian coffee-making machines, a sweet courtyard, and some of the most delicious brews you will ever taste, all in a historic building that was once the home of Miami News in a great central location on Alhambra Circle.

BEST PIZZA

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: CRAFT CORAL GABLES

Maybe it’s because Craft is essentially an Agentine restaurant, but its pizzas are born of the Italian immigration to Argentina that created its own pizza culture determined to out-do the za’s of their home country.

STAFF CHOICE: EMMY SQUARED

One of the newest entries into the pizza game in the Gables, this was the favorite pie place of the recently passed CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, Mark Trowbridge. Anyone who knew him knew that he was the ultimate foodie.

BEST COCKTAILS, STAFF CHOICE: ARCANO

COFFEE AT CAFÉ DEMETRIO'S

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: SWEET MELODY

STAFF CHOICE: SWEET MELODY

Yes, they have all the classic flavors. But this home-grown shop pushes the envelope with flavors (which you can buy by the quart to take home) like Abuela’s Flan, Guava Cream Cheese, and Café con Leche.

BEST HAMBURGERS

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: JOHN MARTIN’S Hamburgers are the stuff of pub grub, and no one understands that better than John Martin’s, where the burgers are big, juicy, and lathered with caramelized onions. Also, well-washed down with a beer on tap.

STAFF CHOICE: VINYA

We were as surprised as anyone else with the quality and tastiness of the burgers served at this establishment that prides itself on its selection of wines. A burger with a glass of burgundy? Go figure.

BEST RESTAURANT BY EXPERIENCE

BEST BREAKFAST

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: BIRDIE’S BISTRO

Formerly Burger Bob’s, this neighborhood favorite was reborn this year after a makeover by the city (which included a new bathroom!). What hasn’t changed is the old-fashioned approach to a bacon-and-eggs breakfast with toast, coffee, and a reasonable price tag.

BEST HAPPY HOUR

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: BULLA

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: NOMA BEACH

Hard to beat a sunset over the lagoon in Matheson Hammock, with most of the seating outside. Add to this the superb seafood dishes created by Chef Donatella (along with the world’s best meatballs) and you have an unbeatable date place.

STAFF CHOICE: FONTANA

The old courtyard at the Biltmore Hotel, with its Venetian fountain, is among the most elegant places to dine in all of the Gables. The menu is heavily Italian, with great pasta, but it’s the ambience here that will woo the coldest heart.

BEST LOCAL HANGOUT

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: JOHN MARTIN’S

The new owners of John Martin’s – one of the city’s oldest restaurants – spruced it up with new flooring, new bar, upstairs seating, etc. But it still wins as the best information hangout for the afterwork crowd.

STAFF CHOICE: THE BAR

Feels more like a dive you’d find in Key West or maybe yesterday’s Coconut Grove, this is where you come to drink and hang out with locals.

Maybe it’s the sangria or the jovial atmosphere around the 360 degree bar, but few places can match the exuberience here. Plus, in addition to drink discounts from 5 to 7 pm daily, they have an amazing happy hour tapas menu.

The large bar opens onto The Plaza Coral Gables, and its 5 to 7 pm happy hour runs seven days a week. Good discounts on classic cocktails, bar food, beer, and wine – plus, you can bring your dog.

and

BEST ICE CREAM

STAFF CHOICE: THREEFOLD

Owner Nick Sharp brought the concept from Australia: a place where breakfast is served all day, with the first avocado toast in the Gables.

It continues to attract loyal eaters with its salmon scramble, chili eggs, and lemon curd French toast.

BEST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT

STAFF CHOICE: AMERICANA KITCHEN

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: MIKA

Amazing interior

traditional flavors from the Coastal Riviera by way of a six-Miche-

BEST NEW RESTAURANT, STAFF CHOICE: SRA. MARTINEZ

lin-starred chef. A bit on the pricey side ($96 for Veal Parmigiana) but if you can spare the coin, the food is superb and the setting magical.

STAFF CHOICE: SRA. MARTINEZ

This long-anticipated Michelle Bernstein transplant from the Design District enhances the creative cuisine of the Gables, with unique dishes from this award-winning chef – like carbonara croquetas, wood roasted duck, and chicken liver pate on warm beignets. Plus, live music.

BEST FINE DINING

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: ZUCCA

Ultra sophisticated and now heir to the power lunch crowd that migrated from Caffe Abbracci, Zucca delivers a seamless fine dining experience with its Northern Italian menu – and its special dish of ricotta-stuffed zucchini flower.

STAFF CHOICE: TULLIO

You feel pampered here, with exquisite service and many of the ingredients flown in daily from Italy. A lot of table-side service for its dishes, which are driven by the seafood recipes of the owner’s Venetian family.

BEST OUTDOOR DINING

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: CEBADA ROOFTOP

The first rooftop restaurant in the Gables, it’s open to the sky – with a nice view of Giralda Plaza below. The menu is a Spanish-American fusion, with, strangely enough, some of the best fried chicken in town.

BEST PLACE FOR A FIRST DATE

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: CEBADA ROOFTOP

There is something about being outside with open skies and twinkling lights that takes away the pressure on a first date – not to mention the view of people passing below on Giralda Plaza.

STAFF CHOICE: AMERICANA KITCHEN

Again, it’s about the open space of The Plaza Coral Gables that takes away the claustrophobia of a first date, plus the amusements of people watching and public art worthy of discussion.

BEST LATE NIGHT DINING

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: STEPHANIE’S CREPES

Open till midnight, this is the place where you go to soak up some of that excess drinking with a nice crepe wrap that can be nutritious as well as dessert.

STAFF CHOICE: COYO TACO

Open even later, this is the last night nosh for the more seriously partying crowd that is still roaming the streets past midnight.

The big screens outside were shut down by neighboring apartment dwellers, but the big screens inside their cavernous interior make up for the loss. Add a huge selection of beer and you’ve got the best place to watch the Heat win and the Dolphins lose.

STAFF CHOICE: SPORTS GRILL

Lots of screens, with the sports events significantly enhanced by the best chicken wings in the city – baked, and not deep fried.

SHOPPING & RETAIL

BEST JEWELRY STORE

STAFF CHOICE: BOUCHON

This pantheon to classic French bistro dishes solved one of its biggest problems – a noisy

inside – with seating in the lovely courtyard of the restored La Palma Hotel just outside.

BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE GAME

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: FRITZ & FRANZ BIERHAUS

BEST OUTDOOR DINING, PEOPLE’S CHOICE: CEBADA ROOFTOP

TABLESIDE AT TULLIO

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: JAE’S FINE JEWELERS

A family-run shop that has been here since cars had fins, with a nice selection of vintage jewelry –and the ability to customize anything you want.

STAFF CHOICE: SNOW’S JEWELERS

Another long-time denizen of Miracle Mile, Snow’s has a special focus on diamonds. Its showcases glitter with rings, necklaces, and bracelets.

BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: NORDSTROM

The vast selection is one of the reasons why this was a first pick by readers. And there is something about a department store that is so wonderfully all-encompasing. Smells good, too!

STAFF CHOICE: ORIGEN

This boutique store has some of the most interesting new styles. Super colorful prints and dresses, bathing suits, footwear – all contemporary and affordably priced, in a comfortable, personal setting.

BEST FURNITURE STORE

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: CRATE & BARREL

It’s a national chain, so that means they can buy in bulk and offer reasonable prices – as well as appeal to the tastes of a mass audience.

STAFF CHOICE: FINE-LINE FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES

Always interesting, with many one-of-a-kind pieces and a complete selection that includes floor lamps, ceiling lighting, dining room tables, consoles, chairs, couches – even planters and boxes.

BEST PLACE TO BUY FORMAL WEAR (MEN)

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: MY GROOMS ROOM/SARTORI AMICI

STAFF CHOICE: MY GROOMS ROOM/SARTORI AMICI

The service here is extraordinary, as is the understanding of what works for a given client. The pricing here is also a consideration, with less expensive options – including special lapels that can transform a serious suit into formal wear.

BEST PLACE TO BUY FORMAL WEAR (WOMEN)

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: NEIMAN MARCUS

This national chain never fails to offer a vast selection of dresses in good taste. Their women’s department is an oasis of calm, with lots of off-the-rack that can be tailored to fit.

STAFF CHOICE: MAYDA CISNEROS COUTURE

When you want a one-of-a-kind dress that

is tailored perfectly to make the most of your physique, and from the finest cloth in the world, no one touches Mayda Cisneros, the goto dress designer for the Gables’ elite.

BEST MEN’S CLOTHING STORE

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: BOLADO CLOTHIERS

High-quality, hand-selected brands and custom suits, this is the kind of luxury clothing shop that you’ll find only in Coral Gables.

STAFF CHOICE: PEPI BERTINI

Pepi is the man when it comes to custom fitted clothing for men. Never considered the least expensive shop in town, but for quality, what matters the price?

BEST PLACE TO BUY GIFTS

A great selection of gifts that are affordable and cater to a more bohemian taste than some other shops, self-described as “whimsical” and featuring things like candles, stationery, and gourmet cookies – plus, gift wrapping.

STAFF CHOICE: ROSE TREE COTTAGE OR VIOLETA’S Rose Tree Cottage varies their gift selection for each season, with an almost overwhelming selection; Violeta’s tends toward the more pricey gifts that are pratically works of art.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: COCO BELLA

BEST PLACE TO BUY GIFTS, PEOPLE'S CHOICE: COCO BELLA

MAYDA CISNEROS

PERSONAL SERVICES

BEST FACIAL

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: SILVER MIRROR FACIAL BAR

STAFF CHOICE: SILVER MIRROR FACIAL BAR

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the prettiest girl of all? That would be someone who just came out of Silver Mirror Facial Bar, where the service is superb and the treatments personalized.

BEST MASSAGE

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: THE BILTMORE SPA

STAFF CHOICE: THE BILTMORE SPA

Is it the serene Old World setting of the Biltmore, far from the madding crowd? Or is it the staff that is trained to satisfy the most demanding of standards of the international clientele who stay at the Biltmore? The spa experience here takes you somewhere far away, deeply relaxing.

BEST GROOMER

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: DOG FROM IPANEMA

STAFF CHOICE: DOG FROM IPANEMA

Okay, so it’s located across the street from the Gables. But this locale for taking your beloved pooch for a trim, a bath, and nail clipping has

been the go-to place for discerning Gableite dog owners for years.

BEST DOG WALKER

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: EQUIPAWS PET SERVICES

STAFF CHOICE: EQUIPAWS PET SERVICES

This is the team of dog lovers who will come to your home to take your best friend for a stroll. Always friendly, always reliable, and always ready.

BEST HAIR SALON

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: AVANT-GARDE SALON & SPA

STAFF CHOICE: AVANT-GARDE SALON & SPA

If clothes make the man, then hair makes the woman. Here they take special care to create the look that will win the hearts of paramours, the envy of friends – or the respect of clients, if you want a more professional looking style.

BEST BARBERSHOP

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: THE SPOT BARBERSHOP

From hot towel shaving treatments to straight razor shaves, The Spot is "the spot" to go to for classic grooming services in Coral Gables.

STAFF CHOICE: NICEST BARBERS BARBERSHOP

What makes a great barbershop? Partly it's finding the barber who has your number, who

you come back to time and again. The other part is that you feel welcome in a place that is friendly in that old-fashioned way.

BEST MANICURE/PEDI

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: GLOSS NAIL BAR/GLOSS NATURALS

Nothing says sexy like a wickedly crafted set of nails. Theirs include the essential manicure plus an organic raw sugar scrub and a 10-minute relaxing hand and arm massage, finished with a butter hand cream.

STAFF CHOICE: MY TIME NAIL BAR

A great array of services and affordable prices, including a $15 manicure for little girls (under 10) and an Any Time regular manicure for $20. Of course, you can go more luxurious with hot towels, long lasting gel manicures, and much more.

RECREATION

BEST GYM

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: LIFETIME

STAFF CHOICE: LIFETIME

This is the place that has it all – huge selections of equipment, great high-ceilinged spaces, easy parking, and classes of all sorts to help you get in shape or bulk it up.

BEST DOG WALKER: EQUIPAWS

BEST YOGA STUDIO

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: TRUFUSION

Some like it hot, and this is the place for them, where most (but not all) classes are heated so you can sweat out toxins while practicing more than a dozen yoga methodologies with instructors who pace things to your skill level.

STAFF CHOICE: CASA VINYASA

Embracing a community spirit, the “guides” in this light-filled studio are so knowledgable about the practice of yoga that they also train instructors in the ancient art, which they make contemporary – and fun.

BEST PICNIC SPOT

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: MATHESON HAMMOCK

STAFF CHOICE: MATHESON HAMMOCK

And you thought that the Gables had no waterfront parks? Matheson abuts the great bay with its beachy lagoon and marina, where you can spread out with a blanket or find a picnic table with neaby grill.

BEST TENNIS COURTS

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: BILTMORE

STAFF CHOICE: BILTMORE

They are well maintained, with clay as well as hard court. Lots of easy parking, verdant surroundings, and pros on hand if you need instruction. The finest tennis experience in the Gables.

BEST PICKLEBALL

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: SALVADORE PARK

STAFF CHOICE: SALVADORE PARK

This craze has taken the Gables by storm, so

Salvadore rose to the occasion, converting several of their tennis courts for the practice of pickleball. Just make sure to make reservations.

BEST PERFORMANCE VENUE

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: ACTORS' PLAYHOUSE

Amazing productions of Broadway musicals on the main stage, and smaller more focused dramas and comedies on their upstairs stage, Actors' Playhouse is one of the cultural institutions that make it worth living here.

STAFF CHOICE: SANCTUARY OF THE ARTS

The most recent of the cultural venues to appear in the Gables, the Sanctuary filled the need for a stage where dance could be performed, as well as classical and contemporary music. No bad seats in this transformed church across from City Hall.

BEST LIVE MUSIC

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: ARMSTRONG JAZZ HOUSE

The owners here are devoted to the idea that Coral Gables should have a place where jazz can always be heard, any night of the week, in a packed space that feels very West Village. Young musicians perform the classic riffs.

If it’s Saturday night, then you’ll find us at the Globe – listening to Afro-Cuban jazz in a setting that feels like you are somewhere in Europe. Nothing else compares for a sophisticated jazz experience.

ARCHITECTURE & PUBLIC PLACES

BEST HISTORIC LANDMARK

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: BILTMORE HOTEL

The Biltmore is the icon of the city, the great hotel that founding father George Merrick built in the heart of what is now the historic section of the city. Extraordinary lobby with

STAFF CHOICE: THE GLOBE

BEST PERFORMANCE VENUE, PEOPLE’S CHOICE: ACTORS' PLAYHOUSE

bird cages and vaulted ceilings, not to mention the pool where Tarzan once frolicked.

STAFF CHOICE: VENETIAN POOL

Created from the rock quarry from which much of the original coral stone was cut for the first homes of Coral Gables, the Venetian Pool was also designed to look like an Italian canal, with gondola poles, waterfalls, and its own grotto.

BEST PLACE TO WALK YOUR DOG

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: GRANADA GOLF COURSE

The Granada Golf Course is the central park of the Gables, slicing right through its most historic section. Walking the perimeter with your dog is another way to experience this open space.

STAFF CHOICE: COUNTRY CLUB PRADO

On the western edge of the city lies Country Club Prado, which has a long, open green space between the streets on either side. A blessing for local dog owners.

STAFF

No other development comes close to the public art on display in the one-acre open space that creates The Plaza’s courtyard, from a golden sculpture taken from the streets of Chicago to the giant father-and-son mice in front of Americana Kitchen. Other fountains and sculptures as well, a veritable garden of art.

BEST PARKING PLACE

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: VALET ON MIRACLE MILE

The people who voted for this have obviously given up on what it takes to find street parking – or the patience to park in one of the many local garages. But hey, there is something to be said for convenience.

STAFF CHOICE: ALHAMBRA CIRCLE

Those who are willing to walk a couple of blocks to where the action is can always find a place to park on Alhambra between LeJeune and Douglas Roads.

BEST PARK

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: SALVADORE PARK

STAFF CHOICE: SALVADORE PARK

This is the park that has it all: tennis courts, pickleball courts, inclusive playground gear for everyone, a dog run for large canines, and more. The most popular park in town.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: THE PLAZA

CHOICE: THE PLAZA

BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWNERS

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: BILTMORE HOTEL

Maybe other cities have older landmarks, but few can match the majesty of the Biltmore. It also comes with three restaurants and a fascinating history, including the tower with its magnicent presidential suite, and Florida’s largest swimming pool.

TAFF CHOICE: FAIRCHILD GARDENS

South Florida has a semi-tropical environment that is unique in the nation, and nowhere is this better displayed than in the 80 acres of tropical plants that Dr. Fairchild brought from around the world to display here.

PEOPLE’S

There is a courtyard in back of this charming place that few know about. Now you do.

STAFF CHOICE: KADAMPA MEDITATION CENTER

Who knew there were monks teaching you how to meditate in a special place on the second floor along Miracle Mile? Now you do. ■

BEST SECRET PLACE

CHOICE: SOSPIRO WINE BAR

Capturing the Gables

And the winners are:

GRAND PRIZE: “SONDER” BY LOU LOZADA

GABLES OF THE FUTURE: “BRICK BY BRICK” BY

DAVID GARY LLOYD

(ALSO THE ACQUISITION PRIZE)

“A CHILD’S PRESENCE AMIDST CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE AND SCATTERED BLOCKS BECOMES AN IDEA ON IDENTITY, HISTORY, AND TRANSFORMATION.”

AI MEMORIES OF THE CITY BEAUTIFUL: “SELF PORTRAIT” BY

DIANA PERRY

“VISITING A FRIEND’S HOUSE WITH MY DOG… I WISHED THE STATUES WOULD COME TO LIFE AND I’M SURE HE DID TOO.”

Each year, the Coral Gables Museum holds a photo contest called Capture Coral Gables, in which photographers are invited to submit their shots of the city to a jury that reviews them for creativity, professional quality, and artistic merit – that ‘je ne sais quoi’ quality that elevates the photo from craft to the realm of fine art.

“This year, we received over a hundred applications, and it was challenging for the jury to select only one winner per category,” says Yuneikys Villalonga, director of curatorial programs for the museum. Nonetheless, the jurors (art historian Laurie Escobar, photog-

CURIOUS GABLES: “BURGER BOB’S”

BY CARLOS CAUSO

“UNFORGETTABLE, MEMORABLE. THE DAY BEFORE DISMANTLING BEGAN.”

CULTURAL FUSION: “KOMOREBI PERFECT DAYS”

BY MARTA TEJERA

“I WAS SITTING IN MY FAVORITE SPOT, ENJOYING A CAFECITO AND READING A POETRY BOOK AT GRAZIANO’S; THE BEAUTY OF THE MOMENT CAPTURED MY ATTENTION…”

rapher Victor Jaramillo, and artist/teacher Jessica Gispert) honed down the entries to winners in six categories: Cultural Fusion, Centennial Treasures, Gables of the Future, True Coral Gables (Social Media Photo), Curious Gables, and AI Memories of the City Beautiful. The museum also announced an Acquisition Prize, for the photo that will remain part of the museum’s permanent collection, and a Grand Prize winner.

This year, in celebration of the centennial anniversary of the city’s founding, the judges kept a special focus on the past, present, and future of Coral Gables. “This contest and exhibition are very dear to us and are at the core of the museum’s mission of celebrating the City Beautiful,” says Elvis Fuentes, director of the museum. The images were on display at the museum only through June 15, so for those who missed them, feast your eyes. ■

TRUE CORAL GABLES: “SPRINGTIME IN CORAL GABLES: THINK PINK!” BY VICKI CERDA

“WHETHER IT’S AN EXPLOSION OF BRIGHT CANDY COLORED PINK IN THE SKY, OR ON THE GROUND WHEN THE DELICATE BLOOMS FALL, THE SHAVING BRUSH TREE MAKES YOU NOTICE IT.”

CENTENNIAL TREASURES: “CITY HALL OF CORAL GABLES IN A CRYSTAL BALL” BY MARCO INZERILLO

“A HISTORICAL BUILDING REFLECTED IN A CRYSTAL BALL SERVES AS A POWERFUL METAPHOR FOR THE FRAGILITY OF OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE.”

Rebyl With A Cause

ONE WOMAN’S FIGHT FOR MIRACLE MILE

BY SALLY BAUMGARTNER

George K. Zain, the “father” of Miracle Mile, and his tireless wife Rebyl became a force in Coral Gables when they arrived in 1943. The pair had history dating back to 1930, when young Rebyl Silver first went to work for George at Zain Advertising System, the company the Lebanon native had founded in 1912 in New York City. She was 21. He was 42 and going blind. In 1935, he founded Zain Features Syndicate, which published Famous Comics. That was the same year that he married Rebyl.

For the next 30 years, George and Rebyl had an inseparable partnership. Though he was the man with the vision, Rebyl was his eyes. They moved from

REBYL ZAIN AT THE DEDICATION OF THE MIRACLE MILE PLAQUE

New York to Los Angeles in 1940, and then to Coral Gables in 1943 after he closed his advertising agency and officially applied for citizenship. They wintered in Coral Gables, and spent their summers in North Carolina, like most of the Gables’ “residents.”

The first cohesive plan for the development of Coral Gables’ downtown was conceived by Zain. In 1946, he patented the Zain Plan for Off-Street Parking, leasing the land he owned behind retail stores to the City to build the parking garages we see today, the first of which was behind 220 Miracle Mile, just west of Ponce de Leon. The concept was revolutionary at the time.

He also purchased a lot of land on Coral Way, making a big bet on the future of “the Mile.” He owned all of the property on the south side of the street running from Ponce to Salzedo, bought when Merrick’s creditors were selling out at half-price. He also owned the property in the middle of the 100-block beginning at what is now known as McBride Park (next to Barnes & Noble) to the corner of Galiano Street. After the war, and once development was underway, he and Rebyl enticed some of the finest retailers in the country – names like Hart Schafner & Marx, Elizabeth Arden, Adrian Thal Furriers, and Lily Dache – to open stores on Miracle Mile.

The pair devoted themselves to nurturing and developing the iconic main street that began at Douglas Road and ended at LeJeune. In 1955, the street was officially named “Miracle Mile.” The Zains quickly formed a Merchants Association and Albert

Friedman of Ro'al Fashions became the first President.

Rebyl took up the yoke of managing director – of everything George wanted. She even created special lighting for the Christmas season – giant red bell “lampshades” that went over the top of the streetlights on Miracle Mile and Ponce. Anyone flying into Miami during the holidays in the mid 1950s and ’60s would see a large red cross from the air. It ran north to south on

The pair devoted themselves to nurturing and developing the iconic main street that began at Douglas Road and ended at LeJeune. In 1955, the street was officially named “Miracle Mile.”

Ponce, from SW 8th Street to University Drive, and east to west on Miracle Mile, from Douglas Road to LeJeune. The streetlights were all changed in the 1980s and the bells can no longer be attached; they are stored today somewhere in the entrails of the City’s warehouse (or at least they were a few years ago).

George Zain passed away in September 1966 and Rebyl faced a difficult personal future. With property, assets, and a lifetime in-

LEFT: MIRACLE MILE JUST AFTER THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR

BELOW: MIRACLE MILE STREET VIEW, WITH THE COLONNADE BUILDING.

come, she had no financial difficulties, but for decades she had been George’s constant right arm – and eyes. She returned to Coral Gables from their home in Hendersonville, N.C. that year to bury her husband in his beloved city. She took an apartment in the David William, but without George, she felt purposeless. Her closest friends promptly began urging her to launch herself into community affairs. What happened was unpredictable.

In January 1967, she took over a vacant office on the second floor of 220 Miracle Mile. In the space of a few months, she brought new vigor and purpose to the failing Miracle Mile Merchant’s groups. Lee Baumgartner had just been installed as the president of the Merchants Association and she depended on him to bring the jewelers, clothiers, etc., together under the umbrella of the Association. Meanwhile, she coerced the mostly absentee property owners to create and implement a cohesive program for the revitalization and ongoing promotion

of Miracle Mile. Long before the BID (the downtown Business Improvement District), they created the Miracle Mile Association, a joint effort between the merchants and the property owners to promote and grow the street. She successfully raised more than $100,000 and conceived a year-round marketing and advertising program.

In June 1967, Rebyl wrote a song that was the basis for a radio campaign, inviting people to visit “World Famous Miracle Mile.” The song was recorded by the big band of Fred Smith, who was the musical director at the Coral Gables Country Club. The vocalists were Don Muller from the University of Miami School of Music and popular big-band singer Pat Lockwood. Rebyl then made a huge media buy and placed ads in 12 major markets just in time for the upcoming season.

But all the advertising and cute jingles weren’t going to make a difference if things in Coral Gables didn’t change. To Rebyl’s

Summer, winter, spring or fall,

Whatever your needs you’ll find them all

On World Famous Miracle Mile

A street of dreams.

A street of fashion news.

A street that has everything that everyone can use.

Summer, winter, spring or fall,

Whatever your needs you’ll find them all

On World Famous Miracle Mile.

IN JUNE 1967,

chagrin, things were moving way too slowly in the city. She attended nearly every community or business group meeting, raising questions, setting goals, and urging programs to spur more business activity. She talked about parking improvements, development, new zoning, liberalized liquor laws, renovation landscaping – virtually everything that she felt was needed to revitalize Miracle Mile.

The administration at the time included Mayor Jerry Dressel and Commissioners William Chapman, W. Keith Phillips, Joe Murphy, and George Wilson. They grimaced when her name was mentioned, and one day at a meeting complained, “Now she’s trying to run the city.” Rebyl took it one step further: When she found there was little or no inclination on the part of the City Commission to foster Miracle Mile, she decided it was time to back the “right candidates” for the future of the street.

Every morning at 5 am, Rebyl would visit her late husband’s grave. She would talk to him for a while, cry a little, then stuff the wet tissues in her bag and attend early breakfast meetings. After, she would hurry to the office to begin her day on the phone. She was determined to find a candidate who shared her vision, and she found him in insurance executive William H. “Bill” Kerdyk, Sr., brother of former mayor Frank Kerdyk. Despite the fact that Kerdyk was advised not to run for office, Rebyl changed his mind. She moved another desk into her 220 Miracle Mile Building office and made

REBYL WROTE A SONG THAT WAS THE BASIS FOR A RADIO CAMPAIGN, INVITING PEOPLE TO VISIT “WORLD FAMOUS MIRACLE MILE.”

it his campaign headquarters.

On April 3, 1967, Pat Murphy, editor of the Coral Gables Times wrote: “Coral Gables politics normally is almost like its streets: quiet, orderly, and unengaging. But the current city commission campaign is changing all of that and turning the campaign into a race with issues, rather than a match of club memberships between incumbents and hopefuls. It may also be a shift in the new voting power of Coral Gables residents’ moving away from the absolute domination of the traditionalists, with more influence and participation from the younger Gabelites with a view to the future. The search for the spirit, pace, and interest in this year’s elections rests squarely on the effervescent 57-year-old widow of G. K. Zain, who, five months ago, was ready to curl up in the corner and let the world go by.”

Politically, she was not afraid to tangle with anyone. She openly attacked Commissioner William Chapman’s views against relaxing liquor laws. She criticized the caliber and methods of city government. She cajoled, convinced, and persuaded nearly 20 civic groups – some of them with the narrowest of goals until she took charge – to sponsor a Town Hall meeting to hear the candidates’ views on the future of the city and the importance of the downtown business corridor. Airing the differences between the candidates was the turning point in the election and, thanks to her efforts, both Kerdyk and W. L. Philbrick were elected to the City Commission.

Rebyl was either liked or disliked –there was no middle ground. The dynamic, full-throttle thrusts for her projects upset people who didn’t want the status quo changed; her methods were unconventional and sometimes intrusive. But she didn’t care. In 1969, she ran and won the City Commission seat vacated by W. Keith Phillips, who became mayor.

The more involved Rebyl got in the politics of the city, the more she wanted to “make things right.” To that end, she decided she would run for mayor in 1973. In March

Rebyl was either liked or disliked – there was no middle ground. The dynamic, full-throttle thrusts for her projects upset people who didn’t want the status quo changed...

of that year, a month before the election, she learned that she had cancer and only months to live. With great regret, she withdrew from the election.

After hearing the news of her illness, her fellow commissioners voted her “Mayor For A Day.” And though the Commission believed that only portraits of mayors should be on display on the second floor of City Hall, Commissioner Bill Kerdyk, Sr. made sure a portrait of Rebyl (commissioned by the Ponce de Leon Development Association) became part of the lineup. Rebyl passed away on July 9, 1973. Thanks to Commissioner Kerdyk, her portrait remained on the walls of City Hall until the late 1990s. ■

TOP: BY THE 1950S MIRACLE MILE WAS A BUSY MAIN STREET WITH RETAIL STORES.

LEFT: MIRACLE MILE IN THE 1960S WITH CITY HALL ON THE HORIZON.

Home & Garden

The Best Back Yard in Coral Gables?

Cool (Designer) Pools

Secret Gardens

The Best Back Yard in Coral Gables?

One of the things that makes this back yard garden area so special is how it makes maximum use of a limited amount of space. Nestled within a lush tropical paradise originally designed by renowned landscape architect Raymond Jungles, the 1988 residence was already ahead of its time and has been thoughtfully updated to include modern finishes and appliances.

The pool area has a trapezoidal layout which abuts a small structure that contains an outdoor kitchen and bar, linked to the main house via key stone tiles that flow throughout the space, their cool beige surfaces enhancing the bright and open atmosphere. The use of dark wood for the outdoor dining furniture, with overhead pergola and globe lighting, contrasts with the bright flooring and marble bar.

“The landscaping is so rich that we have to trim it back,” says owner Susan Lewis. “But it provides a great background and makes it feel like we are in a tropical enclave.” The kitchen is more than just a functional space — it becomes the centerpiece of a outdoor entertainment area that embraces Coral Gables’ indoor-outdoor lifestyle with understated elegance.

Cool Pools

“The art of designing one of my pools is all about picking up details from the home,” says Ray Corral, AKA The Mosaicist, who has now installed his unique mosaic designs in more than 35 pools in Coral Gables. While his Gables-based company has created designs for pools across the country, Corral says that the Gables is his favorite place to install his underwater mosaics, because the historic homes here provide the most interesting palette.

“It’s the historical elements that I find fascinating,” says Corral, who founded his company in the Gables 30 years ago. Since then, he has completed 700 mosaics nationwide, all of which are composed of handmade glass tiles manufactured by artisanal craftsmen in Mexico. His team of installers, which he has recruited from craftsmen in Europe and the Americas, travel to their locations for the installation – after Corral does the design work himself, in consultation with the client.

“It’s very hard to find these sorts of craftsmen in the States, so I’ve had to build my team from overseas talent,” he says.

Secret Gardens

In the classic children’s book “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett, an orphaned girl sent to live with her uncle discovers a hidden, neglected garden. With the help of a neighborhood boy, she brings the garden back to life – transforming herself and others around her.

That's one take on the power of a secret garden. The other is from “Candide” by Voltaire, where the protagonist experiences a lifetime of calamities, including war, earthquakes, and slavery. After all his struggles, he ends up in a walled garden in Odessa and declares, “We must cultivate our garden,” and through it find meaning and solace.

Here in the Gables – thanks in part to our semi-tropical environment – the art of creating a garden is a year-round religion for some. They are not all public spaces, however, but often hidden enclaves, providing solace and solitude for their owners. Here, then, are a few of city’s hidden gems. And, of course, we won’t tell you where they are.

ABOVE: A SUNKEN GARDEN IN A HISTORIC GEORGE MERRICK-BUILT HOME NEAR THE VENETIAN POOL OPPOSITE TOP: A HEAVILY LANDSCAPED INNER CIRCLE HIDDEN AWAY IN THE NORMANDY VILLAGE BOTTOM: AN OAK TREE IN THIS SOUTH GABLES GARDEN, ENHANCED BY STAG HORNS AND MONSTERAS

Home Field Advantage

TO PROTECT LANDMARKS, LOCAL IS BETTER THAN NATIONAL

BY KARELIA

There is something of a misconception with local and national historic designations. The natural inclination is to choose national over local as the highest protection for historic resources. Not so.

A historic designation by the U.S. Department of the Interior on the National Register of Historic Places, although an important first step in recognizing a local landmark, is mostly symbolic. It does not provide any protection from future neglect or demolition. Administered by the National Park Service, it bestows a certain level of prestige to a historic site but little else. The best way to protect an important site is to designate it historic in the city or county where it is located.

A few decades ago, following a statewide mandate, Miami-Dade County passed a preservation ordinance that allowed cities to opt out of county regs and create their own historic ordinances, procedures, and boards. Coral Gables, Hialeah, Homestead, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Shores, Miami Springs, Opa-locka, South Miami, and Sunny Isles Beach did so. Indeed, Coral Gables was one of the pioneers in historic preservation; today, the city has a significant local process that protects historic sites, which in turn strengthens the local economy by enhancing property values. (A study commissioned by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that American towns which make historic preservation a priority enjoy an economic dividend.)

WHY – AND HOW HISTORIC?

Why would a property owner want his/her property designated as

historic? This is a moot question for any history lover, since historic designation provides protection for the property. No soft spot for history? Studies show that historic designation leads to premium property values, improves marketability, and may enhance financing options. However, there is much misinformation about what historic designation means.

Landmark Designation protects the historic integrity of a property but does not freeze it in time or prevent alterations or even major additions. Designation does provide for maintaining standards of work which respect the historical qualities of the property and requires guidance and approval by the historic resources department.

The first pre-requisite is age. The City of Coral Gables Historic Preservation Ordinance has among its requirements that the property be at least 50 years old or older. If old enough, it must then meet at least one of several criteria, including historical, cultural, aesthetic, or architectural significance.

Properties that are 50 years and older do not automatically qualify for historic landmark status. Each structure recommended for historic designation is assessed individually (as per City Ordinance) with no preference given to any type of architecture. In Coral Gables, residents enjoy landmark structures built in a variety of recognized styles.

The City of Coral Gables adopted its first Historic Preservation ordinance in 1973 in response to the community’s growing concern for safeguarding irreplaceable historic resources. In 1984, a revised and expanded ordinance was enacted by the City Commission and made part of the City Code. This ordinance established the Historic Preservation Board and added further protections to local properties. The ordinance is deemed one of the strictest in the country.

In order for a property 50 years or older to qualify as historically

MARTINEZ CARBONELL. PHOTOS BY VICKI CERDA

756 ALHAMBRA CIRCLE. ARCHITECT: L. MURRAY DICKSON, 1933

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significant, it first goes through rigorous research by city staff. Their findings may or may not qualify the property as historic. However, if staff finds the property meets at least one of the criteria (historical, cultural, aesthetic, or architectural significance) for designation, staff creates a Local Designation Report and presents the research to the Historic Preservation Board. This nine-member board has quasi-judicial powers to accept or reject designation. Only an appeal to the City Commission can overturn a decision.

The Historic Preservation Board has a directive to “preserve and protect historic or architecturally worthy buildings, structures, sites, quaint neighborhoods, and artifacts which impart a distinct historical heritage of the City.” Presently, there are over 1,200 Local Historic Landmarks listed in the Coral Gables Register of Historic Places.

HISTORICAL BENEFITS

Living in Coral Gables includes living with historical heritage. Residents living in a historic city usually choose it because of the fact that it is historic; its landmarks give a community a sense of place, identity, and stability. They also provide numerous economic benefits.

According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, historic properties appreciate at rates greater than the local market overall as well as faster than similar, non-designated properties. In study after study, the increase of property values in historic districts outperforms the market as a whole. ■

Karelia Martinez Carbonell is president of the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables, a 501c3 non-profit founded in 1991. The Association promotes understanding of the importance of historic resources and their preservation. For more information, please visit historiccoralgables.org

THESE HOMES ARE LISTED AS LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS IN THE CORAL GABLES REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. THEY ARE PART OF THE COUNTRY CLUB OF CORAL GABLES HISTORIC DISTRICT AND THE ALHAMBRA CIRCLE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS LOCAL HISTORIC DESIGNATION?

Local historic designation confers protection of properties that are designated historic by the Coral Gables Register of Historic Places. The process requires a public hearing at which properties significant to the community are nominated.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF LOCAL HISTORIC DESIGNATION?

Historic preservation strengthens the economy of the city by enhancing its property values in historic areas. Local tax incentives may be applied for improvements and, if approved, provide a tenyear freeze on the value of those improvements.

WILL HISTORIC DESIGNATION PREVENT REPAIRS OR CHANGES TO MY HOME?

Changes to a historic home are allowed based on their compatibility with the existing architecture. For example, an addition may be approved if located on a secondary façade that does not appreciably change the character of the existing architecture. Changes to a locally designated property must also comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

For more information about the designation process or about what changes can be made to a historically designated property, contact the City of Coral Gables Historical Resources Department at 305.460.5095 or hist@coralgables.com

1133 NORTH GREENWAY. ARCHITECTS: KIEHNEL AND ELLIOTT, 1923

1400 SOUTH GREENWAY. ARCHITECTS: PHINEAS PAIST AND HAROLD STEWART, 1929

Meandering Around Town #24: Walking Tour

AN ADVENTURE IN WHICH A FORMER MAYOR CONTINUES TO SEEK THE “SOUL” OF HIS HOMETOWN

BY DON SLESNICK

Ihave received some critical comments that some of my “rambles” are stationary site visitations which consist of very little physical “meandering.” Well, in response, as background for this installment, I donned my hiking shoes and strode around our fair city for several hours in the middle of a very hot and humid early summer day.

Let me explain. “Bike Walk Coral Gables” sponsors regularly schedule excursions around our community – usually on bicycles. But as the organization’s chairperson, Debbie Swain explains, “We are proudly celebrating Coral Gables’ centennial anniversary by focusing on the city’s 100-year history on all of our 2025 monthly educational tours. In May, instead of traveling by bicycle, we took a leisurely (but somewhat exhausting) walking tour, giving people a more intimate view of our city’s iconic historic features in the beautiful downtown business district.”

Earlier this year, Debbie “volunteered” me to lead the May edition of what could be termed a “forced march” loaded down with water and sunscreen. It turned out to be a wonderful day shared with an enthusiastic group of about 40 participants. We covered too much territory to recount all the sites we encountered, but there were many highlights.

To begin our adventure, we were greeted at the Coral Gables Museum by its director, Elvis Fuentes, who provided an overview of the building’s history and its conversion from a 1930s police/fire station to our own city museum. From there, professor Patrick Alexander, author of a recently published book entitled “Coral Gables – The First Hundred Years,” led the group along Salzedo Street, describing historic sites which included the 1920’s riding stables, the municipal bus station, the original Miami News building (now Café Demetrio), and the first City Hall (now the American Legion Post 98).

Next, we hustled south on Ponce to the 1925 H. George Fink Studio, which, in recent years, was saved from demolition by the city.

TOP: TOUR GROUP

BOTTOM: THE GORGEOUS ROTUNDA OF THE COLONNADE BUILDING WHERE SARAH ARTECONA DESCRIBED THE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES.

Waiting there to greet us was Michael Maxwell, Chair of the Coral Gables Historic Preservation Board. He gave us an overview of the building’s history and the impact that Fink had on the development of the City Beautiful. This beautiful example of George Merrick’s vision for a Mediterranean community is now headquarters for our city’s Economic Development Department, headed by Belkys Perez – who provided a guided tour of the interior spaces that have been restored to their original beauty.

We headed back to Miracle Mile to find Sarah Artecona, former vice president of the University of Miami, who offered a detailed history of the 1926 Colonnade Building, designed by Phineas Paist and Walter De Garmo to serve as Merrick’s original corporate sales office. As interesting as its historic roots was, the story of how it was saved from destruction by becoming part of the Colonnade Hotel project is even more fascinating.

Finally, the tiring group stumbled west along Miracle Mile to be greeted by Mayor Vince Lago and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson at our impressive 1928 City Hall. The building is undergoing a major renovation, but we were delighted to get a special behind-thescenes tour by the leaders of our Commission. What a glorious way to celebrate the Coral Gables Centennial – but also exhausting! ■ This column appears monthly by Don Slesnick, who served as mayor of Coral Gables from 2001 to 2011. For suggestions on where he should next meander in search of the city’s soul, email to: donslesnick@scllp.com.

LEFT: THE HEARTY GROUP OF WALKERS BEING GREETED BY MAYOR LAGO AND VICE MAYOR ANDERSON AT CITY HALL BENEATH THE EVER-VIGILANT GEORGE MERRICK.

GATHERED IN FRONT OF THE H. GEORGE FINK STUDIO ON PONCE WITH LEADERS MICHAEL MAXWELL AND BELKYS PEREZ.

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64 of the Best Restaurants

THE DINING GUIDE

July 2025

Each month we publish a select list of restaurants that we recommend for our readers. We cannot, of course, include the Top 100 each month, so this month we are featuring 64 of the best in the categories of American, Asian, French, Italian, Seafood, Spanish, and Pubs & Cafés. Next month we will include the best of Latin American and Mediterranean restaurants, along with some of our other perennial favorites.

$ ............ Under $25

$$ .......... $25-$40

$$$ ........ $35-$75

$$$$ ...... $70-$100+

Prices are per person for appetizer and entrée, without tax, tip, or drinks. Prices are approximations.

AMERICAN

Bachour

Chef Antonio Bachour was lured to the Gables by developer Armando Codina after winning the award for best pastry chef in the world. But this airy, industrial chic spot has become much mor, including the best power breakfast place in town, with amazingly good eggs benedict and challah French toast. Also open for lunch and an early dinner, with great Greek salad and roast chicken breast. 2020 Salzedo St. 305.203.0552 $$

Beauty and the Butcher

Michelin-starred Chef Jeremy Ford is no longer with Beauty & The Butcher, but Chef de Cuisine Jeremy Kermisch has proven himself an able replacement. The highlight here is still the Australian Wagyu beef, either as a filet or top sirloin, but the smoked lamb Denver ribs glazed by date honey BBQ sauce, with sides of pineapple jicama slaw and polenta bravas, is a real contender. 6915 Red Rd. 305.665.9661 $$$-$$$$

Cascade Pool Café

Handheld snacks and salads make up most of the menu here, with some nice entrees like a great poke bowl, turkey Cobb salad and a Caribbean grilled snapper. If you’re eating poolside, you’re probably more interested in the drinks though – of which there are many, including some frozen. 1200 Anastasia Ave. (The Biltmore Hotel) 305.445.1926 $$

Cebada Rooftop & Raw Bar

It’s hard to pigeonhole this rooftop restaurant by Chef Jorge Ramos (fresh from his acclaimed Barley restaurant

in Dadeland). He calls it “contemporary American with a Latin overlay” which means roast bone marrow with salsa verde and baby back ribs with pimiento marmalade. A good raw bar, a great view. 124 Giralda Ave. 786.409.2287 $$-$$$

Doc B’s Restaurant + Bar

Doc B’s Restaurant + Bar serves crave-able American fare dishes made from scratch daily. Offering brunch, lunch, dinner, and a solid happy hour, signature dishes include the Wok Out Bowls. But our favorites are the candied bacon, the oven-roasted chicken wings, and the Southern fried chicken. 301 Miracle Mile 786.864.1220 $$

Eating House

Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli’s maiden Coral Gables restaurant returned with fanfare after closing in the summer of 2021, this time on Giralda Plaza. Serving brunch, dinner, and a new lunch menu, the food here is an exciting stretch of the palate – like roasted Brussels sprouts with green goddess dressing. Try their prix fixe tasting menus. 128 Giralda Ave. 786.580.3745 $$-$$$

Emmy Squared

This Detroit-style pizza spot is the first of its kind in the Gables, featuring rectangular pan pizzas with thick, crispy crusts. We love the VIP, which is topped with crispy slices of pepperoni, spicy Calabrian chiles, and parsley pesto, and features a sesame seed crust and a homemade vodka sauce base. There’s also an award-winning burger! 230 Miracle Mile. 786.607.3669 $$

Fairway

Though the food is great, and the drinks even more so, it’s the ambience and the views that wow at this golfer’s paradise by the Biltmore Hotel’s golf course. Sunset views of the course and a beautiful outdoor patio pair with an airy interior – plus the best BLT in Miami. All-day breakfast items are a huge plus. 1200 Anastasia Ave. (The Biltmore Hotel). 305.445.8066. $$

The Globe

The Globe is a Gables icon, and

one of the coolest places to eat in the city – assuming you like a smart, Euro-style bistro. Decorated with classic paintings (and globes over their old-world bar), the menu is mostly American dishes – salads, burgers, fish, steaks, etc. – perfected over the years. Best conch fritters. 377 Alhambra Circle 305.445.3555 $$

Hillstone

There are very few restaurants in the Gables where clients will wait in a line outside. Hillstone is one of them. A power lunch spot, a happy hour singles anchor, and a family restaurant at night, the food and service are consistently top notch, with an elegant interior that is both comfortable and sophisticated at the same time. 201 Miracle Mile. 305.529.0141 $$$

John Martin’s

The venerable pub that closed during COVID has returned, updated as a “21st century” Irish pub. This means a bright new bar and lots of light from floor-to-ceiling windows. Along with the new look is a significantly upgraded menu, with things like Guinness-glazed meatballs and duck flatbread added to the Shepherd’s pie. 253 Miracle Mile. 305.209.0609 $$-$$$

Seasons 52

The restaurant for healthy eaters who enjoy quality as well. The menu, changing four times a year with each season, is always full of inventive treatments for fresh veggies, soups, and salads. Their fish and meat dishes are great values, and the flatbread menu is a nice touch. It’s a chain, but we forgive them. 321 Miracle Mile 305.442.8552 $$

Tap 42

Tap 42 is big, noisy, and fun, with a huge island bar and lots of booths. Reliably good ribs, steaks, and burgers, and it shines in the sides (roasted brussels sprouts with maple mustard, truffle mac & cheese with parmesan crust). Nice random Asian dishes (grilled salmon Zen bowl, Asian coleslaw) and a good happy hour. 301 Giralda Ave. 786.391.1566 $$-$$$

The Collab

When we first heard Chef Niven Patel was leaving his two concepts at the THesis Hotel, Orno and Mamey, we were despondent. But we’re happy to report that Orno’s replacement, Chef Nicolas Mazier’s The Collab, is a gastronomic success. We love the beef tartare, served on bite-sized pieces of crispy bao buns and combined with black garlic aioli, pickled mustard seeds, chives, and an onion jam that elevates the beef to culinary heaven. 1350 S Dixie Hwy. (THesis Hotel). 305.667.6766. $$$

Vinya Table

A wine lover’s retreat and former pop-up, Vinya is a full restaurant with seafood, pasta, charcuterie, and a 42-ounce tomahawk steak, among other meats. But if you’re not looking at the wine list first, you might be in the wrong place. Categorized by region, rarity, price, flavor profile, winemaking, and varietal, Vinya has wines for every kind of sommelier wannabe and then some. 266 Miracle Mile. 305.203.4229 $$-$$$

Yard House

A cavernous space with huge screens for sports fans, oversized paintings, classic rock in the background, and large booths, all making for a comfortable space in which to pick and choose from an immense and reliable menu of American classics with Asian dishes interspersed. Literally something for everyone, and great selection of beer on tap and bottled. 320 San Lorenzo Ave. 305.447.9273 $$

ASIAN

Benihana

There’s nowhere else in Coral Gables where you can see an onion volcano made at your table, and that kind of showmanship is why we can’t help but love Benihana. Great place for a kid’s birthday – or just to have some fun – with hibachi steak and teriyaki chicken. 242 Miracle Mile. 305.567.2000. $$-$$$

Ichimi

This off-Mile eatery has developed a

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cult following, with diners content to stand in line and stare just for the opportunity to eat Ichimi’s ramen and rice bowls. And the wait is worth it. Delicious, rich, and faraway flavors in dishes you can’t find just anywhere, in a raw, cool space. Pro tip: try the scallion pancake. 2330 Salzedo St. 305.960.7016 $-$$

KAO Sushi & Grill

Not sure of the vibe here – the décor inside feels oddly like you’re in Las Vegas – but the outside seating on the Mile is quite nice. Menu-wise, there are specialty rolls with an interesting Peruvian spin that includes a wide selection of ceviche, along with empanadas and chorizo. 127 Miracle Mile. 786.864.1212 $$

Khaosan Road

Formerly Bangkok, Bangkok, this Giralda Plaza mainstay – with plenty of outdoor tables – has reinvented itself as the new home for Thai street food. Think you know Thai food? Be prepared for new and delicious tastes, from curry street sausage to the best crispy duck. 157 Giralda Plaza. 305.444.2397 $$

Kojin 2.0

There must be something in the air at 804 Ponce de Leon, the spot which formerly hosted Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli’s Eating House and Chef Michael Bolen’s Lion & The Rambler. Today, the address belongs to Kojin 2.0, where you can find twicecooked chicken, scallops with white bean sauce and pork, and a Japanese take on the traditional chicken sandwich. Tasting menus from $85-plus with constantly changing ingredients. 804 Ponce de Leon. 786.747.1404 $$$

Su Shin Izakaya

Located across the street from the Colonnade building, this tiny, bustling Japanese restaurant serves a great bento box – along with an impressive array of daily specials that are posted on the wall in chalk. Super popular lunch spot, for good reason – a much deeper take on Japanese food than just sushi and rolls. 159 Aragon Ave. 305.445.2584 $$

Mai Sushi Tapas & Bar

A large portion of the menu here is on sticks, a variety of skewers and sushi pintxos inspired by the Spanish bar snacks but reinvented to spotlight sea ingredients like freshwater eel, sea urchin, and octopus. And as the name suggests, there’s sashimi – both traditional and elevated – and beverages made with shochu, the distilled Japanese spirit. 98 Miracle Mile. 206.696.0674 $$-$$$

Malakor Thai Isaan

This eatery on Miracle Mile prides itself on delivering true, tasty Thai food. That means pork skewers with sticky rice, grilled fatty pork neck sliced and tossed with lime juice, or the Gang Aom, a Thai curry with fish sauce, dill and herb paste. And they can really spice it up. 90 Miracle Mile 786.558.4862 $$

Moon Thai & Japanese

Can’t decide between Japanese or Thai food? No problem. Here, you can have a Japanese house salad or miso soup as an appetizer and Pad Thai as an entrée. Truly the best of both worlds. Comfy booths inside and umbrella-covered outdoor tables. Across the street from UM. 1118 S. Dixie Hwy. 305.668.9890 $$

Namaste

Hidden on a side street off Ponce, the last standing Indian restaurant in the Gables is small and humble (“namaste” means “I bow to you”) yet superb in its

rendering of classic Indian dishes, from tandoris to biryanis. Our favorite is the mango curry chicken, followed by the chef’s special black pepper shrimp. 221 Navarre Ave. 786.534.2161 $$

Osumi

Offering elevated Japanese-American fusion cuisine with a Latin flair, this cocktail and sushi bar pulls out all the stops to cater to Gableites, from its sophisticated low-light ambiance to its signature drinks by mixology masters from Café La Trova. The star here is the Tuna Sumibiyaki ($22), made up of thin slices of tuna laid in a creamy sesame sauce and topped with Asian pear and cassava chips.110 Giralda Ave. 786.452.9902. $$$

Sakura Japanese

A vast menu for rolls, along with selections of noodles, yakitori, katsu, tempura, teriyaki, etc. But they serve some of the best sushi and sashimi in town, if raw fish is your thing. We also love their seating – a half dozen alcoves that line the walls and provide a sense of private space. 440 S Dixie Hwy. 305.665.7020 $$

Sawa

Delicious take on Japanese flavors served in parallel with Lebanese Mediterranean, Sawa offers seating inside or outside at the Shops at Merrick Park. A vast selection of sushi rolls and tapas that range from chicken yakitori to octopus ceviche, along with super fresh Middle Eastern comfort food. Also has a doggy menu and late-night happy hour. 360 San Lorenzo Ave. (Shops at Merrick Park) 305.447.6555 $$$

Shingo

If you’re looking for a luxurious experience, consider the omakase menu at Coral Gables’ first Michelin-starred restaurant. Located in the historic La Palma building, the restaurant is the brainchild of now twice-starred Chef Shingo Akikuni, previously of Hidden in Wynwood. Every element of the restaurant is carefully curated, from the pristine 14-seat table to how each course is served. 112 Alhambra Circle. shingomiami.com. $$$$

Sushi Maki

Flagship of the Ng family food empire, Sushi Maki has some of the best sushi service anywhere, albeit in an unsophisticated space. No matter. Good prices, fresh fish and some over the top desserts to balance all that protein – like deep fried oreos. 2335 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.443.1884. $$

Zitz Sum

Brought to you by Chef Pablo Zitzmann of No Name Chinese fame, this “pop up” dinner restaurant off the huge lobby of the 396 Building is here to stay. The result of a year-long pandemic dive into dim sum by Zitzmann, the dumplings, hand-rolled daily, are superb. Other menu items are highly inventive and flavorful. 396 Alhambra Circle.

786.409.6920 $$-$$$

Bouchon Bistro

Michelin-starred Chef Thomas Keller is considered one of the top masters of French cuisine in the country, which he proves with aplomb at his latest venture into traditional French fare. With romantic courtyard seating outside at the restored La Palma Hotel and an elegant interior, to sup in Bouchon is to dine in late 19th century Paris. Try the Poulet Roti and the rainbow trout. 2101 Galiano St. 305.990.1360 $$$-$$$$

Chocolate Fashion

Known primarily for its baked goods – in particular anything made with chocolate, including the best chocolate cakes anywhere in the Gables – it also serves up good basic French fare, with a couple of cute tables streetside. Good coffee as well, and an excellent place to break croissant for breakfast. 248 Andalusia Ave. 305.461.3200 $$

Frenchie’s Diner

A little on the pricey side, but really good bistro style dishes served from a new blackboard selection daily. Among our favorites here is the roast chicken, the sauteed trout and the bucket of mussels served with French fries. Sacre bleu!

2618 Galiano St. 305.442.4554 $$-$$$

Pascal’s on Ponce

Chef Pascal Oudin has been at his craft for several decades, and no one does better with haute French cuisine. His food is the stuff of legend, done old school style in a way that would make Julia Child jealous. His chocolate souffles are beyond compare and the good news is that they are now open for lunch. Great place of a special date.

2611 Ponce de Leon 305.444.2024 $$$-$$$$

Stephanie’s Crepes

It is a small, humble place off the mile, though nicely done with lots of woodwork. Their specialty is, of course, crepes, but done as a roll, sort of like a French ice cream cone but with sweet or savory fillings. Our favorite: Brie cheese with apple and walnut. The dulce de leche pistachio isn’t bad either. 2423 Galiano St. 786.402.1732 $

Sweet Paris

The new home for that quintessentially French phenomenon: the crepe. And they have all the varieties here, from the savory chicken, ham, turkey, and salmon – even a Philly cheesesteak – to the sweet dessert crepes such as Nutella, dulce de leche, and our favorite: lemon with whipped butter and a dusting of vanilla bean sugar. You can also get salads (goat cheese!) and paninis, all in a bright, open setting. 3005 Ponce de Leon Blvd. (The Plaza Coral Gables). 786.360-3519 $$

ITALIAN

450Gradi

With so many Italian restaurants in Coral Gables, it’s incredible how hard it is to find a good slice of pizza. But 450 Gradi’s pizzas are wonderfully inventive and deliciously layered, featuring ingredients like Italian buffalo cheese, basil pesto, pork cheek, and truffle cream. Under the direction of Chef Antonio, dishes like the branzino, veal, and salmon filet are equally full of panache. 130 Miracle Mile #101. 786.391.1276 $$$

Bugatti

Bugatti prides itself on its pasta – and for good reason, since the restaurant started as a pasta factory. The décor is simple and contemporary, with lots of booths, and the service is crisp and superb, with most of the staff having worked here for over a decade. The dinner menu is straightforward, with pasta dishes under $20 and entrees under $30. And as many dessert listings (12) as pasta choices. 2504 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.441.2545 $$

Caffe Abbracci

A Gables icon, Nino Pernetti’s Italian restaurant is both a power lunch favorite for the business elite and a cozy evening gathering place for families and couples. Abbracci is quiet and elegant, and the food

FRENCH

Congratulations to The City Beautiful as we commemorate and celebrate a century of rich history. The Biltmore is proud to be the iconic epicenter of one of America’s ﬁrst planned cities. Here’s to another 100 great years.

is so consistently good that Pernetti had to publish his own cookbook. Plus, unique sound dampers mean you can always be heard. 318 Aragon Ave. 305.441.0700 $$$

Caffe Vialetto

Not a huge menu, but when it comes to risotto, pappardelle, fettuccini, and ravioli, they do it right. And we love their Wednesday and Thursday “family” dinners for $100, with lots of great dishes, that serve four or five diners. Reservations required, always full. 4019 Le Jeune Rd. 305.446.5659 $$$

Fontana

The ambiance is as elegant as it comes: the Biltmore’s famed fountain courtyard. You can sit under the stars, in a covered archway, or inside to enjoy classic Italian dishes. Fresh ingredients, from the salads to the homemade pasta. Excellent seafood. One of the most romantic restaurants in the Gables. 1200 Anastasia Ave. (Biltmore Hotel) 305.913.3200 $$$

Fugato

They will tell you they serve “continental” fusion cuisine, and yes, there is a touch of French and Spanish cooking here. But the chicken Florentine, ravioli aragosta, ravioli zucca, golden calamari, and veal ossobuco say otherwise. Well-prepared dishes in an intimate setting make this a romantic choice. 325 Alcazar Ave. 786.420.2910 $$$-$$$$

Fratellino

Small, family-run, with a fanatically loyal fan base and brilliant Italian comfort food. The long narrow set up with tile floors, wooden chairs, and tablecloths makes it feel like New York’s Little Italy. Their calamari, in any variation, is superb, as is the fettuccine with prosciutto, mushrooms, and green peas. 264 Miracle Mile. 786.452.0068 $$$

Il Duomo Dei Sapori

Yet another entry into Coral Gables’ spate of Italian eateries, Il Duomo Dei Sapori appears to have simply materialized as a fully formed fine dining restaurant on Ponce. Our favorite here is the chicche di patate al tartufo ($35), which is code for “creamy gnocchi with truffle.” Excellent cuisine. 2312 Ponce de Leon. 305.381.5604 $$$-$$$$

Luca Osteria

An Italian fine dining spot by local celebrity Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli (Eating House), Luca Osteria is a reservation-only hit for dinner on Giralda Plaza. Rapicavoli’s inventive take on classic Italian food is fresh and new; the pasta al limone and mortadella toast with fig balsamic are just the beginning. Great Italian cocktails. 116 Giralda Ave. 305.381.5097 $$$-$$$$

Portosole

When they bring the pecorino cheese

wheel to the table to toss your pasta, you’re in heaven. Short of that, they do a fine job with the fritto misto, a mixture of calamari, shrimp, filet of sole, tiny artichokes, and zucchini, all lightly fried. Equally appetizing is the fresh burrata with heirloom tomatoes, a deceptively simple salad of tomato and burrata cheese. 2530 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 786.359.4275 $$$

Salumeria 104

Trattoria-style Salumeria is now two years old, with a loyal clientele, especially at lunchtime. Partly, that is because the food and ambience is authentically Northern Italian and rustic. It may also be thanks to their inventive pastas, and sandwiches of artisan cured meats, always fresh and flavorful. Those sliced salumi meats are buono! 117 Miracle Mile. 305.640.5547 $$

Terre Del Sapore

Terre started out as primarily a pizza place, and their Neapolitan style pizza – cooked in a massive wood-burning over – won the Best Pizza in the Gables from Coral Gables Magazine. Now they have expanded to include a signature osso Bucco, along with an array of pasta dishes. Nice seating outside as well. 246 Giralda Ave. 786.870.5955 $$

Tullio

The brainchild of Lucio Zanon and his son Sebastiano – who previously

launched Portosole – Tullio is Italian cuisine with a northern Venetian sensibility, a focus on seafood, and some very inventive pasta dishes. The fish is exceptionally fresh, the branzino flown in from the waters of Italy, the shrimp from the waters of Argentina, and the lobster from the waters of Maine. Winner of Coral Gables Best Fine Dining 2024 award, always a table-side show of impeccable hospitality. 2525 Ponce de Leon. 305.926.4208 $$$-$$$$

Zucca

Located at the elegant St. Michel hotel, this is a star in the galaxy of Italian eateries in the Gables. Distinctly northern Italian, with recipes that Chef Manuel Garcia developed in a career that included the legendary Casa Tua on Miami Beach. Modern Italian design, sophisticated, with great service. Moving to the Regency Parc development in 2026, but for now still in the old hotel – and the hands down power lunch place in town. 162 Alcazar Ave. 786.580.3731 $$$-$$$$

SEAFOOD

MesaMar

Some of the best – if not THE best – seafood in the Gables with inventive fusions between Peruvian and Japanese cuisine. Their fish is caught daily in local waters and brought to your table for inspection. The whole

fried fish is a marvel. Also, make sure to try the lobster tacos and the rock shrimp with mushrooms and ponzu sauce. 263 Giralda Ave. 305.640.8448 $$$

NOMA Beach at Redfish

Redfish is born again, this time as NOMA Beach at Redfish, under the command of celebrity chef Donatella Arpaia. The pricey haute cuisine of Chef Adrianne has been replaced with simpler, more moderately priced dishes that feel much closer to the old Redfish, albeit with an Italian seafood spin. Award winning meatballs and romantic views of the bay that are unbeatable. 9610 Old Cutler Rd. 305.668.8788 $$$

Sea Grill

Sea Grill is a popular weekend destination for lovers of Mediterranean seafood. A large, brightly lit and futuristic space with lots of energy, it serves fish that is caught in the Aegean Sea and flown to the Gables. Their octopus, which takes two days to prepare, is simply the best. Lots of outdoor seating, big screens inside showing visions of Greece. 4250 Salzedo St. (Shops at Merrick Park) 305.447.3990 $$$

SPANISH

Bulla Gastrobar

As valued for its cocktails as for

its tapas, Bulla is also something Coral Gables needs – an informal, smart neighborhood hangout with a young, boisterous vibe. Great “small plates” and refreshing sangria. Yes, it is a national chain, but it still feels local. 2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.441.0107 $$

La Taberna Giralda

Routinely rated among the top tapas places in South Florida, La Taberna brings the added twist of a chef from Galicia, who puts his own regional spin on the dishes. It’s a small place with a neighborhood vibe, orange walls, string lights and live flamenco on the weekends ($5 cover), so reservations are a must. Great lunch specials. 254 Giralda Avenue 786.362.5677 $$

Tabanco

The newest edition to Coral Gables’ tapas scene has arrived. Tabanco has all of the usual suspects: croquetas, patatas bravas, Jamón Iberico, etc., most under $17, except for the Iberico slices. Our favorite dish is the puntas de Ssolomillo entrée, an Iberian pork tenderloin that comes swimming in a Cabrales blue cheese sauce. With hand-cut potatoes on the side, a perfect bite is a combination of each of the three elements. 327 Alhambra Cir. 786.449.5203 $$$

PUBS & CAFES

Bagel Emporium

And you thought all the great Jewish delis had disappeared. Not this one. Rated the best bagels and deli sandwiches in Miami, it’s also a great breakfast spot (waffles, blintzes, French toast). But this is where you come for a real pastrami or corned beef sandwich on rye. Yes, $20 a pop, but a time machine to New York’s lower East Side. Soon to relocate to Ponce de Leon Blvd. 1238 S. Dixie Highway. 305.666.9519 $$-$$$

Café at Books & Books

Healthy eats and a beautiful (mostly) shaded outdoor courtyard make this the perfect place for a quick catch-up or a solo lunch with a good book. Live music on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights gives this bookstore café a touch of the romantic. 265 Aragon Ave. 305.448.9599 $$

Fritz and Franz Bierhaus

Be transported from Coral Gables to Oktoberfest. Enjoy German comfort food like Weisswurst and Heringsschmaus and German beers straight from the source. Naturally, you must order a beer, but here you can have it served in a giant glass boot – and the selection, like the place, is huge, with outdoor seating. 60 Merrick Way 305.774.1883 $$

Sports Grill

A go-to spot for any major sporting event, but also a popular destination for any given night of the week. You don’t even need to look at the menu: the pub is home to the Special Grilled wings, dipped in their signature sauce, then charbroiled and lightly covered in a secret sauce. The Coral Gables Magazine winner for best wings. 1559 Sunset Dr. 305.668.0396 $

Threefold Café

You have to love a place that is dedicated to breakfast all day long. But who needs dinner when you can get shrimp tacos for breakfast, along with salmon scrambled eggs, chicken parma, and that Millennial favorite, smashed avocado toast? Also popular for Sunday brunch. And the coffee is some of the best around. 141 Giralda Ave. 305.704.8007 $$

Tinta y Café

Funky and comfortable, this former gas station turned Cuban café has 1) the best Cuban coffee, 2) great fluffy eggs for breakfast, 3) furniture that makes you feel like you are in someone’s living room, and 4) some of the most inventive Cuban sandwiches you will ever eat, way beyond the media noche. 1315 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 305.285.0101 $

ASIAN

Where Am I?

This mosaic is tucked away off one of Coral Gables’ busiest streets. If you know where it’s located, send the answer to kwang@coralgablesmagazine.com along with your home address. The first four winners will win two tickets to the Actors’

Playhouse or GableStage production of their choice in the coming season and the next 10 will receive two tickets to the Coral Gables Museum. Last month’s “Where Am I?” was the flower arch outside Sunrise Senior Living at 1000 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

As Iconic as the City Beautiful

Celebrating 100 Years of “The City Beautiful”

This year, Coral Gables marks a century of visionary design, community spirit, and timeless elegance. For nearly 70 years, Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables has shared that journey... mirroring the city’s commitment to craftsmanship and innovation from our first showroom on Miracle Mile to today’s iconic Salzedo Street location.

As Coral Gables looks ahead to its next century, we honor the values that bind us: quality, community, and excellence. Thank you for welcoming us into your story. Together, we drive forward, hand in hand, into the promise of tomorrow.

Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables. Our Star is Our Promise.

300 Almeria Ave, Coral Gables

A Century of Service

For a century, Gunster has played a leading role throughout Florida, providing strategic counsel to government entities, businesses, industries, and philanthropic organizations both within the state and beyond. With the recent addition of 14 attorneys from Katz Barron, we are excited to broaden our reach in Coral Gables. This expansion enhances our ability to serve clients and deepens our engagement with the local community.

As we celebrate 100 years of service, we remain dedicated to Florida’s future—strengthening our communities, bolstering our economy, and supporting the individuals and organizations who call this state home.

Gunster joins the City of Coral Gables in celebrating 100 years of service.