Best Neighborhood Bars in Miami: Coral Gables
The Bar
172 Giralda Ave.
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 442-2730
www.gablesthebar.com
Decorated with that dark English pub feel that shies away from the sunlight, wooden oak booths, old bottles and stained glass lamps, The Bar surprises patrons with its dual personality. Early in the evening in a relaxed atmosphere you may sit at the bar and enjoy one of the largest variety of imported beers in the neighborhood. Later in the night, the volume gets loud and the bar area transforms into a dance floor. The Bar is not a dive where you may end up playing board games, but is intimate enough for a first date and warm enough to host a birthday party. The acclaimed Key Lime Pie is not to be missed.
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The Local Craft Food & Drink
150 Giralda Ave.
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 648-5687
www.thelocal150.com
Limited seating and cozy ambiance make this restaurant and bar a place where you want to meet with friends after work and unwind with a chilled specialty beer and some tapas, or as the The Local Craft calls it, gastropub flare. Frequented by a young crowd of twenty-something professionals that have share a passion for great American craft beer and conversation, this is a college student's dream bar. The 24 rotating taps means that there's always something new to sip on. Just save room for dessert––the bacon beignet with rosemary maple syrup and whipped cream is a must-try.
Tarpon Bend
65 Miracle Mile
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 444-3210
www.tarponbend.com
In Miami, a restaurant that's been in business since 1999 is the equivalent of an old staple, hands down. Part of a small chain, Tarpon Bend still maintains its warm and casual atmosphere, welcoming its aficionados mainly for lunch and happy hour. This is the destination on the Mile for oysters and seafood and its famous Thursday Mojito Madness.
Titanic Brewery
5813 Ponce De Leon Blvd.
Coral Gables, FL 33146
(305) 668-1742
www.titanicbrewery.com
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The original concept for Titanic Brewery was a maritime themed microbrewery, and it was then extended to a fish and seafood restaurant (even the menu has ships everywhere) and a stage for live entertainment. Understated, unpretentious and laid back are the best attributes of both the crowd and the décor, since the center of the attention is behind the bar where you can see the beers being brewed as you drink them. Titanic is that typical hangout place to meet friends after work or to chill after a fishing excursion. As a drink to choose, with The Sampler you can have a taste of six of the brewery's nine homebrewed beers to find your favorite.
19th Hole Sports Bar and Grill
Biltmore Hotel
1200 Anastasia Ave.
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 445-1926
www.biltmorehotel.com
19th Hole Sports Bar and Grill is the best kept secret in Coral Gables. Whether you are finishing up your 18 holes or coming out of the Baltimore Hotel's spa, 19th Hole is a pleasant venue overlooking the course. This is the perfect place to enjoy a quiet lunch or a chilled drink at sunset with pals. There's a spectacular view with a breeze and the waterfall of the pool serves as a soundtrack while enjoying a salad or a burger in a mini escape in your own backyard.
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Francesca Belluomini is a freelance writer covering all things Miami. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.