Where to drink in Coconut Grove

A tart frozen lemonade from the A.C.’s Icees truck at Kennedy Park is perfection during a hot, sticky Miami day. This truck, which also serves flavors like piña colada and cherry, has been around for decades pumping out the same refreshing rotation in the parking lot of the park, which itself is a Coconut Grove treasure. It’s cash only, so be sure to stick a few bucks in your pocket when you head out.

It’s decorated entirely with wood salvaged from a Florida shrimp boat. That should tell you most of what you need to know about Barracuda, a dive bar and grill with a more nautical twist than its nearby neighbors. A few dozen beers are on tap and by the bottle, along with brewpub food like the mahi sandwich on crispy garlic bread.

If Drake calls Choice’s his go-to vegan spot in Miami, then we’re following suit. This is the chain’s newest 2016 location and it’s a solid neighborhood addition, adding to the multiple healthy options in the historically granola neighborhood. We recommend the lentil burger smothered in their house-made tahini or one of their ginger soy lattes for a quick pick me up. Prices can add up, but their new lunch menu features several under-$10 meals.

There are a bunch of sailing and yacht clubs along South Bayshore Drive, but none of them have a view like Coconut Grove Sailing Club’s bar. The second-floor patio overlooks the harbor, and you can watch the boats come in and out of the dock while you sip a beer. Technically you need to be a member or guest of a member to eat and drink there, but if you’re not, maybe you can make some new friends by taking some sailing lessons there.

This is a Coconut Grove stalwart, especially for brunch, with dishes like cinnamon roll pancakes and Nutella french toast.  The plush couches are a great spot to kick back and have a coffee or drink if you want a break from roaming.  It gets packed for weekend brunch — we recommend making a reservation or eating late (they serve “breakfast” until 2:45 p.m.).

There are institutions and then there’s Sandbar. Sandbar has been a staple in the Grove for young Miami Hurricanes with freshly legal IDs for a couple decades. The bar recently went through a makeover on the “Bar Rescue” show, but let’s face it, sometimes you just want a good old dive with cheap, cold beer and some food to watch a game or chill with old friends. It may not be the coolest place in town, but Sandbar’s got those chill vibes down.

It looks like a dive bar, but Taurus is more complex than it seems. There’s an extensive whiskey list, proper cocktails offered by friendly bartenders, and a brewpub menu with offbeat offers like a scotch egg and an oyster po-boy. A block off the main action of the Grove, Taurus is a true locals hideout.

If you’re healthy and you know it, stop clapping and head over to The Last Carrot for fresh juices, vegan and veggie fare, and a few treats for you meat eaters. The pita sandwiches are filling and fresh and their green vegan salad dressing is so good that you’ll forget you’re being good to your body. All that hippie goodness is also super reasonably priced, but you need to bring cash to pay.

The dope dudes behind Lokal and Kush just opened their newest spot in the Grove, The Spillover. The locally-sourced seafood is muy delicioso. The shrimp tacos are pure perfection, but if you’re feeling super adventurous try the BBQ gator ribs. Veggie? No problem — they’ve got a yummy heirloom cauliflower soaked in their homemade Buffalo sauce. And be sure to try the sours and mead – they’re specialties.