CocoWalk

CocoWalk is an open-air shopping, dining and entertainment plaza at 3015 Grand Avenue in Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida. Built around a central courtyard with Mediterranean-inspired architecture, it sits in the middle of the Grove's main commercial street, a short walk from Biscayne Bay and the Coconut Grove waterfront. The plaza has a mix of national retailers, smaller boutiques, restaurants, bars and a multiscreen movie theater, with a lively evening and weekend atmosphere. Unlike a luxury center, CocoWalk is aimed at casual shoppers, with mid-priced clothing, accessories, gifts and lifestyle brands, together with dining options that range from casual cafes to sit-down restaurants. The goods are mostly authentic brand-name merchandise, and the number of tourist-oriented souvenir items is small compared with South Beach. Prices are fixed and bargaining is not customary; sales take place seasonally. Cards and mobile payments are accepted nearly everywhere, and Florida sales tax is added at the register; the United States has no general tourist tax-refund scheme. The plaza's dining choices include restaurants with outdoor terraces and bars that attract locals, University of Miami students and visitors, and the evening crowd is often social, with live music at some venues. Typical hours are Sunday to Thursday from about 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Friday and Saturday until about 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM, though restaurants and the cinema stay open later and visitors should check the website. Weekday afternoons are the calmest time for browsing, and Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest. Parking is available in the adjacent garage, usually for a fee, and the Coconut Grove neighborhood has other garages and street parking. The plaza is a good starting point for a walk through the Grove, which has independent boutiques, galleries, parks and bay views, and on Saturdays the Coconut Grove Organic Farmers Market is held a few blocks away on Grand Avenue.