Bistro Café Downtown Miami vs Coral Gables: Which Location Should You Visit?

Bistro Café has two locations in Miami-Dade. The original Miami spot is at 1352 NE 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33132, close to the Adrienne Arsht Center.

The second one is at 4155 Laguna St, Coral Gables, FL 33146, next to The Shops at Merrick Park.

Both serve the same Puerto Rican-style brunch that made the brand popular, but the neighborhood, parking, and overall visit feel quite different.

This guide covers both side by side, so you can pick the one that suits your day.

Maybe you are catching a show at the Arsht Center, or maybe you are spending an afternoon shopping in the Gables.

Quick Comparison

Detail	Downtown Miami	Coral Gables
Address	1352 NE 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33132	4155 Laguna St, Coral Gables, FL 33146
Phone	(786) 533-3876	(305) 530-8193
Opened	Late 2019	March 2023
Listed hours	8 AM to 4 PM (some listings show 5 PM on weekends)	8 AM to 5 PM
Neighborhood	Arts & Entertainment District, near the Arsht Center	Beside The Shops at Merrick Park
Price range	$$	$$
Seating	Indoor and outdoor	Indoor and outdoor
Best for	Pre-show brunch, downtown visitors, cruise and hotel guests	Shopping days, Coral Gables and South Miami locals

Before you go: Hours change from time to time. Check the restaurant's Google listing on the day you plan to visit.

How a Puerto Rican Brunch Spot Ended Up With Two Miami Locations

Bistro Café started in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, around 2011. Owners Jan Karlo Ruiz and Tamara Pérez brought the concept to Miami in late 2019 and opened on NE 1st Ave in the Arts District.

At the time, they described the move as "an expansion of flavor and good taste."

The Coral Gables location opened in March 2023. Ruiz told reporters then that he brings the coffee in from Puerto Rico and keeps experimenting with it, mixing in things like caramel and Nutella.

He also summed up the all-day brunch idea this way: "You can have coffee at 5 p.m. or a mimosa at 8 a.m." That line pretty much explains how both locations run.

Breakfast items, sandwiches, and cocktails are all served from opening to close.

Bistro Café Downtown Miami (1352 NE 1st Ave)

This is the location most people mean when they search "Bistro Café Miami." It sits in the area between Downtown and Edgewater that locals call the Arts & Entertainment District or Omni.

What Is Nearby

The Downtown spot is a practical choice if brunch is one stop in a longer day. These are all within a short ride, and some are walkable:

Nearby spot	Why it matters
Adrienne Arsht Center	Brunch before a matinee
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)	Bayfront museum, easy to pair with a late breakfast
Frost Science Museum	Next to PAMM in Museum Park
Kaseya Center and Bayside Marketplace	Game days and waterfront walks
Miami World Center	Shopping and hotels a few blocks south
PortMiami	Popular with cruise guests on boarding day

Parking and Getting There

Parking information at this location is mixed. The 2019 opening coverage mentioned parking and valet service, and some listings still show valet.

Recent reviewers, however, say they had to use street parking a couple of blocks away. Plan for the street-parking scenario, especially on weekends.

Parking tip (Downtown): Give yourself 10 to 15 extra minutes on weekends to find a street spot, or skip the car and take the Metromover.

If you are staying downtown, the free Metromover is often easier. The Omni loop has a stop at the Adrienne Arsht Center, which is a short walk from the restaurant. Rideshare drop-off on NE 1st Ave is also simple.

Bistro Café Coral Gables (4155 Laguna St, Merrick Park)

The Setting

The Coral Gables location sits right by The Shops at Merrick Park, an open-air mall with a mix of department stores and dining. Descriptions of this location mention a lively, casual-but-polished room with both indoor and outdoor seating.

Its Google listing has built up a very large number of reviews since 2023, which shows how quickly it became a local favorite.

Parking and Getting There

Being next to a large shopping center makes parking here more predictable than downtown. Merrick Park has its own garage parking. It is also a better fit if you live in or around Coral Gables, South Miami, Coconut Grove, or Kendall, since you avoid downtown traffic completely.

Parking tip (Coral Gables): Use the Merrick Park garage and walk over. It is the simplest option on busy weekend mornings.

Is the Menu the Same at Both Locations?

Both locations are built around the same core brunch menu: scrambled eggs, omelets, pancakes, waffles, croissants, stuffed avocados, gyros, sandwiches, quesadillas, and the house Papas Griegas.

The dishes highlighted when Coral Gables opened, like the lomo saltado stuffed avocado and the Greek potatoes with lamb, feta and tzatziki, also appear on the Downtown menu.

That mix of Puerto Rican, Peruvian, and Greek flavors on one plate is a good example of Miami's fusion brunch style.

Here are some Downtown dishes with the prices listed on its delivery menu. Delivery apps often add a markup, so dine-in prices may be lower.

Dish	What it is	Delivery app price
Revuelto Clásico	Classic scrambled egg plate	$23
Panqueques Blueberry Cream	Blueberry cream pancakes	$27
Pistachio Pancakes	Pistachio-topped pancakes	$27
Romeo y Julieta	House French toast	$27
Trifongo & Waffles	Puerto Rican trifongo served with waffles	$37
Stuffed Avocado Lomo Saltado	Avocado filled with Peruvian-style beef stir-fry	$31
Grilled Cheese Pastrami	Pastrami grilled cheese sandwich	$33
Croissant Ham and Cheese	Ham and cheese croissant	$15

Reviewers mention portion size again and again at both locations. Many plates are big enough to share, so ordering one savory and one sweet dish for two people is a common approach.

You can get a sense of the plate sizes on the photos page.

Wait Times and Reservations

Both locations get busy on weekend mornings. Downtown reviewers mention waiting to be seated, and a gift card listing for the Coral Gables location says it does not take reservations and suggests arriving early on weekends.

Since booking options can change, call the location you plan to visit before you go:

• Downtown: (786) 533-3876
• Coral Gables: (305) 530-8193

Wait time tips:

• Arrive close to the 8 AM opening on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Weekday mornings are usually the calmest time at both locations.
• For groups of six or more, call ahead to ask about seating.

Which Location Fits Your Plan?

Your situation	Better choice	Reason
Seeing a show at the Arsht Center	Downtown	Walking distance
Visiting PAMM or Frost Science	Downtown	Short ride across Biscayne Blvd
Cruise boarding day	Downtown	Closer to PortMiami
Shopping at Merrick Park	Coral Gables	Right next door
Want easier parking	Coral Gables	Garage parking at the mall
Staying in Brickell	Either	Downtown is closer; Coral Gables avoids downtown traffic
Living in South Miami or Kendall	Coral Gables	Shorter drive

To compare Bistro Café with other spots around the city, the Best Brunch in Miami guide and Miami breakfast guide cover more options.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Bistro Café locations are there in Miami?

There are two in Miami-Dade: Downtown Miami at 1352 NE 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33132 and Coral Gables at 4155 Laguna St, Coral Gables, FL 33146. The brand's original restaurant is in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico.

Is Bistro Café Coral Gables in Merrick Park?

Yes. It is at 4155 Laguna St, beside The Shops at Merrick Park.

Which Bistro Café location opened first?

The Downtown Miami location opened in late 2019. Coral Gables followed in March 2023.

Do both locations serve brunch all day?

Yes. Both serve breakfast, brunch dishes, coffee, and drinks from opening until closing.

Is Bistro Café the same as the one in Puerto Rico?

Yes. The Miami locations are run by the same brand and owners behind the original Isla Verde restaurant in Puerto Rico.