UM's Coral Gables campus sits on South Dixie Highway (US-1), and University Metrorail station is directly across the street. That one road does most of the work for students. The closest shopping is on the Dixie Highway side, and the train takes you to the bigger centers in a few stops.
On campus, the University of Miami Campus Store (Whitten University Center) covers textbooks, supplies and official UM gear. Across US-1, the Hurricanes Team Store (1340 S Dixie Hwy, Suite 120) is in the Thesis Hotel. A little further down the highway, the Publix at Riviera Plaza (1542 S Dixie Hwy) opened in September 2025 with a full-service pharmacy and a sushi counter.
One thing to know before you go looking: The Shops at Sunset Place, at US-1 and Red Road in South Miami, is slated for redevelopment. A March 2026 Miami Today report said demolition was scheduled to start in early 2026, with the first phase not due until 2029. Don't plan a shopping trip around it.
For official University of Miami gear, you have two choices. The University of Miami Campus Store is in the Whitten University Center and is run by Follett. It handles course materials as well as apparel and gifts, and orders go through its site at bkstr.com/miamistore. Hours shift with the academic calendar. Over the 2025 winter break it kept 10am to 5pm on weekdays, and it stretched to 9am to 7pm during the January 2026 national championship week, so check the store's site before a visit.
The Hurricanes Team Store (1340 S Dixie Hwy, Suite 120) is the Hurricanes' official apparel shop, just off campus in the Thesis Hotel. It stocks T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, jerseys and mini helmets. It is open Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm, with changes on game days. Before big games, both stores get busy, so go early in the week.
Groceries are easy. Besides the Riviera Plaza Publix (1542 S Dixie Hwy), there is Whole Foods Market (6701 Red Rd), open daily 8am to 10pm, and Trader Joe's (211 S Dixie Hwy), open daily 8am to 9pm with beer and wine. Publix doesn't post hours on its announcement page, so call ahead.
For move-in, The Shops at Merrick Park in Coral Gables is the nearest home-goods cluster. Crate & Barrel (358 San Lorenzo Ave) has tabletop, cookware and storage, Pottery Barn (358 San Lorenzo Ave #2115) does bedding and lighting, and Williams Sonoma (350 San Lorenzo Ave #2005) covers pots, knives and small appliances. Merrick Park opens at 11am most days. For a new laptop or a repair, the Apple store at Dadeland Mall (7535 N Kendall Dr) has a Genius Bar and is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 9pm and Sunday 11am to 7pm.
Dadeland Mall (7535 N Kendall Dr) is the everyday mall, a few Metrorail stops south. Zara, Aritzia and Garage cover most of a wardrobe, and DICK's House of Sport on the east end has athletic shoes, team gear and outdoor equipment. Mall hours run Monday to Saturday 10am to 9pm and Sunday 11am to 7pm.
Closer in, Merrick Park has lululemon (358 San Lorenzo Ave) and Sephora (358 San Lorenzo Ave, Unit 2100) for workout clothes and beauty restocks.
For books, the Books & Books flagship in Coral Gables (265 Aragon Ave) is the one to know. It has antiquarian and children's rooms, a café and author readings, and it stays open until 11pm Monday to Saturday. In Coconut Grove, the Books & Books on Main Highway (3409 Main Hwy) is open into the evening.
For thrift, ride to Coconut Grove for This 'N That (3155 Commodore Plaza), a resale and gift shop run by the Women's Fellowship of Plymouth Congregational since 1957. It keeps short hours, Tuesday to Saturday noon to 5pm.
- Hurricanes Team Store or the Campus Store: a UM sweatshirt or hat for parents and grandparents.
- Tiffany & Co. (342 San Lorenzo Ave, Merrick Park): the classic graduation gift, silver or gold jewelry. Open Monday to Saturday 11am to 8pm, Sunday noon to 6pm.
- gorjana (370 San Lorenzo Ave #2425, Merrick Park): layerable gold jewelry, with charms and pieces under $100.
- Books & Books (265 Aragon Ave): a signed book or a Florida title for a parent.
- Läderach (Dadeland Mall): Swiss chocolate bark and pralines for a host or a roommate's family.
All of these are in the MICHELIN Guide. In South Miami, Mano Libera (7201 SW 59th Ave) is the parents'-weekend dinner: Neapolitan-rooted Italian with pastas as the draw. Recoveco (6000 SW 74th St, Ste 1) is a small chef-couple restaurant with counter seats and dry-aged roast chicken, and Beauty & the Butcher (6915 SW 57th Ave) is a neighborhood bar room with a serious steak list.
On a student budget, go north into the Gables. Tinta y Cafe (1315 Ponce de Leon Blvd) is a Bib Gourmand Cuban café for café con leche, croquetas and the pressed 'patria' sandwich. Bachour (2020 Salzedo St, Ste 103) is a Bib Gourmand bakery-café for pastries and a short lunch menu, and Zitz Sum (396 Alhambra Cir, Ste 155) does creative Asian small plates. Near Dadeland, Ghee Indian Kitchen (8965 SW 72nd Pl) is a Bib Gourmand Indian spot.
Metrorail. University station is directly across the street from campus. From the station, the Hurry 'Cane Stanford shuttle runs to the Ponce Garage. The Shalala Student Center (1330 Miller Dr) is a short walk from the station. Ride one stop north to Douglas Road for Merrick Park, the free Coral Gables trolley up Ponce de Leon Boulevard to Miracle Mile, and the free Coconut Grove trolley. Ride south to Dadeland North or Dadeland South for Dadeland Mall.
The Coral Gables trolley is free and runs Monday to Saturday, 6:30am to 10pm, with no Sunday service.
Parking. Visitors park in the Pavia Garage (5615 Pavia St). Parking is paid daily from 8am to 11pm. At Merrick Park, the garage at 4251 Salzedo St is paid after the first 15 minutes.
