Aguacate Garden of Love photo
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After a year-and-a-half hiatus, Aguacate Garden of Love has quietly reopened its doors in Kendall.
The Kendall Lakes destination began a soft reopening on April 11, marking the end of a long pause that left its dedicated local fan base wondering if the project would ever return to its original home at 12100 SW 43rd St.
The garden is back at its original home and the animal sanctuary, with its petting zoo and feeding areas for rescued farm animals, is fully operational and part of the experience.
Aguacate Garden of Love photo
Vegan Community Rejoices After a Bleak Period
When both Minty Z and Aguacate closed within days of each other in September 2024, it wasn’t just a coincidence. It felt like a gut punch to Miami’s already fragile vegan and vegetarian scene. For a community that has long struggled to find consistent and deeply rooted plant-based dining options, losing two of its most beloved spaces at once left a noticeable void.
Minty Z brought something rare to Coconut Grove with its inventive vegan dim sum and loyal following, while Aguacate offered something even harder to replicate: a sanctuary where food, wellness, and rescued animals coexisted in a way that felt uniquely Miami. Together, their closures marked more than the loss of restaurants. They represented the disappearance of gathering spaces, safe havens, and cultural anchors for the city’s “green” community, making Aguacate’s return feel not just exciting but deeply personal.
Aguacate Garden of Love photo
On the Menu
The restaurant’s return brings back a menu built on fresh, natural ingredients and global influences. Longtime fans can once again order the “Vegan Pan con Bistec,” a sandwich featuring grilled seitan beef, potato sticks, and cilantro mayo on vegan Cuban bread. The “Madurito Burrito,” packed with sweet plantains, jackfruit, and black beans, also remains a staple of the kitchen.
For those looking for lighter fare, the drink program offers 16-ounce wellness smoothies and cold-pressed juices. Popular items like the “Awakened Monkey,” a blend of banana, coffee, and peanut butter, and the “Sun Gazing” juice made with pineapple, ginger, and turmeric are back in rotation. The menu also includes specialized “Master Shots” like the “Vedic” and the “Flew Shot,” designed for those seeking a quick wellness boost.
Grand Opening Celebrations
While the current soft reopening allows the kitchen to ramp up, a larger celebration is planned for later this month. Aguacate has set its official Grand Reopening for Saturday, April 25. The team has indicated that the event will be a major celebration to welcome back the community and celebrate the start of this next chapter.
The reopening is particularly well-timed for April, as many in the local community view the garden’s return as a gift for Earth Month. For those who used to make the drive from across the city for a bowl of vegan picadillo or a few minutes with the sanctuary animals, the wait is officially over.
Aguacate Garden of Love. 12100 SW 43rd St., Miami; aguacate.com. Soft opening now, Grand Reopening April 25, 2026.
