Guide to Doral
Top Guide to Doral
History, Food, Things to do, Education, Community, Real Estate in Doral
If you're looking for the best place to live in Miami-Dade County, then look no further than Doral. With Doral, the list goes on and on. It’s a lovely community with award-winning schools, fantastic restaurants, numerous things to do on the weekends, countless city amenities, and tons of beautiful homes in every price range.
Located in Miami-Dade County, Doral is sandwiched between two of the most well-known cities in South Florida. It’s only 15 miles from the flashing lights and glamour of South Beach and only 30 miles from Fort Lauderdale’s laid-back beach community. Living in Doral also offers residents the convenience of living near two major airports without the cost that comes with city living. The Miami International Airport is only seven miles away. And the Fort Lauderdale Airport is a close 30-mile drive up the road.
Today, Doral is home to roughly 71,000 residents with a median age of around 34. It’s a young, fast-growing city that’s perfect for raising a family. Doral was only incorporated in 2003, but since its incorporation, Doral has become the headquarters of many Fortune 500 companies and governmental agencies like the Federal Reserve Bank, Walmart, Univision, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Sears just to name a few. Doral also is home to the infamous Blue Monster golf course at the Trump Golf Resort and Spa. And it has over ten universities, colleges, and technical schools within its 15 square miles.
For such a young city, Doral has established itself as the place to live in Miami-Dade County. Forbes ranked Doral #2 in its America’s Top 25 Towns to Live Well in list. And in 2018, Money Magazine named Doral as one of the best places to live in the United States. Doral was also recognized as an All-American City Finalist by the National Civic League in 2019. You’d think that’d be it, but there’s more.
CNNmoney.com rated Doral as 51st in its Top 100 Places to Live and Launch a Business in the United States. And Doral has been awarded the Playful City USA title for nine consecutive years and the Tree City USA for 11 consecutive years.
Aside from its awards and accomplishments, living in Doral is great for several other reasons. Doral has nine expansive, well-maintained parks, many of which have recreational fields, tennis courts, outdoor fitness stations, playgrounds, and shaded walking paths. Imagine spending a day outside with your family playing and enjoying the best of South Florida’s weather. In addition to Doral’s park system, the city of Doral also has an Adopt-a-Garden program where you and your family can grow your own food.
Outside of city amenities, Doral also has a number of things to do. Spend all day shopping at the Miami International Mall or take a stroll downtown. Grab a bite to eat at one of Doral’s many fantastic restaurants. Then maybe go play a few holes of golf at the famed Blue Monster PGA course.
Whatever you choose to do on the weekends, once you’ve experienced what living in Doral feels like, you’ll never want to live anywhere else. There’s a reason Doral has grown 77% in the last eight years: everyone wants to move here. To find the best homes in Doral and get the inside scoop on Doral, contact the best Doral realtors, AV Home Experts with Keller Williams Realty.
History of Doral
Doral, from country club to the city
Even though Doral was only incorporated in 2003, its history stretches back much further. In the 1950s, Doris and Alfred Kaskel purchased a large tract of land with the hope of one day building a golf course and hotel. Eventually, the Kaskells fulfilled their dream in 1962 when they opened the Doral Hotel and Country Club which featured three golf courses. The Kaskels came up with the name Doral by combining their names, Doris and Alfred.
After the Doral Hotel and Country Club opened, it quickly became the place to spend the day, relaxing and golfing. It was an ideal escape for golfers throughout South Florida. And shortly after opening, the Kaskels created the Doral Open Invitational which would become a renowned professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour.
In the 1980s, Doral began to grow from a golfer’s paradise to include residential areas. At this time, Doral was more farmland than city. It was sparsely populated and mainly composed of second homes. Services to the Doral community were limited, but the Kaskels’s grandson Bill pushed for the development of what would eventually become Doral.
Bill started developing Doral with the construction of Doral Estates, and he later worked with Lennar Corporation to start building communities like Doral Park. In the early ‘80s, growth was limited because of a Miami-Dade County ban that prohibited building in the Doral area to protect water wells and water supply. However, the ban was soon lifted in 1985, and growth in Doral exploded.
By 1995, the Doral community had absorbed enough residents to inspire the community to push for incorporation. Doral residents complained that they were paying too many taxes for the services that they were receiving, so they pleaded with Miami-Dade County to consider making the community of Doral into the city of Doral.
After years of petitioning and pleading, eventually Governor Jeb Bush named Jose “Pepe” Cancio to fill the rest of Miami-Dade Commissioner Miriam Alonso’s term. Cancio was a part of the Doral community’s first elected community council, so residents hoped Cancio would finally get about the incorporation of Doral with his new position. And their hopes were soon fulfilled.
In 2002, Juan Carlos Bermudez ran for Cancio’s vacant seat on the community council and won. Bermudez eventually became Doral’s first founding mayor in 2003 when the city had finally achieved incorporation. And even though Doral is a young city, it is quickly growing to become a vital cornerstone in Miami-Dade County. Doral is the preferred location for the headquarters of many Fortune 500 companies and governmental organizations. And in its short time as a city, Doral has collected numerous city accolades honoring it as one of the best communities in the United States to live and work in.
The 5 Best Places to Eat in Doral
Check out the top 5 places to eat in Doral. Whether you want Italian, Peruvian, Japanese, Spanish, fusion, bar food, or fine dining, Doral has you covered.
Divieto Ristorante
10650 NW 41st St. Doral, Fla. (305)-470-8038
Inspired by Prohibition-era New York City, Divieto Ristorante transports you back to the age of mobsters, flappers, and jazz. Serving New-York-style, thin-crust pizza, hearty bolognese spaghetti, and tender veal scallopini, Divieto Ristorante pays homage to the birthplace of Italian-American cuisine. So stop by and bring your family, friends, or whomever. Whatever the occasion may be, I can promise you dining at Divieto
Ristorante is so good that it should be prohibited.
Divino Ceviche
2629 NW 79th Ave. Doral, Fla. (305)-406-2345
South Florida may be known for its Cuban food, but Doral is known for having the best Peruvian fare in all of Miami-Dade County. And one of the best Peruvian restaurants in Doral is Divino Ceviche. Come to Divino Ceviche for an authentic Peruvian dining experience, featuring the freshest ceviche you’ll ever have, crispy fried yucca balls that melt in your mouth, and refreshing, tangy passion fruit mojitos that may have you calling an uber home.
Divino Ceviche
2629 NW 79th Ave. Doral, Fla. (305)-406-2345
South Florida may be known for its Cuban food, but Doral is known for having the best Peruvian fare in all of Miami-Dade County. And one of the best Peruvian restaurants in Doral is Divino Ceviche. Come to Divino Ceviche for an authentic Peruvian dining experience, featuring the freshest ceviche you’ll ever have, crispy fried yucca balls that melt in your mouth, and refreshing, tangy passion fruit mojitos that may have you calling an uber home.
Dragonfly Izakaya
5241 NW 87th Ave. Doral, Fla. (305)-222-7447
Date night? Dinner with the parents? Girls night out? Whatever the case may be, Dragonfly Izakaya is your new favorite go-to restaurant for a good time and food that is out of this world. Dragonfly Izakaya is a modern Japanese restaurant that specializes in Japanese cuisine with a global twist. The Salmon Aguacate Japones and Big Eye Tuna Kobachi are staff favorites. And happy hours specials include $5 Japanese yuca fries, $5 pork gyozas, and $5-7 cocktails every Monday through Saturday 5-7 p.m. and all day on Sunday.
Bulla Gastrobar
5335 NW 87th Ave. Doral, Fla. (305)-260-6543
Tapas and Sangria? Say no more. Bulla is one of the hottest happy hour spots in all of Doral. From 5-7 p.m. Monday through Sunday, Bulla Gastrobar offers sangria pitchers for $24, discounted bottles of wine, $7 specialty cocktails, and happy hour tapas. Order crispy patatas bravas and serrano ham croquetas served with a sweet, fruity fig jam to feel like you’re on vacation in Spain. Bulla Gastrobar is your perfect Mediterranean escape to take the edge off the busy week and relax while sipping red wine and chatting with friends.
Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar
8551 NW 53rd St. Doral, Fla. (786)-535-9154
Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar is another great Peruvian restaurant in Doral. It was recognized by The Naughty Fork as one of the best Miami Spice restaurants in 2018, and opentable.com named it as a Diner’s Choice restaurant in 2019. And after dining at Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar, you can see why it’s so highly praised. Doral locals love Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar for its classic brunch with a Peruvian twist. Come by and order the tostones, Cholo Benedicto, and Arroz con Leche Cheesecake to chase away the Sunday scaries.
The 5 Best Things to Do in Doral
Shopping, golf, nature, art. What more could you want? Check out the top 5 things to do in Doral.
CityPlace Doral
8300 NW 36th St. Doral, Fla.
One thing is for sure. If you love to shop, Doral definitely has you covered. CityPlace Doral is a lively shopping center with upscale boutiques and amazing restaurants and cocktail bars. CityPlace Doral also offers multiple entertainment options like the Improv Comedy Club, Cyclebar, Rock Blues Pub & Kitchen, and CMX Cinebistro Doral. CityPlace Doral is a great place to spend the day. You can start your morning with an upbeat cycling class, grab lunch, and then shop all day. And if you want to come back at night, you can catch a movie or comedy show while dining on a luxurious meal.
Miami International Mall
1455 NW 107th Ave. Doral, Fla.
People from all over Miami-Dade County come to Doral to experience Miami International Mall, and it’s easy to see why. Miami International Mall has all your favorite stores like Bath & Bodyworks, Express, Macy’s, and Guess along with many more. And if that’s not enough, Miami International Mall also has a multitude of fantastic dining options so you can recharge between stores on your shopping extravaganza. Come by and experience shopping Miami style.
Doral Central Park
3000 NW 87th Ave. Doral, Fla.
Doral Central Park may not be the Central Park, but that doesn’t mean that it’s any less impressive. Doral Central Park is a great place to spend the day relaxing outside with the whole family. It’s the largest park in the entire city, and it has many beautiful walking and jogging trails, outdoor fitness stations, and an idyllic lake that is the perfect location for a picnic. Stop by Doral Central Park to escape the cityscape and be immersed in nature.
Play a round of golf
4400 NW 87th Ave. Doral, Fla. (305)-592-2000
Living in Doral offers you the special privilege of being close to one of the most well-known golf courses in the United States, the Trump National Miami Doral golf course. The Trump National Miami Doral golf course features four distinct golf courses, each with varying difficulty and scenery. Enjoy 18 holes under the South Florida sun, and then grab a post-tee time lunch at the Champions Bar & Grill. The Trump National Miami Doral golf course also features the Rick Smith Golf Performance Center, so you can brush up on your skills before you head out to the course.
Doral Contemporary Art Museum
5775 NW 84th Ave. Doral, Fla. (305)-209-5094
Need a taste of culture? Head on over to the Doral Contemporary Art Museum to experience Doral’s finest. The Doral Contemporary Art Museum features many modern exhibits that frequently change throughout the year. One of its newest pieces is the Manolo Valdes: The Legacy outdoor exhibition. The Manolo Valdes: The Legacy outdoor exhibition features multiple, towering sculptures throughout the city of Doral. To find out more about the exhibit, upcoming events, and how to reserve your tickets, check out the museum’s website.
Other things to do in Doral
One of the great things about Doral is that it’s close to a lot of great cities and parks. South Beach is only a short drive away, and Downtown isn’t too far either. To find out more information about other cities, towns, and things to do in Broward County and Miami-Dade County, check out these other city profiles.
The Best Schools in Doral
Find the best schools in Doral
Choosing a good school for your child is difficult. There’s no doubt about it. There are so many factors to consider like the quality of education, extracurriculars, the school environment, and teacher qualifications along with many others. Throw in trying to move into a new home while settling into a new community, and choosing a school may seem like the least of your worries. However, don’t fret because we’ve done the research for you. And we’ve selected our top three schools for elementary, middle, and high schools in Doral from the compiled ratings of greatschools.org, niche.com, and the Florida Department of Education’s school accountability report.
The school network in Doral is composed of Miami-Dade County public district schools, a series of Miami-Dade County public charter schools, and a few private schools. Choosing a school anywhere is no easy task, but living in Doral does make the feat seem a little less daunting because many schools in Doral are ranked very highly by greatschools.org and receive an “A” from the FDOE’s school accountability report. So, whatever school you choose, you can rest assured that your child will be getting a quality education.
Elementary Schools in Doral
The top three recommended elementary schools in Doral are Renaissance Elementary Charter School, Doral Academy, and Eugenia B. Thomas Center (K-8). Both Renaissance Elementary Charter and Doral Academy were ranked 10/10 by greatschools.org while Eugenia B. Thomas Center was ranked 7/10. In addition, all schools received an “A” from the FDOE’s school accountability report.
All schools listed are a part of the Miami-Dade County public school system. However, both Renaissance Elementary Charter and Doral Academy are a part of the Miami Dade County public charter school system, so students have to apply and be selected to attend. On the other hand, students do not have to apply to attend Eugenia B. Thomas Center because it is a part of the larger Miami-Dade public district school system.
In terms of academic performance, Doral Academy leads the pack, exceeding the state standards in standardized testing in every subject by a lot! Even in its worst subject, math, Doral Academy still exceeded the state standard by 33 percentage points. Overall, Doral Academy managed 91% proficiency in math, 90% proficiency in English, and 92% proficiency in science. Renaissance Elementary Charter comes in second, still immensely exceeding the state standard in every subject. And Eugenia B. Thomas Center’s English exceeded the state standard for English by four percentage points. However, in math and science, Eugenia B. Thomas Center fell below state standards.
However, don’t completely discount Eugenia B. Thomas Center. One Eugenia B. Thomas parent said, “Cómo padre sé un alumno en el gifted program del colegio durante 3 años, debo destacar que los niños se desenvuelven en un grato ambiente que les facilita su progreso académico, fundamentalmente debido a la actitud y aptitud con que cuenta su personal docente y administrativo”
Translation:
As a parent of a student in the gifted program of the school for 3 years, I must emphasize that the children develop in a pleasant environment that facilitates their academic progress, mainly due to the attitude and aptitude of its teaching and administrative staff.
But to find out more about these schools and read additional parent testimonials, go to greatschools.org.
Middle Schools in Doral
Moving on to middle schools, the top three recommended middle schools in Doral are Doral Academy Preparatory Middle School, Just Arts and Management Charter Middle School, and Renaissance Middle Charter School. Both Doral Academy Preparatory and JAM Charter Middle were ranked 10/10 by greatschools.org, and Renaissance Middle Charter was ranked 8/10. Meanwhile, all schools received an “A” from the FDOE’s school accountability report.
With standardized testing scores, Doral Academy Preparatory takes the cake, earning an 89% proficiency in English, a 92% proficiency in math, and an 80% proficiency in science. JAM Charter Middle follows closely behind with an 88% proficiency in English, an 87% proficiency in math, and a 62% proficiency in science. And even though Renaissance Middle Charter has slightly lower test scores as a whole, it still easily exceeds the state standard, and it scores higher in science than JAM Charter Middle. Academically, you can’t go wrong with any of these schools.
Although all of these schools are great in terms of education, you may be able to determine what school is the best fit for your child by considering other factors. Renaissance Middle Charter is a part of the same charter family as Renaissance Elementary Charter. However, the schools are not located on the same campus. And Doral Academy Preparatory Middle School feeds into Doral Academy Preparatory High School. These schools are not located on the same campus either. It should also be noted that Doral Academy Preparatory Middle is the largest of the three middle schools listed with a student body of roughly 1,200.
JAM Charter Middle is the smallest middle school out of the three listed schools with a student body of roughly 200. And JAM Charter Middle differs from the other two schools in that JAM Charter Middle is a specialty middle school. JAM Charter Middle’s curriculum focuses on the entrepreneurial and business aspects of the performance industry. It is a great selection for students with aspiring careers in the performing arts.
To explore each school more in-depth, go to greatschools.org to read parent testimonials and see a breakdown of the testing history and equity overview.
High Schools in Doral
Rounding out at high schools, we have three more great options. The top three recommended high schools in Doral are Doral Academy Preparatory High School, Doral Performing Arts & Entertainment Academy— which is a part of the Doral Academy Preparatory High family, and the School for Advanced Studies.
Truth be told, you can’t go wrong with any of these schools. Greatschools.org ranked the Doral Performing Arts & Entertainment Academy and the School for Advanced Studies a 10/10, and it ranked Doral Academy Preparatory High a 9/10. (Doral Academy Preparatory High and Doral Performing Arts & Entertainment Academy have different data sets because students have to specifically apply to one school over the other). And all of the schools received an “A” from the FDOE’s school accountability report.
Both Doral Performing Arts & Entertainment Academy and Doral Academy Preparatory High greatly exceed state standards in standardized testing for every subject. And greatschools.org awards the School of Advanced Studies and the Doral Academy Preparatory High the College Success Award for their efforts in preparing students for college and later careers.
The School for Advanced Studies does not have updated testing information on greatschools.org. However, it was recognized by the Washington Post as one of America’s most challenging high schools.
Also, Doral Academy Preparatory High (including the segment of Doral Performing Arts & Entertainment Academy) was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the best high schools in the United States. Out of data from about 24,000 schools, Doral Academy Preparatory High ranked #254!
It’s clear that all of these schools are great choices. They all show commitment to academic excellence and provide your child with the chance to take challenging college-level courses that will prepare them for the future. AP programs are offered at each of these schools, and students are expected to enroll in at least one AP course at each of these schools, respectively.
For more information about each of these schools’ COVID-19 protocols, check out the Miami-Dade County public school website. Also, visit greatschools.org or niche.com for additional parent testimonials and to explore any other Doral schools in more depth. And to see the criteria for Florida Department of Education ratings, go to their website. Note that all quotes listed above come from parent reviews at greatschools.org
Doral Community
Get involved and learn more about Doral’s community
One look at Doral’s Instagram, and you can see that Doral is not like other cities. Doral is a vibrant community that aims to keep its residents updated and involved. The city government focuses on community involvement and civic engagement to stay in touch with residents and understand their concerns. Learn more about how you can become a part of the community of Doral and get involved.
Doral has a city council/city manager form of municipal government. The mayor and four elected city council members act as the city’s legislative body and all have equal voting power. However, the mayor acts as the official head of the city, representing the city on a state and federal level. The mayor and each of the city council members serve four-year terms. And day-to-day functions of the city are overseen by the city manager who is nominated by the mayor and approved by the city council.
The current Doral Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez has lived in Doral for the last 22 years. Bermudez is the founding mayor of Doral and served as mayor for roughly 14 years. Bermudez is known for developing much of the city’s infrastructure. He pushed for the creation of many of Doral’s parks and advocated for the construction of extensive bike trails throughout the city. Bermudez is also recognized for helping to secure the funds for the Doral Trolley System along with his involvement in the Florida League of Cities and the Florida League of Mayors.
To find out more information about Bermudez or any of the other city council members, check out the city’s website for their full biographies and contact information. To become more involved with the municipal government, attend a city council meeting to hear about current issues in Doral and see the city council members in action. City council meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month at 10 a.m. To see the city council meeting schedule and find the Zoom link for the meeting, check out their website.
To get even more involved with the city of Doral, download the City of Doral app in the Apple or Android app store. This app provides more information about the city from its history to trolley schedules, and it’s convenient. Also follow the city’s Facebook to hear about events, volunteer opportunities, COVID-19 updates, and how you can participate in local government.
If you’re looking for volunteer opportunities, go to Miami-Dade County’s website to see how you can help maintain various Doral parks. You can also volunteer with Engage 305 to foster a grandparent, help feed the homeless, or work with Habitat for Humanity. Whatever you choose to do, make sure to get out and enjoy the fantastic, close-knit community of Doral.
Doral Real Estate:
Find the best Doral realtors near you
When you imagine where you want to live, do you think of Doral? Do you see yourself shopping at one of Doral’s many shopping centers? Playing golf at one of the most well-known golf courses in the nation? Dining on flavorful, authentic Peruvian fare? If you do, contact the best Doral realtors, the AV Home Experts with Keller Williams Realty. For more information about Doral or houses for sale in Doral, call (305)-680-3268 or check out their website.
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