Guide To Kendall
Top Guide to Kendall
History, food, things to do, schools, community, and real estate in Kendall.
Miami-Dade County is home to many great neighborhoods and communities. Many of its cities are some of the most desired areas to live in, in South Florida. But, in Miami-Dade County, there is one special unincorporated community that deserves some recognition, Kendall.
Kendall may not officially be a city, but the area is widely known across Miami-Dade County. It's a growing area that is home to many great schools and fantastic restaurants. In fact, in the last few years, Kendall has ended up on the radar of many Miami food blogs like Eater and Thrillist for its budding restaurant scene, and it’s even been recognized as a tourism hotspot by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Kendall is also known for some of its attractions. The Dadeland Mall features many trendy restaurants and houses numerous shopping staples and luxury brands like Guess and Macy’s.
And the Kendall Indian Hammocks Park is a favorite among locals for its plethora of amenities and features which include two full-sized disc golf courses. Other popular parks include the Pineshore Pineland Preserve and the Continental Park. To find more information about public parks in the Kendall area, go to the Miami-Dade County’s website.
Living in Kendall offers residents the convenience of being away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown and South Beach while still being close enough to enjoy the perks of city living. And, it’s only about 14 miles from the Miami International Airport, making travel a breeze.
Today, the area of Kendall is home to roughly 75,000 residents. Kendall is known by locals as a good place to raise a family. It’s more residential than other areas of Miami-Dade County like Brickell and Downtown, and it’s generally safer.
Kendall is also a great place for commuters to live. Driving to the main areas of Miami is made easy by Kendall’s proximity to US1, the Palmetto Expressway, and the Don Shula Expressway.
Overall, Kendall is a wonderful place to live. Being located in sunny South Florida, there are always things to do outside, and you’ll never have to face the cold again. And with a land area of 16.3 square miles, Kendall has a multitude of homes in every price range. To learn a little bit more about Kendall, especially the housing market in Kendall, contact the best Kendall realtors, the AV Home Experts with Keller Williams Realty. They know all about how to find the best homes in Kendall for you.
Kendall’s History
Kendall’s big boom
Even though Kendall isn't an officially incorporated city, the area is still widely known and recognized by Miami natives and locals. Like much of the rest of South Florida, Kendall started as uninhabited rural land that started developing in the early 1900s.
Kendall’s history stretches back as far as 1883 when the Florida Land and Mortgage Company purchased a large tract of land from the state of Florida that would one day become Kendall.
In the early 1900s, Kendall began its path to development. It was named after the director of the Florida Land and Mortgage Company, Henry John Broughton Kendall, who moved to the area to start overseeing the initial development.
In 1914, Kendall saw its first post office, and 15 years later, the first school opened in 1929.
Development in Kendall remained slow and steady until the 1950s when it picked up a little from the post-WWII population boom. But even until the 1940s, Kendall was so sparsely populated that two Seminole camps inhabited the area.
Over the years, throughout the 60s, 70s, and 80s, Kendall slowly developed and grew along with its surrounding areas, but in 1992, things changed. Hurricane Andrew devastated the south Miami-Dade County area, destroying many homes and businesses. From that point, residents in Kendall had to come together to begin the process of slowly rebuilding everything that Hurricane Andrew destroyed. New developments slowed as construction primarily focused on rebuilding and restoring Kendall to what it was.
Today, Kendall is seeing a new surge in development and incoming residents as the population in Florida, and in particular, in South Florida grows. Over the last years, Kendall has become more than just a neighborhood in Miami-Dade County. Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Bar and Ghee Indian Kitchen have brought press to the area and made Kendall recognizable on the Miami food scene, and the Zoo Miami has also made Kendall an attraction for tourists and Miami-Dade County residents. To learn more about Kendall or how to find your new home in Kendall before the population grows even larger, contact the best realtors in Kendall, the AV Home Experts with Keller Williams Realty.
Top 5 Best Places to Eat in Kendall
Check out the best restaurants in Kendall. Whether you want Indian, Peruvian, Mexican, bar food, or fine dining, Kendall has all your cravings covered.
Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar
8405 Mills Drive Miami. Fla. (305)-630-3844
Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar is an award-winning restaurant, and it’s easy to see why. Between the laid-back, fun atmosphere, amazing food, to-die-for drinks, and happy hour deals every day, Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar checks all the boxes for your new favorite restaurant. If you want a traditional Peruvian dish, I recommend the Papas a la Huancaina, Idaho potatoes served with huancaina sauce, a boiled egg, and botija olives. But if you want something a little on the wild side, try the passion fruit cevichito, fish, shrimp, passion fruit leche de tigre, cancha, and choclo. And if nothing else, you have to order a pisco sour.
Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Bar
11715 Sherri Lane Miami, Fla. (305)-408-8386
Dine with the culinary mastermind, Chef Adrianne, herself to experience some of the best food in Kendall...and maybe in Miami. Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Bar perfectly blends tradition and innovation. Since it opened in 2007, Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Bar has been a staple on Miami foodies’ lists. If you go, make sure to make a reservation and order the 24-hour braised prime beef short rib served with whipped sweet potato and truffle au jus. The sweet corn tamalito made with black tiger shrimp, lemon beurre blanc, scallions, and chipotle is also a must-try.
Dr.Limon Ceviche Bar
13766 SW 84th St. Kendall, Fla. (305)-228-9200
Hungry? Rough week? Random Tuesday? Whatever the case may be, Dr. Limon Ceviche Bar is just what the doctor ordered. Serving classic Peruvian fare and fantastic ceviche in a modern setting, Dr. Limon’s Ceviche Bar is the cure for all of your problems. Try the Maki Salmon Roll for a unique Japanese-Peruvian gastronomic experience. Or order the Psiquiatra, three layers of mixed ceviche served in an artful glass. It’s sure to make you forget about your problems. Also, don't forget to stop by for happy hour, Monday through Friday from 4-7 p.m.
Ghee Indian Kitchen
8965 SW 72nd Place Kendall, Fla. (305)-968-1850
If you’re looking for your next favorite Indian restaurant, then look no further. Ghee Indian Kitchen by chef Niven Patel serves traditional Indian food with a special twist, and all ingredients are sourced from the Patel family farm in the Redlands. Order the smoked eggplant pate, topped with ghee, pomegranate, and green onions and served with crispy roti. Or try one of Ghee’s most popular dishes, the saag paneer, paneer cheese marinated in aromatic spices, grilled and served with a spinach, pea, and onion-based curry sauce. Once you have Ghee’s Saag Paneer, you’ll never be able to go anywhere else for Indian food.
Tacos & Tattoos
11790 SW 104th St. Miami, Fla. (305)-200-3441
Just because you can’t actually get your next tattoo at Tacos & Tattoos, it doesn’t mean that it’s not worth going. Tattoo and taco fans will love Tacos & Tacos for the tattoo-style-inspired art that fills the restaurant, the laid back, down-to-earth atmosphere, and the amazing food. Tacos & Tattoos is a Mexican-Caribbean fusion eatery, that specializes in more than just tacos. Try the croquetas de maduro for a sweet, exciting take on your classic croqueta, or order the truffle elote for an upgrade on your favorite street dish. Whatever you decide to try, visit Tacos & Tattoos for a unique dining experience that blends food, culture, and some of your favorite beers to create the ultimate atmosphere.
Other Places To Eat in Kendall:
There are so many great places to eat in Kendall that we had a hard time narrowing it down. To see more great places to dine, kickback at, and have a drink at, read Thrillist’s and the Eater’s list of other great restaurants in Kendall.
The Top 5 Things to Do in Kendall
Check out the best things to do in Kendall. Whether you want to shop, go to the zoo, or travel back to your childhood, Kendall has something for you.
Dadeland Mall
7535 N Kendall Drive Miami, Fla.
With a variety of stores and amazing restaurants, Dadeland Mall is the perfect place to spend a rainy day. Dadeland Mall features a number of your favorite stores like Macy’s, Express, Urban Outfitters, American Eagle, and Adidas along with many more. Plus, its restaurants put your standard food court to shame. Think of the popular, upscale Italian restaurant, North Italia; authentic Brazilian food at Texas de Brazil; and Cantina Catrina, a lively Mexican restaurant with amazing margaritas. After visiting, Dadeland Mall may become your new favorite weekend hangout.
Visit the Love Lock Bridge
11800 Mills Drive Miami, Fla.
If you’re looking for the perfect date activity, go to Love Lock Bridge, located at The Palms at Town & Country. Make a day of it. Go buy and decorate a lock with your sweetheart, and then head on over to the Love Lock Bridge to put it on the bridge together. After, you can shop around at The Palms at Town & Country and have a great dinner at one of the Palm’s many restaurants.
Escape to your Childhood
12045 177th Ave. Miami, Fla. (305)-253-2722
Want to escape back to your childhood? Feeling a little nostalgic? If that’s the case, then head over to Arcade Odyssey where you can play all your favorite childhood arcade games and have a drink or two. Imagine getting a group of your friends together playing Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, and Pac-Man while sipping from Arcade Odysessey’s wide collection of beers. Think locally-brewed blonde ales, IPAs from New England, hoppy Belgian Tripels, the perfect sour. And if that’s not enough, Arcade Odyssey also has a great selection of sake and Japanese-style bar food.
Zoo Miami
12400 SW 152nd St. Miami, Fla. (305)-255-5551
If arcade games and beer aren’t your thing, then maybe you want to head over to Florida’s largest zoo. Enjoy South Florida’s tropical weather and learn about animals from across the globe. With over 3,000 different animals on roughly 750 acres, you can spend all day exploring various habitats and species from Asia, Australia, Africa, South America, and North America. Zoo Miami is a great destination for the whole family. To plan your visit, buy tickets, and get more information, go to Zoo Miami’s website.
Kendall Indian Hammocks Park
11395 SW 79th St. Miami, Fla. (305)-596-9324
Kendall Indian Hammocks Park is the coolest park to visit in Kendall if not all of Miami-Dade County. Kendall Indian Hammocks Park is on 32 acres and has numerous walking, jogging, and biking paths; an outdoor fitness station; two full disc golf courses; two spacious playgrounds for the kids; three lighted softball/baseball fields; large picnic areas; and an amazing skatepark whose design was inspired by the classic Love Park in Philadelphia and the well-known Embarcadero in San Francisco. Need I say anymore?
Other things to do Kendall:
One of the great things about Kendall is that it’s close to a lot of other great cities and parks. South Beach isn’t too far away, and Downtown is only a short drive up US1. 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 Kendall
Find the best schools in Kendall
Even though Kendall isn’t an incorporated city, the area still has many great schools. And we did the research to find the best schools in Kendall from the compiled ratings and inputs of compiled ratings of greatschools.org, niche.com, and the Florida Department of Education’s school accountability report.
Kendall isn’t a defined city, so it doesn’t have defined boundaries for schools. However, the schools that serve the Kendall area are schools that operate within these listed zip codes: 33176, 33173, 33156, 33143, 33183, and 33186. However, not all of these zip codes are equally spaced throughout the Kendall area.
The 33176 zip code serves the greatest area of Kendall, so it is the best area to look for schools in Kendall. However, depending on the part of Kendall you live in, it may be better to look for schools in one of the other zip codes. We looked through each zip code to find the best schools that are in Kendall or just outside of its boundaries.
To discover other schools in different zip codes throughout Kendall. Check out this zip code map, and then go to greatschools.org, type in your desired zip code, and search through the results.
The school network in the Kendall area consists primarily of Miami-Dade County public district schools, a series of Miami-Dade County public charter schools, and a few private schools. All schools listed are Miami-Dade County public schools.
Elementary Schools in Kendall
The top recommended elementary schools in Kendall are Somerset Academy Bay Elementary School, William H. Lehman Elementary School, and Kendale Elementary School. All of these schools are highly rated, and all of them are a part of the 33176 zip code.
Greatschools.org rates Somerset Academy Bay Elementary and William H. Lehman Elementary a 10/10 and Kendale Elementary a 9/10. And all of these schools received an “A” from the FDOE’s school accountability report.
One of the most important differences between these elementary schools is that Somerset Academy Bay Elementary is a part of Miami-Dade County’s public charter system while the others are a part of the public district system. This means that students have to apply and be selected to attend Somerset Academy Bay Elementary, whereas they can enroll without an application at the other elementary schools.
In terms of academic performance, Somerset Academy Bay Elementary and William H. Lehman Elementary exceed the state standards for standardized testing in every subject. Somerset Academy Bay Elementary scored an 87% proficiency in math, a 91% proficiency in English, and a 78% proficiency in science. William H. Lehman scored an 83% proficiency in math, a 79% proficiency in English, and a 72% proficiency in science. And while Kendale Elementary exceeded the state standards in math and English, it fell one percentage point below the state standard in science.
Additionally, all of these schools are positively reviewed by parents at greatschools.org.
One Kendale Elementary parent said, “Our experience here has been amazing! Wouldn't change it for the world. My son just graduated and I'm thankful for Kendale Elementary for the well-rounded, intelligent, hardworking, and kind young man he is.”
To find out more about these schools and read additional parent testimonials, go to greatschools.org or check out the individual school’s websites.
Middle Schools in Kendall
Moving on to middle schools, the top-recommended middle schools in Kendall are Somerset Academy Bay Middle School, Ben Gamla Charter School, Vineland K-8 Center Somerset Academy Bay Middle and the Ben Gamla Charter School are a part of the 33176 zip code, and the Vineland K-8 Center is a part of the 33156 zip code.
Greatschools.org rates Somerset Academy Bay Middle a 10/10, Ben Gamla Charter a 9/10, and Vineland K-8 a 9/10. And all schools receive an “A” from the FDOE’s school accountability report.
Note that Somerset Academy Bay Middle and Ben Gamla Charter are both a part of Miami-Dade County’s public charter school system, so students have to apply and be selected to attend. Additionally, Somerset Academy Bay Middle and Somerset Academy Bay Elementary are a part of the same charter school family and are located on the same campus.
All of these schools are great in terms of academic performance. They all exceed the state standards in standardized testing for every subject, but Somerset Academy Bay Middle leads the pack. It scored a 95% proficiency in math, a 93% proficiency in English, and a 92% proficiency in science. Ben Galma Charter follows close behind, scoring a 76% proficiency in math, an 81% proficiency in English, and a 71% proficiency in science. And then, Vineland K-8 scored a 78% proficiency in math, an 80% proficiency in English, and a 69% proficiency in science.
Additionally, both Vineland K-8 and Ben Gamla Charter receive positive testimony from parents while Somerset Academy Bay Middle does not have any current reviews on greatschools.org.
To learn more about these schools and to discover which may be the right fit for your children, explore them more in-depth at greatschools.org and check out their websites.
High Schools in Kendall
Rounding out at high school, the top-recommended high schools in Kendall are the School for Advanced Studies South, the Terra Environmental Research Institution, and the Archimedean Upper Conservatory Charter High School. The School for Advanced Studies South is located in the 33176 zip code. The Terra Environmental Research Institution is located in the 33173 zip code, and the Archimedean Upper Conservatory Charter High School is located in the 33183 zip code. These schools are all either located in Kendall or just slightly outside of the area.
Greatschools.org rates all of these schools a 10/10. And, each of these schools received an “A” from FDOE’s school accountability report. And while all of these schools are great academic options for your child, they have slight differences that may determine what the best fit for your child is.
Note that students have to apply and be selected to attend each of these schools even though Archimedean Upper Conservatory Charter is the only public charter school.
The School for Advanced Studies is a special high school that caters only to grades 11 and 12. It is a part of the Miami-Dade College system and offers students a unique experience to take their classes while getting a jumpstart on their college careers. This school is technically housed on one of the Miami-Dade college campuses. However, students still maintain a high school experience because they must sign in to their homerooms before starting classes each day, and they stay on campus all day, fulfilling a classic block schedule.
The Terra Environmental Research Institution is also a unique school in the Miami-Dade County public school system. It is a magnet school that specializes in STEM education, focusing on the fields of biomedical research, engineering and robotics, and environmental studies. It caters to grades 9-12 and also has a wide variety of AP courses, from AP Art History to AP Computer Science. The Terra Environmental Research Institution is great for students who would like to pursue a STEM career. This school allows students hands-on experience in a variety of STEM fields to help them determine future career paths.
Aside from public district schools, the Archimedean Upper Conservatory Charter is also a great choice for your child’s education. The Archimedean Upper Conservatory Charter is a challenging high school with a heavy workload, but students leave prepared for college. The Archimedean Upper Conservatory Charter requires more credits to graduate than the state of Florida does, and there is a strong expectation that students participate in extracurricular activities. Attending the Archimedean Upper Conservatory Charter, students have the unique experience of taking dual enrollment courses in the summer at FIU or Miami Dade College. And they also can earn an Advanced Placement International Diploma while following a bilingual curriculum in the modern Greek language.
It’s clear that all of these schools are fantastic options in terms of academic performance, but to figure out which school may be the best fit for your child, visit greatschools.org to read parent testimony and see standardized test scores and check out the schools’ websites.
For more information about each of these schools’ COVID-19 protocols, check out the Miami-Dade County public school website. 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 greatschool.org.
Community in Kendall
Get Involved in Kendall
One of the best ways to get acquainted with a community is to get involved and volunteer. To get more involved with the Kendall community and the Kendall area, check out some local volunteer opportunities.
To start, go to Miami-Dade County’s website to see how you can help maintain various parks in Kendall. Volunteer with Engage 305 to foster a grandparent, help feed the homeless, or work with Habitat for Humanity. Also, Volunteermatch.org is another great resource to stay updated on new and upcoming volunteer opportunities in Kendall.
Kendall Real Estate
Find the best Kendall Realtor near you
If you can see yourself dining at Ghee Indian Kitchen, shopping at Dadeland Mall, and taking a stroll through Kendall Indian Hammock Park on the weekends, then maybe you should consider moving to Kendall. It’s a great area to live with tons of potential to grow. In the last few years, Kendall has established itself as one of Miami-Dade County’s rising stars. To discover more about Kendall or find the best homes in Kendall, contact the AV home experts with Keller Williams Realty. They’re the best Kendall realtors, and they’re experts on the area. To get in contact with them, call at (305)-680-3268.
