Is Kendall Florida Still Miami’s Hidden Gem?

Back in 2019, the Miami Herald claimed that Kendall, Miami is a magical place that unfairly has a bad reputation. In fact, they went so far as to say that it’s the best place to live in the entirety of Miami-Dade County.

Is that really true, or is it just clickbait? What is it living in Kendall really like?

The opinions of Kendall residents are mixed on whether or not this suburb is a great place to live. Some people appreciate that the suburb is safe and has a peaceful vibe while also having great restaurants, nice parks, and decent nightlife. On the other hand, others feel that it’s a less than ideal spot due to bad traffic and a number of other factors.

Let’s take a deep dive into what you should know about this beautiful Miami suburb before deciding to call it your new home.

Should I Live in Kendall, Miami?

Located in Miami-Dade County, Kendall has a population of a little over 75,000 residents.

Kendall residents benefit from a lower cost of living than Miami urbanites, though it is still on the pricier side when it comes to the cost of living in Florida overall. Housing is less expensive in Kendall than in Miami, where the average home costs $355,000 according to Redfin. By comparison, the average sales price of a home in Miami is $425,000.

As far as rent prices go, the average cost of a one-bedroom in Miami is $2,250 a month. Kendall is quite a bit more affordable, with the average rent of a one-bedroom coming in at $1,650.

One of the biggest complaints people have about Kendall is the traffic. While Kendall is served with Metrobus and therefore has a great connection with downtown, many people choose to drive due to feeling that the public transportation options aren’t quite safe. For that reason, you might want to get used to idling in traffic if you’re planning on driving from place to place.

If you’re going to raise a family in the Miami area, you’ll be happy to learn that the public schools in Kendall are highly rated. However, it’s worth noting that a number of residents recommend being bilingual if you plan on living in Kendall due to the fact that Spanish is so commonly spoken here.

Things to Do in Kendall

Just because Kendall is technically a suburb doesn’t mean that there isn’t fun to be had here. There are countless Kendall restaurants that range from high-end and elegant to quick, cheap, and delicious. Beyond grabbing a bite to eat, though, there are a few activities worth highlighting in this Miami suburb.

Skating at the Ice Arena

While the Miami area does a lot of things well, it certainly doesn’t win any prizes in the winter wonderland department. However, with the Kendall Ice Arena, you can be transported to a world of ice any day of the week. With Sunday family days, public skate hours, classes, and even a karaoke night, this is a great place to spend time with the whole family.

Shopping at the Dadeland Mall

The Dadeland Mall is hailed as the original shopping center in Miami. With the largest Macy’s in all of Florida as well as classic department stores like Nordstrom, JCPenney, and Saks Fifth Avenue, you won’t have any trouble spending a whole day exploring this 1.4 million square foot mall.

Here you will find more than 185 retail stores and restaurants. You can find a complete mall directory here.

Get Some Fresh Air in One of Kendall’s Parks

By far the most popular park in this Miami suburb is the Kendall Indian Hammocks Park. You and your family can easily spend a beautiful day exploring the 32-acre nature preserve, two playgrounds, a fitness zone, two disc golf courses, and a skate park.

You can also enjoy the great outdoors in one of Kendall’s many smaller neighborhood parks. These include Kendale Park, Continental Park, and Snapper Creek Park.

Head to the Roller Rink

Whether you’re looking to recreate nostalgic memories from childhood or simply looking for a great workout, Super Wheels has what you’re looking for. They offer group lessons, an adult night for people over the age of 17, a girl’s night out, and Sunday family nights.

How Far Is Kendall From Downtown and the Airport?

If you’ve heard bad things about the traffic in Kendall, you might find yourself googling “Kendall Miami directions” to learn just how long you can expect it to take to drive to and from the city.

The distance from Kendall to downtown Miami is a little over 18 miles. If you are heading to the city during morning or evening rush hour, you can expect the drive to take anywhere between 25 minutes and one hour depending on traffic and the route you choose.

On your way back to Kendall from downtown, the drive typically takes between 40 minutes and an hour and 20 minutes during evening rush hour. Making the trip in the morning or at less traffic-dense times of day will take between 22 and 30 minutes.

The distance from Kendall to the Miami airport is 15 miles. How long this trip takes you has everything to do with what time you are traveling.

If you are heading from the airport to Kendall during the evening rush hour, you can expect the drive to take you anywhere from 35 minutes to an hour. However, if you’re traveling at most other times of the day, it will take more like 20 to 30 minutes.

The drive from Kendall to the airport typically takes between 18 and 35 minutes no matter what time of day you’re driving. You can expect traffic to be the worst if you are heading to the airport from Kendall during the morning rush hour.

Places to Stay Around Dadeland Mall

There are plenty of places to stay around the Dadeland Mall, but they aren’t necessarily all created equal. For example, though it would be easy to be fooled by its Hilton name, Hilton Dadeland is quite out of date and isn’t as well-reviewed as some of the other options. Here are three hotel options for your time in Kendall that are located conveniently close to the mall.

Aloft Miami Dadeland

Aloft Miami is located right off the Palmetto Expressway and is only a twelve-minute walk from the Dadeland Mall. It’s also only 19 miles from Miami Beach and 13 miles from the FTX Arena, which hosts concerts and sports events. If you aren’t interested in driving in Miami traffic while staying in town, you can opt to ride the local shuttle service that is provided.

Miami Marriot Dadeland

Only a seven-minute walk from the Dadeland Mall, this upscale hotel has a number of amenities including two restaurants, a trendy bar and lounge, an open-air pool, and a fitness center. To make your stay more luxurious, you can choose suites that provide city views, private lounge access, and more.

Courtyard by Mariott Miami Dadeland

If you’re looking for a no-frills place to stay while you’re visiting Kendall, Florida, the Courtyard by Mariott is a reasonable choice. Equipped with air conditioning and offering free wi-fi and a pool, this is a fine place to stay if you just need clean and safe accommodations during your trip to Miami.

Is It Safe to Live in Kendall?

Since it is an unincorporated community, it can be difficult to find specific information on the Kendall Miami crime rate.

That being said, you can often find Kendall, Florida listed as one of the top ten places to live in the Miami area. By some accounts, the crime rate in this neighborhood is 54% lower than the average in Florida.

According to some statistics that look into the crime rate in different Florida neighborhoods, the likelihood of being a crime victim in Kendall is one in 87. By contrast, some of the more dangerous parts of the city such as Wynwood have a much less favorable ratio, with a one in 11 chance of being the victim of a crime.

Is Kendall, Florida a Good Place to Live?

Whether or not Kendall, Florida is a good place to live depends on what you’re looking for. If you are hoping to avoid living in a place where rush hour traffic is a constant nightmare, then this might not be the right place to call home. On the other hand, if you’re looking for an area that offers both the peace and quiet of suburban life without denying yourself access to the amenities and activities of being an urbanite, Kendall could be a good fit.

Are you looking for more information about all things Miami? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our blog!