The Hammocks Guide

About

Located directly west of Miami’s Kendall neighborhood, The Hammocks is a suburban part of the city filled with towering trees, lush parks, and large, idyllic lakes. With its range of restaurants, bakeries, and good schools, this residential neighborhood appeals to young professionals and families alike. Housing in The Hammocks runs the gamut from older and affordable homes to those that are newer and more expensive. Promising a little something for everyone, renters can choose from units in apartment complexes to townhouses and single-family homes built in the late 1900s.

Getting Around

There are plenty of ways to access The Hammocks, but getting there by car is the most popular. As a residential neighborhood, it’s not uncommon to find locals biking or riding scooters through the area.

Public transportation to The Hammocks is available through the city bus system. There are multiple bus stops in The Hammocks along Killian Parkway, Kendall Drive, Hammocks Boulevard, and 147th Avenue. As is the case with most residential neighborhoods, The Hammocks is a nice place to go for a walk or jog.

Food & Drink

While the neighborhood is not typically thought of as a trendy foodie destination, there are plenty of much-loved restaurants in The Hammocks. Start your day at Bonjour French Bakery & Cafe, where French-born pastry chef Eric Buffenoir Thuries whips up French pastries with a Caribbean twist, like salty corn and chicken crepes and sweet “Baba Au Rhum” cakes with a dropper of rum. Get your late-night Colombian fix at La Prepago and your Italian fix at one of two local favorites, Napoli 1800 Cucina & Pizzeria and Amici’s. Go to the first for capricciosa pizza with mozzarella, artichoke, mushrooms, ham, black olives, basil, and EVOO, and pull up a chair at the latter for full-on Italian pasta dinners like homemade gnocchi in a simmering marinara sauce.

When you’re looking for a good place to grab a drink and a light bite to eat, stop by the husband-and-wife-owned Vacillate Wine and Beer Bar. Here, you’ll find a rotating wine menu, wine tastings, and appetizers like mushroom sliders or a cheese board with melted brie, local artisan honey, cranberries, diced apricots, and toasted almonds.

When you just need a quick, tasty meal, The Hammocks also has a handful of popular food chains. Fuddruckers has been serving hamburgers piled high with sun-ripened tomatoes, hand-leafed lettuce, sliced onions, dill pickles, pico de gallo, and Fudds cheese sauce for decades. Other staple chains like Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden, McDonald’s, and Burger King are also nearby. There are also plenty of grocery stores in The Hammocks to choose from, including Publix, Aldo, Sedano’s Supermarket, and Fresco y Más.

Shopping

As a primarily residential neighborhood, The Hammocks is not a top shopping destination. That said, it is just a 20-minute drive from Dadeland Mall, in Kendall, which is one of Miami’s most popular indoor shopping malls.

Things to Do

The Hammocks is filled with plenty of family-friendly parks where neighborhood residents can go for walks, enjoy picnics, host a BBQ, or play a pickup sports game with their friends. Hammocks Community Park appeals to all ages with a baseball field, racquetball courts, a recreation center, and a tot lot. Kings Meadow Park is another family favorite with a playground, a large grassy field where visitors can picnic or play a casual game of soccer, walking trails, and a tot lot. The best thing about this park is that it is dog friendly, so bring your furry friend and join the other residents hanging with their pets.

Nearby, there are smaller parks, like Wild Lime Park, which has a pavilion available for rent, a lit soccer field, and a playground for young kids. Forest Lakes Park and Sugarwood Park both have basketball courts, while Sandpiper Park has soccer fields.

For something fun and different in South Florida, head to Kendall Ice Arena and go ice skating or take ice hockey or figure skating lessons. On select weekend nights, there’s even a live DJ at the arena who will turn your casual ice skating outing into an on-ice party.

Colleges & Universities

There are no college campuses in The Hammocks. However, residents are just a 10-minute drive from Miami’s Kendall neighborhood, where Miami-Dade College (Kendall Campus) is located. And it's a 20-minute drive from Miami’s University Park and Westchester neighborhoods, where you'll find Florida International University.