Fontainebleau East - Miami, FL

Fontainebleau isn't its own city but it does exist as a Census Designated Place (CDP) within the huge sprawl of Miami. The city of Miami was incorporated in 1896 following the Spanish Seminole War. After that, a great freeze that hurt citrus growers convinced Henry Flagler to extend the Florida East Coast Railroad to Miami. The accompanying land boom brought dozens of new high-rise buildings to the area during in the 1920s, capitalizing on the area's legal gambling status and laid-back prohibition laws. Since then, Miami has developed into a populous center of international finance and culture.

Frost Art Museum on the nearby campus of Florida International University showcases photographs and prints by Latin American Artists, but a short drive to downtown Miami or Miami Beach provides more to choose from as well as annual events like Art Basel, an art show that attracts over 70,000 international visitors.

Foodies delight in Fontainebleau’s variety of unique little restaurants that lie sprinkled amidst the big chains in every area strip mall and shopping center.

A pleasant surprise awaits you at Hermon Restaurant, a Venezuelan hole-in-the-wall eatery. From arepas (thick, pancake-like cornmeal patties) to milanesa de pollo empanizada (fried chicken with ham, cheese, and sauce), this establishment's convenient Spanish and English menu features an exciting array of breakfast, lunch, and dinner combinations. Try a glass of the refreshing passion fruit juice to wash down your meal.

Although you can enjoy drinks with friends until late at a bar like Flanigan’s, the Fontainebleau area isn’t known for its nightlife. For a tasteful, slightly upscale night out, consider a 20-minute drive to the Blue Martini in Kendall, where you can sip on a cocktail, listen to Latin-influenced live music and then dance the rest of the night away to house music when the DJ takes over, occasionally accompanied by dancers on the bar. If a more laid back venue is more your style, Duffy's Tavern, also a short drive away, is a cash only neighborhood bar with good people and good prices.

Fontainebleau provides convenient access to three major highways: the Turnpike, the Palmetto Expressway (826) and the Dolphin Expressway (836), which intersects with the former two and continues on to pass the Miami International Airport, the Marlins Park baseball stadium and I-95 before leading to South Beach.

Call Yellow Cab Taxi to arrange taxi service in a cab that allows you to swipe your credit card. You might get lucky and be able to hail a cab on its way to or from the nearby airport, but it's far more advisable to arrange transportation beforehand. Uber also services the area, with an uberX ride from Fontainebleau to Miami Beach costing under $30.

Miami Metrobus stops abound in East Fontainebleau, with a number of this bus’s routes stopping at a Metrorail station, such as the Tri-Rail station at the Miami International Airport for access to Broward and Palm Beach counties. The regular Metrorail features 23 stations across South Miami, downtown Miami, northwest Miami-Dade and more.

Plenty of sidewalks make Fontainebleau walkable if desired. Few bike lanes combined with always-busy streets make riding a bicycle more difficult.

A number of public parks throughout Miami give residents of Fontainebleau plenty of recreation and relaxation options. In addition to amenities for baseball, basketball, tennis, and dominos (a local favorite), an assortment of kids’ programs, including an after school program, summer camp, winter camp, and spring break camp, help keep the little ones entertained and safe while you work or handle errands. Just past the Miami International Airport, Grapeland Water Park features a lazy river, gentle water slides, and more. It even hosts “dive-in” movie nights. Visit dog-friendly Blanche Park to discover a small but pleasant area complete with shaded seating and plastic clean-up bags.

Residents of Fontainebleau East pay an average monthly rental rate of $1,225 for a one-bedroom apartment. Although not as expensive as its neighbor Doral and certainly not as pricey as hotspots like Miami Beach, this neighborhood's convenient location in Central Miami combined with its high level of safety compared to many other areas keep the average rental rate and median housing value slightly higher than you might find elsewhere. The price of gas here rises about four percent higher than the national average, and that’s less than the 10 percent overall higher cost of living than the national average. Beer at local waterholes runs around $3 a bottle, keeping costs down on nights out with friends.

Easy access to three malls make this area a shopper's paradise. The closest of them, the Mall of Americas, provides a productive shopping trip with stores like Old Navy, Costco, Home Depot, and Ross along with many smaller shops. The Miami International Mall houses department stores like Macy’s in addition to unique stores like Camille La Vie, which carries a striking assortment of homecoming and cocktail dresses. For something beyond the typical shopping spree, visit the Dolphin Mall. Lined with bars, lounges, and restaurants, and equipped with a stage for live performances, this mall's outdoor section provides maximum entertainment.

For a more intimate shopping experience, head to the east side of 826 where you'll find Define Boutique. This shop presents a selection of women’s clothes and accessories perfect for everything from nights on the town to beach days.

As for your groceries, Publix, Winn Dixie and Costco feature prominently in the local selection of supermarkets. On Sundays, Doral Farmers Market provides a pleasant outdoor shopping experience for the freshest local ingredients.