Wedged between Miami and Miami Shores, you’ll find the Village of El Portal, a designated bird sanctuary and archaeological zone that feels worlds away from the city. Peacocks roam the streets, manatees swim in the river and tall oak trees offer a canopy of shade over homes dating back more than a century.
Historic Sites
El Portal is best known for its nature, but the village is also steeped in history. Artifacts and settlements over 1,400 years old sit inside El Portal, leading to the founding of the El Portal Archaeological Zone along the Little River in 1983. You can visit the El Portal Burial Mound within the zone, constructed by the Tequesta around 600 A.D. It was the first recognized archaeological site in Miami-Dade County, and has been a park since before the village’s founding.
El Portal is also where you’ll find two of Miami-Dade’s most historic homes. The El Portal House is the oldest home in the village, built in 1910 by pioneer Charles Finch. It was briefly used as a hospital during an era when medical care in southern Florida was hard to find and has been a private residence ever since. Near Sherwood Forest Park, you can find the Sherwood Forest Home, a historic Tudor home built in 1925.
What To Eat And Drink Near El Portal
While El Portal doesn’t have a commercial district per se, it’s is walking distance from a treasure trove of unique, locally owned restaurants. The biggest selection is at The Citadel Miami, a food hall on NE 2nd Avenue, where you can find wood-fired pizzas at Stanzione, Caribbean and Haitian specialties at Manjay, and Miami’s best smashburger at USBS. There’s nearly a dozen other spots to choose from, as well as a rooftop bar with craft cocktails and views overlooking the neighborhood.
Also near El Portal, you’ll find Pinch Kitchen and Bar, an intimate neighborhood restaurant serving inventive comfort food like burgers and pastas. La Santa Taqueria is your best bet for Mexican food near El Portal, and Off Site Nanobrewery and Kitchen is a narrow brewpub putting out fantastic chicken sandwiches and corndogs.
Discover Nature In The Village
El Portal’s verdant surroundings are its biggest draw, and you can delve further into its natural beauty along the El Portal Nature Trail. The trail takes you through the village, among the trees, and next to the Little River, where you may even see a manatee float by during cooler months. You can also take a walk through Sherwood Forest Park, a triangular patch of green space that’s home to the El Portal Burial Mound. The village is also a designated bird sanctuary where you may find peacocks roaming the street and several other varieties of tropical birds.
Brief History
El Portal was the headquarters of the Tequesta settlement in Miami. In the 1920s, the area on the north bank of the Little River had three major settlements: Sherwood Forest, El Jardin and El Portal. They merged to become the Village of El Portal in 1937.
Its name – Spanish for “The Gate” – refers to gates that stood around NE 85th Street and NE 2nd Avenue.
