Millenia - Orlando, FL

The Millenia neighborhood is one of the newer neighborhoods in Orlando. The community began development around 1998. The Millenia Mall, owned by The Forbes Company, opened in 2002 and was at the focal point of the development by Schrimsher Properties Inc.

Once the Mall at Millenia made its debut, the area began to attract businesses and real estate companies. Soon, the Millenia community consisted of businesses, restaurants and residential complexes.

There are no museums or art scenes in the community. The Mall at Millenia serves as the annual host for the Orlando Health Foundation’s ONE NIGHT, an event dedicated to raising awareness and funds for Central Florida’s Level One Trauma Center. The event includes a champagne reception, silent auction and dinner.

Several dining venues populate the Millenia neighborhood. Keke's Breakfast Cafe is a popular eatery in the community that serves breakfast and lunch. This cozy cafe prides itself on using fresh, quality ingredients in its dishes. The cafe takes breakfast classics and adds a twist to them, resulting in menu options such as Banana, Nut & Caramel stuffed French toast, Granola Crunch pancakes, the Greek omelet and the Bar-B-Que omelet. You can also order the items traditional-style if you aren't feeling adventurous. Lunch menu items include an assortment of paninis, burgers, wraps and salads.

If you are a fan of Thai food or want to experience something new, head over to {NaraDeva Thai Restaurant}. The décor alone will make you feel like you are in a quaint eatery in Bangkok with its wooden furniture, golden statues and greenery. Select from authentic dishes like crispy wontons, spicy thai basil fried rice, or Massaman curry.

{Greens & Grille} is another Millenia eatery that is popular amongst residents and visitors. They specialize in fresh salads, soups and sandwiches. Patrons love the “Build your own” section of the menu where you can choose your own ingredients for your salad or sandwich. Signature salads and sandwiches include The Mediterranean salad, The Steak & Blue sandwich and the Cali Cobb salad.

The Millenia Mall provides centralized dining options such as Brio Tuscan Grille, The Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro.

There are not many nightlife options in the Millenia neighborhood, but it is home to one of the most upscale night venues in Orlando: Blue Martini Lounge. This premier entertainment spot comes equipped with a main dance floor, VIP section and an outside patio for a more intimate setting. They are known for their happy hour and events like Ladies Night. They host live entertainment and DJs for a mix of entertainment options.

Millenia offers different methods of transportation. Many people travel via automobile, but public transportation is also a very popular option. LYNX buses service the neighborhood. Interstate 4 borders Millenia, making commutes to other cities and neighborhoods convenient.

This pedestrian-friendly community comes equipped with a few bicycle lanes and routes and also provides sidewalks for safety. Most residents and businesses have private parking in the neighborhood. You can call and arrange for a taxi or catch an Uber. The wait time for an Uber, excluding peak times, ranges between about 5 to 10 minutes.

Millenia does not have any community parks located in the neighborhood, but residents can head to nearby areas for parks and recreational facilities. Willie Mays Park is a nearby park that provides pavilions, a playground and grills for a fun family afternoon outing.

The Dr. James Smith Neighborhood center is another local recreational center near the Millenia neighborhood. They have several amenities including two basketball courts, a gymnasium, two lighted softball fields and a computer lab. They also have youth programs including an after-school program, summer camp and a junior counselor program. The after-school and summer camp programs do charge a fee for membership. You also have the ability to rent features such as the multi-purpose rooms, amphitheater and gymnasium.

The Orlando Sports Center is a recreational complex located about 5 miles away from the Millenia neighborhood. This 92,000-square foot facility hosts various sporting events and programs throughout the year. It is equipped with six basketball courts, 12 indoor volleyball courts, 10 outdoor sand volleyball courts, meeting rooms and even a restaurant. It also provides a performance training facility and on-site athletic trainer.

The cost of living in Millenia tends to be lower than the rest of the city of Orlando. The median rent for a one-bedroom unit in Millenia is about $815 compared to $830 in the rest of the city.

You can grab a beer at a nearby pub like Bloodhound Brew for about $5-$6. You can catch a LYNX bus to downtown Orlando from Millenia for about $2.25- $5.50. Gas in this neighborhood is generally around the same as the national average.

The Mall at Millenia is the premier shopping venue in the neighborhood. This beautifully designed shopping mall is over one million square feet and houses over 145 different upscale stores and services including Jimmy Choo, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci. There are more affordable stores such as Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, and Journey's. Bloomingdale's, Macy's, and Neiman Marcus are the mall's anchor stores. You can plan your day in Orlando with the mall's Concierge service. This mall was at the epicenter of the development of the neighborhood.

Unfortunately, there are no boutiques located in the Millenia neighborhood. For groceries, many residents shop at the Publix Supermarket located in Millenia. Other neighborhood grocery options include BJ's. There are no farmers markets in the community.