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Little Havana is one of Miami’s most famous neighbourhoods. With Cuban culture synonymous with the city, this 9 square kilometre district is where it can be most readily experienced. While I haven’t been to Cuba (its on my list!), I’ve been told that Little Havana is the closest one can come to Cuban culture outside of the island nation itself. The reason for that is the area became an enclave for Cuban immigrants who escaped their homeland following the 1959 Cuban Revolution. Since that time, the area has become extremely touristy (its one of the top spots to visit in Miami as a whole), but it still seems to retain its authenticity. If you’re visiting Miami, you should stop by. In this post, I’m going to cover some of the best things to do in Little Havana.
Little Havana is on the Miami mainland, to the west of Downtown Miami. As with many attractions in this city, unless you’re staying in the immediate vicinity, you’ll likely have to rely on Uber to get there. All up, the neighbourhood covers the area between Douglas Road and SW 4th Avenue, and NW 20th Street and SW 16th Street. That’s a fairly large zone, but luckily the spots you’ll want to see are all grouped together. Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street) is the main thoroughfare that passes through Little Havana, and is the street you’ll want to be on during your travels to the area. The most lively part of Little Havana sits on that road over 5 blocks spanning between 11th and 17th Avenues.
If you’re coming to Calle Ocho from Miami Beach by Uber, its about a 20 to 25 minute trip, dependent on traffic. I actually visited Little Havana after spending the morning at the Vizcaya Mansion & Gardens, which is only about 10-15 minutes away by car. I personally think Little Havana makes a great place to stop by around lunch time when you’re touring Miami’s mainland attractions, especially if your hotel is in South Beach across the Bay.
I spent about two and a half hours in Little Havana. If you don’t have other plans, you could spend more time here, browsing the area’s shops and stopping in at its bars (I’ve heard great things about Ball & Chain!). I actually met a fellow traveller back at the Vizcaya Gardens, so Little Havana made for a relaxing area to hang out and enjoy the ambience over a bite to eat. I feel like in that time I was able to get a good sense of the neighbourhood, though I’d definitely like to spend some more time there on my next visit to Miami. Having seen the main sites on my visit, here are some of the best things you can you do in Little Havana.
While there’s countless (great) Cuban restaurants in Miami, none are more famous than Versailles. This institution of Cuban cuisine opened in 1971. While it is extremely popular, its worth waiting for your table. Unlike many popular restaurants, you can’t actually make a reservation here (though you can order takeaway Cuban sandwiches online). We rocked up to Versailles just before midday, and honestly, the wait wasn’t that bad. I’d say it was maybe 15 minutes to get a table for two. Note that the restaurant is some way from the main part of Calle Ocho, so it makes sense to get dropped off here to start your Little Havana adventure.
Once you go inside, the restaurant is huge. And there is SO MUCH to choose from on the menu. While you have to try a Cuban sandwich if you’ve never had one before, if you’re wanting a bit of everything, the Sampler is an excellent choice. You’ll get to try Cuban delicacies such as Ropa Vieja (shredded beef), tamales, fried pork, sweet plantains and so much more. Make sure you order a mojito or two to wash it all down. Its the Cuban cocktail of choice!
Versailles is so well known for embodying Miami’s Cuban society hat the restaurant is often a popular spot for the media and politicians when campaigning and reporting on issues affecting the Cuban community. Even to this day, Versailles is known to be frequented by members of Miami’s Latin elite. The best part? The food remains extremely affordable (and delicious)!
Okay you probably won’t feel like it right after a meal at Versailles (I was full!), so do some other things first, but make sure you stop by Azucar Ice Cream company before you leave Little Havana. It has a reputation for being one of the best ice cream parlours in Miami, and I have to say it lives up to the hype. Mind you, this isn’t your traditional choice of ice creams. Part of the fun is deciding what to get – Azucar has over 100 flavours to choose from, including the appropriately named Burn in Hell Fidel (chocolate with with cayenne pepper). You can read the whole list of flavours on their website (or the giant board inside the store).
In addition to serving excellent ice cream, making Azucar a popular choice on a hot Miami day, the store is very instagrammable. You’ll see the storefront from a mile away with its brilliantly coloured giant ice cream cone facade.
Right across the road from Azucar Ice Cream Company is one of the most famous spots in all of Little Havana – Maximo Gomez Park. Ofter referred to simply as ‘Domino Park’, there’s perhaps no better place to get in touch with the roots of Little Havana’s community. Maximo Gomez, whom the park is named after, was a Cuban hero in the War of Independence from Spain in the late 19th century.
The relatively small park is frequented by elderly men socialising, cigars in hand while slapping down dominoes. This past time is extremely popular among older Cubans in Miami and watching a game or two can be quite the sensory overload. There’s trash talking among chums, quick wit and even quicker moves made on the table. Obviously you should remember that this is an actual community activity rather than a tourist attraction, but the men who were playing were happy for us to watch along. In a strange way, watching them play dominoes is the memory I take most fondly from my visit to Little Havana.
Speaking of those cigars, is there any product more associated with Cuban culture? There are tons of cigar shops along Calle Ocho, and while many cater to tourists, they still have an authentic allure. The Little Havana Cigar Factory is right next to Azucar Ice Cream Company and has been rolling the finest Cuban cigars for over 100 years (though the current store opened on Calle Ocho in 1994). Other nearby stores include Cuba Tobacco Cigar Co and El Titan de Bronze, both of which are popular also choices.
Even if you’re not a smoker (like me), I still recommend stopping by to watch the cigar rolling process. The stores sell various other souvenirs as well (and strong Cuban coffee!). If you don’t buy anything but come to watch the cigar makers at work, its common courtesy to leave a small tip.
There’s a lot to see on Calle Ocho itself. First of all, the streets are packed with vibrant murals and artwork, drawing from artists in the Cuban community. One of the most prominent is the central Calle Ocho mural, which you’ll want to take a photo with. Its out front of the Tower Theater, next to the Domino Park. Along with a myriad of street paintings, there’s also an assortment of colourful rooster figures along Calle Ocho. They date back from an art initiative in 2002.
Just like Hollywood, Little Havana has its own Walk of Fame. The trail of stars pays tribute to celebrities of Latin culture and runs from 12th to 17th Avenue along Calle Ocho. You should also stop by the Cuban Memorial Park nearby. Located on SW 13th Avenue, it contains the Brigade 2506 Memorial. The eternal flame here commemorates those exiles who died in the 1961 Cuban Bay of Pigs invasion.
Little Havana definitely has a distinctive feel unlike the rest of Miami. In this post I’ve covered only a few of the things you can do in Little Havana. If you decide to spend more time in the neighbourhood, I’m sure you’ll find others. Whatever you do, make sure a stop along Calle Ocho is part of your Miami itinerary. If you’ve been to the area, let me know about some of the spots that I haven’t covered.
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Miami is known for so many things – warm weather, sandy beaches, delicious food and refreshing cocktails, just to name a few. But there is perhaps nothing more definitively Miami than the assortment of Art Deco hotels and buildings found throughout South Beach. You really need to spend an hour or two to check out these iconic structures. With the National Register of Historic Buildings recognising over 800 in the city, I highly doubt you’ll see them all. Thankfully, the best Art Deco in Miami can be found in a relatively contained area, between 8th and 14th streets. In this post, I’m going to take you on a self guided tour of this area. If its your first time in Miami Beach, this is a great way to spend a morning.
Before we dive into the best Art Deco in Miami, I should make sure you know what we’re talking about. Art Deco took the world by storm in the 1920s and 30s. It first emerged in the wake of the 1923 Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. The design style is often characterised by symmetry, bold colours and clean lines. The specific type of Art Deco that took over Miami in this era is often referred to as “Tropical Deco”. Key aspects associated with Art Deco designs include its use of inexpensive materials, recurring flamingos, sunbursts and nautical motifs, neon lights and sleekly curved windows.
But why did this style take over Miami? To answer that question, you need to travel back to 1926. In that year, Miami (and much of South Florida) was devastated by a terrible hurricane. In the aftermath of it’s destruction, the region was going through a rebirth, with tourists flooding into the city to chase the sun for summer vacations. To meet the accommodation demand, hundreds of hotels were erected in the style of the day, transforming South Beach into an Art Deco gold mine.
While the Art Deco Historic District is an enduring icon of Miami today, this wasn’t always the case. Following the initial boom, there was a period in which South Beach actually fell into significant decline. Over a number of decades, it got to the point where the once vibrant neighbourhood was under threat of demolition. In 1976, community activist Barbara Baer Capitman (who had moved to the city 3 years prior), founded the Miami Design Preservation League. The group banded together and campaigned to save the neglected buildings, often organising protests and vigils at demolition sites. This movement culminated in Miami’s Art Deco Historic District being placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It was the first urban district from the 20th century to attain this accolade.
Following the efforts of the Preservation League, Ocean Drive’s run-down hotels were revitalised and painted in brilliant pastel colours. It is often said that the work of Capitman’s campaign was responsible for Miami’s cultural and touristic revival. You can read a plaque chronicling Barbara Capitman’s story near the starting point of this tour.
Located on the beach side of Ocean Drive, around 10th street, there’s no better place to start your tour of Miami Beach’s Art Deco scene than the Art Deco Museum. Its only a small museum, but it provides a brilliant overview of the district’s history and its various design styles. Naturally, a large component of the exhibition takes you through the story of Barbara Capitman’s efforts to save the district. There’s also a vast assortment of models, photos, videos and objects that help you understand the significance of Miami’s Art Deco movement. If you start your tour here, you’ll have a much greater appreciation of the rest of the locations you’ll be seeing in the area.
The Museum is run by the Miami Design Preservation League (yes, the same one founded by Capitman) and also runs guided tours of the district. They run for 1.5 to 2 hours each, and cost $35 USD for adults. Bookings are highly recommended, as they are known to sell out. I didn’t take a guided tour, though I have heard the guides are extremely knowledgeable. With that said, I personally felt that I got a lot out of my self-guided tour of the area (I generally prefer to see places at my own pace) so I personally probably wouldn’t go with one. Don’t let me discourage you though!
Exiting the Art Deco Museum, you can’t miss the Hotel Breakwater. Its practically across the road (about half a block south). Its one of my favourite examples of Art Deco in Miami. Instantly recognisable owing to its neon-lit central tower, the Breakwater was constructed in 1939 and designed by Yugoslav architect Anton Sckislewicz. The tower is said to imitate the stack or funnel, while the railings along the building’s roof are similar to those found on the decks of cruise vessels. There’s no doubting the nautical imagery here.
Today, the Breakwater is still a boutique hotel. There’s 99 highly sought modern rooms in the property. It also has its own pool and private beach, along with a restaurant that extends out onto Ocean Drive. While I haven’t set foot inside Hotel Breakwater, I stopped to take it in every time I walked along Ocean Drive. To me, this is the single Art Deco Building that best embodies Miami Beach. But don’t worry, there’s still many more to come on this tour!
Head about 3 blocks north from the Breakwater, and you’ll come to a marvellous trio of very different hotels built in the art deco style. The first you’ll come to is the Leslie. Dating back to 1937, you might recognise this bright yellow building from the opening of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. The boxy building has the tripartite design found on many art deco buildings in Miami, with its window shading stretching around its sides. These “eyebrows” are a common feature in Miami’s art deco designs, as they blocked out heat in the days before air-conditioning was a thing.
Right next door, you’ll find the Carlyle. This hotel was built in 1939 and appeared in The Birdcage, a 90s film starring Robin Williams. Its modernistic style sees a series of curved canopies jut out from the building’s levels. The white and teal building was designed by Richard Kiehnel and John Elliott, and is remarkably different from its neighbour.
Then, we’ve got the Cardozo. Its on the other side of 13th street (I know the buildings are spectacular, but check for traffic!) Designed by Henry Hohauser, it was completed the same year as the Carlyle. Unlike its box-like neighbours, curves take over all aspects of this hotel, including its corners.
Want to see a bonus Art Deco masterpiece? Head an extra block north to the Winter Haven Hotel. Also from 1939 (trend much?) this hotel underwent extensive renovations in 2008, though it very much retains its original charm (as required in all developments in the neighbourhood). Make sure you step inside to see it’s renowned terrazzo floors.
Miami’s Art Deco Historic District extends beyond Ocean Drive. When you get to the Winter Haven, you should turn left and head down 14th street for a few blocks. Take a left when you get to Washington Avenue and you’ll come across many more Art Deco delights. At the 13th street intersection, you’ll find the US Post Office building. This curved white cone was designed by Howard Lovewell Cheney in 1937. Its most defining feature is probably its huge double door and glass block frame. If you go inside (its still a working post office today), you’ll see a number of murals depicting military campaigns throughout the history of Florida.
If you’re getting hungry on your Art Deco tour, why not dine in a landmark building as well? The 11th Street Diner (naturally found at the 11th Street intersection of Washington Avenue) was actually constructed in New Jersey in 1948. The gleaming aluminium structure was ultimately transported by truck from Pennsylvania in 1992. When you step inside, you’ll get instant American diner vibes and be able to dine on classic burgers, ribs, mac n cheese and so much more.
Head another block south after your feed and cross the road to the Hotel Astor. This 1936 masterpiece was also the product of an extensive restoration effort. Despite its modern interior decor, the building’s classical symmetric design harkens back to its original style.
Back across Washington Avenue, you’ll see a large and imposing building. Originally housing the Washington Storage Company, the building was initially a place for Miami’s 1920s wealthy clientele to store their belongings when travelling north. Today, a campus of the Florida International University, the Wolfsonian contains a library and research centre, and of particular interest to tourists, a museum devoted to all things interior design. The collection contains around 180,000 pieces of art and design from different countries, chronicling the evolution of everyday life from 1885 to 1945. It makes for an interesting break after spending time on the street checking out the exterior facades of buildings from a partly overlapping period. There’s also a cafe with terrazzo floors inside. The flooring was designed by the same person (Michele Oka Doner) who designed the flooring in Miami International Airport.
When you’re finished at the Wolfsonian, there’s a few more spots to see nearby to wind up your Art Deco in Miami tour. When you get to 8th Street, cut back in the direction of the beach. At Collins Avenue, you’ll see the Tony Hotel. It still bears its iconic central spire from its days as the Tiffany. Not far along Collins, the Sherwood Hotel Apartments is another building that oozes Miami vibes.Complete the loop of this tour by getting back onto Ocean Drive. Just before you hit the Breakwater, you’ll see the Ocean’s Ten Restaurant, a legendary venue at 960 Ocean Drive. Its another Henry Hohauser masterpiece.
Depending how much time you spend in the museums, this self-guided tour of Miami’s Art Deco Historic District will take around 1 to 2 hours. I really enjoyed walking around and taking in these sights. In addition to getting some fantastic photos and learning about Miami’s history, it serves as a great opportunity to get oriented with Miami Beach in general. I highly recommend spending some time doing a similar walk early in your Miami stay. What is your favourite Art Deco building in Miami? Are there parts of the district that I’ve missed that you recommend checking out? Have you learnt any interesting trivia on an Art Deco in Miami tour? I’d love to hear from you!
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On my latest trip to Walt Disney World, I was shocked at how efficiently I was able to tour Animal Kingdom. While I stayed at the park from open to close, I definitely didn’t need that amount of time to see everything the park had to offer. In this post, I’ll be providing you with the Animal Kingdom itinerary that I followed over the course of my visit. I don’t recommend this itinerary for first time guests (it skips a few major shows that I had already seen). If you’ve been to Animal Kingdom previously though and want to get through everything as hassle-free as possible, I thought this recap of my day might be of assistance to your planning.
If you’ve been following my previous Disney posts, you’ll know that my latest Disney trip took place in July. That means I visited Animal Kingdom (and the other parks) in the July heat. Its also the busiest time of the year at Disney World. Knowing that, I was even more surprised at just how quickly I got through the major attractions when following this Animal Kingdom itinerary. The park definitely doesn’t have as many attractions as the other parks (though it has some of the best). The fact that it opened super early on the day of my visit probably helped me as well.
I was staying on Disney property on my trip, therefore I was eligible for early park admission 30 minutes before opening time. Animal Kingdom’s regular opening time on the day of my visit was 8.00am. That meant I was officially able to enter the park at 7.30am. As always, I highly recommend being at the park well before that time to properly take advantage of that. Normally I’d like to be there 60 minutes before park opening, but as the first bus of the day only left my resort at 6.30am, I got to the Animal Kingdom entrance at 6.55am. There were already lots of people.
I know what you’re thinking – you like your sleep. So do I, but not on Disney vacations! I think Animal Kingdom is actually the most important park to be get with plenty of time to spare, for reasons which I’ll get into soon enough. Needless to say, being there at this hour paid off big time.
I also used Genie+ on my Disney trip. I wouldn’t call it essential at this park, but it definitely helped me get through the early stages of my Animal Kingdom itinerary with minimal waiting around. At 7.00am (while at the park entrance), I booked an initial Lightning Lane reservation for 8.00am on Na’vi River Journey. Note that you can’t make Genie+ reservations for Flight of Passage without purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane pass.
As is usually the case at Disney parks, we were ushered through the Animal Kingdom entrance a bit before opening time (though not as early relative to the other parks). It was probably around 7.20am by the time we passed through the turnstiles. From there, it seemed pretty much everybody entering had the same idea – Flight of Passage. This is exactly why it pays to be at the front of the pack. Power walking through the Oasis and taking the first left at Discovery Island, we reached another row of cast members who stopped us in our tracks for another few minutes before guiding the mass of humanity into Pandora. If you’re skeptical about crowds this early at Animal Kingdom, the picture of the lines speak for themselves.
I was one of the first few people to ride Flight of Passage that day. It was my first time experiencing the attraction and it was incredible. Definitely the highlight of the day. I’m not sure I’d wait over 90 minutes in line for it, but it is still one of the very best rides in Walt Disney World. The pre-show and attraction eat up a decent chunk of time, so by the time I was finished, it was just past 8.00am. The park was officially open to all and I was able to use my Lightning Lane reservation on Na’vi River Journey.
Having done both Pandora attractions before 8.30am, Africa was my next destination. Making my way towards that part of the park, I was astounded to see the queue for Flight of Passage extending towards the Africa entrance. I really think 90% of the people in the park were in line for that attraction! Anyway, it was time to venture on out into the savannah with Kilimanjaro Safaris. I especially enjoy doing this attraction early in the day, so this worked perfectly. When it gets hotter later on, the animals aren’t as active, so you won’t see as much. We saw quite a few active rhinos and elephants, as well as the lions (they were actually awake) and much, much more.
Having not had breakfast (nothing was open at my resort when I left in the morning), I stopped for an African coffee at Tamu Tamu Refreshments (yes, they contain liqueur, but look, its a Disney vacation!). Refreshed and caffeinated, I was ready to continue onwards.
Continuing with my counter-clockwise tour of the park, my Animal Kingdom itinerary next took me to Asia. That meant Kali River Rapids was next. Its normally an attraction I try to do later in the day, but it was basically a walk on. I got soaked of course, but its always hot in Florida anyway! After drying off, I went way deeper into Asia and rode Expedition Everest. Again, at this early hour, there was no line. I love this rollercoaster, so I made sure to take advantage of the short wait and rode it again immediately afterwards.
It was around 10.00am by the time I got into DinoLand USA. That meant it was time for me to select my next Lightning Lane experience using Genie+. While DINOSAUR was the natural choice, as I got to the entrance, I saw it too was practically a walk on – everyone was still in Pandora! Not knowing what to do with Genie, I booked another ride on Na’vi River Journey for later in the day as I got in the DINOSAUR standby queue. I realised at this point that I wasn’t going to get much out of Genie+ for my Animal Kingdom itinerary.
With all the park’s major rides done by 10.30am, I completed the loop back to Discovery Island. Along the way I stopped by the American Crocodile exhibit in DinoLand. Back in front of the Tree of Life, I saw Its Tough to Be a Bug inside. It was a welcome reprieve from the heat, though as always, kids were crying in minutes! From this point on, I didn’t feel much of a need to plan out the rest of my day and just let my feet take me around the park.
Since I was already by the Tree of Life, I decided to do the Discovery Island Trails next. I enjoyed checking out the tamarins, lemurs and tortoises here, though I was especially amazed by the level of detail on the tree itself. I spent a bit of time checking out the myriad of animal heads carved into its unique design. Sadly the otters were not in their exhibit along the trail. I’m not sure why that was the case – I swung by again later in the day and they still weren’t there.
Ready to see more animals, the other wildlife trails were up next on my Animal Kingdom itinerary. I’d normally advise against doing these in the heat of the day (the animals aren’t as active), but having done all the rides, I didn’t have anything else planned. I could have seen a show, but had done Festival of the Lion King & Finding Nemo previously, and I wasn’t that interested in checking out the new Feathered Friends in Flight show. With my mind made up, I headed back to Africa. Before taking the trail there, I stopped off in Harambe Village to watch a street performance (these take place at various times throughout the day).
As the street dance concluded, I entered the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. I really enjoy this trail. There’s some overlap with Kilimanjaro Safaris, but you also see exclusive species (including the gorillas themselves). After checking out hippos, mole rats and more, it was off to the main event. I could have spent much longer watching the gorillas than I did. Despite my concerns about activity, they were going at it! In fact, a few of the large males actually got into a tussle over something. The cast members explained what was going on and that the feral smell that was developing was actually being let off to indicate that the gorillas were irritated.
Finishing up that trail, I followed it up with the Maharajah Jungle Trek in Asia. Sadly, the tigers weren’t out at the time I visited. This is normally my favourite animal trail at Animal Kingdom, but that definitely took away from the experience. They had been out earlier in the day, so I suspect it was heat related. It was about 2.00pm by the time I finished up with the trails.
It was time to use my lightning lane reservation for a second go on Na’vi River Journey, so I headed back to Pandora next. I followed that up with a lunch at Satu’li Canteen. It was my first time eating there, and it was something I wish I had discovered sooner. The chilli-garlic shrimp bowl was DELICIOUS! After my late lunch, I made my way back to Discovery Island. Not sure what was next on my Animal Kingdom itinerary, I decided to try the Wilderness Explorers scavenger hunt.
Since a few of the stations were based out at the Conservation Station, I caught the train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. I’ll be honest, I didn’t love this part of the park. Its not that its boring, its just by the time you’ve gotten out there and back, you’ve eaten up a solid hour. In my case, it wasn’t that bad (as I didn’t have much else planned), but I don’t think I’d recommend Rafiki’s to a first time visitor to Animal Kingdom. You’d be much better of seeing Festival of the Lion King or Finding Nemo: The Big Blu…and Beyond. At Rafiki’s you can learn about how Disney cares for the animals at Animal Kingdom, and you can also stop by a petting zoo, but I just wasn’t into it. It was about 4.30pm when I got back.
I had a dinner reservation at Yak & Yeti for 6pm, so I filled in the remaining time wandering through the park, checking out a few more Wilderness Explorer stations and street entertainers. I even stumbled across an impromptu dance party on Discovery Island. Right before dinner, I used the single rider line for another ride on Expedition Everest nearby. I enjoyed dinner immensely (I love Indian food!). My waiter was excellent and fixed me up with some great cocktails after my meal. I’m pretty sure he was enjoying my Australian accent!
After dinner (and one more single rider swing on Expedition Everest!), I was heading back to Pandora, keen to experience it at night. Being summer, the sun didn’t set for quite a while, so I spent a bit of time taking in the general ambience and scenery of the land (floating mountains for the win!). With time to kill, I got in the standby line for Flight of Passage. It was a lengthy wait, but being a party of one got me waved through a decent chunk of it. The ride was just as spectacular the second go around.
The park had officially closed by the time I got off Flight of Passage for the second time, but the lights were all on in Pandora. The land is stunning at night as the plants all glow in the dark in various colours. Its something you have to see. I stood around for a bit taking it all in (the cast members were fine with us lingering). Heading back to the Tree of Life, it was also lit up as my day at Animal Kingdom came to an end in a very photogenic manner.
As you can probably tell (first part aside), I had a pretty laid back day touring Animal Kingdom on my latest trip to Walt Disney World. While there just isn’t as much to do here as the other parks, its definitely still worth visiting. Expedition Everest and Flight of Passage make my list of the best attractions in Disney World (maybe I’ll write that some post day!), and its always great taking a safari and trail to see the animals. While I don’t recommend this Animal Kingdom itinerary for a first timer, hopefully return guests will find this post useful. What’s your favourite thing to do at Animal Kingdom? How do you tackle a day at this park?
Animal Kingdom is the newest of the 4 theme parks that make up Walt Disney World. It opened in 1998 and is a hybrid of a traditional amusement park and a zoo and wildlife conservation station. In addition to hosting some of Disney’s best attractions, …