The 5 Best Things to do in Little Havana
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.
- I’ve written a detailed post covering all of Miami’s hotspots with a suggested itinerary for a 3 day stay in the city. You can read it HERE.
Where is 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.
Things to Do in Little Havana
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.
Have a Meal at Versailles Restaurant
- Where? 3555 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida
- When? 8.00am – midnight Sunday to Thursday; 8.00am – 1.00am Friday and Saturday
- Website: https://www.versaillesrestaurant.com/
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)!
Ice Cream at Azucar Ice Cream Company
- Where? 1503 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida
- When? 11.00am – 9.00pm Mondays to Wednesdays; 11.00am – 11.00pm Thursdays to Saturdays; 11.00am – 10.00pm Sundays.
- Website: https://www.azucaricecream.com/
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.
Watch the Locals Shuffle Dominoes at Maximo Gomez Park
- Where? 801 SW 15th Avenue, Miami, Florida
- When? 9.00am – 10.00pm daily
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.
Try a Cuban Cigar
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.
Learn About Cuban Art & History on Calle Ocho
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.