8 Top Things to Do in Little Havana, Miami – Little Havana has a different rhythm to it, Cuban style. The open and optimistic way of its inhabitants makes it a great place to simply explore and watch day to day life pass by.
Little Havana is also one of the best places to eat in the city, with delicious Cuban delicacies at really accessible prices.
8 Top Things to Do in Little Havana, Miami:
In the 1960s, exiled Cubans flocked to the area, opening businesses and settling into the bungalows and mission revival-style apartments characteristic of the neighborhood’s architecture. And by the 1970s, this once Jewish stretch of Miami had become fully Cubanized; delis turned into panaderias with ventanitas, salsa music took over the airwaves and pork was officially put on the menu. Its nickname, “Little Havana,” stuck.
In 2017, Little Havana was declared a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, an important step in safeguarding the area’s historical and cultural significance as developers swept in. And while much of the diaspora has moved onto greater pastures around Miami, Little Havana continues to be a vital launch point for immigrants from South and Central America who bring their flavors, rhythm and hardworking spirit to this vibrant community.
Nearest public transport to Little Havana:
Little Havana is street-parking only, so ride-sharing and public transportation are advised. We suggest setting your dropoff around SW 13th Avenue and SW 8th Street.
If you’re taking the bus, the 207 and 208 Little Havana Connecting lines will get you to where you need to go. You can catch them from both the Government Center and Brickell MetroRail/MetroMover Stations. Get off on SW 8 Street and 12 Avenue.
And finally, for those looking to take the long, scenic route, hop on the City of Miami Trolley. It runs counterclockwise from the Brickell Metrorail/Metromover Station and will take you through the South River Drive Historic District, down Flagler to the Magic City Casino and through all of Little Havana’s Calle Ocho. Hop off where your heart desires!
1. Drink a Cafecito:
Thimble-sized cups of Cuban coffee, sweet and strong, fuel Miami. Stop by one of Little Havana’s many walk-up windows, or ventanitas, to sip one from a small plastic cup or down it like a shot. Add a little milk by ordering a colada or go big with hot steamed milk in a café con leche, the Latin version of a latte. Counter the caffeine buzz with warm croquetas, Cuban bread or a classic guava-and-cheese pastelito. The neighborhood’s most iconic coffee counter is at Versailles Restaurant, a Cuban exile gathering spot since 1971. Exuberant crowds gathered outside here to bang pots and pans after Fidel Castro died in 2016. Other popular coffee stops include Los Pinareños Fruteria, a family-run fruit market; El Pub, where the statue of a six-foot rooster guards the entrance; and La Carreta, a beloved local Cuban chain restaurant.
2. Roll Up an Authentic Cuban Stogie:
You don’t need to be a smoker to visit El Titan de Bronze, one of Little Havana’s best and most authentic Cuban cigar shops. It’s been family-owned and operated since opening in 1995, and trained rollers who are considered masters in their craft hand roll a selection of premium cigars each day. With the mixed aroma of tobacco and coffee in the air, entering this tiny Calle Ocho shop is like stepping into an actual cigar shop. While you’re exploring Little Havana, don’t miss out on stopping in for a chance to see these artisans at work. If you choose to indulge, enjoy your cigar while sipping on a glass of craft rum at one of the nearby bars.
3. Watch a Marlins béisbol game:
The Miami Marlins have landed two World Series championships since their inaugural season in 1993. The newly-named loanDepot park, 501 Marlins Way, is a retractable-roof ballpark in Little Havana where you can catch unobstructed views of Miami’s skyline – and the occasional foul ball, if you’re lucky. There’s a swimming pool in a South Beach-style nightclub in the outfield, and Cuban sandwiches and mojitos on the menu, among other Miami-style features.
4. Get Your Steps in During a Little Havana Food Tour:
There’s no better way to really get a feel for the local food than trying a little something here and a little something there. Miami Culinary Tours offers a Little Havana Food & Cultural Tour that will teach participants about the neighborhood’s rich culture and history, all while snacking at a handful (or more) of Calle Ocho’s greatest restaurants. Try a guava pastry or an authentic freshly-made Cuban sandwich. Empanadas are on the menu, as well as exotic tropical fruit juices—always made right before your eyes.
5. Eat a classic Cuban lunch:
Along with the legendary Versailles, where waiters in white coats serve Cuban sandwiches, palomilla steaks, maduros, ropa vieja and other gold standards of Cuban food on paper placemats in a mirrored hall, check out El Mago de Las Fritas or El Rey de Las Fritas for slider-sized spicy Cuban burgers topped with matchstick potatoes. The pan con minuta at La Camaronera Seafood Joint & Fish Market is a fresh boneless fried snapper sandwich on a Cuban bun. Or walk up to the window and order the croqueta preparada, a croquette sandwich, at Sanguich de Miami. Finish off lunch time with a sugar high at Azucar! Ice Cream Company, an artisanal ice cream parlor with imaginative, Latin-inspired flavors, such as café con leche, sugarcane and pineapple, caramel flan, and fried plantain.
6. Spend Friday at Viernes Culturales:
Viernes Culturales, also known as Cultural Fridays, is a once-a-month event that takes over Little Havana every third Friday of the month, celebrating local art, music, and culture. Calle Ocho between 13th and 17th avenues turns into a giant pachanga, or street party, with local businesses converting into galleries featuring local and international artists. Meanwhile, food stands, craft artisans, and music stages extend across the street to round out the evening with all of the best that Little Havana has to offer.
If you happen to be in the area on the third Friday of the month, then Viernes Culturales isn’t just the best place to be in Little Havana, but in all of Miami. If you want to check out Little Havana’s art scene, but your trip doesn’t coincide with Viernes Cultural, you can still see many of Calle Ocho’s art galleries at any time of the month, such as the trendy Futurama gallery.
7. Agarra tú pareja:
Agarra tú pareja… and hit the dance floor! You didn’t come to Little Havana to sit down, did you?! Enjoy live salsa music every day from noon onwards at Ball & Chain, a storied venue with a history that dates back to the early 20th century. If you’re rusty, they’ve got salsa, bachata and mambo lessons at 9pm Monday through Thursday—perfect for a date night. Another fantastic option for music and dancing is Cubaocho, which we mentioned above. Once you’ve got a few mojitos in your system, we promise you’ll be a star.
8. Domino Park:
Maximo Gomez Park, known by locals as Domino Park, is a neighborhood landmark where older Cubans converge for “friendly” rounds of dominos, conversation and. To play, you’ll need to be a member and 55+, but if you come bearing a colada and little thimble cups, you might find an in.
