Little Havana is the neighborhood that became a sort of “Plymouth rock" for Cubans that fled to Miami in 1959 after Castro took over Cuba. Fast forward to now and there is so much culture, great food, rich music and so much to do in the area.
The Art
Little Havana has really expanded its footprint in the arts. There are a few local galleries filled with rich Cuban art. Many murals now adorn the walls of local Calle Ocho businesses. In addition to the typical art scene, both music and food are major staples in the area.
Viernes Culturales
Every third Friday of the month explore all the arts on 8th Street. Many of the businesses stay open later, have music and specials. Local vendors come out and set up right next to Domino Park. You can find hand made items, jewelry, clothing and more while listening to musicians play on a stage toward the back.
El Pub
Local restaurant serving up authentic Cuban cuisine! Spot the restaurant by seeing the famous 6 foot rooster in front of the main entrance. You can enjoy a meal in the dining room or opt for a quick service experience at the counter. I came here on a food tour and we ordered appetizers, I went for the Tostones Rellenos (tostone cups), which were small bowls made of fried sweet plantains, filled with perfectly seasoned beef. If you are a coffee lover, everyone raves about the cortadito, Cuban coffee!
Azucar
Means SUGAR in Spanish but is also a famous ice cream shop. You can spot this local ice cream shop by the massive ice cream cone mounted on the side of the building. It started as an artisanal ice cream and sorbet boutique inspired by the culture, climate and passion for sabor latino! They create sweet flavors just like abuela would, using the highest quality ingredients and a desire to bring smiles to everyone’s face. They serve classic flavors like vanilla, but I encourage you to be adventurous and try flavors like domino (oreo cookies n' cream,) el mani loco (crazy peanut), platano maduro (sweet plantain), guarapina (sugar cane & pineapple) or my personal favorite Abuela Maria (guava, cream cheese, maria crackers).
Cubaocho
It’s a bar, it’s a restaurant, it’s a museum, it’s a performing arts center, it’s a must stop! As soon as you walk in you will see the beautiful bar! The lights hit the bottles just perfectly. There are a bunch of tables each with their own eclectic vibe and many made of framed works of art as the table top! When we walked in there was a 5 piece live band playing the best salsa music! Everyone was dancing having a great time! As you walk more into the establishment you will see so many authentic Cuban works of art that lead you to the back where there is another stage for music later in the night.
Ball & Chain
A historical bar & lounge on Calle Ocho that open before the area was even considered Little Havana in 1935. Owners say that Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and Louie Armstrong were among the stellar black performers who appeared at Ball & Chain in the 1940s & 1950s. B Everyone can enjoy live music and delicious Cuban food all day from 11am – 6pm, no ID required. And in the evening Ball & Chain becomes a lounge with a dress code after 8pm. In the main room are tables and booths where you can sit, eat, drink and listen to live music. In the back patio there is a huge stage in the shape of a giant pineapple. They also have great music going, a dance floor and bar to entertain you all night long.
Mojitos are a must!