Last Updated on March 5, 2024
Little Havana is Miami’s bustling Cuban heart. It runs west of Downtown Miami, between Brickell and Coral Gables, and its epicenter is the legendary Calle Ocho.
In the 1960s, as the number of exiled Cubans residing in the area increased dramatically, the neighborhood became known as “Little Havana”, a lively Cuban district, full of cafes, restaurants, and music bars.
In recent years, people from Central and South America have moved to Little Havana, mainly from Nicaragua and other Central American countries, but the Cuban mark is still strong.
Today, Little Havana continues to be a significant starting point for Latin immigrants who bring their music, tastes, and tireless spirit to this thriving community.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation declared Little Havana a National Treasure in 2017. This was a critical step in preserving the area’s historical and cultural relevance as developers in Miami poured in.
Things To Do In Little Havana
Certainly, Calle Ocho (Southwest 8th Street) occasionally might feel a touch forced and inauthentic, but stick with us. We are about to offer 6 authentic things to do in Little Havana.
Start Your Day Like a Real Cuban
Start your day with a “colada” or “coladita,” a typical caffeine-laden Cuban coffee served in thimble-sized cups with sugar that is a must-have for caffeine junkies. If you want to add milk, enjoy a cafe con leche.
There are various “ventanitas” (little windows or coffee counters) in Little Havana where you may get your morning coffee fix.
Cafe Versailles is the most well-known, a real Calle 8 institution with its “ventanita” adjacent to the restaurant (which we’ll talk about later in this article).
La Colada Gourmet is another well-known place for good coffee and it’s the neighborhood’s sole coffee shop that grinds authentic Cuban beans.
- Cafe Versailles Address: 3555 Southwest 8th St., Miami, FL 33135
- La Colada Gourmet Address: 1518 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33135
Grab a Cuban Sandwich on the Go
If you’re hungry but don’t feel like sitting down for a full meal, a Cuban sandwich from Sanguich de Miami could just do the trick to keep you going for a while.
This quaint Cuban café in Little Havana has an incredible selection of Cuban sandwiches and preps in-house most of the ingredients that go into them.
If you are gluten sensitive, have gluten intolerance, or worse, celiac disease and need to eat gluten-free, Dora’s Bakery and Bistro is located on Calle 8 just north of Douglas Road, on the “border” between Little Havana and Coral Gables.
The only bakery in all of Miami where everything is gluten-free and produced in-house. This is a family-owned and operated business that is definitely worth a visit.
- Sanguich de Miami Address: 2057 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33135
- Dora’s Bakery & Bistro Address: 3822 SW 8th St., Coral Gables, FL 33134
Don’t miss our Our Favorite Cuban Sandwiches in Florida.
Dine in for Lunch or Dinner
Versailles Restaurant Cuban Cuisine
Versailles is not just the most renowned “ventanita” cafe in Miami, but it is also the most famous Cuban restaurant in the city and perhaps the United States.
For four decades, Versailles restaurant has served tasty Cuban food and culture to the South Florida community as well as tourists from all over the world.
The food is decent, but don’t expect anything outstanding. It’s the atmosphere that makes this place shine.
The restaurant has a great vibe with its historic vintage dining rooms with chandeliers and a crowd that is a mix of locals, curious visitors as well as politicians and renowned actors on occasion.
Versailles Restaurant Cuban Cuisine Address: 3555 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135
La Camaronera Seafood Joint and Fish Market
La Camaronera Seafood is also an excellent choice if you like fish. Other great places for lunch as mentioned throughout this article are Sanguich de Miami and Terras (at the LifeHouse boutique hotel)
However, not everything in Little Havana is Cuban. There are also excellent Nicaraguan restaurants and Mexican taquerias, such as Mi Rinconcito Mexicano and Taquerias El Mexicano, among others.
- La Camaronera Seafood Address: 1952 W Flagler St., Miami, FL 33135
- Terras Address: 528 SW 9th Ave., Miami, FL 33130
- Mi Rinconcito Mexicano Address: 1961 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33135
- Taquerias El Mexicano Address: 521 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33130
Become a Cigar Aficionado
Cigars are a cultural Cuban trademark and in Calle Ocho, you’ll find a number of family-owned cigar stores.
El Titan de Bronze and Cuba Tobacco Cigar Co. are two of the most well-known, but it is safe to say that if you are a cigar enthusiast, you will not be disappointed by any of the stores or factories in Little Havana.
- El Titan de Bronze Address: 1071 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33130
- Cuba Tobacco Cigar Co. Address: 1528 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33135
Enjoy a drink… or two?
Terras / LifeHouse Hotel
In a neighborhood where buildings are generally 2 or 3 stories high, the first rooftop bar opened in Little Havana called Terras. A lush green cocktail bar and restaurant with a lovely view over the Miami skyline.
Other Bars
Other well-known bars in Little Havana are Bar Nancy, which is a nautical-themed bar, and Union Beer, the only true beer bar in the neighborhood.
- Bar Nancy Address: 2007 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33135
- Union Beer Address: 1547 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33135
Cafe La Trova
For an exciting, tasty, and unforgettable evening out in Miami, try Café La Trova. It’s open seven days a week for happy hour, dinner, drinks, and live music. Named in 2021 as one of the top 50 bars in the world, put it on your must-stop list.
Café La Trova Address: 971 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33130
Ball & Chain
For live jazz, salsa, drinks, and dancing Ball & Chain is the place to go. Live jazz from 6 p.m from Thursday to Saturday and Salsa fiesta on Saturdays at 9 p.m. Great classic drinks such as Mojito and Margarita and a tapas menu style for a fun night out.
Ball & Chain Address: 1513 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33135
Stay at an Uber Cool Boutique Hotel
LifeHouse Hotel
We’ve chosen one place for you: LifeHouse Hotel – Little Havana. To sum it up, it’s a boutique hotel with modern designs mixed with vintage Afro-Cuban art and ceramics in a tropical Miami home.
The guest rooms will take you on an exciting journey.
Dark timbers, braided natural carpets, and aged brass accents inspire pleasant emotions of exotic tropical places.
A lovely lush green rooftop cocktail bar and restaurant with a wonderful view will provide you with the ideal spot to unwind (Terras, which we mentioned above).
LifeHouse Hotel Address: 528 SW 9th Ave., Miami, FL 33130
Whether you decide to take a stroll around the neighborhood, get a “coladita” coffee at one of the “ventanitas” (small windows or open coffee counters), watch the locals come and go at Versailles restaurant, or sit back and smoke a hand-rolled stogie with a Mojito, Little Havana is a special place with a rich history and a vibrant present.
We hope you enjoy your time and make some colorful Cuban memories to bring home with you.
If you go, be sure to tag us in your social media photos: #AuthenticFlorida.
While in South Florida, check out these other articles:
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- Knaus Berry Farm in Homestead is Home to Florida’s Best Cinnamon Rolls
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