The best things to do in Little Havana, Miami’s vibrant and historic Cuban neighborhood

As you walk up and down SW 8th Street (between SW 17th and SW 12th Avenues), you’ll notice that the sidewalk is marked with pink marble stars, making up the Calle Ocho Walk of Fame. This Little Havana version of the Hollywood attraction began as a way to recognize Cuban celebrities. Cuba’s most famous salsa singer, Celia Cruz (who died in 2003), was the first to be immortalized in 1987. Since then, singers and soap stars from all over Latin America have been honored.

La Trova is a fantastic Cuban triple-threat from James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein, her chef/restaurateur husband David Martinez and nationally acclaimed cantinero Julio Cabrera, where you can score an authentic meal and a classic mojito, plus dance ’til late to live music. Bernstein’s croquetas aren’t traditional (you can try La Carreta or Versailles for that), but they will blow your mind.

At the corner of SW 14th Avenue, the combined clatter of clacking domino tiles and Spanish chatter announces Máximo Gómez Park. Cuban retirees have been gathering on this corner to play dominoes and drink coffee for decades; it was designated a city park in 1976 and is popularly called Domino Park.

Today’s Ball & Chain is a recreation of a 1930s hotspot that once occupied the same space and welcomed jazz superstars like Billie Holiday, Count Basie and Chet Baker to its stage. The bar program is a smattering of classics and new-wave drinks unique to Ball & Chain. Boasting a packed schedule of daily entertainment, plus free salsa and bachata lessons, Ball & Chain is also Little Havana’s premier spot for live music.

The neighborhood’s most famous ice cream shop showcases an impressive variety of Cuban-inspired flavors. Have you ever had rum-spiked flan ice cream? How about an addictive treat that mixes guava, cream cheese and Maria crackers? If you answered no to either, well, it’s high time you did.

Stop in for a drink and maybe a cigar at the Cubaocho Museum & Performing Arts Center which showcases Cuban music and dance while also housing pre-revolution Cuban art from 1800 to the 1960s and modern Cuban works. In the evening, sip rum cocktails while enjoying live music surrounded by inspiring works of art. What could be better than that?

This place has succeeded at creating a Cuban sandwich so good it proves definitively that Miami does it better than anywhere else. Every delicious ingredient is made in-house—ham, pork and brined turkey, as well as pickles, pickled onions and mustard. The bread, essential to any Cuban sandwich, is made to Sanguich's specifications by a bakery in Homestead. The menu also features their version of a medianoche, pan con croqueta and batidos (Cuban milkshakes, for the uninitiated), all of which are made to order. Owners Daniel Figueredo and Rosa Romero even installed an adorable ventanita to satisfy your cafecito needs quickly.

Little Havana’s free street party and gallery walk, Viernes Culturales, happens every third Friday of the month starting at noon along Calle Ocho between 13th and 17th Avenues. Running strong for more than 20 years, it celebrates Latin culture with an old-school pachanga, featuring art exhibits, live music and dancing in one of Miami’s most famous cultural hubs. 

Supper clubs and Cuban restaurants are aplenty in Miami but a combination of the two is, surprisingly, rare. Calle Dragones on Calle Ocho aims to fill that void with an entertainment-fueled dining experience that’ll have you dancing at the table in between bites of roasted lechón. Its name derives from an iconic street in Havana’s Chinatown and, as such, the menu is a mix of Asian-influenced Cuban cuisine complemented by flamboyant yet strong cocktails. The real show, however, is on stage. Calle Dragones welcomes entertainers for a different theme each night, from flamenco to salsa.

Taste Miami’s rich Cuban history during a guided, edible journey through Little Havana’s Calle Ocho. Food-centric stops along the half-mile, 2.5-hour Little Havana Food and Cultural Tour include a traditional bakery, a cigar factory, a churreria and more. Daily at various times; $69, children $49 (includes food).