Little Havana is a neighborhood in Miami, Florida, USA, named after Havana the capital of Cuba, and yes – it is as vibrant as it sounds. Here’s a little guide about Little Havana and what you can expect when you visit:
1. The neighborhood earned its name back in the 1960s.
In the 1950s, Cubans began to move to Florida. In 1959, when Fidel Castro swept to power, the numbers of Cubans fleeing swelled. They settled in this area first, which is why it became known as Little Havana from the 60s onwards. Now, the demographics are changing and there are many more Latino nations represented here, but the area still lives up to its name.
2. Miami Cubans are very proud of this neighborhood.
Even though some have moved on to other parts of the city, Miami Cubans are very proud of Little Havana. Little Havana has a huge sense of history for them. This area is a major milestone in their personal story and journey.
3. Little Havana represent the culture and traditions the migrants brought with them.
So, as you would expect the food is awesome here. So awesome that there are tours honouring it! The flavours of the food are vibrant. The culinary highlights include the simplicity of a fruit stall, a street food vendor, or one of the many family owned restaurants. The food is tied to the story of the area – so that’s why you can experience so much from a culinary tour.
4. The music is almost as good as the food.
Music is everywhere you go in Little Havana. Perhaps that’s because music is such a part of the residents’ history. It really adds to the ambience of the area and you’ll regularly hear Latin music like Salsa and Merengue as you go through the area. There’s usually always live music somewhere in the evenings.
5. Make sure you visit on the last Friday of the month.
This is a pretty special time to spend time in Little Havana. The last Friday of the month is known as Viernes Culturales – Cultural Friday. It’s a festival of arts and culture. You’ll find most of the activities in Calle Ocho – Little Havana’s main drag between 13th and 17th Avenues. You’ll find music, dancing, dominoes and art on display.
6. The main ‘drag’ is Calle Ocho.
As I mentioned above, it sits between 13th and 17th Avenues, and this is where the first Cubans settled. The first exiles have moved out, but some of their descendants are coming back to take up residence here – thanks to its lower prices and history. Here you’ll see plenty of cigar shops, hear lots of Latin music and see dominoes being played with such passion! There’s even a Little Havana walk of fame, honoring the Cubans who’ve ‘made it big’!
A mural on Calle Ocho walkway, Little #Havana #Miami
Experience Little Havana for yourself.
Come with us, Gray Line Miami, to explore Little Havana. We can take you on our Miami City Tour to soak up the atmosphere of Little Havana. Or you can join us on our Little Havana Food Tour to sample the culinary delights of the area.
Our guests say that these tours are: ‘a nice way to see Miami’s different faces’.
Hop over to the Gray Line Miami website at graylinemiami.com where you will also find full details of all of our tours of Miami or to our Facebook and TripAdvisor pages for travel inspiration and more feedback from our guests.
We look forward to meeting you soon on one of tours of Miami!