Calle Ocho in Miami’s Little Havana is home to coffee shops, fruit stands, and restaurants. Here are the 10 best food finds in Little Havana.
Little Havana is located on Southwest 8th Street in Miami-Dade County and lies along the Tamiami Trail, a national highway built in 1928 that connects Tampa to Miami. The area is known as Calle Ocho (8th Street), and it is home to Cuban coffee shops, cigar parlors, fresh fruit stands, restaurants, and engaging Latin music. Join me on a walking tour where I discovered the best of Calle Ocho. The walk is just under half a mile and is a fabulous way to savor some excellent Cuban culinary delights while gaining insights into the culture. Here are my 10 best food finds in Little Havana.
Enjoy colorful artwork and great food along the popular Calle Ocho in historic Little Havana. Photo by Raul Rodriguez via iStock by Getty Images
Empanadas at El Pub
El Pub, an authentic Cuban restaurant, was my favorite first stop, as I believe that any walking tour begins with some nourishment. El Pub was founded by Cuban immigrants and has been in business since 1966. It is well known for its beef empanadas. The empanadas are crisp but not greasy and have a textured interior from beef cooked in a sofrito sauce—a popular Latin American pottage made with tomatoes, garlic, bell peppers, cilantro, parsley, cumin, and other spices. Eat these with a piquant but not too spicy red Tobasco sauce. El Pub offers spinach empanadas for vegetarians.
Empanadas at El Pub. Photo by Ramaa Reddy
Cubans are famous for their deep-fried empanadas, while they are baked in other parts of Latin America. The result is a burst of flavor! Many people eat empanadas for breakfast with a shot of Cafecito, a traditional Cuban coffee that contains espresso and sugar. While enjoying rich and flavorful dishes like these, some travelers may also be mindful of their daily intake and occasionally use a TDEE Calculator to better understand their energy needs.
While munching on our empanadas and drinking coffee, we met a charming peanut man named Francisco, who sold us roasted peanuts wrapped in small paper cones.
Peanut man selling roasted peanuts in Little Havana. Photo by Ramaa Reddy
Futurama
The next stop on our walking tour was Futurama, a creative workspace established in 2011 that houses 12 studios by Cuban artists. Upon entering, we were greeted by a robust and beautiful Cuban manina—a lady of society.
Cuban Manina at Futurama. Photo by Ramaa Reddy
As we browsed the art studios, we watched an artist painting a portrait of José MartÃ, a Cuban national hero famous for his role in liberating the country.
The Artists Colony at Futurama. Photo by Ramaa Reddy
While perusing the store, I picked up a lovely necklace and a linen dress for a reasonable price; the purchases will complement Miami’s hot summer.
Sala’o Cuban Restaurant and Bar is a Food Find in Little Havana
Located just opposite Futurama, Sala’o is a festive bar with a Cuban vibe that entices customers with its live music and a large portrait of their honorary Cuban, Ernest Hemingway.
Sala’o Cuban Restaurant and Bar. Photo by Ramaa Reddy
The dimly lit exquisite interior is as welcoming as the mojitos and daiquiris.
The mojitos are famous at Sala’o Cuban Restaurant and Bar. Photo by Madiha Brooks via iStock by Getty Images
I had my first authentic Cuban sandwich; Cubano bread filled with ham, cheese, pork, pickles, and mustard.
My Cuban Sandwich at Sala’o Cuban Restaurant and Bar. Photo by Ramaa Reddy
The sandwich is American, except for the bread, which comes from a Cuban recipe and is crisp and crunchy on the outside, with a soft interior. Vegetarians enjoy papacones – fried plantains filled with vegetables. Next time I am there, I will try the recommended papacones stuffed with crab meat.
Domino Park
As we continued our walk on Calle Ocho, we passed art deco buildings and arrived at Domino Park, a favorite among Cuban locals for the last 40 years. The locals sip coffee while playing dominoes.
Dominoes are popular in Little Havana. Photo by Juanmonino via iStock by Getty Images
The players displayed authentic Latin energy and competitive banter; they were oblivious to us watching and taking pictures. Only residents can compete. Dominoes is Cuba’s national game, and chess is also very popular. The park features domino-decorated tilework and a mural created by Dominican artist Oscar Thomas.
Celia Cruz
As we continued our walk, we passed a beautiful mural of Celia Cruz, the famous Cuban-American singer and Latin artist of the 20th century. She is also memorialized on Calle Ocho’s Walk of Fame, a Cuban version of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
Little Havana’s Walk of Fame. Photo by Ramaa Reddy
Cruz was born in Cuba, moved to America after the revolution, and was called the ‘Queen of Salsa,’ but she could only sing for her countrymen in Guantanamo Bay! Many renowned Cubans and Latin Americans are commemorated on this walk.
Celia Cruz Mural in Little Havana. Photo by Ramaa Reddy
Los Pinarenos FruterÃa and Sugarcane Juice
Our next stop was to visit an open-air fruit and vegetable stand that sold freshly made sugarcane juice. We were lucky to see Guillermina, a ‘Pedro-Pan’ emigre, make the sugarcane juice for us. Guillermina arrived in Havana when she was 15 years old, but her family could not join her until five years later via Mexico. The Pedro Pan program assisted Cuban children in the 1960s when they arrived in the United States as unaccompanied minors.
This stall showcases juicy fruits like mangoes and papayas. We helped ourselves to overripe baby bananas offered to customers for free.
Guillermina is making sugarcane juice. Photo by Ramaa Reddy
Cuba Tobacco Cigar Co.
If you like cigars, you cannot miss the Cigar Factory, one of the oldest in Little Havana. It produces around 100 hand-rolled cigars a day. When we entered, we saw a man meticulously hand-rolling the tobacco with leaves.
Cuba Tobacco Cigar Co. on the Calle Ocho in Little Havana, Miami. Photo by littleny via iStock by Getty Images
Due to the embargo on Cuban trade, Cuban tobacco seed plants are now grown in the Dominican Republic, and the leaves are later imported to the US.
Cigar roller at Cuba Tobacco Cigar Co. Photo by Ramaa Reddy
Churro Mania and Rooster Alley
After every Mexican dinner, I long for churros! At Churro Mania, the churros are made fresh and served hot, dusted with sugar and cinnamon.
Churros at Churro Mania. Photo by Ramaa Reddy
I had classic churros. They were crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside, but there are endless options! They offer churros filled with guava, and you can enjoy them with chocolate, caramel, or dulce de leche toppings!
We picked up our hot churros and walked next door to Rooster Alley to see the ‘Little Havana Wall. We took pictures of the wall while we ate and noticed an old parked Chevrolet that evoked memories of Cuba. A part of the wall commemorates July 11, 2021, a demonstration day that expressed solidarity with the people in Cuba who suffered and died of COVID-19; they had no vaccines.
Little Havana Wall. Photo by Ramaa Reddy
Homemade Ice Cream—Food Finds in Little Havana
You cannot leave Little Havana without tasting Azucar’s homemade ice cream. The most popular flavor is Abuella, guava ice cream topped with crushed biscuit and guava paste. It’s one of the best ice creams in Miami. It is so divine you’ll be back for more!
Get homemade ice cream at Azucar on Calle Ocho. Photo by Raul Rodriguez via iStock by Getty Images
Café Latrova—Food Finds in Little Havana
My Little Havana walk ended at Café Latrova, a funky restaurant where dancing, drinking, and food weaved together seamlessly.
Trovadores musicians at Latrova. Photo by Ramaa Reddy
The café is reminiscent of 1940s Cuba. Here, trovadores played their guitars and belted out love ballads while diners enjoyed entrées such as braised short rib, skirt steak, and boneless snapper. Inside is a 1952 military truck that the owner, Julio Cabrera, an American bartender, uses on special occasions to make bespoke cocktails. Having sampled so much good food during the walk, I ordered the Chupe De Mariscos, a seafood dish with prawns, clams, and mussels cooked in a seafood broth with queso fresco, pumpkin, and corn. It was delicious, and I am going back for more.
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I hope you’ve enjoyed this little walk discovering the best of Calle Ocho. I enjoyed excellent Cuban culinary delights, and I look forward to returning to savor the next 10 best food finds in Little Havana! Check out Wander for more great culinary travel in Florida and beyond.
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