Named for Cuba’s capital and largest city, and famous for it’s large concentration of Cuban exiles, Little Havana should be on any Miami Must List. Even with limited time to explore I managed to get a feel for this vibrant cultural area, and came away wishing for more.
Declared a national treasure in 2017, Little Havana has no shortage of cultural landmarks, architecture, and art, a lot of which you’ll see as you stroll along Calle Ocho (SW 8th street).
Dominos is a big part of Cuban culture, and is so popular in Cuba that it is practically an organized sport. The same can be said in Little Havana and Domino Park was abuzz with both players and spectators during our visit.
Shops selling local Cuban art, cigars and coffee line the street. Sadly, we’d already eaten prior to our visit, but if you’re looking for something more substantial, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from.
I’ve never had the opportunity to visit Cuba, but Little Havana felt very authentic. All of the people I met were local, and I had the very distinct and positive feeling of being somewhere completely new.
Although located next to an area known for higher crime rates, I felt completely safe during my visit, and in fact quite welcome.
I was delighted, but not surprised to find a lot of public art throughout the neighborhood a lot of which was representative of the people, their culture, and their pastimes.
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Little Havana looks like so much fun! And so awesome it received recognition for a national treasure! Hope to see it one day if I ever make it back to Miami! #FarawayFiles
It was a fun vibrant area!
The murals and street art are beautiful! I wish I’d have known about this area when we were in Miami. #farawayflies
I often feel that way after I visit a place and realize there was so much more! 😂
What a colorful place! I love how you describe that it has an authentic vibe and that you never felt unsafe, that would have been my biggest concerns. Nothing’s stopping me now from admiring that beautiful art next time I’ll be in Miami! #FarawayFiles
Thank you! Definitely worth a look around!
I love coming here for my regular art and culture fix. Another dazzling place to visit. #farawayfiles
It sure is isn’t it!
I love how Little Havana looks so unlike the image most people will have of Miami. It sounds like a bit of a secret to me. I do really enjoy discovering the different neighbourhoods in a city. This is somewhere I’d have to go. #FarawayFiles
Exactly! It’s not exactly on the beaten path, but it should be. I do love exploring all the different parts of a place!
Little Havana looks like great fun, I love these little cities within a city. #farawayfiles
Yes! What a perfect way to describe it!
I love the Beatles art. And such color and vibrancy in so much of the painting. And yes, the coffee and ice cream look scrumptious!
They were delicious!
Such beautiful photos. Little Havana looks so colourful and vibrant. Beautiful wall art and I love the coffee shot..Thank you so much for sharing this post. Loved Little Havana #farawayfiles
Thank you! Isn’t it a fabulous area!
Great street art, and I love the modern aspect of the post. None of the places we visit are stuck in aspic. They’re modern thriving cities and towns. Nice to see beyond the history to the here and now….#Farawayfiles
Yes! Thank you! I feel the same way!
What beautiful photos. I hope you are going to print and create art for your home with them!
#farawayfiles
Thank you! Good idea! I definitely have printed and hung photos from previous trips!
A friend of mine from college is Cuban and from Miami and I’ve heard so much about growing up there as a cuban…it really is such a big part of Miami life. I’ll have to take a closer look at the street art next time! #farawayfiles
Yes! It’s a vibrant and popular area! I loved our time there!
This looks very cool and I’ve never even heard of it. We’re off to big Havana in a couple of weeks so it will be interesting to see if it’s as bright and colourful as this.
I’m betting it’s even more colorful and then some! Looking forward to reading about your trip!
I love your street art photos and must get to Little Havana one day. For that matter, I have not been to South Beach yet either. Miami has so much to see and do.
It sure does! I admit to some surprise about it! Thank you!
What a fun place to visit. A lovely taste of Cuba. #Farawayfiles
Little Havana is the only part of Miami that I have been to and it has certainly changed in the last 25 years! #FarawayFiles
I imagine it has. I went with a local and I think she was quite surprised at how nice it was.