Little Havana Miami : The Perfect 1 Day Itinerary

You can’t visit Miami without spending a day in the colorful and rich in culture latino dominated neighbourhood of Little Havana!

Located about a 25 minute drive from South Beach, Little Havana makes for the perfect day trip if you’re visiting the area.

It is definitely best to plan for a full day in Little Havana because there’s just so much to see and do here!

This historic neighbourhood will give you a glimpse into the heart of Cuba, from the culture, to the architecture, art, history, music and of course the food.

If you’re planning on visiting Miami soon and looking to spend a day in Little Havana, this guide is for you!

Before we get started, if you’re headed to Miami you might also want to check out these posts:

• Is Little Havana Safe for Tourists?
• Best things to do in Miami
• The Perfect 3 Days in Miami Itinerary
• The Perfect 4 Days in Miami Itinerary
• Where to stay in South Beach, Miami
• Best Restaurants in South Beach
• Most instagrammable places in Miami
• 13 Most Instagrammable Places in Palm Beach
• What to pack for a Florida vacation
• Disney World photography guide

And I’ve also created a free printable checklist for you with all of Miami’s top activities, attractions and sights so you can keep track and be sure you don’t miss anything during your trip!

Now, onto the guide of how to spend a perfect day in Little Havana, Miami!

Where is Little Havana in Miami?

Little Havana is located about a 25 minute drive from South Beach and just west of downtown Miami.

The neighborhood of Little Havana is bordered by Douglas street on the west side and SW 4th Ave and the Miami River to the east.

The northern part of Little Havana stops at NW 20th Street, and the southern side runs along SW 16th St and SW 11th St.

Location details for Little Havana, Miami here

However, although these are the parameters of the entire neighborhood of Little Havana, most tourists visiting Little Havana will stay along the famous strip of Calle Ocho and in the Cuban Quarter.

The Cuban Quarter (which is the main area of Calle Ocho) with the most things to see and do runs between 13th and 17th.

This is where you will spend more of your time!

How to Get Around Little Havana

Most of Little Havana is super walkable so you can easily get around on foot.

If it’s your first time visiting the area I definitely recommend booking a walking tour so you can really get the most out of your experience!

One of the highest rated walking tours you can do of Little Havana is the Little Havana Food & Walking Tour which is rated 5 stars and has almost 4000 people who have rated it!

You’ll quickly realize why this is such an amazing tour and totally worth it.

On the Little Havana Food & Walking tour you’ll get to not only learn all about Little Havana, it’s rich history and culture, but also get to stop at some of the best family-owned Cuban restaurants in the area!

You’ll get to try the most mouthwatering Cuban food including guava pastries, chicken plantain cups, flan cups, and many more!

This is the best way to really immerse yourself in everything that Little Havana has to offer.

Do you have to speak Spanish in Little Havana?

Although Little Havana is the Cuban area of Miami, and the locals here do speak Spanish with each other, you do not need to be able to speak Spanish to enjoy visiting Little Havana.

Many of the locals speak English, especially at the local restaurants, bars, and shops.

If you are concerned about not speaking Spanish in Little Havana I highly recommend booking yourself in for the Authentic Little Havana Food and Culture Tour so that you can tour the area with an english speaking guide.

Although this is not necessary, it will give you the chance to learn all the incredible history and about Cuban culture which really helps you get the most out of your visit.

Regardless though, we did not have any issues speaking only english when we visited, and found the locals to be very friendly!

Where to Stay When Visiting Little Havana

Since you only really need a day in Little Havana I don’t think it’s necessary to stay in a hotel nearby.

We stayed in at the Marriott Stanton South Beach (which we LOVED) and took an Uber here for the day which worked out perfectly.

I definitely recommend staying in South Beach to get the most out of your time in Miami, and you can see my South Beach hotel guide here!

The History of Miami’s Little Havana

First let’s start off with a little history about Little Havana.

Cubans began migrating to Miami in the 1950’s but the real surge started happening when Castro came into power.

By the 1960’s this area of Miami was dominated by the latino community and it therefore gained it’s name of Little Havana!

Today Miami has a large latino population, but it’s in Little Havana where you’ll get a real taste of latin culture.

If you’re wondering if Little Havana is safe check out this post. Hopefully it will answer all your questions about the safety of this neighborhood!

Best Things to do in 1 Day in Little Havana

Now onto the guide and 1 day itinerary for Little Havana!

Start your Day with Breakfast (or Lunch) at the Versailles Restaurant

Address: 3555 SW 8th St

There’s no better way to truly experience another culture than through the food!

If you’re not doing Authentic Little Havana Food and Culture Tour than I definitely recommend starting your day at the Versailles restaurant.

The Versailles cafe, restaurant, and bakery has been open since 1971 and is a well known spot in Little Havana for Cubans and tourists alike.

Whether you prefer starting your day early or late, I definitely recommend starting the day at Versailles.

At Versailles you’ll get a truly authentic Cuban cuisine experience that you definitely won’t regret.

Versailles was the #1 recommended Cuban restaurant in not only Little Havana but all of Miami, so we knew we couldn’t miss it.

When we asked locals because of just how authentic it is. When we got there we could definitely see why!

The large restaurant alone seats up to 370 people and gets PACKED at lunchtime.

We arrived at 11:30am and were lucky enough to get a seat right away. By noon the line went out the door and all the way down the parking lot!

An even better indicator though of what a fantastically authentic restaurant it is is the fact that the majority of the people dining were Cubans themselves.

You know a Cuban restaurant is good when it’s all Cubans eating there.

Then pop next door to La Ventanita, the bakery shop portion of Versailles!

On the side of the restaurant is La Ventanita, the little takeaway window and bakery shop of Versailles.

You’ll always see locals lingering around the counter here enjoying authentic café cubano, Versailles’ famous guava pastries, empanadas and other treats.

The neatest part about these takeaway windows? There are no seats and locals just stand at the counter enjoying their coffee!

By the way, urban legend has it that Versailles is where Cuban exiles used to go to plot against Fidel Castro.

For decades, Versailles has been a gathering point for anti-Castro protestors and for the press wanting to cover their opinions.

It’s also where many presidents, governors, legislators, mayors and the like have come to attempt to get the Cuban vote. Because of this it’s had a lot of political importance!

Location details for Versailles here

After brunching or lunching at Versailles it’s time to head back East to the heart of Calle Ocho… aka. the Cuban Quarter! This is by far the most famous street of Little Havana, Miami.

Explore Little Havana’s Walk of Fame on Calle Ocho

Address: SW 8th St

Calle Ocho (Eighth Street) is the centre of Cuban life & culture in Little Havana, Miami.

In fact, if you remember the song “I Know You Want Me” by Pitbull he sings about this very spot!

Calle Ocho itself is quite long. However, the Cuban Quarter (main area of Calle Ocho) with the most things to see and do runs between 13th and 17th.

Start by taking a walk along the Walk of Fame which is Little Havana’s version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Walk of Fame features many prominent and affluential celebrities in Latin Culture.. think musicians and telenovela stars!

Follow the pink stars and see if you can spot any names you recognize, including mr. Pitbull himself.

Learn how to make a hand rolled Cuban Cigar at one of Little Havana’s Cigar Shops

If you like to indulge in a cigar or two every now and then (or know someone who does!) pop into one of the Cuban Cigar shops.

There you can learn how to make a hand rolled Cuban Cigar yourself!

There are plenty of Cigar shops to visit along Calle Ocho but the #1 based on my research is Cuba Tobacco Cigar Co. Although here you will only be able to watch the cigars being made.

If you are booked into the Little Havana Food & Wine Tour you’ll get to visit one of the local cigar shops and learn how to make your own cigar!

Location details for Cuba Tobacco Cigar Co. here

Check out Domino Park

Address: 801 SW 15th Ave

Maximo Gomez Park, also known as Domino Park is an absolute must see while in Miami’s Little Havana.

The park was named after famous soldier Maximo Gomez who fought for Cuban independence from Spain.

Dominoes is a very popular game in Cuba, so of course it’s a major pass time in Little Havana.

At Domino park you’ll see groups of local and smartly dressed older men (mostly) and women playing intense games of dominoes and smoking on Cuban Cigars.

It’s such a sight to see and it’s packed every day of the week.

Watch some of the action or just enjoy a stroll around the area before heading for ice cream across the street at Azucar.

Location details for Maximo Gomez Park here

Stop for Ice Cream at Azucar Ice Cream

Address: 1503 SW 8th St

You’re probably feeling a little peckish after strolling around Calle Ocho so it’s the perfect time to stop for some authentic Cuban ice cream!

The incredibly popular Azucar is just across the street from Domino Park in Little Havana, Miami.

Rated 4.5 on Google, Azucar is arguably the best ice cream in Miami.

It features both traditional and modern ice cream in all sorts of flavours.

The facade of Azucar also happens to be super instagrammable.

How can you not want to stop here for a photo!

Location details for Azucar here

Head to Ball & Chain for Live Music and Cocktails

Address: 1513 SW 8th St

Next door to Azucar is Ball & Chain which is one of Calle Ocho’s most lively and energetic bars and lounges.

Catch some live latin music here performed on their outdoor stage (that’s shaped like a giant pineapple!) and sip on some cocktails while you soak up the sun or dance the night away.

This was by far one of my favourite stops in Little Havana. I could have spent all afternoon on their back patio listening to music!

Location details for Ball & Chain here

Catch a movie at Little Havana’s Iconic Tower Theatre

Address: 1508 SW 8th St

If you don’t feel like dancing the night away at Ball & Chain why not catch a film across the street at the historic Tower Theatre?

Built in 1926 the Tower Theatre used to be where Cuban immigrants would gather to learn english by watching Spanish movies with subtitles.

To this day Tower Theatre still plays Spanish movies with English subtitles and you can check the Tower Theatre website here before you go to see what’s playing.

Location details for Tower Theatre here

What to keep in mind when visiting Little Havana in Miami…

It is important to keep in mind when visiting Little Havana that while it is really neat to see and experience the Latin culture there this is in fact many people’s homes.

We must always respect the places we visit, the people that inhabit them, and their culture and way of life.

Although Little Havana has become a highly visited tourist “attraction” it is more importantly the home of many and needs to be treated as such.

Final Thoughts

I hope you all enjoyed my 1 day itinerary for Little Havana in Miami!

It’s such a fun, colorful and vibrant place to visit that’s so full of culture.

Have you ever visited Little Havana?

Visiting Florida sometime soon? Check out these posts you might enjoy!

• Is Little Havana Safe for Tourists?
• Best Things to do in Miami – Miami Travel Guide
• The Perfect 3 Days in Miami Itinerary
• The Perfect 4 Days in Miami Itinerary
• Best Restaurants in South Beach – Restaurant Guide
• Where to Stay in South Beach – Miami Hotel Guide
• 13 Most Instagrammable Places in Palm Beach
• 21 Fun Things to do in Key West Florida
• Florida Packing Guide: What to pack for a trip to Florida
• Affordable & Flattering Swimsuits for any Beach Vacation
• Top Disney World Photo Spots: How to get the Perfect Photo at Disney

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Love Kirsten