DK Travel : Miami : Downtown and Little Havana

A little rundown, this part of Miami is a foreign land for most Americans, but – if you are willing to make the cultural adjustment – it is a fascinating land. Here along the Miami River is where it all started in the late 1800s, but it took the arrival of Cuban exiles from the 1950s on for Miami to come into its own as a world player. On these brash streets, you will see that the influx from countries to the south has yet to abate and that the face of Miami is more Latino each day.

The Top 10 sights of Little Havana are covered on (see Calle Ocho, Little Havana)

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A Calle Ocho Café

The Exquisito Cafetería (see Exquisito Restaurant) is the best on the street and a wonderful place to listen to the music and watch the fascinating street life all around.
A Drive through Little Havana

To get the overall feel and extent of Little Havana, it’s best to drive, from José Martí Park in the west to about 34th Avenue in the east, where the Woodlawn Cemetery and Versailles Restaurant are located.
A Ride on the Metromover

The Metromover consists of two elevated loops around Downtown, so it’s a great way to get an overview of the area (see Metrorail and Metromover).
A Stroll in Bayfront Park

Right on beautiful Biscayne Bay, Noguchi designed this park “as a wedge of art in the heart of the New World.” Here, in addition to Noguchi’s sculptures you will find lush greenery, a small sand beach, tropical rock garden, cascading fountain, palms, and olive trees.
A Stroll in José Martí Park

This charming little park by the Miami River is graced with colonnades and pavilions, Spanishstyle clusters of street lamps, palm trees, and an excellent children’s playground.
A Trip Through Calle Ocho

Mid-morning

First stop, if you like a cigar, is El Créditto (see El Créditto & El Créditto) on SW 11th Ave. Just a few doors along you’ll find the Botánica El Aguila Vidente . Let your eye wander over the shop’s plethora of paraphernalia, most of all the colorful plaster statues.

Next stop is at SW 13th Avenue, to pay your respects to fallen Cuban freedom fighters at the Brigade 2506 Memorial Eternal Flame (see The Brigade 2506 Memorial on Cuban Memorial Boulevard), before a sortie into the delightful fruit market at 1334, Los Pinareños Fruteria .

At the corner of SW 15th Ave, peek in on Domino Park where there’s always at least one game going on. And now comes time to stop for coffee and maybe a snack at the wonderful Exquisito (see Exquisito Restaurant). Try to grab one of the vibrantly colored tables outside.

Late morning

Continuing on to the next block, at 1652, take in the exciting Latin American art at the Agustín Gaínza Gallery , where you’re likely to meet the affable artist himself.

After that, try a free-form ramble of discovery – but don’t miss the gaudy entrance to La Casa de los Trucos , at 1343 – and when it’s time for lunch, head for El Pescador , also on the north side of Calle Ocho. This is the place to go for delicious fish.
Agustín Gaínza Gallery

The gallery’s namesake, a celebrated Cuban artist, shows his works here, as well as those of other contemporary Cuban and Latin American artists.
Architectural Walk

The buildings highlighted on pages 83–5 are lined up over about six blocks along NE–SE 1st and 2nd avenues. Another building worth a look is the Neo-Classical-Revival Miami-Dade County Courthouse, three blocks away. Don’t miss the ceiling mosaics in the impressive lobby.
Bayside Marketplace

Adjacent to the impressive American Airlines Arena, this complex feels part Disney themepark, part international bazaar. Right on the waterfront, it’s always good for a stroll (see Bayside Marketplace and Bayfront Park).
Bayside Marketplace and Bayfront Park

Curving around Miamarina, this shopping and entertainment complex is undeniably fun and the Downtown area’s best attraction. It’s not South Beach, but La Vida Loca echoes here, too, often with live salsa bands playing on the esplanade. Shops – including Guess?, Victoria’s Secret, Structure, and Foot Locker – and 30 eateries, with everything from ice cream to paella, make it a happening place. To the south, Bayfront Park, designed by Isamu Noguchi, is extensive and can provide a pleasant interlude of greenery, water, monuments, sculpture, and striking views.