Little Haiti Guide

One of the many vibrant and culturally rich neighborhoods in Greater Miami & Miami Beach, Little Haiti is home to the area’s Haitian community. Visit this lively neighborhood to discover authentic Creole cuisine, Haitian bookstores, a Caribbean marketplace and a thriving cultural center. You'll also find contemporary art galleries, hip restaurants and a bustling food hall. Here is our insider’s guide to this dynamic neighborhood.

Experience Little Haiti's Culture

Little Haiti Cultural Complex

The Little Haiti Cultural Complex is an arts center and museum showcasing Haitian painting, sculpture and crafts. It also offers classes ranging from ceramics to Afro-Caribbean folk dancing. The center’s 300-seat theater is a popular location for live music and dance performances. On the third Friday of each month, the complex hosts Sounds of Little Haiti, an Afro-Caribbean party where all are welcome to immerse themselves in Haitian culture through live music, transporting visitors to the streets of Port-au-Prince.

Next door, local artisans offer their goods within the vibrant Caribbean Marketplace, a contemporary rendition of Haiti's lively Iron Market. On Saturdays and Sundays, you can participate in Konpa dance lessons and yoga sessions. Additionally, special programming features a variety of events, such as readings by Haitian authors, African drumming classes and cooking classes, providing a diverse range of experiences. The Caribbean Marketplace is open on Fridays from 5-10 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Libreri Mapou

Libreri Mapou bookstore is another one of Little Haiti’s cultural gems. Founded in 1986 by Jan Mapou, a Haitian playwright and activist, the shop offers a selection of rare books in French, Creole and English. Subjects range from folklore and sociological studies to novels and language. It’s a great place to linger and check out the vast number of titles as well as the selection of international newspapers from as far afield as Port-au-Prince and Paris.

Haitian Heritage Museum

Near Little Haiti, in the Miami Design District, the Haitian Heritage Museum is committed to highlighting and preserving Haiti’s rich cultural heritage through art, historical artifacts, music, film and literary works. Designed as a mecca for people both inside and outside the Haitian diaspora, the museum is a hub for educational and community programming. Past exhibitions have highlighted important Haitian figures, including Toussaint Louverture, the leader of the Haitian independence movement, and abstract artist Charles Philippe Jean-Pierre.

Dive Into The Arts & Music Scene

Contemporary Art Galleries

The perfect place for a gallery crawl, Little Haiti has become a hub for Miami’s contemporary art scene. Stop by Emerson Dorsch, one of Miami’s original gallery trailblazers. It’s committed to a core group of local artists. Nearby, the focus of Nina Johnson’s gallery is on design and sculpture, representing both Miami-based and international artists. Second-generation art dealer Jumaane N’Namdi founded N’Namdi Contemporary with a focus on master, mid-career and emerging artists, ranging from New Orleans-born abstract expressionist Ed Clark to metal sculptor Eric Stephenson. Laundromat Art Space is an artist-run studio and exhibition space (in a reclaimed laundromat, naturally) that always has something new and thought-provoking on display. You’ll also find compelling work nearby at Locust Projects, a longtime arts incubator; Pan American Art Projects, which concentrates on contemporary art of the Americas; and Piero Atchugarry Gallery, which features international contemporary art.

A Hub of Music and Community

Sweat Records is more than a locally owned indie record shop. It’s a longtime community gathering place. You’ll find a treasure trove of records curated by founder Lauren “Lolo” Reskin (who’s also a local DJ), from old school hip-hop to rock, experimental, metal, folk and punk. The shop hosts a slew of live events, ranging from music to comedy shows.

Where To Eat

Haitian Flavors

For an authentic taste of Haiti, look no further than Chef Creole, which features signature Haitian recipes with an emphasis on seafood, courtesy of beloved longtime owner Chef Wilkinson “Ken” Sejour. The restaurant’s cuisine showcases traditional Caribbean flavors in dishes such as whole fish, seafood criollo stew and platters of fried lobster, shrimp and fish as well as the Haitian staple pork griot.

Caribbean Cuisine

For more down-home Haitian and Caribbean cooking, check out Chez Le Bebe for its slow-cooked oxtail or Clive’s Café for authentic Jamaican fare, including delectable Jamaican patties.

Food Hall

A unique creative space in Little Haiti, The Citadel combines food hall delights with maker-driven retail and a rooftop lounge for live music. Be sure to hit up the diverse food vendors. Grab a coffee from Vice City Bean, sample modern Caribbean cuisine from Manjay and don’t skip the frozen treats from Frice Cream.

MICHELIN-Starred Restaurant

Little Haiti is even home to a MICHELIN-starred restaurant, Boia De. Tucked away in an unassuming strip mall, the refined, small plate Italian fare is served in an intimate, modern setting, making it one of the most sought-after reservations in town.