A vibrant Hispanic culture permeates everything in Little Havana. Colorful murals, monuments to heroes past and present, elderly men playing dominoes as they discuss politics, and cigar rollers at work amid the ever-present aroma of Cuban coffee. These scenes of daily life play out against a dynamic backdrop of pulsating music, vibrant storefronts, unique art galleries and quaint restaurants. Visitors can sample fresh Spanish-style seafood, tasty Cuban sandwiches and delicacies from almost every Latin American country. Then, of course, there’s the rich history. Here are 12 historic sites in Little Havana you won’t want to miss.

Colorful rooster sculptures on Calle Ocho — Take a walk on Calle Ocho

1. Calle Ocho

Southwest 8th Street (between 12th and 27th Avenue)

Calle Ocho is the heart of Little Havana and home to a music festival that rounds out Carnaval Miami every March. Soon after Fidel Castro took over Cuba in January 1959, hundreds of thousands of Cubans came to Miami and settled in this area that became a sort of Plymouth Rock for the new arrivals. By 1962, more than 28 businesses between Southwest 5th and 15th avenues had already switched ownership from Anglo to Cuban. By 1966, the Cuban transformation was, for the most part, complete. From this Little Havana launching pad, Miami’s Cubans not only transformed a neighborhood; they transformed an entire city.

2. Little Havana’s Walk of Fame

Southwest 8th Street between 12th and 17th avenues

This segment of Calle Ocho has star-shaped plaques along the sidewalk to honor Hispanic artists and celebrities such as Gloria Estefan, Maria Conchita Alonso, Sammy Sosa and the late Celia Cruz.

3. Cuban Memorial Boulevard and Bay of Pigs Monument

Southwest 13th Avenue between 8th and 12th streets

This four-block boulevard off Calle Ocho has several monuments dedicated to Cuban freedom fighters. One of the most poignant is the Eternal Torch of Brigade 2506, a memorial to the soldiers who gave their lives in the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. Featured is a bronze statue of Nestor “Tony” Izquierdo, a Cuban revolutionary hero; a bronze map of Cuba; a statue of the Virgin Mary; and a bronze bust of General Antonio Maceo, an Afro-Cuban general who died fighting for the independence of Cuba. Also along the boulevard is the Plaza de Los Periodistas Cubanos, a memorial dedicated to Cuban journalists who devoted their writing and lives to speaking out against Castro’s regime. Note the large Ceiba tree with its roots filled with candles; it has religious significance to those who practice Santería.

Entrance of Domino Park — Watch locals play dominoes at Domino Park

4. Domino Park (Máximo Gomez Park)

Southwest 8th Street and 15th Avenue

If you’re in the mood to explore, you can get a good taste of Little Havana by starting at Domino Park. Named for Dominican-born General Máximo Gómez, who was chief of the Cuban Liberation Army during the wars of independence against Spain, this mini-park is crowded with retirees playing the ever-popular game of dominoes.

Entrance of Tower Theater — Check out Art Deco gem Tower Theater

5. Miami-Dade College's Tower Theater

1508 SW 8th St.

This historic theater, built in 1926 and transformed into an Art Deco gem by architect Robert Law Weed in 1931 for the Wometco theater chain, was a popular neighborhood attraction that featured Saturday-morning matinees and special events. The theater’s shiny steel spire greeted Cuban refugees when they first landed on the streets of Little Havana in 1959. In early 1960, Tower Theater was the first in Miami to add Spanish subtitles. Now owned and beautifully restored by the City of Miami, Miami Dade College operates the theater as an art house, mostly specializing in foreign-language films with English subtitles and English-speaking films with Spanish subtitles.

6. Home of Miami’s First Mayor/Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church

1411 SW 11th St.

This stately home was built for John Bernard Reilly, the first mayor of Miami, and his wife, Marie, in 1927. Reilly died a year later, but his wife lived in the house until her death in 1935. In 1954, the building was converted into Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church. Marie Reilly was a devout Catholic, and a statue of the Virgin Mary remains over the front door today as a symbol of enduring faith.

7. Coral Way Elementary School

1950 SW 13th Ave.

In 1936, during the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built this beautiful school with its expansive central courtyard. Artists working in the WPA art program created the exquisite tile work on the front of the building and the fountain in the courtyard. In 1963, this award-winning school became the first bilingual school in modern times to offer studies in both English and Spanish.

8. Bay of Pigs Brigade 2506 Museum

1821 SW 9th St.

This unique museum preserves and displays pictures, flags, uniforms and other items of Cuban soldiers of the Assault Brigade 2506 that invaded Cuba on April 17, 1961 and fought and died at the Bay of Pigs.

9. Plaza de la Cubanidad (Plaza of Cuban Patriots)

West Flagler Street and SW 17th Avenue

This fountain plaza honors Cuban patriots and “balseros” (rafters) and bears a quotation from José Martí.

10. José Martí Park

351 SW 4th St.

Located along the Miami River in Little Havana, José Martí Park features a bust of Cuba’s most prominent poet and hero.

11. Selina Miami River (formerly River Inn Miami)

437 SW 2nd St.

This frame-vernacular building and its surrounding cottages was built in 1908 and is the oldest hostelry south of St. Augustine, Florida. Now a bed-and-breakfast, it typifies the early structures still found in Little Havana. Completely renovated and rebranded in 2020, Selina Miami River features the flavorful Latin restaurant Casa Florida, an outdoor swimming pool, a bar and tropical garden and other charming amenities to make it feel like home. Selina also has a blossoming wellness and underground arts scene. Those seeking food and culture will love this hidden gem with a Florida Keys style.

12. J.W. Warner House (Warner Place)

111 SW 5th Ave.

In 1911, J.W. Warner built this beautiful antebellum-style home that was considered one of the finest in the neighborhood. The Warner family operated Miami’s first floral business from the first floor. The home has been restored and today houses Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center. On June 1, 1983, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

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