Little Havana - Miami, FL

In the early 1900s, as the Cuban population began to increase, several subdivisions including East Little Havana came to fruition. A non-profit organization of East Little Havana helped achieve this neighborhood by building living quarters for working-class residents. In the 1960s, East Little Havana was consumed by Cuban refugees during the first wave of immigration after the triumph of the Castro regime.

Over the years, many Central Americans have settled in the East Little Havana neighborhood as well. By 1991, Nicaraguans made up the majority of the area's population.

On NW 2nd Street, you will find the Museum of the Battle of Ideas. It is the home of Delfin Gonzales, the great uncle of six-year-old Cuban refugee Elián Gonzáles. There are many artistic landmarks, including Little Havana's Walk of Fame and Tower Theatre, which was redesigned in art-deco style in 1931.

East Little Havana has the most authentic Cuban cuisine in the area, a trait that locals treasure about their community. Versailles Restaurant, a neighborhood staple on SW 8th Street, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Visitors rave about the sandwich selection, particularly the Cuban sandwich and the chicken empanadas. The restaurant's coffees and desserts also come highly recommended, especially the café con leche and guava-and-cheese pastry. If you prefer to indulge in an alcoholic delight try their renowned Cuban mojito.

If you want to entertain your sweet tooth, stop by Azucar Ice Cream Company, where you can enjoy homemade Cuban ice cream. This cheery spot has unique signature and seasonal flavors including coconut flan, balsamic-strawberry, sweet potato ancho chile chocolate chip and sweet cream corn. Their most famous flavor, Abuela Maria®, derives from the founder of the company and consists of vanilla ice cream, ruby red guava, cream cheese and sweet galletas.

You will not be bored with the nightlife in East Little Havana. Lekoke Wines & Bites, perhaps the most beloved bar in the neighborhood, is a hidden gem on 8th Street (Calle Ocho). The elegant decor, composed of chandeliers, wine bottles, candles and wooden tables, creates an antique ambiance. The place makes you feel as though Ella Fitzgerald may walk in at any moment.

Many locals walk in East Little Havana because it is a small area. However, it is also convenient to have a car if you need to navigate around the metro Miami area. Public transportation is available and provides access to bus routes. However, due to heavy traffic in certain areas, the buses are not always on schedule. If you wish to get around Miami you can also access the Metrorail—an elevated rail system that operates between 5:00am and midnight.

Taxis are another viable option but a bit pricier than other forms of transportation. Cabs cost roughly $2.50 upon pick up and $0.40 per each sixth of a mile. Both Lyft and Uber are options in this area. East Little Havana welcomes bikers and leads to a direct route into downtown Miami.

Parking is available along the streets of East Little Havana. Parking lots are available along NW 4th Street and NW 14th Ave. Many establishments also provide free parking for their customers. I-95, I-595 and US 1 are all accessible from this neighborhood.

Grove Mini Park, which is often referred to as a small oasis by locals, is one of the neighborhood's hidden treasures. It is rather small, but ideal for a family outing. There are sandboxes for kids, picnic tables and grills. Note that pets are not allowed here.

Stop by the famous Domino Park for a game of dominoes. For something a little more romantic, check out Sewell Park, which gives visitors the option to canoe or kayak down the Miami River. This park also has a small jungle gym to keep kids occupied. Many people go to Sewell Park to meditate. There is no fee to enter the park and there are no set hours.

The Calle Ocho Festival is held annually to embrace all Latin cultures. It stretches from 8th Street to SW 27th Avenue. The streets close for the festival and multiple performers entertain the diverse crowd. There is no fee to attend.

Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in East Little Havana runs about $838—nine percent lower than the Miami average. Overall, the cost of living in East Little Havana is 5.8 percent lower than the Miami average, and 3.6 percent greater than the national average.

A beer at a local bar costs an average of $3 to $5. However, many places do offer daily happy hours, along with live music and valet parking.

The average cost of gas in East Little Havana is equal to the cost of gas in Miami, at roughly $3.38 per gallon. Gas here runs 4.3 percent higher than the national average.

The East Little Havana neighborhood holds a few of Miami's alluring boutiques. Pepe y Berta, located on SW 8th Street, sells women's and men's clothing as well as accessories and memorabilia. Here, you will also discover the Little Havana Cigar factory, where you can enjoy a fresh, handmade cigar. Locals adore this signature staple.

If you prefer mall-type shopping, you only have to travel two miles to reach the downtown Miami shopping district.

The neighborhood possesses many dollar stores for daily needs. Sedano's Supermarket, a tropical grocery store on Calle Ocho, carries an array of Latin foods. Like Sedanos, El Presidente Supermarket, on SW 8th Street, also houses Cuban and Latin goods. Publix is just a short journey away on SW 3rd Street.