Calle Ocho in Miami

Calle Ocho (‘8^th Street’ in Spanish) is a central thoroughfare and vibrant hub of Cuban culture in Miami’s Little Havana neighbourhood. The street runs east-west along SW 8^th Street with notable and namesake landmarks that include Calle Ocho Walk of Fame and Calle Ocho Plaza which borders Downtown Miami to its east.

A stroll here treats you to dazzling street murals and giant rooster statues (a popular symbol for the Cuban community) set against Art Deco. Read on to learn more about this popular stretch in Little Havana –this culturally significant part of Miami has an interesting past and it’s where no visit to Miami would be complete without.

Calle Ocho in Miami - one of the highlights of 10 Most Popular Streets in Miami (Read all about Miami here)

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What are the highlights of Calle Ocho in Little Havana?

Calle Ocho is an integral part of Miami’s Little Havana, a neighbourhood which itself is regarded a national treasure. Cuban exiles settled in this once-Jewish neighbourhood of Miami, seeking temporary refuge following Fidel Castro's revolutionary 26th of July Movement of 1959. Mostly comprising upper-class Cubans in exile, the refuge turned out to be far from temporary – the community grew over the decades.

The colourful Cuban culture was here to stay, celebrated back in 1978 with the huge street party which was to become an annual fiesta: the Calle Ocho Music Festival. Also known as the Calle Ocho Block Party, this free annual Hispanic gathering takes place in March and now forms part of Carnaval Miami. Entire streets between Southwest 12^th and 27^th avenues close, making way for hundreds of Latin American food vendors, live music stages, and a host of fun family-friendly activities.

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What other things to see and do along Calle Ocho?

Besides the grand ‘block festival’, among the best things to see along the street is the Walk of the Stars, or Paseo de las Estrellas to the locals. It’s Little Havana’s version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Unveiled in 1988, it features stars on the sidewalk that pay tribute to Cuban and Latin icons as well as Hispanic and African American musicians, actors, and artists who have ties and roots within the community.

It’s worth checking out the Florida Heritage, Maximo Gomez Park, aka Domino Park, before strolling along the Walk of Fame. This quintessential Cuban hangout on the corner of SW 8^th Street and 15^th Avenue offers a cool glimpse into Little Havana life, with elders playing chess and dominos under a designated shelter while chatting and puffing cigars. The park is also filled with creative public art such as its series of interactive pathway murals.

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Where to eat, drink, and party on Calle Ocho?

Calle Ocho is lined with plenty of Little Havana’s upbeat Cuban bars and restaurants. Among the must-try specialities are traditional snacks on skewers known as pintxos, hearty arepas, meaty stuffed tamales, empanadas, and Cuban sandwiches. They all go well with strong dark Cuban coffee or cafecito (Cuban espresso). Long-time local favourite Azucar Ice Cream Company is the place to hit for dessert.

Top spots to hit along Calle Ocho for a great Cuban evening out are Old's Havana Cuban Bar & Cocina, offering traditional dishes, cocktails and live music in a retro-themed setting next to Domino Park. If it’s a diverse beer you’re after, head down to Union Beer where you’ll find a great selection of craft draft beers alongside an offering of tacos, quesadillas, and filling burritos. Nightclubs like the 1930s live music venue Ball & Chain offers Cuban-style food and drinks, as well as salsa lessons.

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Good to know about Calle Ocho in Little Havana

Calle Ocho serves as the main strip of Little Havana and is within a 6-minute drive west of Downtown Miami, following SW 8^th Street or the Tamiami Trail. If you’re driving into Little Havana, there are metered parking spots along Calle Ocho and free parking on adjacent streets such as SW 5^th and 7^th Streets.

Calle Ocho is a fun and easy stroll, but you can drop by the Little Havana Visitor Center near Domino Park to pick up neighbourhood maps and get more information about the neighbourhood for a deeper exploration of the neighbourhood. You can also consider joining food tours for a true culinary adventure, some of which even include tours to a local cigar factory.

Locatie: 18th St, Miami, FL 33135, USA

Ari Gunadi | Reisfanaat

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