Calle Ocho is a must-see for anyone who comes to Miami either as a tourist or because he thinks to settle down in this city, known for being the main route through the historic neighborhood of Little Havana this street has restaurants, galleries, theaters and nightspots showing the culture and customs that the Cuban community brought to this city.
Festival is held annually in Calle Ocho, or Eighth Street Festival is a tradition that brings together those who wish to celebrate the colorful Latin culture of Miami on the streets of Little Havana. The festival is the largest of Miami and takes place on 8th Street, from 8th Avenue to SW 27th Avenue, the street is filled with energy thanks to the sights, sounds and smells of the Hispanic community in Miami, populating streets with constant music, cuisine and activities that together form an explosion of culture, the couples dance salsa in the street, artists and musicians looking back to the community display their talent in the 12 scenarios mounted in the streets, which are closed for the event.
Miami's Latino community proud flames the flags of their countries and their members wear patriotic attire, listen merengue, reggaeton, bachata, ballads, hip hop, rap, jazz and many rhythms and more in one day!
Everything happens between mid-February and mid-March, when the weather is ideal for street parties in the warm winter of Miami.
Our advice:
Its a classic for visitors to Miami, as it is very significant for the Cuban community in exile, perhaps expect something more like architecturally to Havana, but we have to position ourselves that being in America is not possible to have similar local Cuban products like: tobacco, decoration, paintings, textiles, food, Santeria etc...
On the street there are large sculptures of Cuban rooster painted by different artists, you can see art galleries with paintings of colorful intense, worth shop around, it is recommended to visit during the day.
The main shops are along Calle Ocho (Eighth Street) which has its own Walk of Fame with stars like Celia Cruz, Willy Chirino and Gloria Estefan among other Cuban artists in exile, among its attractions you can find: the Cine Tower theater, the artistic festival of cultural Friday, the domino park and restaurants like Versailles, which can be taken Cuban dishes such as ripe bananas, moth, old clothes, fried cow, the masitas pork, Moors and Christians, the Cuban sandwich, the sandwich Elena Ruz turkey and jam, suckling pig, the mojito and cortadito very cute (cut coffee or coffee with milk and creme brulee) and emblematic place to take pictures if you are in the zone.
Maximo Gomez Park commonly called "Domino Park" would be just a small square with cement tables unattractive if not for the characters who come there daily to play this popular game. The place comes alive with the spark of players mostly Cubans of the old guard who will put each hand taste of dominoes. The park will tourists from around the world, but the best place to enjoy the visit is to talk with the players, who cheerfully accede to explain the game to the curious and pleasantly will pose for a souvenir photo.
