Author: pjsparlor ([email protected])
Date: 06/01/2007, 08:56 am
First time to miami. I am staying at sheraton bal harbour. Been doing some research the old spanish monastery sounds interesting and hanging out in south beach. Is little havana interesting? read some things on tripadvisor that it wasn't safe. I love ethnic food, so any suggestions would be great. I have been reading the trip reports on this site too. thanks in advance, PJ

Little Havana is what I would call a gritty urban neighborhood, but not particularly unsafe. There's really not much to do there but go to one of it's authentic Cuban restaurants. Do not expect Little Havana to be particularly scenic or charming, but it is heavy on Cuban "ambience." I go there at night and never feel unsafe. Always lots of people around. I recommend Versailles for a restaurant experience. Fabulous faux glitzy decor and good food. Go late at night for the full experience. Do NOT eat at La Carreta. We're talking food coming to the table ice cold. Had terrible rubbery fish there. Which is strange, because their "satellite" branch near my mom's house in Pembroke Pines is excellent.

It sounds like you'd enjoy Vizcaya--a mediterranean style Palazzo just south of Miami with gorgeous gardens. I think it rivals the most beautiful homes I've seen in Europe.

Hi anymore takers?

Gee, pjsparlor, you're welcome.

Little Havana is a working class neighborhood with real people, real stores. It's not really gentrified or set up as a tourist attraction. I guess the attraction to tourists would be that it's a Latin neighborhood, an authentic one. There are some stores geared to tourists that sell Cuban themed items. Domino Park is an interesting site.

Versailles is the best place for Cuban, I agree. I recommend having coffee at one of the coffee windows - that's as true Miami Cuban as you can get. Guava pastries are awesome.

Hi Cimbrone,

I have put Vizcaya on my list of cool places beause of your post, so thank you! Thank you for the tip, and thanks AMCC too. PJ

Just another thought. If you'd prefer not to venture into Little Havana and just have Cuban food in South Beach where you'll be spending time anyway, David's Cafe (just off Lincoln Road) is an option. Years ago, I used to eat at Puerto Sagua. I believe it's still there, further down on Collins and 7th Street. It used to be very good. I'm guessing it still is. Yuca is an upscale Cuban restaurant right on Lincoln Road. Not classic Cuban homecooking, but Cuban food with a trendy twist. Haven't eaten there myself. But you might enjoy the experience.

We went to Hoy Como Ayer and didn't feel particularly unsafe. Very nice, albeit mature, crowd inside. Fun show, rather smokey.

Parking was a little weird. We found on-street self-parking, but some guy across the street was trying to wave us over so he could park it in a lot - not a valet at the restaurant.
Not sure I would have wanted to wander around at night without knowing where I was going, but wouldn't do that in any city.

However, almost got run over by a crazy driver in SoBe who started spinning donuts in the middle of the Ocean Drive. Felt very unsafe at that point.

I'm Cuban and I think Versailles sucks. The food is disgusting.

Go to Larios in South Miami on a Friday or Saturday night. The food is great, and everyone is dancing to the excellent live salsa band. And when I say everyone, I mean EVERYONE...from little toddlers to 90 year old grandmothers.

The Venetian pool is also beautiful and fun (though the water is cold).

Thank you again for all this great info~