Miami Little Havana Small Group Tour with Cuban Historian
Overview
Beyond the typical tourist sights, this experience offers a deep dive into the history & stories of Miami's Cuban community led by a Cuban-born author providing personalized tours since 1980s. This tour is designed to move past the superficial and engage directly with local Cuban life offering authentic culinary delights, cultural immersion, hidden gems and local life experiences. Visit local bakeries, learn the secrets of a delicious Cuban sandwich, savor tropical ice cream, sugar cane juice or handmade chocolates. Meet world-class cigar makers, enjoy live music with a traditional mojito, and explore the historic neighborhood referred to as "Miami's Ellis Island." Visit the historic Ball & Chain to travel back in time to the roaring 20s & experience the morning rituals from crowing roosters to the rush for Cuban espresso at local cafes. This is a cultural experience with food tastings rather than a typical food tour. Each guest is responsible for their own food & beverage consumption.
Gallery
What's Included
✓ Included
- Discounts on bike rentals and tours with your ticket.
- Our small group tours allow for a more personalized, intimate and tailored experience.
- *REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO SOBEACH TOURS FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
- Private tours and Spanish-language tours available; inquire directly at Sobeach Tours website.
- *TICKET DOES NOT INCLUDE FOOD/DRINK. EACH GUEST IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OWN FOOD & BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION.
- *PLEASE ARRIVE 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE TOUR START TIME TO ALLOW FOR CHECK IN.
- Get insider tips and recommendations from your guide on local restaurants and bars.
- Get insights into must-see sights, unique hidden gems and secret locations that many tourists miss.
Itinerary
1
Stop 1
We meet at El Pub Restaurant, located at 1548 SW 8th St in Little Havana, Miami, is a family-owned staple known for authentic Cuban cuisine since 1996. It offers a nostalgic "Abuela-style" dining experience on Calle Ocho, featuring a traditional diner layout and a popular ventanita (coffee window).
2
Stop 2
The Little Havana Gift Shop, established in 2013 on Calle Ocho, is a family-owned business recognized as one of the first official souvenir shops in the area. It serves as a hub for cultural mementos, offering items like Cuban souvenirs, Panama hats, and apparel while providing visitors with complimentary Cuban coffee, reflecting the neighborhood's welcoming traditions.
3
Stop 3
Little Havana cigar factories, particularly along Calle Ocho, began flourishing in the 1960s and 70s as Cuban exiles brought their traditional, artisan cigar-making skills to Miami. These shops maintain strict old-world, hand-rolling techniques (or "Cuban-style") using premium tobacco leaves, often from Central/South American seeds.
4
Stop 4
Established in 1976 on Calle Ocho, Máximo Gómez Park—popularly known as Domino Park—was created as a dedicated social hub for Cuban exiles in Little Havana. Named after a Cuban revolutionary war hero, the site was developed to honor Cuban heritage, becoming a, permanent, vibrant, and competitive, gathering place for domino playing, coffee, and political discussion among older residents.
5
Stop 5
Inaugurated in 1987 in Miami's Little Havana, the Calle Ocho Walk of Fame honors influential Latin artists and figures, particularly those of Cuban descent, who have shaped global entertainment and culture. Located on SW 8th Street between 12th and 17th avenues, the sidewalk features bronzed stars similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
6
Stop 6
Located on SW 13th Avenue in Little Havana, the Cuban Memorial Boulevard Park is a historic four-block strip dedicated to the exile community's fight against communism. It features the Eternal Torch for Brigade 2506 (Bay of Pigs) and monuments honoring veterans, prisoners, and independence heroes, serving as a hub for Cuban heritage and political demonstrations.
7
Stop 7
Located in Little Havana, Miami, the historic Tower Theater opened in December 1926 as a premier state-of-the-art venue. Originally featuring Mediterranean Revival style, it was remodeled in 1931 with its signature Art Deco style. It became a cultural hub for Cuban immigrants in the 1960s, showing films with Spanish subtitles.
8
Stop 8
Ball & Chain in Little Havana, Miami, is a historic venue opened in 1935 that transformed from a notorious Prohibition-era saloon into a legendary1950s jazz club, hosting stars like Billie Holiday and Count Basie. Following a period of closure, it was revived in 2014, blending Cuban culture, cocktails, and live music with its original, colorful gangster-linked history.
9
Stop 9
The Cubaocho Museum & Performing Arts Center is a cultural hub in Miami's Little Havana dedicated to preserving Cuban art and history from the 1800s through 1958. It was founded in 2007 by Cuban historian and collector Roberto Ramos, who spent decades rescuing works of art that were being erased or suppressed following the 1959 Cuban Revolution.
10
Stop 10
Old's Havana Cuban Bar & Cocina was founded in 2016. Located on the historic Calle Ocho in Little Havana, the restaurant is designed to transport guests to the pre-revolutionary "Golden Era" of Cuba through vintage 1950s decor and traditional music. The restaurant is a "glossy tribute" to the mid-century period of Havana, featuring black-and-white photography, antique record players, and a soundtrack of rumba and boleros.
11
Stop 11
Located in the heart of Little Havana on Calle Ocho, the shop is a cultural landmark known for its artisanal, Cuban-inspired flavors and its vibrant exterior featuring a massive two-story ice cream cone sculpture.
12
Stop 12
Los Pinareños Fruteria is Little Havana’s oldest open-air fruit market, serving as a staple of Calle Ocho for over 55 years. Founded by Cuban exiles Angel and Guillermina Hernandez in the early 1960s, the market specializes in tropical fruits, fresh-pressed sugarcane juice (guarapo), and Cuban coffee.
Meeting & End Point
📍
Meeting Point
We meet out front El Pub Restaurant located at 1548 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135.
*YOUR GUIDE WILL BE WEARING A PINK BASEBALL CAP.
*PLEASE ARRIVE 15 MINUTES BEFORE TOUR START TIME.
*IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ "WHAT'S INCLUDED".
🏁
End Point
We meet out front El Pub Restaurant located at 1548 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135.
*YOUR GUIDE WILL BE WEARING A PINK BASEBALL CAP.
*PLEASE ARRIVE 15 MINUTES BEFORE TOUR START TIME.
*IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ "WHAT'S INCLUDED".
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