Tash's Perfect Day in Little Havana
Immerse yourself in Cuban culture, art, film and, of course, the food.
Continuing our “Perfect Day” series we have Natasha Londoño, a travel professional, my friend since high school (!!!) and founder of Rumbita. Born and raised in Miami, FL, Tash has been living in Little Havana for years now and is super involved in the local community. You may also remember she was a guest a few months back on the EDSR Podcast.
Here are a few of the things she thinks make for a perfect day in this vibrant Miami, neighborhood known for its rich Cuban culture, art and mouthwatering drinks and food:
Start your day with a Cuban coffee and a pastelito at one of the local cafes, like El Pub Restaurant. Then maybe visit the Tower Theater, a historic cinema that shows foreign and independent films. If there’s a movie you want to see, buy tickets for later. There are lots of walking tours in Little Havana, including this food tasting tour which lasts 2.5 hours. You can also grab a map and explore on your own.
A staple in the community is Domino Park—it’s shown up in movies (like the recent Father of the Bride remake). Domino Park is known as a place where locals—especially the cute old men—gather to chit chat, have a second cafecito and play dominoes. Join a game or just watch and learn from the pros.
Around lunchtime you’ll want to try a local Cuban spot like La Carreta. I personally love Old's Havana Cuban Bar & Cocina for lunch or dinner. Here, you’ll be transported to actual Havana with live music and a humid climate (they keep the doors open). Try some traditional Cuban dishes like picadillo or vaca frita, congri and tostones and don’t forget dessert. Another spot Tash loves for lunch is Doce Provisions. Open from 10 AM to 6 PM, Sanguich is where you can grab a great on-the-go midday bite.
Party Cake Bakery has multiple locations in Miami, but the one in Little Havana has a cool (and little known) feature—an art studio directly above it. Didi Rok has an eclectic space with art-lined walls and often paints to the original songs of the chicken and roosters that hang out in the parking lot. Contact the studio to visit. Sometimes they’ll even host events in the space, like Tash’s Rumbita vision board party at the beginning of the year.
Make new friends by joining a run club. Run Little Havana meets every Wednesday night at 7 PM at the Bay of Pigs Memorial (just off Calle Ocho and 13th Ave). They also sometimes host special events with other businesses in the area including runs followed by social hangouts.
Enjoy happy hour and the sunset with gorgeous city views at Terras, the rooftop at Little Havana’s Life House hotel. Or sip a cold brew and nosh on bar bites at the local bottle shop, Union Beer. End the night with dinner and dancing, somewhere like Ball & Chain, a bar and live music venue that has been a fixture in Little Havana for nearly 100 years. Enjoy a mojito or a Cuba Libre while listening to live music.
If you haven’t already, you can listen to our chat with Tash here: