To Cuba By Way of Miami

Very few of us in the States have had the opportunity to travel to Cuba. Travel restrictions from the decades-long embargo against Cuba serve to keep money out of government-run tourism services and businesses, but it also means we miss out on experiencing a vibrant cultural experience. The closest you might get with ease is Miami, where a recent trip to Little Havana in particular–served as an inspiration for February’s Cuban dinner. 

Little Havana is the heart of Miami’s Cuban diaspora. The neighborhood is centered around Calle Ocho, a lively thoroughfare lined with bustling restaurants, ventanitas where people gather to sip sweet cafecitos and eat empanadas, bakeries piled high with guava pastelitos, fruit stands pressing juice from sugar cane and tropical fruit, cigar shops, rum bars, art galleries and music venues. Locals gather in Domiono Park to talk politics and play serious games of dominos. Murals and mosaics splash across walls depicting portraits of Cuban legends from poets to Pit Bull. 

We booked The Original Cuban Food Tour Through Little Havana via Airbnb on our last visit. It was a fantastic way to experience the history of the area and the politics in a way I never quite understood before. We sampled so much food along the way and many of those flavors were represented in our Sub Rosa menu as a way to celebrate and honor the culture of the Cuban people.

If this has your mouth watering and your fingers searching for the next flight to Miami, here are a few recommendations to hit up while you are there.

Cafe La Trova

The food, the drinks, the vibe. It’s all happening at Cafe La Trova. You can’t go wrong if you order the croquettas or ropa vieja. The drink menu is extensive as they tout #6 on North America’s 50 best bars list.

El Rey De Las Fritas

This spot has multiple locations but we went to the one on Calle Ocho (8th Street). It’s a throw back diner known for its fritas, Cuban hamburgers topped with shoestring potatoes.

Palacio de los Jugos

On your way out of town, stop by the Little Havana staple serving the area since 1977. Part produce stand, part food stalls, you can get every kind of fresh juice you’ve never heard of. Don’t pass on the chicharrones and grab a media noche (ham sandwich on a sweet egg roll with mustard and cheese) for the flight. There are multiple locations but the original on Flagler is the one to stop and see.