The Colorful Miami Neighborhood Built By Cuban Refugees in the 1960s

Little Havana, Florida

When Castro took over Cuba in 1959, thousands of families packed whatever they could carry and headed to Miami. They figured they’d be back home in a few months.

Sixty years later, their temporary neighborhood has become the soul of Cuban America. Here are some interesting facts you may not know about Little Havana.

A Cuban Refuge

During the 1960s Little Havana became a safe haven for Cuban refugees fleeing Castro’s regime. Before becoming Little Havana, the area was split into two neighborhoods, Riverside and Shenandoah, mostly home to Jewish residents.

The Waves That Shaped Cuban Miami

The first wave of Cuban immigrants after the 1959 revolution, known as the “Golden Exile,” was mainly upper and middle-class Cubans who fled between 1959–1962. Following this initial exodus, the “Freedom Flights” between 1965–1973 brought about 300,000 more Cuban immigrants to the United States.

Later, the Mariel Boatlift exodus happened between April 20 and September 26, 1980, bringing nearly 125,000 Cuban refugees.

They were called “Marielitos,” who were mostly young, single, working-class men with less education than earlier waves.

Becoming a True Cuban Community

The U.S. government opened the Cuban Refugee Emergency Center in 1960 under President Eisenhower, waiving many immigration rules for Cubans entering the United States.

As they settled, Cuban immigrants set up businesses along Calle Ocho (Southwest 8th Street), making it the neighborhood’s main road. By 1970, the neighborhood was more than 85% Cuban.

Domino Park

Established in 1976, Domino Park is named after Máximo Gómez, an important Dominican military figure who played a key role in the Cuban War for Independence.

The park got a major upgrade in 1983 when Miami invested in covered pavilions and better features like walkways decorated with domino patterns.

A unique rule of Domino park is that it only allows people 55 and older to play at the domino tables.

Tower Theater

Built in 1926, the Tower Theater is one of Miami’s oldest cultural landmarks and was once the best theater in the South.

In the early 1960s, the theater became a cultural bridge for Cuban refugees, showing English-language films with Spanish subtitles and later Spanish-language films.

In 2011, USA Today named Tower Theater Miami “one of the 10 great places to see a movie in splendor” in their list of the best old-fashioned movie palaces in America.

Calle Ocho

Calle Ocho is the main street of Little Havana and is lined with Cuban restaurants, cigar shops, art galleries, and cultural centers.

The thoroughfare features the Latin Walk of Fame (Paseo de las Estrellas), honoring famous Latin artists and personalities including Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan, and Willy Chirino.

The Calle Ocho Festival

Started in 1978 by Cuban exiles, the festival is run by the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana, with the 2025 event marking its 49th year. Past performers at the festival have included major Latin music stars such as Maluma, Pitbull, Tito Puente Jr., Gloria Estefan, and Nicky Jam.

Versailles Restaurant

Founded by Felipe A. Valls Sr. in 1971, Versailles Restaurant has become an iconic spot in Little Havana and a gathering place for the Cuban diaspora. The restaurant’s design was inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in France, with golden chandeliers and shiny mirrors.

Coffee Windows

Grabbing a cup coffee windows (“ventanitas”) is one of the first things you need to do on any visit to Little Havana. Many places serve “cafecito” (Cuban espresso), “cortadito” (espresso with a little milk), and “colada” (shared espresso).

Cuban Classics

Little Havana’s restaurants showcase classic Cuban dishes such as lechon asado (roast pork), arroz con pollo (chicken with rice), and picadillo (seasoned ground beef).

One of the area’s most popular food items is the Cuban sandwich, made with ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on Cuban bread.

Beyond these famous dishes, other popular foods include croquetas (breaded and fried cylinders with various fillings), empanadas, and sweet plantains.