By Jonathan Anthony Burkett
Miami is famous for its beaches, but some of its best stories are told a few miles inland. The city is a patchwork of neighborhoods shaped by Cuban, Haitian, Bahamian, African American and Latin American communities, each with its own food, music, language and history. If you want to understand Miami, spend time in these places and let them introduce themselves.
Little Havana: Calle Ocho and Cuban Heritage
Little Havana grew as a center of Cuban life in Miami after large numbers of Cubans arrived following the 1959 revolution. Its heart is Calle Ocho, the stretch of SW 8th Street lined with cafes, cigar shops, fruit stands and murals.
Walk-up coffee windows serve strong Cuban coffee, and bakeries sell pastelitos and croquetas. Máximo Gómez Park, widely known as Domino Park, is a long-standing gathering place where older residents play dominoes and talk. The Calle Ocho Walk of Fame honors Latin entertainers with stars set into the sidewalk, and the historic Tower Theater is a neighborhood landmark.
Little Havana has also become home to people from many Central and South American countries, so you will hear a wide range of Spanish accents and find food from across Latin America.
On many evenings you may hear live music drifting out of restaurants and bars, and the neighborhood hosts cultural events throughout the year, including the large Calle Ocho street festival. Dates and formats change, so check current listings before planning a visit around an event.
Little Haiti: Creole, Color and Culture
North of downtown, Little Haiti is the center of Haitian life in Miami. Haitian Creole is spoken on the street, and signs, murals and storefronts reflect Haitian art and history. Part of the area was historically known as Lemon City, one of the earliest settlements in the Miami area.
The Little Haiti Cultural Complex hosts art exhibits, performances and community events, and the colorful Caribbean Marketplace building was designed with Port-au-Prince's Iron Market in mind. Local restaurants serve Haitian favorites such as griot (fried pork), diri ak djon djon (black mushroom rice) and pikliz, a spicy pickled slaw. Small shops, record stores and botanicas add to the neighborhood's character.
Little Haiti is also known for its art scene. Haitian painting, with its bold colors and scenes of daily life, faith and history, appears in galleries and on walls throughout the area. Spending an afternoon here gives you a glimpse of a culture that many visitors to Miami never see.
Like many Miami neighborhoods, Little Haiti is changing, and many longtime residents are concerned about rising costs. Supporting family-owned businesses is one simple way visitors can give back.
Overtown: The Harlem of the South
Overtown, just northwest of downtown, is one of Miami's oldest Black neighborhoods. During the era of segregation it became a thriving center of Black business and entertainment, often called the "Harlem of the South." Famous Black performers who played Miami Beach hotels but were not allowed to stay there often performed and stayed in Overtown.
The historic Lyric Theater, built in the early 1900s, still stands as a reminder of that era. The construction of highways through the neighborhood in the mid-20th century displaced many residents, and community groups continue to work to preserve Overtown's history and culture.
Coconut Grove and Its Bahamian Roots
Coconut Grove is one of the oldest communities in Miami. In the 19th century, Bahamian immigrants were among its early settlers, and they helped build the area. The West Grove, especially around Charles Avenue, still carries that Bahamian heritage, including historic homes and an old cemetery.
Today the Grove is also known for its leafy streets, waterfront parks and marinas. It is a good place to slow down and remember how deep the Caribbean ties of South Florida go.
Jonathan spent much of his teenage years moving around South Florida, between Miami, Miramar and Fort Lauderdale, and making friends whose families were struggling too. He writes that he noticed more Haitian families in those areas than Jamaicans or Latinos, and that it taught him something he still lives by: “My mantra was and still is today that no matter what, color does not mean a thing.”
Wynwood and Beyond
Wynwood, once a district of warehouses and factories, is now known worldwide for its street art. Large murals cover building walls throughout the neighborhood, and galleries, breweries and restaurants fill the old industrial spaces. Nearby, Allapattah has a large Dominican community and a busy produce market area, and it is increasingly home to art spaces as well.
Other areas worth exploring include the Design District, Little River and North Miami, each with its own mix of communities and cultures.
Tips for Visiting Respectfully
- Remember that these are living neighborhoods, not theme parks. Be considerate with photos of people and homes.
- Eat and shop at locally owned businesses.
- Learn a few words of Spanish or Haitian Creole; a simple greeting goes a long way.
- Check current hours and event schedules online before you go, since they can change.
- Look for community-led walking tours to hear history from people who know it best.
A City of Many Homes
Miami's cultural neighborhoods show how people carry home with them and plant it somewhere new. Jonathan Anthony Burkett was born in Miami and raised in Jamaica, and that blend of Miami and the islands runs through his story. You can read more about him on his about page.
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