Is it worth visiting Little Havana?

[Maria de los Angeles]

Just in case you can't make it off the island, here's an alternative: sex and the beach: A Taste of Cuba in South Beach

[Doug]

Another Little Havana must see is the Molina Art Gallery (1634 Southwest 8th Street), which has a wonderful assortment of Santeria-inspired creations. I have two prints from it hanging on my wall!

[Bethmahoney]

Little Havana is worth a quick stop by, not sure its a place where you want to hang out for an extended period of time, but it is a neat little place if you have never been there before

[Maria de los Angeles]

Doug, thanks for pointing that out! Molina's work is beautiful. About Us

[Matt Meltzer]

I went to a cigar factory/shop this weekend that had these big, plush leather couches and a flat screen. Got a bottle of Scotch and sat there and watch the World Cup while smoking. It was awesome.

Next door at CubaOcho, I sat out in a courtyard and waited out a rainstorm while drinking mojitos and continuing on the cigar.

I see now why they call this Little Havana. I've been to Big Havana, and this was as close as anywhere can get to duplicating that feel. Super cool if you want to feel like you're in another country right here in the US.

[Doug]

Doug, thanks for pointing that out! Molina's work is beautiful. About Us

He's a real nice guy, too! He'll sit and talk to you and explain each of the characters in his paintings. Many of them are Santeria Loa (gods). He also likes to paint the guajiros (country people) of Cuba. You don't see this kinda stuff in South Beach!

[Maria de los Angeles]

I went to a cigar factory/shop this weekend that had these big, plush leather couches and a flat screen. Got a bottle of Scotch and sat there and watch the World Cup while smoking. It was awesome.

It sounds like you were at Padilla Cigars, which is literally next door to Cuba Ocho ... does that sound right? They don't really serve booze there (it's up to the owners to bring something out).

The other cigar bar that's like a lounge is a few storefronts down across the street and is called Art District Cigars.

[Matt Meltzer]

That's the place. We actually met these two couples there that had brought their own scotch in. It's BYOB. Good stuff.

[Maria de los Angeles]

Yeah, BYOB is the way to go ... good stuff! I love the loungey places there, even though I don't smoke.