Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Calle Ocho

    4.1 (45 reviews)

    Calle Ocho Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Calle Ocho

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Andrea U.

    Main drag going through Little Havana. Lots of Cuban restaurants, cigar shops, gift shops, wine bars ... Domino Park is fun here. The Cuban ice cream, Mojitos & live music .... Calle 8 is always rocking!

    A Latin twist on an American staple.
    Daniel C.

    So a missed excursion after a cruise on Carnival yielded an unexpected detour. I was looking forward to a guided tour with places of interest: Versace's Mansion, visiting downtown Miami and the piece de resistance "Little Havana." Alas, in debarkation my luggage was lost by the cruise staff. And when it was eventually found I missed the shuttle bus by a few minutes. The thing was our flight wasn't until 7pm and it was only 9am. Add to that Carnival's staff yelling at us to leave somewhere, anywhere. In desperation a solution revealed itself, make some sort of run to "Little Havana." In my realist mode, especially with age I've begun to accept the reality that maybe things happen for a reason. That things don't happen randomly nor arbitrarily. Which would sum up the experience I had on the brief detour. As luck would have it an Uber driver named Guillermo took us straight into "Little Havana" but suggested us to see "Calle Ocho." Riding our way down the long, labyrinth of Miami highways images in my head began to swirl. High rise condominiums I could never afford. Graffiti and antiquity coexisting. I was searching for Crockett and Tubbs as in "Miami Vice" with matching suits. Instead Guillermo, a refugee from Cuba reminded us of how much the city has changed through the generations. And now that it has been freed from the reach of Castro it belongs to conglomerates now. I've been to Florida before but never this far uppermost. We finally made it to "Calle Ocho" and I tried to take everything in. It is a long succession of businesses: restaurants, liquor stores, cafes, art installations and yes, cigar shops. It reminded me of 6th Street in Austin without its plasticity. It's sophisticated, hip whilst having a hand in its past. It was a Sunday and it wasn't highly populated yet, I'm assuming it was due to religious observation. However, you could still buy a bottle of rum. Guillermo suggested we try " El Rey de las Fritas," which is famous for its Cuban Style hamburgers. We tried them and they were excellent. We also had to have "Pollo Tropical" as they used to have locations in San Antonio, Texas. I miss their maduros and tropical sauces. The street, as well as this city is teeming with energy. There's an invisible rhythm here. I felt at any moment Celia Cruz and Tito Fuente would break into song. Its traces are everywhere. I passed by a bar that had just opened and a Latin Jazz band had just set up. With patrons dressed up as if they had left a 50's Hollywood movie set. Again there is this unspoken idea of "Coolness." At the least I should've procured a Cuban cigar but I don't smoke. A week before I visited San Juan, Puerto Rico and like "Calle Ocho" I was struck by how close it holds its roots. In my city progress is taking away the very essence of what makes it unique. Here there is a hand in both the past and future. Miami reminded me of when I went to France. Where fashion, art, food and culture collide. In addition everyone was friendly and helpful. Looking back the missing of the excursion, having Guillermo as our Uber driver and visiting "Calle Ocho" didn't feel occurring coincidentally. It felt like fate had guided us throughout the visit. I hope to return again here if only to purchase a Cuban cigar. ps. Halfway into our visit we saw the shuttle bus that we were supposed to be on. Although there were passengers I would rather soon forget I will never forget my time here.

    Jason M.

    Calle Ocho, or 8th Street in English, is the main strip in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami. This is really the heart of Cuban culture in the city, and as such is a popular tourist destination. When researching places to visit during my recent trip, this was definitely on my list - so after taking in a museum for a good part of the morning I made my way over to check it out. Technically 8th Street in Miami is a long thoroughfare, but the Calle Ocho district occupies a few blocks that contain shops, galleries, bars, and restaurants - all with brightly-colored facades. One of the highlights for me were the wall art present up and down the block - most notably a large mural of Gloria and Emilio Estefan. There are also several large, brightly colored roosters - it reminded me of the Cow Parade that NYC had back in the day. Domino Park is another highlight - a small area where regulars play...dominoes. During my time there, I checked out a few of the shops, had some Cuban coffee, ate a Cuban sandwich, and also had some ice cream. I noticed a few walking tours in the area, so that's available if its your preferred way of sightseeing. Overall, I think it's definitely worth spending some time in Little Havana - there's a lot to see here, and was a highlight of my visit to Miami.

    Sergio F.

    Another reviewer is on point: if you live in Miami or are here mid-March one of your stops should be the Calle Ocho street festival. I ended up here this year because after time change this was a much shorter commute than my original plans. The last time I think was prior to "that which shall not be named ". This street festival started in 1978 as a way of Cuban immigrants showcasing their culture and food to the rest of South Florida. Forty years later, with more cultures in the area, you find arepas, burgers, Chinese food and of course Cuban dishes. Freestyle, hip hop, Cumbia and Cubaton fill your ears. You'll see T-shirt vendors, various business trying to sign you up for their marketing lists to get some branded sunglasses and other free stuff. You'll also enjoy impromptu street parades. There are plenty of Miami PD and FD officers in the crowd to keep everyone safe. As it were, today I saw Miami FD in action medevacing someone to an ambulance via a golf carr. Bougie refined gentrified Miami this is not. Go in your best streetwear and comfortable shoes. Wear a hat and sunglasses because you'll get a good tan. Take ride share or public transit, and come hungry to try all of the yummy eats.

    Beautiful roosters.  Have painted
    Robert S.

    Calle Ocho ('8th Street' in Spanish) is the central thoroughfare and vibrant hub of Cuban culture in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood. Walking up and down this street is a treat for those wanting to immerse themselves in Latin Culture, foods and knick knacks. The street runs east-west along SW 8th Street with landmarks that include the Calle Ocho Walk of Fame and the Calle Ocho Plaza which borders Downtown Miami to its east. A stroll here treats you to dazzling street murals and giant rooster statues (a popular symbol for the Cuban community) set against Art Deco buildings and homes. Come during a festival or any day of the week to hear the locals speak Spanish and to try some delicious food, Cuban coffee or Latin American pastries from one of the many restaurants.

    Marisol D.

    A must visit in yer Miami visit. Great food, atmosphere, shops and historical value. I recommend booking a walking tour while there.

    Azucar
    Angel W.

    Super cute area! We had a great time walking around this outdoor area of Little Havana Miami! I have never seen so many cigar spots in the few blocks that we walked! We probably saw 15! We wanted to explore the area and made sure to make a stop at Azucar Ice Cream! Loved all the murals everywhere! Lots of cigar shops, restaurants, cigar shops, bars, cigar shops, retail, cigar shops & coffee! Walk of Fame - similar to Hollywood's Walk of Fame, with stars on the sidewalk celebrating exceptional people Azucar Ice Cream - amazing Cuban ice cream!! Definitely get the waffle cone! The flavors are fun, creamy & delicious! I got the Cafe con Leche, yum! Panhawaiian Resort Wear - cute clothes store! I got a couple of dresses that fit perfectly and super comfortable! Lots of accessories too! We initially walked in to look at all the hats! Great service to boot! Little Havana Cigar Factory - nice spot for cigars, but not great service La Colada Gourmet - great Cuban coffee!! Great service! They roast the beans on premises. Mr. Cigars - reasonably priced cigars and specialty liquor dipped cigars that smell heavenly! Domino Park - a small park for dominoes! We didn't see anyone playing though Parking is not the easiest in the area, but we found a spot on the street adjacent to 8th Street near Azucar. In the area, they have parking apps that had reasonable rates based on zones. The parking lot next to us want like $30. Definitely must do!

    Bloody Mary. A thing of beauty.
    Yvette A.

    So the yearly festival was going on when we checked this place out. Such a great event!!! ! We were leaving for the airport and had time to burn so we checked this Festival out. Wow! So many food vendors and drink booths! Lots of souvenir booths as well. We only saw it during the day so I'm sure at night it is a party. Wish we could have stayed longer but was so happy we were able to hang out for a bit and listen to live music.

    Elena K.

    I'm sure this street has changed a lot with the changes to Miami and possibly lost some of its authenticity, but as a non-Cuban, this is still a super cool and fun area of the city. This is what I think of when I think of Miami! Music filling the streets, people playing dominoes, free-range roosters, vibrant colors. It's definitely a great place to bring visitors and a fun place to go as a local occasionally when you want a fun vibe. Be sure to check out all the fun street art and murals, a vibrant street!

    Devaneé T.

    Tons of restaurants and shops here. They have festivals down this street throughout the year as well. Definitely stop by if you're in the area!

    Super cool art around
    Sarah P.

    What a vibrant area in Miami this is. This is basically a little Havana, a slice of old school Spain. People flock here for this reason. Come for yourself to see salsa, live music, cute Spanish style cocinas, cute stores, watch the old boys play dominos in the nearby park, see the stores with big fat hand rolled cigars, see the street art. Vibrant, loud and fun and an alternative scene away from the malls, modern high rises and Miami Beach.

    Amy R.

    If the Jersey Shore cast ever needs extras, this might be a good place to start. A sea of Affliction shirts, Ed Hardy, bedazzled shirts, shants, Air Jordans, oversized sun glasses, girls packing 10 pounds of groceries into a 5 pound bag of an outfit and a lot of other questionable ensembles.. But.... To each their own. Every one seemed to be having fun, was nice and respectable and had manners. For that many people occupying Pitbulls ode to SW 8th street, it was nice that people were tame. The food smelled so good and looked amazing, but we didn't eat anything for fear we would have to use a bathroom. Had there been some tolerable bathrooms in the area, I would have chowed down. All the food looked and smelled amazing. Lots of different stages with various music being played and people letting loose in the street. I would go if I lived in the area and wanted something to do while it was going on, but not sure I would make a special trip again for it. We are glad we went and got to experience it, but after walking for miles, we tired of the crowd and the sea of people. Lots of Puerto Rican and Latino pride which is fun to see how people display it. It wound up being different than we thought it would be, but it was still fun. No matter what kind of street fair we've attended there is always some guy or gal holding some big creepy snake. This one had one too. Put a disclaimer out there. I can't stand snakes.

    Great photo op..one of the several colorful roosters
    Tanja N.

    This area of Miami is known as Little Havana, vibrant epicenter of Hispanic culture just 5 minutes west from the Bayside. The most touristy part would be between 12 and 17th avenue on the 8th street (Calle ocho ) with lots of Latin restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops and blasting Latin music performed usually live. Definitely pay visit to the original Visitor center they have plenty of souvenirs for everybody's taste, and take a peak at the Domino Park near. Domino is one of Cuban favorite pastimes and there is a whole park with tables and benches dedicated so people can enjoy it. Unfortunately now during the COVID it is closed, but still one can observe it from the outside and imagine how busy that place used to get. If you like ice cream AZUCAR is the most popular ice cream store in the area. We are at El Cristo Restaurant, just across the visitor center and the food and service were wonderful. Fresh squeezed lime lemonade was superb! And take pictures..lots of pictures with all the roosters!

    Tent in support of the current administration of the USA.

    See all

    1 year ago

    Helpful 46
    Thanks 17
    Love this 45
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Richard S.
    451
    2220
    8948

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Andrea U.
    5000
    3443
    27827

    1 year ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 1
    Love this 12
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 3
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jason M.
    982
    1841
    8129

    3 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 1
    Love this 6
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 2
    Love this 11
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    La Carreta food was horrible. The place and Calle Ocho changed for the worst. Super dirty and undesirable

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    It's not what it used be! This festival has changed for the past few years, it has become a street bazaar. Don't believe the hype.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Angel W.
    1257
    562
    9798

    4 years ago

    Helpful 43
    Thanks 1
    Love this 39
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 2
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Devaneé T.
    314
    524
    998

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amy R.
    342
    1505
    1359

    14 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tanja N.
    11
    386
    3950

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Notoya S.
    17
    504
    1991

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chrissy Y.
    377
    31
    43

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alexa C.
    752
    2165
    5831

    8 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Otto E.
    126
    10
    5

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ana S.
    42
    198
    9740

    9 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Un lugar muy lindo, alegre con historia y sabor! Fui por primera vez, 100% recomendado.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ozzy M.
    477
    99
    178

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Calle Ocho

    Review Highlights - Calle Ocho

    Latin music, of different genres of which there are many, you will hear it all.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Local Flavor 688 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Carnaval On The Mile - Jewlery

    Carnaval On The Mile

    4.4(21 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    It's always a good thing to stop by and listen to some free live music. If you have to pay tolls,…read moretaxes, fees, etc, this is a good way to get some retribution from the city. Coral Gables always makes this a great event, although the performers have become more local than previous years, with out-of-town talent filling the bill. It's all good, let's promote the locals.

    I love Carnaval on the mile! This street festival happens every year for 2 days. It's hosted by…read moreKiwanis and very well organized. The vendors and music stages are depicted on their website making it very easy to know where things are and at what time artists are set to perform. Great vibes, great food, great music, plenty of street fair food and shops to keep you entertained. The artists and vendors who work the booths are always nice and in a great mood. The Carnaval is located in Miracle mile, close to several street parking and parking garages, like we used. I particularly love the location of this festival because its on a fabulous street filled with restaurants on each side of the street. Allowing for more options if you choose you not to eat street food. There are plenty of options like arepas, fresh squeezed juices, pinchos, sandwiches, turkey legs, funnel cakes, Gilbert's bakery, pizza, gelato, and more. We decided to eat lunch at Morton's to break up the day a little from walking, then we continued our day throughout the festival. I did a little shopping at Essence Boutique, which I love to come to when I'm in this area of Coral Gables. I also bought some dips and other trinkets from the festival. I look forward to this festival every year and am so glad I was able to make it this weekend.

    Photos
    Carnaval On The Mile
    Carnaval On The Mile - Plant shop

    Plant shop

    Carnaval On The Mile

    See all

    South Beach Seafood Festival - Entrance

    South Beach Seafood Festival

    3.9(63 reviews)
    5.6 mi

    The SoBe Seafood Festival is a series of events. I went to the Chef Showdown and Seafood Slam. The…read moreChef Showdown comprised of two chefs competing against each other in Seafood categories, sush as sushi, salmon, tuna, ceviche, etc. I have eaten at some of the restaurants co.peting. I feel like some of the food they had at this event was not their best. The standouts for me were the shrimp ceviche from Suviche and salmon and rice from Temple Street Eatery. These were excellent. Rusty Pelican won the big award. Their dish was tasty. It was ribeye and shrimp I believe. (No sign describing the dish on table) I wanted to try the lobster salad from Catch and Cut but they were about to go on stage for the competition when I went by twice. Other restaurants were just ok. I enjoyed the Hendrick's gin drinks. Blacklane had a nice lounge with champagne. All in all, this event is nice because it is food, drinks and music on the beach at night. It was a nice, breezy evening, so that made it even nicer. But if I break it down on most of the food food and even most of the drinks, it is just ok. I expected real high quality seafood and it just didn't cut it for me. Seafood Slam was during the day and it got hot! This event was pretty similar in terms of quality of food and drinks. Nothing bad but nothing to write home about. I think I preferred the Chef Showdown compared to the Seafood Slam.

    Short wait to get in. Great location on the sand. Ocean breezes. A variety of food to choose from…read more All the vendors were excited and friendly and very thankful to receive consumer votes. Every year there is a surprisingly new cuisine to try....this year the seafood pasta was the best for me. Shoutout to Ricky at Mouthgasm. Another epic night...looking forward to next year!

    Photos
    South Beach Seafood Festival
    South Beach Seafood Festival
    South Beach Seafood Festival

    See all

    SOBEWFF

    SOBEWFF

    4.5(36 reviews)
    5.7 mi

    We had such high hopes for Guy Fieri's Tournament of Champions at the South Beach Wine & Food…read moreFestival on Friday, February 20th. The chef lineup looked incredible, and after having an amazing experience at Burger Bash (with early admission), we were genuinely excited. Unfortunately, this event was the complete opposite. Not only was it more expensive, but it was extremely overcrowded. It was shoulder-to-shoulder the entire time, making it difficult to move, enjoy the atmosphere, or even hear anyone speak. The lines were unbelievably long, and it was nearly impossible to tell where they began or ended -- only to finally reach the front and receive a very small bite of food. There also needs to be serious consideration around sound and entertainment. The event had both a DJ and a live band, and it was way too loud -- you could barely have a conversation. The band, unfortunately, wasn't great and felt overpowering and obnoxious at times. The DJ was much better and played far better music; the overall vibe would have been much more enjoyable sticking with just that. There really needs to be a ticket capacity limit to ensure guest satisfaction. Overselling the event completely took away from what could have been an incredible experience. The organization and overall flow just weren't there. After 45 minutes of frustration and barely tasting anything, we decided to leave and went to Pizza Bar around the corner just to actually get something to eat. The only highlight of the night was spotting Rev Run walking in -- which ended up being the most memorable part of the experience. Burger Bash truly felt like the main event in comparison. We won't be returning to this one. Burger Bash from now on.

    It's my 4th year going and I always have a great time at SOBEWFF. This year we attended 2 events…read more We did the dinner hosted by Jet Tila, Aarti Sequeira and Christopher Aguirre. Damaris Phillips was also a surprise chef. The food was delicious. From the passed appetizers to the sit down meal everything was well seasoned and beautifully presented. We also attended the Family Cookout, hosted by JJ Johnson with a special performance from Fat Joe (the BX baby)!!! The food was great, the vibe was awesome and we had an amazing time!!!! I plan on going back next year!

    Photos
    SOBEWFF
    SOBEWFF
    SOBEWFF

    See all

    Lantern Light Festival - The main lantern... a giant dragon

    Lantern Light Festival

    1.7(72 reviews)
    9.7 mi

    Went to the Lantern Light Festival at the Alameda Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, California. The main…read moredraw for me was the lights. I have no children to worry about entertaining, so I just wanted to come here to enjoy seeing all the lanterns and light installations. It was absolutely gorgeous. As a cosplayer wanting to build more light-up props, I enjoyed seeing the lanterns up close. Everything from the entrance gate, the long undulating Chinese dragon with its animatronic head rotating from side to side, the astrological signs, the castles, apple trees, wishing trees, animals, all the flowers, and so much more, were absolutely inspiring and filled my heart with holiday joy. My friend and I enjoyed going around taking photos of the lights. I also appreciated that the pamphlet with the map of the park included photos of how the lanterns were built. The other attraction at the festival was the Chinese acrobat performance. They occurred once per hour, and the performers are very talented. Such amazing display of athleticism! I could have sworn that the adult ticket allowed one dragon ride. Unfortunately, to my disappointment, the dragon rides were ONLY FOR CHILDREN. I felt very mislead and cheated. The food was pricey. Although we ate dinner before coming, I paid $5 for 3 deep fried oreos, and another $5 for a drink (I had hot apple cider, my friend had hot chocolate). Churros were also $5, and just ONE deep fried Twinkie was $6, so I passed on that. Everything else at the festival was geared towards children, so aside from walking around being awe-inspired by the lights, there was nothing else to do. I went to WinterFest at Great America earlier this month, and while I'd say the Lantern Light Festival has much more impressive light displays, WinterFest had much more to offer since in addition to dazzling displays of beautiful lights, they also had roller coasters, more variety of shows, and more activities that not just the kids can enjoy. Overall, the Lantern Light Festival felt like a cheap version of WinterFest.

    I bought the groupon when it was an additional 20% off so my ticket was $14. Parking is $5. It…read moretook us about an hour to walk through. There was an acrobatic show that was not good. There are food venders selling noodles, cinnamon rolls, pizza and elephant ears. You can buy tickets to do activities such as mini golf, simulator ride, face painting, etc. Little kids will like the activities, but older kids will find them stupid. The lights are pretty to see and photograph well on a cell phone. If in the area, and you get the discounted ticket I would recommend visiting the festival. It is NOT worth the full price ticket.

    Photos
    Lantern Light Festival - Mini Golf lanterns

    Mini Golf lanterns

    Lantern Light Festival - Miami Beach lanterns

    Miami Beach lanterns

    Lantern Light Festival - Wishing tree

    See all

    Wishing tree

    Chinese New Year Festival - Mongolian Contortionist, "Melody" Mandkhai Erdembat from Ulan Bator.

    Chinese New Year Festival

    4.3(4 reviews)
    11.8 mi

    The Chinese New Year Festival at MDCC Killian is held every year toward the end of February. I've…read morebeen coming to this event on and off ever since I was a little kid. So for me, the festival is just A-ok. It's pretty much the same show every year. But if you've never been, definitely check it out at least once. Tickets are $5 for kids and $10 for adults. You can expect to see people from all backgrounds in attendance, a very diverse crowd. As far as food, obviously Chinese food is served in addition to Thai, Jamaican, and even Chinese-Jamaican foods among others. There's a main stage with ongoing performances throughout the day including arts, culture, martial arts, etc. If you look around some more, you'll find some games and a small playground for kids. The biggest change this year was the Mercedes cars on display. We happened to be walking toward the dragon dance when they started coming out from the stage area. Apparently, these dragons were outsourced to the non-Asian dragon team. All kidding aside, they did a pretty good job with it although I got side-swiped by one of them. The lychee ice cream here is a yearly tradition. Everyone knows about it and everyone looks forward to it. However, this year's lychee ice cream was one of the most plain-tasting ever. And where were the lychee chunks? Nowhere to be found. Just a spirit of lychee in this ice cream. Then, we got excited about having some Vietnamese Coffee served in a bag. Sadly, it tasted more like a bag of sugared water with caramel color. Far and away from the real thing. Unfortunately this festival is none too exciting for me anymore as it's the same show every year and perhaps a bit more watered down. But, I'll probably come back.

    This was my first time attending the annual Chinese New Year Festival, and I would return next…read moreyear. This was a nice event with a lot of entertainment and food available for purchase. There were also booths selling various items. Entrance was $10 for adults, and all food is additional. however, parking is free and the even provides a couple hours of entertainment. The acts ranged from well-rehearsed amateurs to impressive professionals. The event was held in a courtyard at Miami Dade College. While there was a lot of seating, it was pretty full at the beginning of the performances and we had to wait a bit to get a chair. You have to keep an eye out, fine a spot, and then slowly creep closer to the stage when people leave. My only complaint would be that if you try to sit farther back on the lawn, the stage is obstructed by the tent posts and roof.

    Photos
    Chinese New Year Festival - United States Postal Service (USPS), Retail Associate Jerry Galindo, Mr. Peter Liu, Chinese Cultural Foundation President and Mrs. Uriarte

    United States Postal Service (USPS), Retail Associate Jerry Galindo, Mr. Peter Liu, Chinese Cultural Foundation President and Mrs. Uriarte

    Chinese New Year Festival - Mongolian Contortionist, "Melody" Mandkhai Erdembat from Ulan Bator.

    Mongolian Contortionist, "Melody" Mandkhai Erdembat from Ulan Bator.

    Chinese New Year Festival - The Lion and Dragon Dance, by the Wing Lung Tai Chi Kung Fu School.

    See all

    The Lion and Dragon Dance, by the Wing Lung Tai Chi Kung Fu School.

    Calle Ocho - localflavor - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...