Little Havana is the best spot in Miami to sample authentic Cuban food. A Little Havana institution that deserves a visit is Versailles Restaurant, a staple in the community that has served Cuban coffee and cuisine since 1971. It’s a prime place to sip a cafecito and mingle with locals who gather outdoors near the walk-up windows to chat about politics and local news.

This self-proclaimed “most famous Cuban restaurant in the world” is arguably more popular than its palatial namesake in France. The Little Havana institution is the unofficial meeting place for the city’s Cuban community, who crowd the cafecito window 24/7 sipping on strong, espresso-style coffee. Stop in for toasted Cuban sandwiches and authentic Cuban pastelitos made the exact same way for 40-plus years, yummy arroz con pollo...shall we go on?

It seems fair to start this guide with the most famous restaurant belonging to Miami’s most prominent ethnic group. Tourists invariably ask about Versailles, and while it may not serve the city’s best Cuban food, it’s hard to argue with its claim as “The World’s Most Famous Cuban Restaurant.” Inside the palatial dining room, you’ll find solid interpretations of traditional Cuban dishes—but the place to be is always at the ventanita outside.

Versailles is a Miami institution that's been serving up classic Cuban fare for decades. You'll want to arrive on an empty stomach because the menu here is as expansive as it is delicious. Ropa vieja (shredded beef), croquettes, fried sweet plantains, and their famous Cuban sandwich are just a few of the mouthwatering dishes you'll find here. Looking for a quick caffeine fix? Swing by La Ventanita, an attached to-go window, where you can perk up with a cafecito (sweet and strong Cuban coffee).

Although set a few blocks before what many consider the “start” of Calle Ocho, Versailles Restaurant has been a benchmark for Cuban dining – and Little Havana community hub – for 50 years. Inside, you can enjoy fine Cuban cuisine in elegant surrounds decorated with etched glass and neoclassical flourishes. Alternatively, walk up to La Ventanita and grab a coffee and snack to go, also a popular spot for locals engaging in their favorite pastime of talking politics.

This “World’s Most Famous Cuban Restaurant” is popular for a reason. Versailles in Little Havana has been bringing delicious Cuban food to Miami for upwards of four decades, and a meal from their restaurant is on just about any tourist's check-list. But if all you’re wanting is a coffee and pastry (and quick!), check out their la ventanita, where you can get café Cubano, cortadito, colada, or café con leche to go.