Restaurant

Cafe La Trova

Name: Cafe La Trova
Address: 971 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33130, US
Telephone: (786) 615-4379
Price range: value

Cuban•Little Havana•value

Cafe La Trova is one of the best cuban restaurants in Miami for group dinners, especially if you want a strong option in Little Havana.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

Café La Trova sits on Calle Ocho in the heart of Little Havana, and the collaboration behind it is the kind of thing Miami tends to get right when it's firing: chef Michelle Bernstein handling the kitchen and Julio Cabrera — widely regarded as one of the country's foremost cantinero practitioners — running a bar program rooted in the formal hospitality traditions of pre-revolution Havana. Live music moves through the room most evenings, and by all accounts the place has a rhythm that feels inherited rather than manufactured. That combination has made it one of the more talked-about rooms in the city since it opened, and the reputation has held. The menu centers on Cuban classics, and the kitchen is known for executing them with some seriousness — croquetas, ropa vieja, lechón asado are the dishes that come up repeatedly in coverage and diner reports. These are not reinvented; the point is fidelity and quality of execution. The bar, though, is where La Trova has drawn its loudest national attention. Cabrera's daiquirís and cantinero classics are routinely cited among the best cocktails in Florida, and the food menu reads like it was designed with a glass in the other hand. Diners who treat the cocktail program as incidental are reportedly missing the point of the room entirely. This is a strong pick for a group dinner when you want music and momentum built into the evening, and it functions equally well as a destination cocktail bar with serious food alongside. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly on nights when live music is scheduled — the room fills, and it fills early. Go with time to spare and no fixed departure.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•Miami guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

Cocktail BarGroup Dinnersclassic dinnerlocal

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Taste ID

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Taste Score 8.5/10

Rating (Google) 9.0

3,864 reviews

Miami

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.5/10

Taste Score

Google 9.0 from 3,864 reviews

Best for

Group Dinners and dinner

Price and pace

Good value

Neighborhood

Little Havana | 971 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33130, USA

Price

Good value

Taste Score

8.5/10

Phone

(786) 615-4379

Inside the restaurant

Photos of Cafe La Trova

1 photo

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Cafe La Trova on video

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Why go

What makes Cafe La Trova worth the move

Cafe La Trova is a reliable cuban choice in Little Havana in Miami when you want something that tends to land well. It also holds a 9.0 rating across 3,864 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.0 from 3,864 Google reviews

Best for

Group Dinners and dinner

Style

Cuban in Little Havana

Spend

Good value

Best for

Cocktail Bar Group Dinners classic dinner local

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.0 from 3,864 reviews

Price point: value

Website linked on this page

Phone number available

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for Cafe La Trova

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Google snapshot

9.0 from 3,864 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

No diner notes for Cafe La Trova yet.

First, a geography correction, because somebody's database is fibbing: there's no El Toro Loco in Homestead proper.

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Directions

Address: 971 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33130, USA
Phone: (786) 615-4379
Price: value
TastyPals score: 8.5/10
Google rating: 9.0 (3,864 reviews)
Cuisine: Cuban
Neighborhood: Little Havana

Read guide

Restaurants in Little Havana

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Cafe La Trova serve?

Cafe La Trova is a Cuban restaurant located in Little Havana, Miami. Café La Trova sits on Calle Ocho in the heart of Little Havana, and the collaboration behind it is the kind of thing Miami tends to get right when it's firing: chef Michelle Bernstein handling the kitchen and Julio Cabrera — widely regarded as one of the country's foremost cantinero practitioners — running a bar program rooted in the formal hospitality traditions of pre-revolution Havana.

What is Cafe La Trova best for?

Cafe La Trova is best for cocktail bar, group dinners, classic, dinner, local. Cafe La Trova is a reliable cuban choice in Little Havana in Miami when you want something that tends to land well. It also holds a 9.0 rating across 3,864 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Cafe La Trova?

Cafe La Trova is in the Good value price range (value). Google rating: 9.0 from 3,864 reviews

Is Cafe La Trova worth visiting?

Cafe La Trova holds a 9.0 Google rating from 3,864 reviews. Cafe La Trova is a reliable cuban choice in Little Havana in Miami when you want something that tends to land well. It also holds a 9.0 rating across 3,864 Google reviews.