The answer lies within the complete entwinement of the Miami culture with the Latin American Culture, from the vibrant Latin American art scene and the abundance of Latin American cuisine, to the 72.5% of Miami City residents who identify as “Latino or Hispanic”. Latin American culture doesn’t just inspire Miami culture, it underpins everything that makes Miami what it is. Let’s explore why Miami is considered as a Latin American capital today.
The Population of Miami
With 66% of Miami residents speaking Spanish in their homes, it is clear that the majority of Miamians are of Latin descent.
The history of this Latin American migration to Miami is complex, fascinating, and diverse. Hispanic and Latino migrants stemmed from a multitude of different socio-economic backgrounds, countries, vocations, and education levels. The beginning of the Latin American migration to Miami seemed to stem from Cuban refugees fleeing the reign of Fidel Castro, paving the path for Latin Americans from other countries to make the move too.
Not only did this influx of migrants lead to a diversification of the Miami workforce in the form of Latin American office workers, restaurant staff, and builders, but it also led to a growing number of Latin American business owners within Miami. And so the Latin American imprint on Miami began.
The Cuisine of Miami
With the prominence of Latin American business owners in Miami, it is unsurprising that Latin American culture runs smoothly through the Miami food scene. You can enjoy your Sunday morning iced latte accompanied by a pan de dulce (a Mexican sweet bread) baked by a skilled Mexican bakery owner, and indulge in Cuban cuisine for your Friday night out – dinner at Versailles anyone?
In fact, the entirety of Little Havana (where Versailles is based), demonstrates some of the best Cuban cuisines Miami has to offer. From succulent fresh fruit stalls to the divine, sugary coffee served out of a tiny window in the wall (ventanitas).
Beyond the delectable Cuban cuisine, you can expect to see the influence of Mexican, Argentinian, Columbian, and Venezuelan (the list goes on) cultural dishes too.
Some of my favorite Latin American eateries in Miami include:
- Versailles (Cuban influence)
- La Mar (Peruvian fusion)
- Novecento (Argentinian dishes)
- Bodega Taqueria y Tequila (Mexican inspired)
The Art Scene of Miami
The Latin American food scene in Miami blends nicely with the art scene. Take the well-known Puerto Rican restaurant, La Placita, for example. La Placita is hard to miss, featuring a huge mural of the Puerto Rican flag across the entirety of its facade, painted by artist Héctor Collazo Hernández’s, renowned for his work: 78 pueblos y 1 bandera.
In ways such as this, the art scene has played an important part in the fusion of Latin American culture within Miami. One of the best-known examples of the intertwinement of Latin American culture within the Miami art scene is the Freedom Tower, first acting as a safe haven for Cuban refugees fleeing to Miami, and now hosting the Cuban Legacy Gallery – a gallery that presents Cuban culture within Miami through the medium of contemporary art.
In addition to this, Art Basel – an iconic annual art fair held in five locations across the world, Miami is one of them – has regularly served to bring Latin American artists to the forefront of the art world’s attention. From Antonio Henrique Amaral, a Brazilian artist, to Catalina Swinburn, an artist from Chile, the best of the best Latin American artists are getting the recognition they deserve at Art Basel in Miami. Suffice to say, Miami is bursting at the seams with talented Latin American artistic culture.
The Architecture of Miami
Hand in hand with Miami’s thriving art scene is the innovative architecture that is slowly but surely emerging throughout the city’s skyline. As with the Latin American art Miamians choose to put on their walls, the Latin American influence can be seen in the architecture across Miami.
Alongside well-received Latin American touches throughout the city, such as the tiny window in the wall (ventanitas) seen when strolling down many Miami streets, larger architectural projects are also leaving a Latin American imprint on the city.
Take architectural firm Foster and Partner’s ‘Faena House’ – a condo project within Argentinian property developer Alan Faena’s ‘Faena Miami Beach’ – which features prominent projecting eaves to shelter from the sun, and presents a notably Argentinian appearance.
This newer, Latin American twist to the infamous art deco design of Miami is certainly helping Miami earn its title as the Capital of Latin America.
The Culture of Miami
Last, but certainly not least, among the multitude of reasons why Miami is so often deemed the Capital of Latin America, is the culture, the feeling, and the ambiance of this incredible city.
Whether that’s the Latin American music that follows you from street to street, the smell of pastelitos (pastries) that so often fills the air, or the cultural aspects such as the Domino Park where, as the name suggests, you will find park-goers sitting and playing dominoes with friends. One thing that’s for certain, the Latin Americans of Miami are sure to thank for making Miami completely unique from any other area of America.
Want to learn more insider details about Miami, the capital of Latin America? As an established Miami real estate agent, I am passionate about providing my clients with the knowledge of all Miami has to offer. From the best restaurants to the history and culture, for more information and guides about life in Miami, head to my website.