Miami
is as Latin American as any city in the country.
So it's no
surprise that you'll find
plenty of great Latin music and entertainment here.
Cafe Salsa
524 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
(305) 604-5959
Limousines
pull up to Casa Salsa and the passengers walk up to
the young, raven-haired
hostess holding guard at the entrance of one of the
hottest restaurants
and dance clubs in town. If your name is on the
reservation list,
she lets you by.
From
the ocean-breezed street you can already hear the
music inside: "Her lips
are devil red. And her skin's the color of mocha.
She will wear you out. Livin' la vida loca."
This
is Ricky Martin's place. On the back wall hang
framed posters of Puerto
Rico and Ricky Martin memorabilia. It's dark inside
and everyone here
is out to have a good time.
The
club's specialty drinks are made with Puerto Rican
rum. The sophisticated
but friendly atmosphere makes it a favorite hangout.
Hours: Fri.-Sun. 10 pm-2 am
Yuca
501
Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
(305) 532-9822
You
probably thought Yuca stood for the starchy root
vegetable. Well, it does
partially. Yuca is known for its fabulously
innovative new Cuban cuisine.
But it's also an acronym for its clientele: Young
Urban Cuban Americans. While
braised oxtail and yuca rellena are being consumed
in the downstairs dining
room, Latin vocalists are served up in the upstairs
concert space.
On
Friday and Saturday nights don't miss the
electrifying show of Cuban music
featuring singing sensation Albita. A political
renegade who emigrated from Cuba in 1993, she has
rekindled the passion of the Cuban exile
community with intoxicating roots music in the
Afro-Cuban tradition infused
with modern arrangements. Reservations are a must
for her popular performances.
Hours:
Open until midnight daily.
Cardoza
Cafe
1300 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
(800)782-6500 or (305) 538-0553
This
tropically appointed hot spot is within the Cardoza
Hotel, owned by Gloria
and Emilio Estefan. Loud music plays in the lobby.
On weekends the restaurant
turns into a disco until 2 or 3 am. Located
on world-famous Ocean Drive in the heart of the Art
Deco District, Cardozo's
address is the hippest street in the hottest part of
Miami. It buzzes
with activity.
Hours:
Open until 3 am on weekends.
Cafe
Nostalgia
2212 S.W. 8th St., Miami
(305) 541-2631
Down
on Calle Ocho in the Little Havana section of Miami,
this legendary nightclub
is an institution for live Cuban music and culture.
The entertainment
often are performances by Cubans who recently
arrived in Miami.
The house band is smooth and rich. Rum flows freely.
A screen over
the stage shows old black and white Cuban films.
It's a great way to get
in rhythm with the locals.
Hours:
Thurs.-Sun. 9 pm-3 am
Mango's Tropical Cafe
900 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
(305) 673-4422
Mango's
features loud Latin dance music in the midst of a
bright rain forest
setting. It's one of the few places on hip Ocean
Drive to feature live
music day and night daily. The
party music keeps on throbbing - salsa, merengue,
samba, calypso, reggae.
This is some of the hottest dancing on the beach
you're likely to see.
Young things sip cafecitos at sidewalk tables day
and night. You're
in luck if get the munchies while dancing the night
away. Terrific Caribbean
food is served until 4 am.
Hours:
Daily 11 am-5 am
