Cafe La Trova — Restaurant in Miami

I’m drinking the guarapo Kool-Aid, señores y señoras!

Stationed perfectly en la Calle Ocho, Cafe La Trova brings sazón and a little refresher on the traditional Cuban fare. The reason? James Beard Award-winner Chef Michelle Bernstein.

Vibing from the get-go with a live trova band on stage and decibels turned way up, my friends and I sashayed our way to the table during both my visits and eagerly studied the menu. The handcrafted cocktails, made by the authentic in-house cantineros and led by co-owner/ cantinero-in-charge Julio Cabrera, successfully hit the mark. Two tipsy thumbs up! Expect to see classic Cuban specialties on the menu: the Daiquirí Clásico, Mojito Criollo, and even a Hotel Nacional. Some cheeky fun ones round out the options: Paloma Sagüesera and of course La Chancleta which comes served atop a wooden chancleta, así que pórtate bien.

The live music blared as the waitress took our order, authentically complete with “mi vida” y “mi amor” laced into her sentences. Despite the high-demand of the crowded room and its newly-opened status, the food mostly came out lightning fast.

HITS

Paella Croquetas: arriving with a shot of seafood caldo and a bit of saffron aioli. We could not get enough of these and almost immediately put in a second order. When I mentioned my love for the aioli, the server quickly offered to bring me a small bowl with more. Si, please!

Pan con Bistec: Read this well…it’s NOT a traditional one, and the sooner you get over it, the better. That’s because this one comes with a churrasco, caramelized onions and tomatoes, avocado, charred jalapeños (Como? You read that right), and un poco de secret sazón. No papitas during my first visit, but plenty during my last one. When I read about the jalapeños, I almost walked out. Kidding.

Arroz con Pollo: The bomba rice, saffron, y un ton of Estrella Damm cerveza (beer- in the best way possible) con un free-range half boneless chicken a la plancha did not disappoint. I’d forgotten the joy of well-beered, borderline ensopado rice and chicken. It’s been ages since I had one like it and the last one was probably made by my mom in our old Hialeah kitchen. When the world melts away with every bite, and a rare silence takes over everyone at the table, you know this dish was an instant success. A must order!

Braised Short Ribs of Beef: Celery root purée, shaved fennel-apple salad, horseradish. I expected the purée to be malanga, to be honest. But this worked just as well. If the arroz con pollo hadn’t stolen the show, this dish would have been our top favorite. Second place isn’t so bad, right? Tender, fork-magnet beef, with the added cold crisp of the salad nicely complemented the hearty celery root and (for a brief moment) made us forget a tremenda pachanga was happening all around us.

MISS

Breadless en Miami? I get it. Not offering bread service is a thing everywhere now. But in Little Havana, a little hot and buttered piece goes a long way in my book! I was able to request some pan Cubano, but it arrived plainly: read… cold, and unbuttered. Sacrilégio, Dios mío! Dale, Michelle, please add some tostaditas for us gluttons.

UnCuban Time: Upon arrival during my last dinner (7:30 pm), the perky hostess welcomed me and in the same breath informed me my table was ready. But, we would have only until 9 pm to dine before giving back the table. Que? No. What? I couldn’t help but think out loud, “You want my party of five to eat and drink in an hour and a half?” After several awkward seconds of silence, she dismissed her request altogether and said she would just sit “them” elsewhere. I’m still not sure what that was about and hopefully, it’s just a one-time misunderstanding.

LA CONCLUSIÓN

Even without the pancito and the little timed reservation problemita, I love what Cafe La Trova brings to the neighborhood, and our city: nicely executed Cuban-inspired eats by a passionate and knowledgeable local hand.

TIPS: Make a reservation. It’s a popular spot, and you don’t want to be the come-gofio in the corner...

It’s about the ambiance, the music, and the drinks… but, sadly, not about the food…

The highlight of the place is, definitely, the Cuban festive ambiance; you are truly transported to La Habana the moment you set foot on Café La Trova. The smells, the sounds, the lighting, even the voices… everything is set to make your senses truly believe you’ve been transported to Cuba, and you can’t do nothing but embrace the feeling and let yourself go.

Drinks are spectacular, and although we did not have the award-winning cocktails, the mojitos were, without a doubt, among the best we’ve ever had.

Music is spectacular!!! You might not know the lyrics, you might have never heard the song before, you might not even understand the words and lyrics, but you still feel the music deep inside you and it is beautiful!!!

Ambiance is festive, you’ll find people dancing, singing, cheering, and more. And you’ll just be OK with all that, it won’t bother in the least, and don’t forget to pay attention for the bartenders to partake in the show, because that will, definitely, be the highlight of the visit.

Food was sadly the drawback to our experience. Overall, what we had barely scratches the “GOOD” tier across the board. Café La Trova is far from serving exemplary Cuban food, you can find way better and tastier Cuban food across Miami and even in locations near Café La Trova. The appetizers, such as empanadas and tostones, plain good, the latter grossly greasy; the ceviche, also plain good, with the fish hardly properly marinated; the octopus probably made it to the “VERY GOOD” tier; and the main course, the salt-baked fish, sadly ranked “GOOD” only despite the accompanying paraphernalia, with the resulting dish unpleasantly watery and mildly tasty.

Service: friendly, polite, knowledgeable, agile, but rushed; understandable up to some point since one would love to extend the stay as long as possible, but it is quite annoying to have the table filled with all the dishes you ordered brought at once and left with hardly any space to maneuver, also annoying is to be asked about what you’ll have the very next moment you’re given the menu, and most annoying is to have the check delivered when you’re not even finished!!!

All in all, Café La Trova is a mut-go in Miami, certainly. But probably don’t think of it as a dinner hot spot but rather a lively night out. Also, be advised: make a reservation with as much anticipation as possible, and although you’ll be offered near-the-band seats for an extra price, such area feels a bit crammed, whilst the regular seats still offer a nice view of the show with much more comfortable space.

A NOTE TO CAFÉ LA TROVA: Please be mindful of your communication with your customers, I tried to reach you through different means (phone, mail, and Instagram) to double-check my reservation and NEVER got an...

✨ Café La Trova · My Miami Must-Visit

If you only have one day in Miami, or even just one meal, Café La Trova has to be the choice. 🍸

🍹 Cocktails: Pure Balance, No Misses

Ranked Top 10 in The World’s 50 Best Bars, La Trova’s cocktails are the definition of balance and layers. Every ingredient shines, yet blends seamlessly. You can order blind—there are no misses here. • Mojito Criollo: The best Mojito I’ve ever had. Crisp, refreshing, perfectly balanced. • Gimlet: With lemongrass liqueur, bright and refreshing. • Margarita Picosa: Spicy, zesty, but never overwhelming. • Montemule: Bitter amaro + ginger beer, aromatic like fine perfume. • Always Sunny in Miami: Egg-white foam, velvety and hotel-lounge level elegance. • Hotel Nacional: Pineapple-forward, tropical and smooth. • Banana Daiquiri (Frozen): Creamy banana slushie—dessert in a glass. • Buenavista: Cucumber, mint, elderflower—my absolute favorite, crisp and refreshing. • Cuban Daddy: A refreshing El Presidente twist, served in a red mug. • Toasted Coconut Negroni: Rum fat-washed with coconut, a unique bitter-sweet balance. • Mamma Mia: Herbal, slightly bitter with vermouth depth—complex and addictive. • Especial del Cantinero – Trío Matamoros: Rum, Cuban coffee, and a cigar—a true Cuban cultural trio.

🍽️ Food: The Underrated Star

Everyone comes here for the cocktails, but the food deserves equal praise. • Skirt Steak Ropa Vieja: Cuba’s national dish, with black beans, rice, plantains—absolutely stellar. • Rabo Encendido Pasta: Braised oxtail pasta with mascarpone and pecorino—hearty, rich, unforgettable. • Calamari: Mezcal-marinated, smoky and tender. • Jamón Serrano Croquetas: Crispy ham croquettes paired with fig jam—sweet, salty perfection. • Michy’s Bread Pudding: Rum-soaked raisins + chocolate—sweet but never cloying. • Queso Frito: Simple fried cheese, unbeatable with cocktails.

🎶 Atmosphere & Service: Havana in Miami Live Cuban music, retro décor, cantineros in vintage uniforms, and the most charming bartenders shaking Mojitos with flair—it feels like Havana’s golden era. And the staff? Absolutely wonderful. Bobbie, our server, was so warm and attentive.

Yasmani and Javier, behind the bar, were not only amazing at their craft but also brought incredible energy.

Everyone there truly passed the vibe test ✅—they made us feel like old friends.

If Miami is a 70/100 in my heart, Café La Trova alone is at least 60 of those points. I went two nights in a row and would still come back for more. Truly, this is a place I could rave about...