Miami's Little Havana Tour Makes TripAdvisor's 10 Best

MIAMI, FL – If you can’t make it to Tuscany for the farmhouse cooking class or Brussels for the chocolate walking tour, you might want to consider heading to Miami’s Little Havana to experience one of TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Global Food Experiences. The Little Havana Food and Walking Tour in Miami ranked fifth on the prestigious list released earlier this week. It was one of only two in the U.S. to make the list along with a New Orleans cooking class.

"Miami is home to one of the world’s best food tours, according to TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Award for Experiences," said a spokeswoman for the travel and booking website. "The Little Havana Food and Walking Tour in Miami is #5 on the Food Experiences global list, ranking among top food cities like Paris, Rome and Barcelona."

Winners were chosen based on a combination of reviews, opinions and popularity with travelers over the last year.

“Experiences are often the highlight of a trip, and a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture, or even explore your hometown," observed Laurel Greatrix of the travel planning and booking site. "From a cooking class at a Tuscan farmhouse, to a glow worm cave tour in New Zealand, and three-day U.S. National Parks tour, these awards highlight the best things to do around the world, with something for every type of traveler.”

The Little Havana Food and Walking Tour features authentic Cuban cuisine and the stories behind those doing the cooking. The tour costs $56 for adults and $39 for children 7 to 13. There is no charge for children that are not eating.

"Learn about spiritual beliefs the community practices, including Santeria," according to the tour website. "Visit a cigar factory, explore Domino Park and The Cuba Ocho Art Museum."

The tour includes a visit to El Pub Restaurant for a picadillo-stuffed empanada, a visit to the Ball and chain for a famous Cuban drink, a stop at Yisell Bakery for a guava pastelito and a stop at Old Havana Restaurant for an authentic Cubano. Tour guests also get to try a refreshing guarapo and enjoy a brief education of the various exotic tropical fruits found in South Florida at Los Pinarenos Fruteria as well as a visit to Azucar Ice Cream for a sweet mantecado ice cream.

"Our mission with our Little Havana Food and Walking Tour in Miami is to introduce the Cuban culture through it's heart warming cuisine," explained Grace Della, who owns Miami Culinary Tours, which operates the Little Havana tour along with three others in the Miami area. "Everyone at Miami Culinary Tours is honored to receive the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards."

TripAdvisor awards recognize 345 experiences, tours, and activities globally, highlighting the world’s best experiences overall. They’re also broken down by country, and by category including day cruises, cultural experiences, day trips, multi-day tours, hop-on hop-off tours, and food, beer, and wine experiences.

Here is the complete list of TripAdvisor's Top 10 Global Food Experiences:

1. Cooking Class and Lunch at a Tuscan Farmhouse with Local Market Tour from Florence
2. New Orleans Cooking Class
3. Rome Food Tour by Sunset around Prati District
4. Paris Food Tour: Taste of Montmartre
5. Little Havana Food and Walking Tour in Miami
6. Madrid Tapas and Wine Tasting Tour
7. Colonial Tramcar Restaurant Tour of Melbourne
8. Tapas and Wine Experience Small-Group Walking Tour
9. Brussels Chocolate Walking Tour and Workshop
10. Tokyo by Night: Japanese Food Tour

For more information on the Little Havana tour and other Miami Culinary Tours click on the links below:

• SOUTH BEACH FOOD TOUR
• LITTLE HAVANA FOOD TOUR
• WYNWOOD FOOD TOUR
• Miami City Food Tour

Little Havana Food and Walking Tour Photos courtesy Miami Culinary Tours