Locals and tourists flock to this Little Havana spot for drinks, dancing and nostalgia
As the midday sun is beating down on Miami, at Ball & Chain people dance to salsa, eat pastries and toast with a mojito. Tourists come from all over the world to this restaurant in Little Havana and upon entering, nostalgia transports them to another era.
What makes Ball and Chain so special? And why is it so popular with tourists and locals? The free salsa classes are not the only reason.
Ball & Chain was founded before Calle Ocho (or Tamiami Trail) existed, back when the street was a dirt road where horse drawn carriages and vehicles carried products to downtown Miami for sale and shipment. In the 1930s, The Trail, as it was called, was the end of US Highway 41, which began in the Midwest.
Eventually, Southwest Eighth Street was paved, bringing businesses, a movie theater, churches, and restaurants to a neighborhood that at the time was a mix of southerners alongside a growing Jewish population.
Ball & Chain Saloon opened in 1935 until the late 1950s. Posters of well-known jazz players that performed regularly at Ball & Chain, such as Billie Holiday, Count Basie and Chet Baker, adorn the walls.
In the late 1950s a large influx of Cubans fleeing first the Fulgencio Batista dictatorship, and then Fidel Castro, invaded a neighborhood that was also experiencing a flight of area residents to the new suburbs to the west. By 1967, the strong Cuban presence in the neighborhood led many to refer to the area as Little Havana and its main artery as Calle Ocho. Ball & Chain became a furniture store for a while and then remained closed for 20 years.
In 2014, Mad Room Hospitality reopened the doors of the iconic Ball & Chain with a focus on dining, parties, concerts and events. The owners have several properties around the neighborhood and have been part of a renaissance in Little Havana and are currently involved in a federal lawsuit against commissioner Joe Carollo.
Atmosphere
Ball & Chain is impressive: an Art Deco building that blends subtly into the neighborhood. Upon entering you will be greeted by bright lights and live music.
The area where the beautiful bar is located has a mural that represents the history of the neighborhood. Everything is inspired by pre-revolutionary Cuba, and they add to the local flair with a domino table incorporated into the decor.
Food and drink
The dishes at Ball & Chain are a unique mix of flavors influenced by Cuban cuisine. Try the Habana salmon, the pork dumplings and the Cuban spring rolls. You can’t go wrong as they were all delicious.
For drinks try the Pastelito Daiquiri, a delicious and striking choice. Who puts a pastelito on top of a daiquiri? Only Ball and Chain! The mojito and the guava sangria are also noteworthy. And after a couple of drinks it’s time to get up to dance. And if you don’t know how, they can teach you. There’s no excuse!
Ball & Chain
Where: 1513 SW Eighth St., Miami
Info: ballandchainmiami.com or 305-643-7820
