Big Cypress Distillery
13995 SW 144th Ave., Ste. 207, Miami786-228-9740
bigcypressdistillery.com
At first, this Southwest Dade pick seems surprising, given Pitbull's affinity for the Little Havana haunts he frequented during his early days in Miami. But this remote distillery, opened in 2016, produces Pit's Voli 305 vodka. Of course, the spirit gets a shoutout in his city guide: "Voli 305 [is] the first U.S. vodka brand owned and operated by children of Cuban immigrants," writes Pitbull. "You can taste the Miami soul in every pour."
Domino Park
1444 SW Eighth St., Miami305-859-2717
miami.gov
If you were in Miami in the mid-2000s, you likely saw Pitbull hanging around Little Havana. Here, he shouts out a neighborhood staple where locals and tourists gather in equal measure. "Dominoes slam harder here than bass in the club," he writes. "These tables... they're where Miami's soul gets debated, one tile at a time." If you've ever watched octogenarians go at it at this Calle Ocho hotspot, you know exactly what he's talking about.
José Martí Park
351 SW Fourth Ave., Miami305-960-2945
miami.gov
Like many Cuban-American kids, Pitbull grew up reciting the poetry of José Martí. In his tribute to the revolutionary's namesake park, he adapts one of his best-known poems: "Martí said, 'Cultivo una rosa blanca' ('I cultivate a white rose')...I say, 'Cultivo un sueño' ('I cultivate a dream') — and Miami's the soil. The 305 till I die."
La Carreta
3632 SW Eighth St., Miami305-444-7501
lacarreta.com
Pitbull's Cuban roots also show in his restaurant picks. First up is La Carreta, which he lauds for its Cuban sandwiches, coladas, and ventanita. "This place taught me to take pride in my background," he writes. "No matter where I go, I always come back for that window seat and a taste of home."
Mary's Cafe & Coin Laundry
2542 SW 27th Ave., Miami305-443-6672
instagram.com/maryscafemiami
Pitbull calls Mary's Cafe & Coin Laundry — perhaps the most "if you know, you know" pick on his list of hometown hotspots — "the real Miami." "I grew up seeing magic in places like this, where every stain on the floor tells a story," he writes. "Dale, if you wanna know the city's heartbeat, start here."
Miami Coral Park Senior High School
8865 SW 16th St., Miami305-226-6565
mcpshs.net
Pit calls his Sagüesera alma mater the place "where I went from Cuban kid with three strikes to Mr. Worldwide," adding its hallways were his first stage. "I've come a long way, but I never forget my roots or the people who helped me along the way."
Pitbull Stadium
11310 SW 17th St., Miami305-348-4263
fiu.edu
The second of three education-related venues on his list, Pitbull Stadium is the home of FIU football. Is the Miami rapper camped out at Panthers games every fall? Probably not. But he bought the stadium's naming rights last year, granting the school $1 million each year. In turn, he gets to host ten events at the venue for no additional cost. True Miami hustle.
Sports Leadership Arts Management High School
542 NW 12th Ave., Miami305-326-0003
slammiami.com
Cofounded by Pitbull, Little Havana's SLAM Academy is a project close to the Miami native's heart. The charter school, which comprises grades 6 through 12, has been in the news recently because of its parent company's proposal to gain control of the Olympia Theater for educational and cultural programming.
Versailles
3501 SW Eighth St., Miami305-441-2500
versaillesbakery.com
You may feel the need to choose between La Carreta and Versailles, but Pitbull doesn't play by those rules. As it turns out, he has a deep family history with the latter. He notes that his uncle, Juan Pérez-Cruz, designed the mirrors inside the restaurant.
