Beloved Little Havana Latin Club Gets Acquired by Ariete Hospitality

Few local venues carry the kind of history Hoy Como Ayer does. Founded in 1999, the space has welcomed performances by legends like Celia Cruz and the Fania All Stars. Long considered a go-to spot for salsa dancing that stayed true to its roots, the venue was forced to shut its doors during the pandemic. It later reopened in 2024 under new ownership —and this week, it was announced that the torch has officially been passed to Ariete Hospitality Group.

Although rumors about the acquisition had been circulating around town for a couple of months, the official announcement came via Instagram on the evening of April 1. And no —far from an April Fools’ joke — the news signals a promising future for the venue, likely bringing expanded food offerings shaped by Ariete Hospitality’s culinary perspective.

What Ariete Plans for Hoy Como Ayer in Little Havana

“Miami is the home of an ever-changing scenery, a place that has forever been a landing pad for different cultures and ethnicities. As a Miami native, one thing I’ve always made my mission is to try to speak to the real Miami through our food and hospitality group — maintaining, preserving, and progressing the real parts of our beautiful city. We had an opportunity to dive deeper than we ever have into preserving a beautiful part of our city, ” the Instagram post signed by Chef Michael Beltran reads.

“Growing up blocks away from Calle Ocho, I always knew I wanted to one day be a part of the community that has done an incredible job elevating food and beverage in the neighborhood. We are very happy to announce that we have taken the reins of the legendary space @hoycomoayer.miami. I love this space, this neighborhood, and most of all what it means to so many of us Miami natives. The DNA of Hoy Como Ayer will remain, and we plan to do our very best to do this legendary space justice through our food and beverage programs—partnering with @earcandymusic.co to preserve the texture of what this place represents in the music world. All I can say is, I am pumped—and it feels good to be home.”

Ariete Hospitality Group — named after its Michelin-recognized flagship restaurant — also owns Chug’s Diner and Coconut Grove’s the Taurus, and is led by Beltran.

On the music side, Ear Candy Music will continue to oversee programming, having served as the venue’s selectors and bookers under previous ownership. Weekly staples remain intact: Friday nights are dedicated to Latin Fever, with selections by El Gran Cucu and El Gato live on timbales, while Saturdays host Sabrusura Club, another of the venue’s signature parties. The calendar will also continue to spotlight live and touring acts, including Dominican artist Letón Pé, who is set to perform on April 23 in support of her recently released album Golosa.

Hoy Como Ayer has been named the Best Latin Club by New Times on multiple occasions.

Hoy Como Ayer. 2212 SW Eighth St., Miami; 305-506-1537; hoycomoayer.miami.