Calle Ocho is definately worth a visit. On the block where Pepins factory is (actually they have 3 store small storefronts-1 with rollers, 1-office and the third the retail, they carry the Tatuaje browns and their lines there), La Gloria is on the corner and has a larger area where you can smoke. My recommendation though is to go to El Titan de Bronze just kitty corner from La Gloria. They are extremely friendly, their rollers are right in the front and they're very accomodating. While walking down Calle Ocho, stop at Le Pub (I think thats what the name was), across the street from Padillas, for a bite. good food good price and an atmosphere which takes you back 50 years.
If you're mobile though, the one place I'd say stop outside of calle ocho is cuban crafters. Yes the place where we all get those emails for their bundles lol. I had the best day there on my stops in Miami. I walked in and first thing you notice is the place is HUGE. I think it was an old furniture shop. I was greeted when I walked in by one of the sales people Luis. I'm kind of a like to explore on my own kinda guy but Luis was so hospitable that it made my visit that more enjoyable. I told him I was from out of town and he gave me the tour of the place from top to bottom. I won't bore you with the details so just go if you have a chance. We ended the tour in the aging room where he just says try this. It was one of the house cigars which was aging. He then took me over to the coffee bar and we shared a cuban coffee and he just says "mi casa su casa" and I sat in the barber chair and enjoyed my smoke. He was an encyclopedia of cigar knowledge so it was that much more fun to just chat. Needless to say, the cigar was good, the company was fun and I walked out with a bundle lol. G1
