Ball & Chain is a major stop on history of Miami tours, but there's nothing dated about the legendary saloon with its live music, DJs, Latin eats, tropical drinks and special evenings like Ladies Night and Karaoke Night. Its colorful and sometimes sketchy history began in the 1930s long before there was a Calle Ocho. In the 1950s, it was one of the first venues in Miami to hire black artists like Billie Holliday, who doubled as a babysitter for the owner's children. Count Basie sued the club for back payments in in 1957, leading to its demise. Ball & Chain made a comeback in the mid-1990s, becoming a lynchpin in Little Havana's tourism hub. From mid-day to late, it's party-time at the lounge whose front door disappears, making the dark interior an open-air bar. Often as not, music is spilling out onto the street.

ballandchainmiami.com