Where Cubans Live in the New York Metro Area

The Cuban diaspora in the NYC region concentrates in specific neighborhoods across the Hudson River and in Upper Manhattan/Queens:

Primary Enclaves

• Washington Heights (Manhattan): Historic hub. Cuban restaurants (Floridita, El Malecon), bakeries, cultural centers along Broadway/St. Nicholas corridors
• Union City, NJ: "Havana on the Hudson." Highest Cuban density outside Florida. Bergenline Ave: bakeries, cigar shops, social clubs, annual Cuban Day Parade
• West New York, NJ: Adjacent to Union City. Similar commercial/cultural concentration on Bergenline/Palisade Aves
• Elmhurst, Queens: Diverse Latino area with strong Cuban presence (restaurants, grocery, social clubs)
• Corona, Queens: Growing Cuban community alongside Dominican, Ecuadorian, Mexican populations

Secondary Areas

Guttenberg, North Bergen, Fairview (NJ); Inwood (Manhattan); Jackson Heights, Woodside (Queens)

Cultural Impact

These areas sustain Cuban identity through food (ropa vieja, medianoche, café con leche), music, political activism (especially regarding US-Cuba policy), and intergenerational transmission.