Havana best places to eat
Everyone who plans a trip to Cuba gets the same advice: you’ll love the country but hate the food. Between ingredient shortages, import restrictions, and a lack of Internet connectivity to help people find local gems, the Cuban food scene is legitimately difficult to navigate and find the Havana best places to eat,but just like everything else on this arresting island, access to the government’s inner circle can unlock the country’s gastronomic treasures.
Cubans have been running privately owned paladares, or home restaurants, for years, serving everything from tostones to sashimi with increasingly liberal interpretations of “living room.” The more established ones are Havana best places to eat , these are our favourites:
La Guarida
The setting feels as authentically Cuban as they come: achandeliered dining room on the third floor of a crumbling mansion, with original tile and mismatched antique chairs. Request a table on the new rooftop deck, which overlooks the entire old city, and order the roasted chicken. The Cuban classic is elevated with a drizzle of honey, an ingredient that’s hard to come by in this corner of the world.
Style of food Contemporary fusion Cost Expensive Type of place Private (Paladar) Food Ambience Service Value Best for Authentic, charming and intimate atmosphere in Cuba’s best known restaurant. Great food, professional. Classy. Don’t Miss Uma Thurman, Beyoncé or the Queen of Spain if they happen to be dining next to you. Concordia #418 e/ Gervasio y Escobar, Centro Habana. (+53) 7-866-9047
Doña Eutemia
Tucked in an Old Havana alley away from the main tourist path, but busy enough to give you a taste of true Cuban street life, this homely paladar (an independently-run restaurant) is a staple of old Creole cuisine. The owner, Laetitia, refuses to let go of the culinary secrets that were passed on to her by her mother. She cooks classic Creole dishes such as malanga fritters and the ropa vieja (shredded lamb), accompanied by black beans, salad and rice, next to lots of fresh seafood and exotic fruits. With big portions at reasonable prices, it is popular haunt, so expect to eat in good company. this paladar is definitely one of the top 3 Havana best places to eat.
Callejón del Chorro No 60c, Plaza de la Catedral,+535 270 6433.
San Cristobal Paladar
A taste of colonial Cuba, from the surrounding decor to the yucca, malanga and shrimp dishes, this eccentric and friendly paladar exudes retro charm. Start with a mixed entrée platter, before moving onto the main house specialties, the lobster, or the lamb, which is served on 19th-century china, surrounded by stacks of books, old antiques and nostalgic black and white photographs. You can ask owner Carlos Cristóbal Márquez Valdés all about it, since he will be happy to stop by your table for a short introduction. Try the eponymous pudding San Cristóbal before a liquor on the house and, for the smokers, an excellent local cigar.
Calle San Rafael No 469, between Lealtad y Campanario, central Havana, +537 860 1705.
BellaHabana
A chic mansion in the upscale Miramar district, BellaHabana gives Cuban cuisine a modern, international twist with a focus on fish. Tres Lindas Cubanas are Three Cuban Beauties, or rather, three types of fish cooked differently for your culinary pleasure. Octopus ceviche and smoked salmon, squid and red snapper with different ‘aromas’ (cream, mushroom, vodka) in generous portions give the visitor a deluxe local experience that doesn’t have to break the bank. Immerse yourself in Cuban history elegantly decorating the ceiling and walls, sharing a glass of French wine or some top-notch mojitos that will help you wash it down.
Calle 6 y 7ma No. 512, Miramar, Playa, Havana 1160, +5372038364.
El Cocinero
A New York loft-style lounge with a rooftop terrace, El Cocinero sits in what used to be a cooking oil factory but is now a chic venue for Havana’s trendy crowds. The towering chimney still evokes the building’s industrial past, but the food and the atmosphere are all about modern sophistication, from the melt-in-the-mouth duck confit and blinis to the delectable seafood options on offer. After dinner, order one of the expertly prepared cocktails, sit back on the terrace and enjoy the sprawling views of the city in front of you. With the newly opened Fabrica de Arte Cubano next door, El Cocinero is the ultimate place to kick-start an unforgettable evening in Havana best places to eat.
Calle 26e/ 11 y 13.Vedado, Havana, +53 78 322 355
Casa Miglis
Case Miglis embodies an exotic mix of Swedish chic in the middle of Havana that the Swedish-Cuban owner Michel Miglis wanted to achieve. It has become a meeting point for creative people from Havana and around the world. The Nordic menu is designed by Swedish cook Jonas Anderson, replete with seafood casserole and nuggets a lo Cubano. The Casa Miglis team is always on the hunt for selected local fish and fresh avocado for its eclectic dishes. This new restaurant leads the recent trend of youthful, arty restaurants that have radicalized the traditional Cuban scene and it does it with trademark Northern cool, definitely one of Havana best places to eat
Lealtad 120, Animas y Lagunas, Central Havana, +537-8641486.
Atelier
A Spanish-style mansion in Vedado, with two generous rooftop terraces packed with decadent cushions, and colonial furniture in the main indoor lounge provide the retro backdrop of the Atelier. In the handwritten menus, supervised by Niuris Higueras and executed by restless chef Enrique Edreida, you can choose between lamb entrees, conejo al vino (rabbit in wine), duck and fresh lobster, falafels, fajitas, flan and tarts. You will be hard-pressed to find a more unpredictable list of dishes, as well as a more comfortable, sophisticated dining choice for visiting large groups.this close down our list of Havana best places to eat.
Calle 5ta., No. 511 altos, Paseo y 2, Vedado, +537 836 2025.