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Havana Restaurants
Cuba Restaurant

"Looking for a good restaurant in Havana?
Check my "secret" list of best restaurants!"


When selecting Havana restaurants, understand that Cuba is no food paradise, where you can expect gourmet cuisine. It took me a trial and error period to find a good Cuba restaurant in the Havana “food jungle". I tried some (state) hotel restaurants my first time in Havana, and I can be short about this experience, don’t do it, forget it, it isn’t worth the money, the food is over priced.

My next experience in the Havana restaurants was the “paladar” Cuba restaurant. Let me explain the “paladar” system in Cuba: under this regulation a Cuban family is allowed to install a small restaurant in one of the rooms in their house.
This is a private enterprise under strict government regulations. The restaurant is limited to one room and a maximum of four tables and sixteen seats. They should have an official license and pay a heavy tax.The paladar has a limited menu and they may not offer dishes like lobster and shrimp to avoid competition with the State restaurants and State owned hotels.

Paladares are thought to be the better restaurants in Cuba, because they are privately owned. I can say there are good ones and bad ones.
I tried several paladares and some are excellent and others are not worth the money.
Watch out when a Cuban guy recommends a paladar restaurant, most of the time he does it only for the fee he gets from the paladar owner.

After all these Havana restaurant experiences I felt a bit lost, so I did some research and ultimately I found some good Havana restaurant addresses. I am happy to share my “secret list” with you.
Here are my top picks, they all offer good food for a reasonable price.

Restaurant Los Nardos

My favourite Cuba restaurant and at this moment the place to be in Havana: Los Nardos is located on the Paseo del Prado 563, opposite the Capitolio.
Restaurant Los Nardos

Restaurant El Guajirito

A Cuban private owned restaurant in Old Havana, nicely decorated in Cuban country style. The waitresses are pretty girls dressed in traditional country clothing. Restaurant El Guajirito

Restaurant LA CASA - Paladar

A private restaurant, owned by the Robaina family. Located in the Nuevo Vedado district, 30th street #865 between 26th and 41th street
Read more: Restaurant LA CASA

Restaurant : A Prado y Neptuno

Located at the corner of Neptuno street and the Paseo del Prado, very close to the Central Park. This is one of the best Italian restaurants in Havana. (READ UPDATE 2009!)
Restaurant A Prado y Neptuno

Restaurant El Aljibe

Located on 7th Avenue, between 24th and 26th Streets. One of Havana's most popular restaurants famous for the best chicken in Havana...
Restaurant El Aljibe

Restaurant La Casona de 17

Located on the 17th street # 60, opposite the FOCSA building...
Restaurant La Casona de 17

Taberna de la Muralle

Located on Ignace Street # 368, Corner Plaza Vieja (Old Square) this tavern is a unique Havana experience....
More about Taberna de la Muralle

Paladar La Guarida

Calle Concordia # 418 Havana Centro The famous Cuban movie “Fresa y chocolate “ was filmed at this paladar Good quality – reservations required Paladar La Guarida

Restaurant Europa

NEW restaurant good dishes and live Jazz music in Obispo street Old Havana.
Restaurant Europa Havana

Other Havana restaurants and paladars

AL MEDINA (Arab kitchen) Calle de los Oficios 12 Havana Vieja (Old Havana)

NEREI (paladar) Between 19 and L streets # 110 Havana Vedado

ARIES Avenida Universidad # 456 Between J and K streets Havana Vedado

Don Giovanni Calle Tacon 4 Havana Vieja (Old Havana)

El Floridita Calle Obispo 557 Havana Centro Typical tourist place, was made famous by Ernest Hemingway – rather expensive
Read what other travelers have to say about El Floridita

El Gato Tuerto Calle O between 17th and 19th streets Havana Vedado

El Patio Plaza de la Cathedral # 54 Havana Vieja (Old Havana)

Bodegita del Medio Calle Empedrado # 207 Havana Vieja
Read what other travelers have to say about Bodeguita del Medio

La Cocina de Lilliam (paladar)
Calle 48 # 1311 Havana Playa (Miramar)
Read what other travelers have to say about La Cocina de Lilliam

La Paella Calle de los Oficios # 53 Havana Vieja

La Terraza Florentina 21st street, between Streets N and O Havana Vedado

Don Cangrejo (seafood) 1st Avenue between 16th and 18th Street Havana Miramar

Dos Gardenias 7th Avenue, Corner 26th street Havana Miramar

Vistamar (paladar) 1st Avenue #2206 between 22nd and 24th street Havana Miramar

Paco Mer Corner Infanta and Neptuno Streets Havana Vieja (old Havana )

Bistro Berlin Hotel Maritim 3rd Avenue, Corner 70th street Havana Miramar

La Torre (at the top of the FOCSA building)
17th street # 55 Havana Vedado
Read what other travelers have to say about Restaurant La Torre

Restaurant bar La Torre Focsa building Havana Cuba

Great cocktails in "La Torre" Havana
and stunning views over Havana city

Meson de la Flota San Ignacio Street between Amagura and Teniente Rey streets Havana Vieja (Old Havana)

La Esperanza 16th Street #105, between Avenue 1 and 3 Havana Miramar (Friendly service at a moderate price)

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