Havana Restaurants
Best restaurants in Havana - Cuban Cuisine
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 my way through 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” restaurants. 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 much better 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 quality food for a reasonable price.
Restaurant Los Nardos
My favourite restaurant and at this moment the place to be in Havana: Los Nardos is located on the Paseo del Prado 563, opposite the Capitolio.
MORE about Restaurant Los Nardos
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!)
More about 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...
More about Restaurant El Aljibe
Restaurant La Casona de 17
Located on the 17th street # 60, opposite the FOCSA building...
More about 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
More about Paladar La Guarida
Restaurant Europa
NEW restaurant good dishes and live Jazz music in Obispo street Old Havana.
More about Restaurant Europa Havana
Other interesting restaurants and paladars in Havana
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
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
La Cocina de Lilliam (paladar)
Calle 48 # 1311
Havana Playa (Miramar)
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
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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