Places to eat well in Cuba
Before I went to Cuba, I heard quite often that you could forget about good food in Cuba. It would mainly be an uninspired pile of rice with chicken. Fortunately, now that I am back, I can say that nothing could be further from the truth. I have eaten at surprising places, where excellent meals are prepared with love and where wonderfully fresh products are used. Therefore, I hereby like to give you a sneak peek, with some recommendations from places I visited myself.
Havana
Restaurant & cocktail bar Jibaro
A nice casual spot in the centre of the Cuban capital a stone's throw from Iglesia de las Mercedes, one of the most beautiful churches in Havana. The menu consists of a mix of Cuban, Greek and Oriental dishes. They serve an almost inexhaustible list of cocktails, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic that are simply top notch!
Mas Habana
This new restaurant is highly recommended for lunch. It is a hip place with lots of modern art by Damien Aguilles. The owner worked for years as a chef for various embassies until he decided to open his own restaurant in 2019. The dishes are simple, unadorned but a treat for your taste buds.
Michifú
This really is the place for a nice night out. It is cocktail bar and restaurant located in a historic building in Havana's old town. Very tastefully decorated with modern and classic elements. You can opt for a full dinner here or choose some small dishes to share. Whether or not accompanied by a delicious daiquiri or mojito. In the evening, there is live music.
Grados
This Paladar in the Vedado district is a must-visit. Vedado is a neighbourhood where wealthier Cubans had spacious villas built in the early 20th century. One of these villas is home to Grados. Raulito, the ever cheerful chef and owner knew he wanted to cook from an early age. He is passionate about traditional Cuban cuisine and preparing beautiful dishes that are in danger of being forgotten, in order to keep them alive for future generations. A wonderful place, where you will be pampered culinarily.
Trinidad
Finca Kenya
This working farm run by a Cuban woman and her Belgian husband is located on the outskirts of the centre of Trinidad. As soon as you enter through the gate, you find yourself in the middle of nature. The Finca has six rooms. The accompanying restaurant, where you can also have lunch and dinner when you are not staying at the Finca, is sublime. They have their own vegetable garden and most ingredients come from their own garden. The kitchen serves a mix of international and Cuban dishes. I enjoyed an excellent lunch here. The dishes are served in the garden. The trees and lots of greenery also make this an ideal spot, where you can still find some coolness in the hottest months of the year.
La Marinera restaurant
You won't find this restaurant in the historic city centre, but somewhere in a suburb not far from the coast. Few tourists come here yet, but local Cubans know how to find their way to this restaurant, and not without reason. La Marinera is known for its fresh fish, while they also serve delicious dishes with meat and chicken. The Arroz a La Marinera is not to be sneezed at.
Santa Clara
La Florencia
If you want to stay overnight in Santa Clara, the small boutique hotel Suite Florencia comes highly recommended, especially since you will be pampered culinarily there. Located in an unremarkable building a few streets from the central square, the hotel has three guest rooms. The rooms face a small corridor, which opens onto a small patio surrounded by plants and flowers. This is where I had a lovely dinner. As one of the owners is from Italy, the dishes, always prepared with fresh ingredients, have a mix of Italian and Cuban influences. Breakfast here is extensive and, more importantly, excellent!
La Aldaba
An absolute must for lunch is La Aldaba. Located in a colonial villa with a lovely terrace, lushly decorated with many plants, the restaurant is considered a green oasis in the historic heart of Santa Clara. The dishes are typically Cuban Creole with a modern twist.
Viñales
El Cuajani
This little restaurant is rather hidden away. Located just outside Viñales, it is housed in a former farmhouse slightly off the road. The restaurant is run by a Cuban couple, whose husband worked as a chef in Spain for several years. When I was there, I sat comfortably on the veranda at one of the four tables found there. You don't have a menu. They only work with fresh produce and the waiter names what dishes they are offering that day. The serve a mix of Cuban and European dishes and many of the ingredients come from their own garden. It's a lovely place and I had top-notch food there!
Taking a trip of Cuba?
The restaurants and cocktail bars described above are just a small sample of all the surprisingly good places I have been to in Cuba. There are many excellent restaurants and trendy cocktail bars, located in beautiful buildings, sometimes in locations, where you wouldn't expect it, often with a lot of creativity and always run by very dedicated and enthusiastic people. With Sapa Pana Travel, we are happy to advise you in detail about the possibilities.
If you would like to take a round trip through Cuba yourself and are curious about the possibilities, take a look at the round trips we have put together for your inspiration. You can book these tours directly, but we would also be happy to put together a personal programme based on your wishes and ideas.
Do you have an immediate question? Then feel free to contact us. Call +31 73 610 62 04 or send an e-mail to info@sapapanatravel.nl. We are happy to help.