The restaurant scene in Havana has experienced an explosion in the last couple of years. From a city with little to offer, new laws have allowed a surge of talented Cubans to open new restaurants. Technically, most of the new restaurants are paladares – which is a restaurant operated by an independent Cuban or a Cuban family, as opposed to state-owned restaurants.
But Havana is not the best place to pop into any restaurant you come by when strolling the city. Most of the best eateries are well hidden in back alleys or behind doors that don't reveal there is a cozy, classy restaurant behind them. You need to do your research before heading to Cuba, and PALCOs Restaurant Concierge Desk can help you in uour planning.
La Guarida. Cuba’s top paladar with great food and great service.
Rum, Rum. One of Cuba’s newest paladar also featuring great food and service, along with a fun atmosphere.
Idilio. Another wonderful paladar that is great for lunch. The restaurant features an out-front grill, daily changing menu, and you actually dine on the front porch.
Top 15 Restaurants
Floridita
Obispo 557 esquina Monserrate, Habana Vieja
Tels. 7867 1300, 7867 1299
La Bodeguita del Medio
Empedrado 207, Habana Vieja
Tels. 7867 1374, 7867 1375
Sloppy Joe´s
Animas esquina Zulueta, Habana Vieja
Tel. 7866 7157
El Aljibe
7ma esquina 24, Miramar
Tels. 7204 1583, 7204 1584
La Terraza de Cojímar
Calle Real 161 esquina Candelaria, Cojímar
Tels. 7766 5150, 7766 5151
La Guarida
Concordia 418, Centro Habana
Tel. 7866 9047
El Idilio
15 esquina G, Vedado
Tel. 7830 7921
Ivan y Justo
Aguacate esquina Chacón, Habana Vieja
Tel. 7863 9697
San Cristóbal
San Rafael 469, Centro Habana
Tel. 7860 1705
Starbien
29 # 205 entre B y C, Vedado
Tel. 7830 0711
Habana 61
Habana # 61, Habana Vieja
Tel. 7801 6433
El Litoral
Malecón 161 entre K y L, Vedado
Tel. 7830 2201
El Rum Rum de La Habana
Empedrado 256, Centro Habana
Tel. 7861 0806
Café de los Artistas
Aguiar 22, Habana Vieja
Tel. 7866 2418
O’ Reilly 304
O’ Reilly # 304, Centro Habana
Tel. 7863 6684
Restaurante El Palenque
Popular among the Cuban locals especially when they have something to celebrate like birthdays, Mother’s day, Valentine"s day and on Sundays. The menu of El Palenque offers the real Cuban cuisine – pizza, pork, chicken and even beef. The speciallity of Restaurant El Palenque is the charcoal grilled pork and indeed a good choice.
Restaurante El Rancho
Set in lovely jungle garden near the Palacio de las Convenciones (Havana International Conference Center), very popular for its Argentine steaks, good barbecued chicken, meats, typical criollo cuisine and international food. Good live music provided by a quartet.
Restaurante La Finca
La Finca is about as good as it gets for a Cuban state-owned place. This is set in the suburbs of Siboney past the Convention Center and is very upmarket. This has a feeling of a country club when you pull up at the extensive driveway and walk through the beautiful mansion to the expansive terrace with lots of greenery and birds (mostly caged!).
