La Habana Restaurants

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1830

Inaugurated in the Spring of 2001, this restaurant will be one of the best in Havana again. For this reason, there have been carried out a thorough rehabilitation of its old building and careful decoration work.
	The management has been given to the French chef Pierre L´Hereux who has dedicated the ground floor halls to the constitution of a, so to speak, new Cuban cuisine place and the first floor to a more general kind of cuisine. The restaurant is expensive, though acceptable, due to the great quality of its products and the very attentive service.

• Address: Calzada y 20, Vedado. La Habana. Tel: (7) 553090

Abanico de Cristal (El)

It is the luxurious Meliá Cohiba Restaurant. Interior space was designed with grace and intelligence. Illumination and decoration objetcs are nice and inviting. Chef Giusseppe Kindelán suggests a menu with rices and the special vegetable paella. Wine and liquors selection adequate. It is one of the best places to enjoy a good meal in Havana City.

• Address: Hotel Meliá Cohíba. Paseo e/ 1ª y 3ª, Vedado. La Habana. Tel: (7) 333636

Albert´s Paladar

Restored an re-opened on december 2000, this simple paladar, settled in a typical street of the Los Sitios district, in Centro Habana, it offers one of the most perfect examples of the clasical cuban food which can be found in the town. The chef Gaspar Ferrer and his family, in the kitchen, and Albert, nice and efficent, at the dinning-room, create a solid and well coordinate team. Very good prices.

• Address: Concepción de la Valla # 115 e/ Escobar y Lealtad, Centro Habana. Tel: 636406

Aliance Francesa

• Address: Calle 17 y 6

Aljibe (El )

This popular tourist restaurant is a pleasant surprise. The fixed-price pollo asado El Ajibe is the way to go here. Served all-you-can-eat family-style with white rice, black beans, fried plantain, french fries, and salad, the slow-roasted chicken comes in a wonderful, slightly sweet-and-sour garlic mojo that goes well over the rice.

This place serves busloads of people on a regular basis and despite the assembly-line efficiency of the operation, you can still enjoy the pleasant open-air restaurant, with its tall, steeply pitched thatch roof and rustic red tile floors. Sure there are a handful of meat and seafood options, but trust me, stick to the house specialty.

• Address: Calle 24 at 7th, Habana Miramar, Cuban Tel: 7/204-1583, 7/204-4233
• Open: Daily noon-midnight

Ambos Mundos Bar

The elegant furniture, piano music, marble walls and floor help create an intimate and relaxed atmosphere at this restored cafe. Soft lighting makes this the ideal romantic hangout at night.
	The establishment offers a selection of spirits, beers, light meals and traditional Cuban cooking. Beverages include a house cocktail known as the “Ambos Mundos, the daiquiri and Cuban mojitos, all at a cost of CUC 2.50. Frequented by Earnest Hemingway during his first stay in Cuba during the 1930s, this establishment has since become an obligatory haunt of writers and artists.

• Address: Hotel Ambos Mundos Obispo 153, esquina Monserrate La Habana Vieja La Habana 10100 Tel: +53 7 669530 Fax: +53 7 339532
• Open: 24 hours daily

Amelia

Located off the central plaza of a modern business complex, this place offers good food at great prices--a rarity in Havana, and even more so in Miramar. Despite the pretense of its postmodern decor, this restaurant is really a simple neighborhood cafe in an unlikely setting.
	During the day, you can dine alfresco at one of the faux-marble tables on the plaza, or take a seat indoors in the well-lit and lively main dining room. The cerdo criolla is a good-size portion of thin, tender pork slices served in a tasty mojo. The fresh fish filet comes in a lemon and parsley sauce.

At night the bar and attached cigar bar get going, with a good selection of call liquors and top-shelf stogies.

• Address: Miramar Trade Center, in front of the Meliá Habana, Playa. Tel: 7/204-7311
• Open: Daily 8am-midnight

Amigos (Los)

• Address: Calle M, e/ 19 y 17, Habana Vedado

Amor

• Address: Calle 23 #759, entre B y C

• Address: Calle Linea #53, entre M y N, 1st floor, Habana Vedado

Arecas (Las)

Calle 3ra, e/ 4ta y Acosta, Casino Deportivo, Habana

Aries Paladar

Medium priced Paladar famous about their lobster. Close to many hotels and offices.

• Address: Universidad e/ K y L, Vedado

• Address: Calle17, e/ 6 y 8, Habana Vedado

Bambú (El)

Situated in the outskirt of the city, the Ecorestaurant is next to the Japanese Park, in the National Botanical Garden. The pioneer among the vegetarian restaurant in Havana City is opened Wednesday through Sunday at lunch time only. Buffet table offers salads, mushrooms, rices, vegetable pizzas and natural juices. Although it is far from the city centre, they already have many regular diners.

• Address: Jardín Botánico Nacional. Carr Expocuba. La Habana. Tel: (7) 549170

Barco (El) Paladar

Set in Cojímar, a charming seashore town, 5 km away from the city center.It is next to Cojímar Castle and the sea. Rustic paladar with specialized fish offer.

• Address:

Barracón (El)

It is one of the most reliable restaurant to taste creole food. It lost some charm after the hotel renovation, but the food is still delicious. We recommend the fried beef and jerked beef dishes.

• Address: Hotel Habana Libre Tryp. L e/ 23 y 25, Vedado. Tel: (7)334011

Barrio Chino

Havana has an active Chinese community which has spawned a good number of restaurants specialized in traditional Chinese cuisine. These private, family-owned establishments tend to be excellent in both quality and price, offering expeditious service to their customers.
	Diners can enjoy a full meal–apart from some of the more exotic choices on the menu–that will include a bowl of soup, fried rice, the main course and a drink, for an average of CUC 4. Credit card acceptance varies.

• Address: 10 Calle Cuchillo (área) Centro Habana La Habana 10600
• Open: Noon-midnight daily

Baturro (El)

It lies in the less tourist zone of Old havana. This wide location has a Spanish tavern style. The place should be of better use. Poor menu and tasteless food. Waiters and other workers seem to be vegetating, waiting for incentive.

• Address: Egido nº 661 e/ Jesus Maria y Merced, La Habana Vieja. Tel: (7) 8609078

Bellomar

• Address: Calle Virtudes #169, esquina a Amistad

Bistro Berlin

Situated in the Panorama hotel, first managed by the German organisation LTI and since 2004 by the Maritim chain. A modern restaurant, specialized in German kitchen (hard to find in Cuba) with a huge variety of menus based on sausages and other tasteful, more refined dishes. A popular place since its very first day.

• Addres: Hotel Maritim Panorama. 3ª avenida esquina a 70. Miramar. La Habana Tel: (7) 2040100

Bistrot (El )

• Address: Calle K #12, entre 7ma y Malecón

Bodegón Criollo (El )

A couple of huge wine casks hanging over the door mark the entrance to this, the principal restaurant at the Fortaleza la Cabaña complex. The dining room occupies a long, wide, former storage room in the old fortress, with arched ceilings and brick floors. A small bar dominates a much smaller adjacent room. The food is simple and filling. I recommend the grillada críolla, which is a mixed plate of grilled beef, chicken, and pork served with moros y cristianos (black beans and rice). The grilled lobster is a good choice as well. Make a reservation for around 7pm, if you want to eat and be out in time to snag a good spot for the nightly cañonazo ceremony. The Fortaleza la Cabaña complex is popular with Cubans and actually has several restaurants--you might want to try the nearby "La Fortaleza," a peso restaurant that serves similar and slightly less expensive food in a much less formal setting.

• Address: Fortaleza la Cabaña, Habana Del Este & Playas Del Este Tel: 7/863-7063
• Open: Daily noon-midnight

Bodegón Onda

It lies in El Comendador Inn. Nice informal ambience with good variety of appetizers and tidbits served on skewers. It is an important meeting center for Spanish people since its opening few months ago. Genuine spanish cuisine.

• Address: Hostal Comendador. Oficios esq. Obrapía, La Habana Vieja

Bodeguita Del Medio (La)

The "B del M," as it's also known, oozes history and suffers from over popularity. Still, it is pretty much a must-visit for any first time trip to Havana. The collage of famous photos and signatures that crowd the walls here are legend. You'll definitely want a reservation, although even with a reservation, you'll probably end up waiting for a table--this place is just that popular.
	Tradition would have you start things off with a mojito, although the mojitos here are notoriously weak. Definitely order one with 3- or 5-year old añejo rum if you plan on enjoying it. The food--simple and well-prepared Cuban dishes--is pretty good.

The slow-roasted pork is my favorite, although the ropa vieja (shredded beef) gives it a run for its money. No matter what you order, make sure you have it served with plenty of yuca with mojo and the arroz morro, black beans with rice. This place is crowded and rowdy, so don't come expecting anything less.

• Address: Calle Empedrado, e/ Cuba y San Ignacio, Habana Vieja. Tel: 7/867-1374
• Open: Daily 10:30am-midnight

Bom Apetit

• Address:

Brocal (El)

One of our favorite places in Guanabo. Excellent mexican food and very good fish and seafood are served in a charming wooden house. Recently opened, many people visit the place. Reasonable prices and good service are offered.

• Address: 5ta, Playa Guanabo. Tel: (7)962892

Buganvil (El)

In the residential district of Siboney, this paladar with shape and decoration of a country hut serves a good criolla food. Very well cooked the stuffed croutons, the smoked loin and the brillance congrí. A very success place; you should reserve. Good prices.

• Address: Siboney

Bulerías Restaurante (Las)

Not only found right in the centre of the Vedado district, near the corner of 23 and L streets, but also somewhere with an extremely relaxed and informal ambience. Though often busy, there are plenty of tables in the dining area, so finding a place is never a problem.
	Recorded background music plays during the day, and a live band in the evenings. Furniture consists of rustic-looking tables and chairs and some wine barrels, which together with the low ceiling and bullfighting memorabilia on the walls (including the head of a bull itself) make the restaurant look like a typical Spanish tavern.

Lighting is low and the establishment is spacious, all helping if you need some privacy. The menu specialises in Spanish cuisine, with dishes based on beans, ham and cod, along with other plates inspired by the Cuban kitchen: house speciality, the chicken-based “Pollo Bulerías. To drink there is a choice of cocktails, spirits and beers.

• Address: Calle L entre 23 y 25 Vedado La Habana 10400 Tel: +53 7 323283
• Open: Midday-8pm, 11pm-2am daily

Burgi

Burgi is probably one of the best fast food chains in Cuba. Meals are served quickly by Cuban standards, and you should never have to queue for more than five minutes, unlike other restaurants, where a 30 to 40 minute wait is the norm. A light snack accompanied by a drink comes to around CUC 2, and if you are looking for a decent hamburger, look no further.
	Decoration is basic and casual, with plastic tables placed in an outdoor area. Along with the aforementioned burgers, they also serve dishes such as hot dogs and fried chicken, and a variety of soft drinks including Coca-Cola, orange juice and milk shakes.

• Address: 9na y Paseo Vedado La Habana 10400
• Open: 8am-2am daily