Discover Cuba, the vibrant Caribbean island where colonial architecture meets revolutionary history and pristine beaches. Experience colorful Havana's classic cars, salsa rhythms, and world-class cigars in this unique destination frozen in time.
Cuban cuisine is a vibrant fusion of Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences centered on slow-cooked meats, black beans, rice, and tropical root vegetables. Havana's thriving paladar scene has elevated traditional Cuban cooking into creative gastronomy, while street food culture remains alive with peso pizza, croquetas, and fresh tropical juices.
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
La Guarida
Havana's most famous paladar in a stunning deteriorating mansion. Creative Cuban cuisine with international influences, featured in films and visited by celebrities. Reservations essential weeks in advance.
Concordia 418, Centro Habana, Havana, Cuba
Doña Eutimia
Tiny paladar in Plaza de la Catedral serving authentic Cuban home cooking. Ropa vieja is legendary, and the intimate space fills quickly with locals and tourists.
Callejón del Chorro 60C, Old Havana, Cuba
La Bodeguita del Medio
Legendary Hemingway haunt famous for mojitos and walls covered in signatures. Tourist magnet with live music, classic Cuban food, and incredible atmosphere.
Calle Empedrado 207, Old Havana, Cuba
Puestos de Pizza (Various Locations)
Ubiquitous street stands throughout Cuba selling cheap Cuban-style pizza topped with tomato sauce and cheese. Quick snack or budget meal.
Multiple locations citywide
Café Bohemia
Hip Old Havana coffee shop with excellent espresso, WiFi, and artistic vibe. Local roasts, pastries, and smoothies in vintage setting.
Calle Oficios 363, Old Havana, Cuba
El Cocinero
Trendy rooftop restaurant in converted cooking oil factory chimney. Modern Cuban cuisine with craft cocktails and panoramic city views. Hip atmosphere attracts Havana's creative crowd.
Calle 26, Vedado, Havana, Cuba
Paladar Decamerón
Cozy Trinidad paladar specializing in fresh seafood and traditional dishes. Rooftop terrace with valley views and reasonable prices.
Calle Simón Bolívar 371, Trinidad, Cuba
Café Mamainé
Local Trinidad favorite serving hearty Cuban portions at rock-bottom prices. Grilled meats, rice and beans, and friendly neighborhood vibe.
Calle Maceo 461, Trinidad, Cuba
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Cuban
La Bodeguita del Medio
Paladar Vista Gourmet
Paladar Los Conspiradores
Traditional Cuban
Doña Eutimia
San Cristóbal Paladar
El Aljibe
Contemporary Cuban
La Guarida
El Del Frente
Cuban Fusion
Iván Chef Justo
La Redacción Cuba
Cuban-International
Azúcar Lounge
La Casa del Café
American-Cuban
Sloppy Joe's Bar
Bakery & Café
Pastelería Francesa
Coffee & Brunch
Café Madrigal
Coffee & Desserts
Café El Escorial
Coffee & Light Bites
Café Bohemia
Cuban Comfort Food
Café Mamainé
Cuban Fast Food
El Rápido Cafeteria Chain
Cuban Home Cooking
Paladar La Casona
Cuban Pizza
Puestos de Pizza (Various Locations)
Cuban Seafood
Paladar Decamerón
Cuban Tapas
El Chanchullero
Cuban-Italian
Paladar El Balcón del Arte
Cuban-Mediterranean
Paladar Los Mercaderes
Cuban-Seafood
Tropicana Beach Club Restaurant
Cuban-Spanish
Paladar Hostal del Rijo
Dessert
Churros Stands
Desserts & Coffee
Dulce Havana
Fresh Fruit
Frutas Bomba Street Vendors
Fried Pork
Chicharrones Stands
Frozen Treats
Coco Glacé Carts
Health Food & Coffee
Viñales Organic Café
Ice Cream
Heladería Coppelia
International
Restaurante 1830
International Fusion
El Cocinero
Italian-Cuban
La Fontana
Mediterranean
Restaurante Mediterráneo Havana
Middle Eastern & Coffee
Café Arabia
Snacks
Maní (Peanut) Vendors
Tapas & Cocktails
O'Reilly 304
Traditional
Tamales Street Vendors
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Pizza Cubana
Cuba's beloved version of pizza — thin base with sweet tomato sauce and processed cheese, sold from windows and carts citywide for /usr/bin/bash.50-1. Addictively cheap and authentically Cuban despite Italian origins.
Find it at: Street pizza windows throughout Havana, especially on Obispo and in Centro Habana
Croquetas de Jamón
Crispy fried ham croquettes — a Cuban breakfast and snack staple. Available at peso bakeries and street counters for /usr/bin/bash.25-0.50 each. Best eaten hot from the fryer.
Find it at: Peso bakeries and street food carts throughout Havana
Guarapo (Sugarcane Juice)
Fresh-pressed sugarcane juice served over ice, sweet and revitalizing. Street vendors press cane to order for /usr/bin/bash.50-1. The most authentic Cuban thirst-quencher in the tropical heat.
Find it at: Street vendors citywide, especially near Mercado Cuatro Caminos
Pan con Lechón
Slow-roasted pork sandwich on Cuban bread — the ultimate Cuban street food. Pork marinated in mojo (citrus and garlic) for hours, served on crusty pan cubano with pickles and mustard.
Find it at: Street counters and peso paladares throughout Havana and Trinidad
Chiviricos
Small fried dough puffs sprinkled with sugar, sold in paper bags by street vendors. Light, crispy, and irresistibly snackable — Cuba's equivalent of a fried donut hole.
Find it at: Street vendors near parks and schools throughout Cuba
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Mercado de Cuatro Caminos
Havana's oldest and largest covered market in a 1920s building where locals shop daily for fresh produce, spices, tropical fruits, and meats in Cuban Pesos. An essential authentic experience away from tourist infrastructure.
Hours: 7AM-3PM Monday-Saturday
Almacenes San José Food Section
The artisan waterfront market includes a food section with Cuban spices, coffee, rum, and preserved goods suitable as souvenirs. Convenient for food shopping alongside craft purchasing.
Hours: 9AM-6PM daily
Feria del Vedado Farmers Market
Neighborhood farmers market in Vedado selling fresh tropical fruits, vegetables, and herbs grown on urban and peri-urban farms. More local-oriented than Old Havana with excellent seasonal mangoes, guanábana, and star apple.
Hours: 8AM-2PM Thursday-Sunday
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
The best food in Cuba is at paladares (private restaurants) — state-run restaurants are universally inferior and should be avoided
Ask your casa particular host for their personal paladar recommendations — they know the best local places and often get you better tables
Lunch (2PM-4PM) is the main Cuban meal — larger portions and often better value than dinner at the same restaurant
Vegetarians should specify clearly ('Soy vegetariano/a') — Cuban menus often contain hidden pork in otherwise seemingly meat-free dishes
Fresh lobster is a Cuban bargain — order it whenever available as it costs 5-25 where similar quality would be 0+ elsewhere in the Caribbean
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | -10/meal | Peso street food and simple local paladares |
| Mid-range | 5-35/meal | Established paladares with full menu |
| Upscale | 0-80+/meal | Fine dining at La Guarida, El Cocinero, or similar |