Best Restaurants In Havana | Ultimate Dining Guide From A Local (2024)

The best restaurants in Havana come in many forms, from epic high-end incredible venues to eat with superb service and heavenly dining to local Cuban joints where the ambiance is what will excite you.

After traveling to Cuba for five years and staying in Havana for long periods of time, I have visited a wide variety of these restaurants, or paladares, which is the term for privately owned restaurants in Cuba.

Most places will open for breakfast through lunch and turn into dinner venues into the evening. Towards the end of the night or early morning, most restaurants are more like bars that also serve food.

Quick Facts Havana

Havana, or La Habana, was founded just over 500 years ago and today has a population of around two million. The city is a noisy, busy conglomerate of beautiful colonial-style houses, narrow streets, wide avenues, music, bars, rubble, and art.

There are traces of the colonial era everywhere, as well as the US influence, Soviet apartment blocks, and the ever-present revolution in the air.

The most important city districts are Old Havana, Central Havana, the Vedado, Miramar and Playa, Plaza, and Habana del Este, East Havana.

What Are The Best Restaurants In Havana Cuba?

Here is an overview of the best restaurants in Havana organized by city districts, starting with the old city.

Best Restaurants In Old Havana

In the Old Havana restaurant scene in La Habana Vieja, you find a lot of paladares scattered around the narrow streets.

A paladar is basically a restaurant; the difference is that a paladar is a privately owned restaurant, as opposed to government-run restaurants in Cuba.

Some paladares are highly renowned and can be looked up online with a homepage, on Tripadvisor, or other review services, while others are completely offline. 

NOTE: About references to price in this article, the value of the Cuban peso and $$ are fluctuating. Use this official exchange rate site to follow the current rate.

Paladar Mojito Mojito

Mojito Mojito is a super cozy place at the bottom of Calle Muralla, just a stone’s throw from the Plaza Vieja. It is, needless to say, famous for its mojitos but also has a large drink menu apart from that. 

The food menu at Mojito Mojito is varied, from Cuban traditional dishes to pasta and pizza and classic European meals like filet mignon. The service is super attentive, the staff speaks English, and the interior and ambiance are beautiful.  

During my visit, there was a band playing to entertain in-house, which can be a “love” or “hate” thing for people, which is why I mention it. It is kind of charming but can make your own conversation a bit challenging.

Prices are not the cheapest; I would say level $$$($). This is in the hardcore tourist area of Old Havana. 

Filet mignon: 1000 CUP/$40
Shrimp in garlic: 500 CUP/$20

Paladar El Dandy In the heart of Havana Old City

El Dandy is one of my favorite places in Old Havana, with delicious food and a wonderful, messy, eclectic ambiance.

On the corner of Calle (street) Teniente Rey in Parque Cristo, it serves great drinks, wine, and beer. The menu is small but super tasty, with tacos, pasta, and a variety of Cuban and international foods.

The locale of El Dandy in La Havana Vieja is not at all big, but it is incredibly charming and open (the streets are almost inside).

They always play great chill music for your lunch or dinner. The staff is super friendly, speaks ok English, and loves to chat. If you are not hungry, you can just stay for a coffee or a drink in the bar, if that is what you need.

El Dandy opens at 8 a.m. to start serving you breakfast and coffee and closes at midnight after the last guest has had the last mojito! 

Tacos 550 CUP/$20
A glass of wine 150 CUP/$6

📍 EpicNomadLife Tip: Get yourself a water bottle with a filter before your Cuba holiday, and you can drink water from anywhere while you are out exploring. Water can sometimes be harder to find than rum in Cuba!

Paladar 5 Sentidos In Old Havana

On the corner of the streets Compostela and San Juan de Dios, behind large glass windows, is a chic place called 5 Sentidos.

It is not as colorful and eclectic as many restaurants in Cuba and does not have loud bands playing.

This is the kind of place where the staff is “uniformed,” the music is suave, the tables have white tablecloths, and the wine is served in large, elegant glasses.

The menu combines traditional Cuban food with International dishes, and the presentation and quality are excellent. Also, the service is superb.

5 Sentidos is great for a special date or a quiet evening of dining.

The ambiance definitely has a more high-end feel to it that makes you feel that there is a dress code (there probably is), and the food, attention, and atmosphere are equivalent.

I really like this place!

Paladar Antojos

Antojos is a laid-back paladar in a tiny little alley at the end of Callejon Espada between Cuarteles and Chacon in Old Havana. It is an inside and outside seating kind of place. 

You can enjoy your meal under red parasols in the quiet street or inside in the charming venue that has a lot of wooden detail and decor. 

Have a chicken sandwich for lunch outside while the street is still calm in the late morning. The food and the service are great, and rumor has it that Antojos is also great for early or late dinners! 

Breakfast sandwich 250 CUP/$10
Coffee & juice 200 CUP/$8

Paladar Kilometro Zero

Paladar Kilometro Zero is a tapas bar on the corner of Teniente Rey y Avenida Belgica in Old Havana, one of my favorite places to eat.

It opens super early at 8 a.m. and stays open into the night, so it is one of the places that changes ambiance throughout the day. Two of the four walls of Km Zero have huge open doors to the buzzing life on the street outside.

The interior is a busy fiesta of colors with wall paintings and decorations on the ceiling and walls, a typical Cuban mixture of strong impressions for all senses.  

This includes the food; Km Zero has great breakfasts, a tasty tapas menu for late afternoons and evenings, and often live music into the night. I absolutely LOVE the tiny chicken tacos and the ceviche – demasiado rico! 

Taco with chicken & glass of wine 600 CUP/$25

Paladar D`Next American Diner

D`Next is a paladar, a private restaurant that looks exactly like an American diner from the 50ies. This place also opens early; you can get breakfast here at 9 a.m. – and it stays open late into the evening. 

The menu is more American than Cuban, but it does have a variety of international and Cuban dishes available. Super friendly staff and nice atmosphere “despite” the modern fast-food ambiance in the interior.

Cuban breakfast with eggs and grated cheese, juice & coffee 600 CUP/$25

Paladar El Cafe

This place is my absolute daytime favorite for breakfast and lunch in Old Havana. El Cafe has great sandwiches, perfect coffee, and always freshly made juices with lots of ice in the heat.

The interior of El Cafe is elegant, with an incredibly high ceiling, light colors, and classic details; it could easily be a coffee shop in any Victorian building somewhere in Europe.

Although not a place that stays open into the small hours, it works well into the afternoon for lunch, so I am putting El Cafe on this list anyway.

Chicken sandwich 400 CUP/$15, coffee & juice around 100 CUP/$4 each. 

Paladar La Vitrola

La Vitrola is a charming, busy, noisy place on the corner of Plaza Vieja in Old Havana.

It is super touristy but still has an eclectic charm with the crowded ceiling ornaments, jukeboxes, and uniformed staff that are very friendly and all speak English. 

They open at 11 a.m. and stay open into the night. You can be seated inside in the middle of all the decor or outside, where the hustle and bustle of musicians and passers-by keep you on your toes. 

La Vitrola has a wide, varied, and international, and there is something for everyone here. 

Price level: $$$

El Floridita Restaurant & Bar

Next to the House of Rum, close to Parque Central, is the Floridita restaurant and bar. El Floridita is probably one of the biggest restaurant-tourist attractions in Havana, as it was (one of) Ernest Hemingway’s favorite hangouts.

They even have a full-size bronze statue of Hemingway inside, sitting at the bar!

El Floridita is divided into two parts: the bar and the restaurant. The bar part is where you can hang out along a really long bar next to Hemingway or relax in a lounge with a cocktail while a band plays live music in the corner of the room.

The guests are exclusively tourists, but no wonder, as it is a typical sight in Havana.

The Floridita Restaurant Area

The inner area is where the restaurant is, and that is like a different planet. You take a tiny step up and into the dining hall, which is like a deep red sinner’s den from the 20s.

There is rococo furniture, white tablecloths, deep red carpet covering the floor, large murals painted on the walls, and eclectic art and lamps to top it off. Not really what I expected, but cool.

I had soup + shrimp main course & one glass of wine 980 CUP/$40

La Terraza El El Prado

Along the venerable Avenida del Prado on the verge between Old and Central Havana (but on the Old Havana side), you find a bit of a hidden jewel called La Terraza.

From the street, there is quite a big entrance to the first floor, which is also a restaurant area, but what you don’t see from there is the amazing terrace upstairs.

There is a stylish inside seating area up here as well, but if you don’t mind the temperatures outside, the tables and seating and view of the Avenida Prado are stunning – especially at sunset.

I had shrimp and grilled vegetables and a serrano ham and cheese salad, all super tasty.

The ambiance is amazing, and the service is impeccable; I totally recommend you come here at least one night around 6:30 pm for both food and sunset.

Price: grilled shrimp with grilled veggies and a sizable salad: 2500 CUP (around $16, currency fluctuating).

Auhentic Cuban Cafe Cristo

In Parque Cristo, on the corner of Calle Teniente Rey and Calle Bernaza, you find Cafe Cristo.

This place is what you might call “authentic“; it has a small entrance with the tired bar just inside and an open window out to the busy street outside.

The kitchen makes traditional Cuban dishes, all with the typical Cuban arroz morro (rice with black beans). You can see the chef doing his thing through a hole in the wall in the kitchen, and the staff is relaxed and nice.

There are a few equally brown tables to choose from if you want to sit down, but lots of people (myself included) get takeaway here. Sometimes, there is even live music in this tiny little venue.

A comida with rice and chicken is 250 CUP (2,5 dollars), and while you wait, you can have a mojito for a dollar and a half; the bartender will whisk it up for you.

More Paladares In Old Havana

• Teniente Rey 360
• Al Sarten
• D’Lirios
• Los Nardos
• Paladar Amistad de Lanzarote
• El Almendron
• Paladar Doña Eutimia
• Restaurante Ana, Calle Obispo 2nd floor

Best Restaurants In Havana Central District

Centro Habana, or the Havana Central District, is an area similar to Old Havana, but the streets are narrower, the buildings more scruffy, and there is more noise, people, dogs, and, well, dirt. 

But there are quite a lot of culinary gems hidden in this area if you want to explore.

This barrio has a lot more Cubans than foreigners walking around, and you will not really spot the super nice bars and restaurants until the night sets over the city and they light up.  

Boutique Hotel Malecon 663

Malecon 663 is actually registered as a hostel or even a boutique hotel, but it also has a cafe, restaurant, and bar for non-clients. 

The place is super cool. Situated on the Malecon boardwalk, it has an uninterrupted view of the Malecon, the Atlantic Ocean, and the entrance to the Havana harbor. 

There is seating on all floors, inside and out, and from the rooftop terrace, guests can enjoy a meal, a drink, and a dip in the glass jacuzzi. 

The interior is eclectic and colorful, like the Cuban spirit, and there are details to discover everywhere.

Malecon 663 has become a great place for happy hour and often has DJs playing while you can dance and see the sun disappearing into the Atlantic Ocean in the direction of Miami.

Address: Malecon 663, price $$-$$$. 

Paladar Michifu

In the narrow Centro Habana Street Calle Concordia, there is not a lot of light after the sun goes down.

So the tall open double doors that are the entrance to Paladar Michifu are a bright, twinkling contrast to the dark street, inviting you in.

Just inside the doors is the elegant bar welcoming you for an aperitif to wind down before you are shown to your table.

I love the seating areas; they are super charming, with lots of colorful pillows, comfy sofas, and artsy details. 

Paladar Michifu is a paladra that is borderline “fine dining” but has a very chill atmosphere and decent pricing on large and tasty meals that will keep you full for hours. Great service and good food.

Pricing: $$$$

The service is great, the staff is attentive to your every need, and the ambiance is friendly and social. Make sure to book in advance; this place is very popular!  

Address: Calle Concordia, esquina Escobar, Centro Havana. Pricing $$-$$$, pay in cash only (CUP or Euro/Canadian dollars) 

Paladar La Concordia

La Concordia is also situated in Calle (street) Concordia for convenience, and the absolute best feature of this place is the rooftop terrace.

From the street, you need to climb two (high) Cuban stories of narrow steps until you reach a cozy restaurant locale with a warm atmosphere. 

Another little ascent and you are on the top floor, a super elegant and airy rooftop terrace where you can enjoy a whole evening, as long as the weather permits.

The service is good, and the staff is very attentive, although it is worth mentioning that on this night in January, there were not a lot of guests at La Concordia. 

From the menu, you can choose between tapas courses to share or full meals. We chose tapas, and the meals to share were sizeable, but unfortunately, they were a bit dry and not completely warm when they arrived. 

All in all, the food is no more than ok, the ambiance is superb, the service is very friendly and attentive, and the price is decent. And the view from the rooftop is magic!

Address: Calle Concordia 453, entre Gervasia y Belascoain, Centro Havana. Pricing $$$, pay in cash only. 

More Paladares In Central Havana

• Paladar San Cristobal
• BEMBE Tapas & Bar
• La Flor de Loto
• Doña Alicia
• Viejo Amigo
• Restaurante La Juliana
• Cafe Galy

Best Restaurants In Havana Vedado District

Vedado, the modern district with its wider avenues, plazas, and streets, has a quieter and more contemporary vibe to it than Old Havana.

There are several easy-to-spot paladares and restaurants in Vedado Havana, around Calles (streets) 21 and 23. This is also where you find the Yara Cinema and the famous Coppelia ice cream parlor. 

Paladar Bone Má In Vedado

Bone Ma is a paladar in a quiet part of Calle 21, hidden on a slightly elevated terrace among large trees providing shadow and a nice airy oasis for your meal.

The staff is super friendly, and the service is impeccable. 

Like many other places, Bone Ma opens rather early, serving breakfast and keeping up with a lunch menu before it turns into an evening dinner place.  

The menu is varied and relaxed, with pasta, salads, and burgers as well as breakfast from all corners of the world. 

Bone Ma opens at 08:30 a.m. and closes at midnight. A nice breakfast with coffee and juice is 400 CUC, or around €15. 

Address: Calle 21 between L and M, price $$/$. 

El Loco Loco

Just down the street from the wide majestic stairs up to the grand University of Havana is a tiny little place called El Loco Loco. 

This paladar is on the second floor up a super narrow stairwell in a narrow house, and once on the top of the stairs, there is a small restaurant space with bright-colored art everywhere.

A tiny little terrace also has seating for tiny people at tiny tables. Once seated, you can take in all the details of the place. Above the stairwell, you will see portraits of all the “santos,” the saints of the Yoruba religion, also called Santeria.

The staff is friendly and quick. I had my cervesa and coffee in no time, and the camarones con ajo, shrimp with garlic, were perfect!

Price: decent, $$. 

More Paladares In Vedado Havana

• Cafe Laurent
• Santa Barbara Paladar
• El Cocinero
• La Paila Fonda
• El Biky
• Cafe Presidentes
• Waoo Snackbar & Restaurant
• Habana blues
• Ideas
• Cafe Mamaine
• Los Amigos 
• La Cocina de Esteban
• Havanas 21
• California Cafe 
• La Rueda 
• La Roca
• Pizzeria Vita Nuova

Best Restaurants In Havana For Fine Dining

For an elegant night out, with excellent service, impressive a la carte menus, and the equivalent of candle-lit dinners, there are also fabulous places to have your dinner in Havana. 

Whether you want a romantic date with your partner or just a treat to yourself, I love these places, and they also get top ratings from former guests from all over the world. 

Paladar La Guarida In Central Havana

In a building from the beginning of the 20th Century, La Guarida is one of the really fantastic a la carte paladares, privately owned restaurants, in Central Havana. 

Hidden behind a double wooden door from a scruffy street three stories up, you arrive in an exquisitely elegant lobby-type area, where the staff welcomes you.

At La Guardia, you can choose to be seated elegantly indoors or, if weather permits, in one of the two large white-clothe table romantically lit terraces. 

The indoor part of the restaurant tables is spread out across various rooms, like stately dining halls on beautiful art-tiled floors.

The glass design in the gorgeously crafted wooden doors to the balconies is spotless, and details all over the interior are impressive.

The two top floors both have large terrace areas with elegant dining tables and lighting, providing a stunning night view of the city and live music from time to time. 

The service is superb from start to finish, and when you finish your meal, you can move to the little top-floor terrace bar with a huge wooden frame framing the view of the city. 

At La Guarida, you really want to stay for the whole evening to enjoy everything, I promise you. And try the lobster; you will not regret that either. 

Address: 418 Calle Concordia, entre Gervasio y Escobar. Price: $$$$+, cash only (€, $, CUP). 

Ambiance: Just amazing.   

Paladar San Cristobal In Central Havana

I have probably passed Paladar San Cristobal a million times on my way to the market on San Rafael Street, where they always have pork and ham for sale.

And I have always thought, I really need to go here sometime! When I finally did, I was not disappointed.

I finally got around to booking a table right after someone told me this was one of the places President Obama went to dine when he was visiting in 2016. Really!

The elegant, tall, and wide entrance to San Cristobal lies like an inviting little surprise in the rather scruffy and run-down exterior that characterizes this neighborhood. 

Paladar San Cristobal is, for real, one of the best restaurants in Havana, apart from the small matter that they do not have a rooftop terrace (with which I generally have a very close relationship). 

The wine is exquisite, the tapas starter to share is super tasty, both fish meals are perfectly done with delicious garniture, and the service is happy, warm, smiling, and fast.

Also, the price is not cheap, but not super expensive either. 

Consider taking a bici-taxi here, as it is in the middle of Central Havana’s narrow conglomerate of streets. It is not dangerous in there, but you just might get a little lost.

Address: 418 Avenida San Rafael 469, entre Lealtad y Campanario, Centro Havana. Price: $$$/$, cash only (€, $, CUP). 

Ambiance: Super cool. 

Other A La Carte Places In Havana

• La Cocina de Lilliam Miramar
• La Torre del Oro Focsa building Vedado 
• Otramanera Miramar, Playa
• El Cocinero in the Vedado
• Riomar, in Miramar, Playa
• Paladar La Esperanza Miramar, Playa

Super Cheap Authentic Places To Eat In Havana

There are two prices for eating out in Cuba: one for Cubans and one for yumas, extranjeros, turistas. For us visitors.

That is not to say that there necessarily are two different menus (although that is sometimes the case).

But some places are super cheap either way, whether you are a visitor or a local. Here is where (or how)!

Doorway Shops And Holes-In-The-Wall In Havana!

Outside the tourist streets of Old Havana and in the streets of Central Havana, you find private or semi-private doorways where people sell little snacks.

Like a pan con jamon y queso, sandwich with ham and cheese, little biscuits, homemade juices or yogurt, that kind of thing.

This may cost down to 60 Cuban pesos for a small sandwich, which is about 60 cents.

When breakfast eggs are hard to find, and I don’t want to go to a breakfast place, I often find one of these doorways and get a sandwich para llevar, to bring home.

They are quite nice and super cheap, and I have not yet had any tummy trouble on such occasions, if that should worry you!

Havana City Districts

Old Havana

Old Havana is the original city of Havana, where the city was founded.

The narrow colonial streets are encompassed by beautiful architecture hidden behind scruffy house facades with thousands of artsy decorative details.

Around 500.000 habaneros live in Old Havana, and here you find historic plazas, buildings, museums, a catholic cathedral, bars, restaurants, and a few clubs!

Central Havana

Central Havana is the city district with the highest-density population, and here, there are fewer tourists.

Habaneros live their everyday life here; there are small shops, markets, lots of people, cats, and dogs, and the area is more run-down than Old Havana.

This might be the more “authentic” part of the oldest city districts, but hidden here, you also find some of the best restaurants in the whole of Havana!

The Vedado

The Vedado is the entertainment district of Havana, with wider avenues, more modern architecture, and large parks.

It is also home to the venerable Hotel Nacional, where the elite of the world’s rich and famous partied in the 30ies.

What the Vedado lacks in colonial charm, it regains in space and beautiful places, houses, and hotels. Here are also a lot of embassies, shops and of course, restaurants.

Miramar & Playa

Miramar and Playa are the westernmost, highest-end parts of Havana today. They house the financial district, conference hotels, international hospitals, and the homes of old presidents and other VIPs.

In this area are several luxury resorts, the famous 5th Avenue and Marina Hemingway, as well as numerous embassies and financial institutions. And restaurants!

FAQs Cuba Travel

What Is The Most Famous Food In Havana?

One of the most famous typical Cuban dishes you can find in Havana is the ropa vieja, “old clothes,” which is pulled pork with a Cuban twist! Delicious.

Apart from that, fried chicken with arroz morro, blackened rice, is super popular and very typically Cuban.

You will often get your meal served with a bit of salad or vegetables, and for Cubans, no meals are complete without tostones and fried yucca (which I have grown to love!).

What Is The Best Food To Eat In Cuba?

Although fish and seafood are hard to find in Cuba in general, when you go to a high-end restaurant, you can get exquisite lobster and fish dishes.

My personal favorite is the more down-to-earth ropa vieja, which is made really juicy and has lots of flavor!

How Expensive Are Restaurants In Havana?

When you go out to eat in Havana, you can find paladares that range from super cheap to super high-end and expensive.

Places like Cafe Cristo in Parque Cristo are really cheap (around 4 dollars for chicken with rice), while high-end places like San Cristobal and La Guarida in Central Havana are quite expensive.

Most places in Old Havana, which is in the thick of the tourist district by the harbor, are also rather pricey.

Why are US citizens not allowed to travel to Cuba?

This is NOT correct. US citizens ARE ALLOWED to travel to Cuba.

Americans can choose a reason for Cuba travel among 12 pre-approved reasons for traveling to Cuba, determined by the US Government.

Can US citizens travel to Cuba as a tourist?

Technically, US citizens are NOT allowed to travel to Cuba as a tourist. Americans can choose between 12 pre-approved reasons for Cuba travel, among which the most common one is “to help the Cuban people”.

American citizens still need to buy a tourist card, also called a tourist visa, to enter Cuba.

What are the 12 requirements to travel to Cuba?

You can read about the 12 pre-approved reasons to travel to Cuba for US citizens here.

The easiest and most common reason for Cuba travel is “to help the Cuban people”. There is no paperwork or application process connected to this; you just choose your reason and state that reason if anyone asks.

What happens if a US citizen travels to Cuba?

Nothing happens if a US citizen travels to Cuba apart from hopefully, the US citizen will have a fabulous holiday and encounter Cuban culture.

US citizens need to choose one of the pre-approved reasons to travel to Cuba and need to buy the PINK Cuban tourist card, also called a tourist visa. Selected airlines and tour operators sell this visa/tourist card, or you can buy one online.

What documents do I need to travel to Cuba?

You need the following documents to travel to Cuba:

• Passport valid for 6 months after the date of entry
• Cuban tourist card / tourist visa
• Proof of travel insurance, including health insurance
• Fill out the d’viajero.cu digital document before your journey

Do Americans need to be vaccinated to enter Cuba?

No, there is no requirement for specific vaccines prior to entering Cuba.

Your country’s health department probably has recommendations for what vaccines you should consider before entering Cuba.

How Do I get a tourist card for Cuba?

You can buy a tourist card online from Easy Tourist Card, or from the Cuban embassy in your country. Selected airlines and tour operators also offer the Cuban tourist card, and you are able to buy one at selected airports prior to departure.

You can buy a Cuban tourist card at Miami International Airport at the check-in counter with American Airlines and Delta Airlines.

How Do I Get A Tourist Visa For Cuba?

A tourist visa is the same as a tourist card for Cuba. You can buy it from the following places:

• Buy one online from Easy Tourist Card
• Buy one from your airline or tour operator if they offer this
• Buy one at the airport of departure if they offer this
• Buy one from the Cuban Embassy in your country

Is Travel To Cuba Allowed Right Now?

Yes, Cuba travel is allowed right now. ‘There are no health restraints from entering Cuba right now. There are no political constraints from entering Cuba right now for most international travelers.

American citizens need to, in addition, choose one of the 12 pre-approved reasons for traveling to Cuba (Americans can not travel as “tourists”) and follow some simple guidelines for traveling in Cuba.

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Wrap-Up Best Restaurants In Havana Cuba!

Hopefully, there are at least a few places in this list you will enjoy when visiting Havana!

If you do visit any of them, please share your experiences in the comments below, which will be super helpful and benefit other travelers as well.

Bon appetite!

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