What is Cuban food like?
Most Cuban cooking relies on a few basic spices, such as garlic, onion, cumin, oregano, and bay laurel leaves. Island visitors used to describe Cuban cuisine as bland and repetitive.
Nonetheless, over the last few years a new wave of private family-run restaurants (paladares) has swept the entire island offering excellent Cuban and international food.
Our Cuba tour itineraries include stops at the island’s best privately owned restaurants.
The word paladar (in Spanish) means “palate”. The first paladares (small private family-run restaurants) emerged in Havana in 1993. The Cubans took the name from a Brazilian soap opera playing in local television at the time that featured a chain of restaurants called paladares. It was not until 2010, when a number of new economic measures favored the expansion of private businesses, that paladares flourished all over the island revolutionizing Cuba’s culinary scene.
Beyond the many excellent restaurants offering authentic traditional Cuban cuisine, nowadays you can also chose French, Italian, Japanese, Indian, Korean, Russian, Mexican, Chinese, Swedish, and more.
Havana’s long list of excellent paladares includes:
Le Chansonnier. This is quality nouveau cuisine in a gorgeous 19th-century mansion.
Address: Calle J # 257, e/ Calles 13 y 15, Vedado, (537) 832-1576
San Cristóbal. An eclectic space on the ground floor of an early 20th century mansion, serving their inspired interpretations of traditional Creole Cuban fare. The Obama family dined here during their historic visit to Cuba in 2016.
Address: Calle San Rafael #469 e/ Lealtad y Campanario. Centro Habana. (537) 860-1705
La Guarida. This restaurant offers Cuban-Continental dishes in a romantic garret. It was made famous by the film “Strawberries and Chocolate.”
Address: Concordia #318 e/ Gervasio y Escobar. Centro Habana. (537) 866-9047
La Cocina de Lilliam. Set in a beautiful villa in Miramar, one of Havana’s wealthiest neighborhoods during its capitalist era, this restaurant offers secluded ambience and excellent freshly cooked food.
Address: Calle 48 No. 1311, e/ 13 y 15. Miramar. (537) 209-6514
Café Laurent. In the penthouse atop a small 1950s apartment building, this place serves Cuban Continental food on a tranquil terrace.
Address: Calle M #257, Vedado. (537) 832-6890
Atelier. Atelier is a contemporary space serving Continental food in a 19th-century villa.
Address: Calle 5 #511 e/Paseo y 2, Vedado. (537) 836-2025