Restaurants in Havana

Havana offers a large number of restaurants. Thus, chosing one for hanging out or having a good meal becomes complicated.

One of my preferred restaurants in Havana

Personally, I really enjoyed the international food and the cocktails at the tiny restaurant Calle O’Reilly 304 on the street of the same name and number. It is so tiny that I walked pass it a couple of times. (table reservation is recommended +53 5 2644725). I would recommend it for a light lunch.

But an even better restaurant in Havana is :

The restaurant Chef Ivan Justo located on Aguacate 6 (near the Revolution museum). It is equally small. Food is very good hence hard to find a table unless you reserve. (+5378639697/+5353438540).

Restaurant La Carbon

If unsuccessful in Chef Ivan, La Carbon is just around the corner and has the same owner as Chef Ivan. Food is good and they serve an attractive espresso.

Hemmingway’s preferred Hotel in Havana

The roof terrace of Hemmingway’s preferred Hotel dos Mundos has nice views around and you might catch a cruise ship making its way through the narrow inlet of the bay.

Saint Francisco Square

There are a couple of nice coffee shops/restaurants on Saint Francisco Square but they get rather sun exposed around lunch time so go there either earlier or later in the afternoon/evening.

Cuban brewery

Close by, in Av. Del Puerto, I found the Cerveceria Antiguo Almacen de la Madera located in a former tobacco factory. It brews its own, very good blond, brown and dark beer. You could combine that with a visit to the close by artisan market Almacenes San Jose.

Saint Angel square

Saint Angel square has a nice bar/restaurant off the beaten track. And you can visit the shop of Jacqueline Fumero, the most prominent fashion designer of the country.

Mojito or Daiquiri “made in Cuba” in the courtyard of the Hotel National

A mojito or Daiquiri “made in Cuba” in the courtyard of the Hotel National is nearly mandatory. In the restaurant, I felt somewhat disturbed during my meal with tourist continuously entering to take pictures.

The roof terrace of the Hotel Parque Central has great views and a swimming pool. You will have to manage to get passed the doorman thou.

Callejon de Hamel on Sundays

This is a fun and entertaining place to visit on Sundays. Get there around noon and listen to some great frenetic rumba music. At night, there are a number of little bars to have a drink and snack. I recommend that you keep your purse in a safe place.

Calle Obispo

On Calle Obispo, you will find many snack bars and freshly pressed sugar cane juice. I was told that one should avoid having drinks with ice in this particular area due to the ancient water pipe system.