As of 2026, this Havana food guide covers 12 restaurants by category — including La Guarida, San Cristóbal Paladar, Doña Eutimia. See prices, locations and must-try dishes below.
Havana is Havana is Cuban criollo cooking in private paladares — ropa vieja, moros y cristianos, lechon, and the Cuban sandwich — with mojitos and daiquiris from Hemingway's old haunts. Bring cash — cards mostly don't work. We've organized 12 restaurants across 5 categories. Each entry includes prices, hours, local tips, and a Google Maps link so you can plan straight from the page.
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La Guarida
Centro Habana (Calle Concordia 418) · Famous Paladares
Havana's celebrated private restaurants — La Guarida, San Cristóbal, Doña Eutimia — where the best Cuban cooking and the most atmosphere live
La Guarida
Paladar La Guarida · Centro Habana (Calle Concordia 418)
1
#1
MUST TRY
Modern Cuban tasting plates, ropa vieja, the rooftop bar (Bar Mirador) for sunset drinks
Havana's most famous paladar, set in a grand, crumbling early-1900s mansion on Calle Concordia whose stairwell appeared in the Oscar-nominated Cuban film 'Fresa y Chocolate.' It pioneered upscale private dining in Cuba and remains a benchmark for modern Cuban cuisine, with a rooftop bar (Bar Mirador) added in 2014 that looks over Centro Habana toward the Malecón.
$25-45
(approx. CUP 10,000-18,000)
Lunch & dinner daily (reserve ahead; rooftop bar evenings)
Local tip: Reserve well ahead — it's the city's marquee paladar and books out, especially the rooftop. Come for the setting and the modern Cuban cooking as much as the food. The climb up the faded staircase is part of the experience. Bring cash; cards generally don't work in Cuba.
A characterful Centro Habana paladar packed with antiques, old photographs, religious icons, and bric-a-brac, run by chef Carlos Cristóbal Márquez. It drew international attention when Barack Obama and his family dined here on the first night of his historic 2016 visit to Cuba, and there's an 'Obama corner' commemorating it.
$20-40
(approx. CUP 8,000-16,000)
Lunch & dinner (closed some days; reserve ahead)
Local tip: Book ahead — the fame brings a steady crowd. The maximalist decor is half the appeal. Obama famously had the grilled beef tenderloin. It's in a grittier part of Centro Habana, so arrange a taxi back at night. Cash only in practice.
Paladar Doña Eutimia · Habana Vieja (Callejón del Chorro, off Plaza de la Catedral)
3
#3
MUST TRY
Ropa vieja (widely rated the city's best), grilled meats, frijoles, a mojito
A small, beloved paladar tucked down the Callejón del Chorro alley right off Plaza de la Catedral, named for a cook who once fed artists of the nearby graphic-arts workshop. It's a perennial favorite for traditional Cuban home cooking — its ropa vieja is frequently called the best in Havana — in a cozy, welcoming room.
$12-25
(approx. CUP 5,000-10,000)
Lunch & dinner daily (reserve ahead)
Local tip: Tables are few and demand is high, so reserve, especially for dinner. The ropa vieja is the order. Its position steps from the Cathedral makes it a perfect Old Havana lunch. Bring cash and small bills for the tip.
Habana Vieja paladares for ropa vieja, moros y cristianos, and lechón — O'Reilly 304, Los Mercaderes, La Vitrola around the plazas
O'Reilly 304
O'Reilly 304 · Habana Vieja (Calle O'Reilly 304)
4
#1
MUST TRY
Tacos, ceviche, fresh seafood, strong cocktails at the tiny bar
A small, buzzy paladar on Calle O'Reilly in the heart of Old Havana, known for creative, fresh cooking — tacos, ceviche, and seafood — and well-made cocktails in a tight, lively space. Its success spawned a sister restaurant, El del Frente, directly across the street.
$10-22
(approx. CUP 4,000-9,000)
Noon-late daily (no reservations; expect a wait)
Local tip: It's genuinely small and popular, so expect a wait or come off-peak. The cocktails are a strong point. If it's full, El del Frente opposite (same owners, rooftop) is the natural backup. Cash only in practice.
El del Frente · Habana Vieja (Calle O'Reilly, opposite no. 304)
5
#2
MUST TRY
Seafood and ceviche, gin cocktails, the open-air rooftop
The rooftop sibling of O'Reilly 304, directly across the street, with a breezy upstairs terrace and a similar menu of fresh seafood, ceviche, and inventive small plates plus a strong cocktail list. A relaxed, design-forward spot that's become a fixture of the O'Reilly dining cluster.
$10-22
(approx. CUP 4,000-9,000)
Noon-late daily (no reservations)
Local tip: The rooftop terrace is the reason to choose it over its sibling — good for a drink at golden hour. Like O'Reilly 304 it's small and busy. Pair the two as a backup for each other. Bring cash.
Paladar Los Mercaderes · Habana Vieja (Calle Mercaderes 207)
6
#3
MUST TRY
Cuban and Caribbean mains, the petal-strewn staircase entrance, live music
An elegant upstairs paladar on Calle Mercaderes in Old Havana, reached by a staircase often scattered with flower petals, serving polished Cuban and Caribbean dishes in a romantic, candlelit colonial dining room. Live musicians frequently play, and the balcony tables overlook the busy street below.
$12-28
(approx. CUP 5,000-11,000)
Noon-midnight daily (reserve ahead for dinner)
Local tip: One of Old Havana's more refined rooms — good for a special dinner. Ask for a balcony table over the street. Reserve ahead for evenings. Tip the musicians a dollar or two. Cash only in practice.
Classic Cuban dishes, ropa vieja, mojitos, people-watching on Plaza Vieja
A retro, 1950s-styled restaurant on Plaza Vieja in a blue-and-white corner building, decked with old jukeboxes, radios, and vintage Havana memorabilia. Live bands play, and the location on one of Old Havana's prettiest restored squares makes it a reliable, atmospheric stop for traditional Cuban fare.
$8-20
(approx. CUP 3,000-8,000)
Lunch & dinner daily
Local tip: More about the location, music, and look than fine dining — a fun, central lunch or evening on the square. The outdoor tables are prime people-watching. It can be touristy and busy; go for the vibe. Cash and small bills.
Leafy Vedado's modern paladares and views — El Cocinero by the art factory and the penthouse Café Laurent
El Cocinero
El Cocinero · Vedado (Calle 26, beside the Fábrica de Arte Cubano)
8
#1
MUST TRY
Grilled meats and seafood, tapas-style starters, drinks on the rooftop under the brick chimney
A stylish Vedado paladar built into a century-old former cooking-oil factory, marked by its landmark tall red-brick chimney, beside the Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC) arts complex. The rooftop terrace, reached by an industrial staircase, is the draw — a buzzy spot for drinks and modern Cuban plates.
$15-35
(approx. CUP 6,000-14,000)
Evenings, around 6pm-midnight (closed when FAC's cycle is on break)
Local tip: Pair it with a night at the adjacent Fábrica de Arte Cubano (check FAC's seasonal opening calendar). The rooftop is best for sunset drinks and a relaxed dinner. Reserve for groups. It's in Vedado, so arrange a taxi. Cash only in practice.
Restaurante Paladar Café Laurent · Vedado (Calle M 257, penthouse)
9
#2
MUST TRY
Mediterranean-Cuban fusion, fresh fish, the panoramic city-view terrace
A penthouse paladar in Vedado, reached by an antique elevator up through a residential apartment building to the top floor, where a white, airy dining room and terrace deliver panoramic views over the city. The cooking is a Mediterranean-leaning fusion with Cuban roots — fresh fish and refined plates.
$15-32
(approx. CUP 6,000-13,000)
Noon-midnight daily (reserve ahead)
Local tip: The fourth-floor view and the old-elevator approach are part of the charm. Go for sunset on the terrace. Reserve ahead for a window or terrace table. Bring cash. A good upscale option away from the Old Havana crowds.
The legendary mojito-and-daiquiri trail — El Floridita and La Bodeguita del Medio, touristy but steeped in history
El Floridita
El Floridita · Habana Vieja (Calle Obispo 557, corner of Monserrate)
10
#1
MUST TRY
Frozen daiquiri (the bar's signature), the Hemingway 'Papa Doble', live son band
A historic bar-restaurant at the end of Calle Obispo, branding itself 'la cuna del daiquiri' (the cradle of the daiquiri), where bartender Constante is credited with refining the frozen daiquiri in the 1930s. Ernest Hemingway drank here, and a bronze statue of him props up the corner of the bar. It's state-run, polished, and very touristy.
$6-15
(approx. CUP 2,500-6,000)
Roughly 11:00-midnight daily
Local tip: Come for one frozen daiquiri and the history, not for value or a meal — it's pricey and crowded. The classic photo is with the Hemingway statue at the bar. A live band plays. Combine it with La Bodeguita del Medio for the Hemingway trail. Cash.
La Bodeguita del Medio · Habana Vieja (Calle Empedrado 207, near the Cathedral)
11
#2
MUST TRY
Mojito (the house claim to fame), simple Cuban dishes, the graffiti-covered walls
A famous, cramped bar-restaurant on Calle Empedrado near the Cathedral, open since 1942 and claiming to be the birthplace of the mojito — its walls are covered floor to ceiling in decades of visitors' scrawled signatures. The Hemingway 'mi mojito en La Bodeguita' line is part of the lore (and disputed by historians).
$6-18
(approx. CUP 2,500-7,000)
Roughly 10:30-midnight daily
Local tip: Squeeze in for one mojito and the wall-graffiti atmosphere rather than a meal — it's packed and touristy. Live music spills into the street. Pair with El Floridita a few blocks away. Watch your belongings in the crush, and bring small cash.
Cuban coffee, the famous Coppelia ice cream, and casual street eats between the sights
Coppelia
Coppelia · Vedado (Calle 23 / La Rampa)
12
#1
MUST TRY
Cuban ice cream (helado) by the scoop, the people-watching in the queues
A vast, flying-saucer-shaped ice-cream park in Vedado, a Havana institution since 1966 and a fixture of Cuban daily life (it features in the film 'Fresa y Chocolate'). Locals queue at the peso windows for cheap scoops of Cuban ice cream; there are separate, pricier tourist-facing sections.
$1-5
(approx. CUP 100-1,500)
Roughly 11:00-22:00 (closed some days; long queues)
Local tip: It's as much a social landmark as a dessert stop. The local peso queues are cheap but long; tourist sections are quicker and dearer. Availability of flavors varies with shortages. A fun, very Cuban experience near the Vedado sights. Small cash.
A casa-particular meal + street pizza + a peso-stall lunch (cash).
Mid-Range
$40-80/day
A paladar dinner (Dona Eutimia, O'Reilly 304) + mojitos on a rooftop.
Luxury
$120+/day
La Guarida tasting + a classic-car tour + Floridita daiquiris.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about food and restaurants in Havana.
What Cuban dishes should I order in Havana?
Go for the classics: ropa vieja (shredded beef in a pepper-tomato-onion braise, the unofficial national dish), moros y cristianos or congrí (rice cooked with black beans), lechón asado (roast pork), and arroz con pollo. Standard sides are tostones (twice-fried green plantains) and plátanos maduros (sweet fried ripe plantains). To drink: a mojito, a daiquiri, a Cuba libre, or a small, strong Cuban coffee. Doña Eutimia's ropa vieja is a benchmark version.
Should I eat at paladares or state restaurants?
Paladares — privately run restaurants — are the better choice for most travelers: more care, better food, and your money supports private Cubans rather than the state, which also fits the US 'Support for the Cuban People' travel category. State-run restaurants tend to be less reliable. The exceptions are the historic Hemingway bars (El Floridita, La Bodeguita del Medio), which are state-run and touristy but worth a single drink for the history.
Which paladares are the famous ones?
La Guarida in Centro Habana is the marquee name — modern Cuban cooking in a faded grand mansion with a rooftop bar. San Cristóbal (Centro Habana) is where Obama dined in 2016. Doña Eutimia, off Plaza de la Catedral, is loved for its ropa vieja. In Old Havana, O'Reilly 304 and its rooftop sibling El del Frente, plus Los Mercaderes and La Vitrola, are solid. In Vedado, El Cocinero (by the FAC art factory) and the penthouse Café Laurent stand out. Book the popular ones ahead.
Do I need to reserve, and can I pay by card?
Reserve the famous paladares (La Guarida, Doña Eutimia, San Cristóbal, Los Mercaderes, Café Laurent) a day or two ahead — your casa particular host can call for you. As for payment: assume cash only. Most foreign cards don't work in Cuba, and US-issued cards won't work at all, so carry enough euros, Canadian dollars, or US dollars (exchanged to pesos) for your meals, plus small bills for tips and musicians.
Is the food good, honestly, given the shortages?
The better paladares and home kitchens can be genuinely good — rich braises, fresh seafood, ripe fruit — but be realistic. Chronic supply shortages mean menus shrink, ingredients run out, and quality is uneven, especially at state restaurants. Cuban food is savory rather than spicy. Stick to private paladares and casa breakfasts for the best meals, stay flexible about what's actually available that day, and you'll eat well.
Can I eat vegetarian in Havana?
It's possible but takes effort, since Cuban cooking leans on pork, chicken, and beef. Reliable meat-free options are moros y cristianos / congrí (rice and beans), tostones, plátanos maduros, rice, salads, omelets, and tropical fruit, and good paladares can usually adapt a dish. Strict vegan or gluten-free is harder and gets harder during shortages — be flexible and carry snacks. Useful phrases: 'soy vegetariano/a' (I'm vegetarian) and 'sin carne' (without meat).
Are the Hemingway bars worth visiting?
For the history, yes — but keep it to a drink. El Floridita (Calle Obispo) calls itself the cradle of the daiquiri and has the famous Hemingway statue at the bar; La Bodeguita del Medio (Calle Empedrado) claims to be the mojito's birthplace and is covered in visitors' graffiti. Both are state-run, crowded, and pricey for what they are, and the famous Hemingway quote is disputed lore. Go for one cocktail and the atmosphere, then eat at a paladar.
What about cigars and rum with my meal?
Cuban cigars (Cohíba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta) and Havana Club rum are part of the experience, but buy cigars only from official La Casa del Habano shops or hotel stores — street 'deals' are almost always fakes. Many paladares and bars sell cigars and good rum. US travelers should check the current US customs rules on bringing Cuban cigars and rum home, since the allowance has changed with different administrations.
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Jimmy Kong
TripPick founder · Travel content creator
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.
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