Havana Travel Guide

Many culinary traditions have left their mark on the melting pot that is Havana. Traditional Cuban, or "creole" cuisine is full of variety, with strong Spanish and African influences. The city has a thriving Chinatown, numerous pizza places—Cubans are very fond of pizza -, and many other foreign restaurants.

Starting in the historic quarter, which is the main tourist area, one of the nicest and best known places is Terraza La Mina, next to the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales in Obispo Street. Here you can enjoy both Cuban and international dishes as well as Cuban cocktails such as mojitos, cuba libres and daiquirís.

Close by, in the Plaza de la Catedral, is Patio Restaurante (El), a long established restaurant in a magnificent colonial mansion with a beautiful inner courtyard. From the café in its outer colonnade you can watch life go by in the square. Inside to the left, a bar serves drinks and cocktails from Cuba and abroad. The main restaurant is on the second floor.

On the corner of Empedrado Street by the Cathedral is a small but renowned restaurant serving Cuban creole cuisine, the Bodeguita del Medio (La). This is famous for the distinguished clientele who have scribbled their names on its walls. A little bar at the entrance sells one of the best mojitos in Havana. Customers spill into the street with their drinks as they wait for a table.

Further up Obispo Street you will come to the Hotel Bar Ambos Mundos, where the restaurant has a pleasant international menu. At the other end, near the Parque Central, is El Floridita, one of Hemingway's favourites and famous for its cocktails.

The Parque Central is surrounded by hotels with busy restaurants where you can take a midday break. One of the best is the Hotel Inglaterra, which has an elegant restaurant serving international and creole cuisine. Near the Capitolio, on the corner of Teniente Rey and Bernaza Streets, the tiny Hanoi serves Cuban and Asian cuisine. Away from the bustle of the historic area, and moving into the Vedado and Playa districts, you can discover another side to the city's gastronomic repertoire.

For delicious tropical fruit ice-creams visit the ice-cream parlour Coppelia, on the corner of L and 23 Streets. This modern establishment with its distinctive design was opened in 1960. It recently featured in the hit film "Strawberry and Chocolate" by Gutiérrez Alea.

A little way down 17 Street, at number 60 between N and M, is La Casona, a restaurant with the very Cuban house speciality of Rice with Chicken. At the National Theatre, still in the Vedado, you can visit the Café Cantante Mi Habana, for snacks and entertainment. The theatre itself also has a restaurant, the Delirio Habanero, with an international menu.

Moving on from the Vedado, there are many options. In Playa there is La Cecilia, on 5th Avenue between 110 and 112 Streets. This specializes in Cuban cuisine, particularly dishes from the last century adapted in their own special way. The bar has a range of cold meats served in sandwiches or grilled, and there is a cabaret with dinner service. There are also rooms available for business dinners, private parties and weddings.

Further along 5th Avenue, La Ferminia also specializes in Cuban food. Also in Playa is the Tocororo, an attractive restaurant with an international menu. Its main feature is that it dispenses with an a la carte menu and instead cooks each dish according to the customer's desires.

Further out from the city centre, on 222 Street between Autopista and 51 in La Lisa, La Giraldilla tourist complex usually offers Mediterranean cuisine and a range of Cuban and international drinks. Here you can also enjoy the pool and light snacks from the bar.

To the east of Havana don't miss the Bodegón de los Vinos, which is located in the Parque Morro Cabaña on the other side of the bay. This restaurant serves Spanish and international cuisine with a good selection of wines, and the speciality of the house is Sangría. The restaurants at Las Villas de la Habana at Santa María beach also mainly offer international cuisine, as do the hotels Atlántico, Internacional, and Mar Azul.2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 154