Travel advice for Cuba
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Cuba
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written by Joanna Reeves
updated 21.01.2019
The culinary landscape of Havana is shifting. While Cuba is not typically known as a gastronomic destination, a new wave of innovative restaurants is putting the capital on the foodie map for the first time.
Most of the talk is around paladars (privately owned restaurants), which are growing in number since Raul Castro’s economic reform programme loosened restrictions. Paladars used to be somewhat austere, often set in a spare room of the proprietor’s house, but they are now cropping up in remodelled venues with eye-catching interiors.
And that’s not the only change underway: chefs are using this newfound flexibility to experiment with creative menus and fresh flavours – and it’s paying off. From a stylish Swedish-Cuban eatery to a hip Mexican-influenced tapas haunt, here are the best restaurants in Havana right now.
15 days / from2867 USD
Cuba - Family, Beach, and Culture
Enjoy a 2-week family adventure visiting highlights and hidden gems of Cuba. Marvel at the colonial architecture in Havana, enjoy a ride in a Classic Car, explore the forests close to Trinidad, and relax on white sandy beaches of Cayo Levisa - this trip packs it all into one itinerary.
customize ⤍5 days / from975 USD
Bike Cuba
A moderately challenging cycling holiday through Cuban countryside visiting the tobacco fields of Viñales Valley and a pristine Caribbean beach in Cayo Jutias.
customize ⤍13 days / from3399 USD
Western and Central Cuba by E-bike
Combine a leisurely activity with an insight into some of Cuba’s most fascinating cultural highlights on this new e-biking tour of Western and Central Cuba. Explore the tobacco region of Viñales, cycle along the Bay of Pigs and relax on the fine sandy beaches of Cayo Las Brujas.
customize ⤍8 days / from1829 USD
Family Trip - an active adventure
Take the family a step back in time: Explore Havana in classic cars and on foot, take a boat trip to the Cueva del Indio in Viñales and relax on the white, sandy beaches of Cayo Levisa.
customize ⤍8 days / from1861 USD
Salsa Cubana
Only have a few days? Take this Highlight Tour of Western Cuba to explore the main areas: From Havana over the Viñales valley to Trinidad and Che's monument in Santa Clara. This fast-paced itinerary is packed with highlights.
customize ⤍11 days / from2135 USD
Salsa Cubana - Extended
Cuba, the island of rum, salsa, and the revolution. Explore the island's Western highlights on this trip: From Havana over the Viñales Valley to the famous Bay of Pigs and Trinidad - this trip has no shortage of highlights.
customize ⤍6 days / from1495 USD
Compact Cuba: Havana to Trinidad
Fall in love with Cuba as you explore Havana’s enticing and fading colonial streets, where salsa music emanates from every window, and the sweet pungent aroma of cigar smoke holds the air. Continue to the beautiful colonial city of Trinidad, and the fascinating Bay of Pigs.
customize ⤍8 days / from1950 USD
The Culture and Beaches of Cuba: From Havana to Varadero
This trip takes in three distinctly different areas of Cuba: begin at the iconic, cultural hub of Havana, before travelling to the picturesque rural town of Viñales, and then onto the picture-perfect Varadero Beach, one of the best in the Caribbean. Strike the perfect balance with this unique trip!
customize ⤍15 days / from2561 USD
Cuba Completa - Off the beaten track
Go off-the-beaten-track in Cuba. Explore the birthplace of Fidel Castro, relax on Cayo Saetia, an island that used to be Fidel's private holiday home, and explore the Eastern part with Santiago de Cuba.
customize ⤍15 days / from3191 USD
Complete Cuba: Nature, Tradition and Sights of the Revolution
This evocative country offers everything from rich history to exquisite cuisine, idyllic beaches, unique landscapes and charming, colourful cities. Discover the best Cuba has to offer with the complete itinerary encompassing sights related to its literary past and the revolution.
customize ⤍8 days / from1836 USD
Highlights of Cuba: Havana, Trinidad and Cienfuegos
Discover the charismatic country of Cuba. Begin in the iconic city of Havana, where you'll explore the old town, and enjoy a classic car tour! Head into the country, to Viñales and then Trinidad, the former centre of Cuba's sugar production. Continue to the Bay of Pigs, then return to Havana.
customize ⤍8 days / from1585 USD
Western Skyline Ride
Saddle up and enjoy a week-long cycling holiday through Western Cuba. Cycle through the countryside visiting Las Terrazas and the tobacco fields of Viñales via the spectacular Skyline Trail.
customize ⤍5 days / from1062 USD
Havana: History and Hemingway
Havana is like nowhere else on earth: the jewel in Cuba's crown effortlessly blends dishevelled beauty with risqué and vibrant charm. Spend a few days exploring Havana, including the old town, Ernest Hemingway's favourite cigar smoke-filled jazz club, and a tour of the city in a classic car!
customize ⤍10 days / from2320 USD
Cuba: A Feast for the Senses
Welcome to Cuba, an unbeatable bucket-list destination that is a feast for all the senses. This trip will take you beyond Havana's city limits, with its cigar smoke-filled jazz bars, to discover other towns, rural villages and plantations across Cuba, not to mention the idyllic Varadero Beach.
customize ⤍17 days / from3593 USD
Mi Cuba Linda
Your journey starts and ends in Havana, with stops in Viñales, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad in between. Staying at Casa Particulares and dining at private restaurants allows an authentic peek into Cuban life. The grand finale awaits at an all-inclusive resort in Cayo Santa Maria, promising relaxation.
customize ⤍Accessed by an antique elevator, Café Laurent is set in an old penthouse overlooking Vedado. Local chef Dayron Avilés Alfonso has designed the Spanish Basque-based menu, which has a focus on fish and seafood dishes. Diners tuck into beautifully presented plates of paella and red snapper in salsa verde in a bright and airy space – all whitewashed interiors and wide glass windows. A back wall papered with 1950s magazines adds a touch of character, while the balcony is the best spot for taking in the incredible city views.
Address:Calle M No 257, e/ 19y21
When the guest list features the likes of Natalie Portman and Jay Z, you know you’re onto a winner. La Guarida is a long-running Habana Centro paladar and celebrity favourite, but it may be one for those with deeper pockets – although the food is worth the above-average prices. Cuban-fusion dishes are created with originality and flavour – menu items might include papaya lasagne, watermelon soup or sugar cane tuna glazed with coconut. The environment matches up to the food: the top-floor restaurant is in a wonderfully rundown apartment where the movie Fresa y Chocolate was filmed, and tables are spread across a trio of sumptuous rooms decorated with old film paraphernalia. Advance booking is essential, as it’s fully booked most nights, even after 75 years.
Address:Concordia no.418 e/ Gervasio y Escobar
Inspired by our list of the best restaurants in Havana? Try our new tailor-made travel service and enjoy a fully personalised trip, planned by a local expert.
With elaborately garnished cocktails and inventive dishes, O’Reilly 304 is one of the most popular spots in town, and in our view, one of the best restaurants in Havana too. The Mexican-influenced menu is dominated by tapas, including excellent tacos and empanadillas (Cuban pastries), alongside larger seafood and meat dishes. Be sure to try the ceviche – it was voted the city’s best by Havana Insider. The two art-lined floors are always buzzing: a cluster of tables and chairs are arranged around a small bar downstairs, while the intimate mezzanine is densely packed – but this just adds to the lively vibe.
Address:O’Reilly 304 e/ Habana y Aguiar
This culinary big-hitter is housed in a former peanut oil factory nudging up to Fábrica de Arte Cubano. Nights at El Cocinero start with a drink in the first-floor bar, before you head up the iron spiral staircase to discover a loft-style dining room hung with contemporary art. A rooftop terrace is furnished with huge potted plants and candlelit tables. Starters include the renowned duck confit blinis, while mains could be grilled lobster or filet mignon with creamed pumpkin. Stay after dinner for an expertly mixed cocktail on the terrace while you rub shoulders with locals from the trendy Velado neighbourhood and take in the glittering cityscape. Dishes are pricey but worth the splurge.
Address:Calle 26 e/ 11 y 13
Swedish-Cuban cuisine is a fusion very few people have had the opportunity to try – until Casa Miglis arrived. This eccentrically decorated paladar is the brainchild of Swedish film producer Michel Miglis, whose goal was to bring Nordic culinary influences to Havana. He teamed up with Swedish cook Jonas Anderson, the man behind the menu, to offer diners the chance to sample skagen (Sweden’s take on prawns on toast) and meatballs with mashed potato and lingonberries. Sourcing the produce appears to be an occasional issue – some dishes are dependent on the team being able to hunt down the ingredients.
Address:Lealtad no.120 e/ Animas y Lagunas
For an authentic taste of Cuba, head off the tourist path to this unassuming little joint hidden down an alleyway in Habana Vieja. It’s all about national culinary classics at Doña Eutimia, where the owner, Laetitia, uses traditional Creole recipes passed down from her mother in the kitchen. Expect the likes of malanga fritters and croquettes followed by ropa vieja (shredded steak in tomato sauce) and pork, rice and beans. The generous portions and reasonable prices mean Doña Eutimia is always busy, and there’s a sociable atmosphere from a huddle of tables arranged snugly in the arty dining room.
written by Joanna Reeves
updated 21.01.2019
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