The Top Restaurants in Havana: Complete Food Guide for Cuba’s Capital

Ready to eat and drink your way through Cuba's Capital? Well, we're here to share the best restaurants in Havana, the must-try dishes, and other things you'll want to know about the food and drink scene in the city.

As digital nomads we spent a lot of time bar and restaurant hopping while in Havana, and honestly there were some things that really shocked us while there!

In our Havana food guide we're going to share all about our experience eating and drinking around the city, as well as everything you need to know about the cuisine, culture, and top places to eat in Havana, Cuba.

Havana Food Guide: a Brief Intro

Before diving into the best restaurants in Cuba, let's talk a bit about the cuisine, and what to expect when eating and drinking in Havana.

 What Food Havana, Cuba Known For?

Havana has some similar foods to other Caribbean islands - it is known for its fresh seafood, but it also has some heavy dishes with meat, rice, beans, and thick sauces. 

Cuba is low on resources, so you won't find an incredible amount of variety. Meals are super affordable, especially if you go to one of the government-owned restaurants in Havana.

We had A LOT of lobster, as it was always under $10! Also, you really don't want to miss out on their incredible drinks, as I promise you'll never have a better daiquiri anywhere else.

 Top Dishes & Drinks to Try in Havana

There aren't a million dishes to try while in Havana. However, there are certainly a few things we recommend eating and drinking while in Cuba!

Cuban Must-Try Drinks

• Daiquiris: a frozen drink made with fresh fruit, rum, and ice - it's simple, but Cuban's will make you never want a daiquiri elsewhere ever again.
• Mojitos: a classic Cuban cocktail made with white rum, fresh mint, lime juice, sugar, and soda water.
• Canchanchara: Cuba's oldest known cocktail made with aguardiente (or rum), honey, and lime juice.
• Cuba Libre: a traditional drink of coke, rum, and a twist of lime.

 Cuban Must-Try Foods

• Ropa Vieja: Cuba's national dish which has shredded beef, tomatoes, and peppers, typically served with rice, beans, plantains, or a mix of it all.
• Croquetas: crispy fritters filled with a creamy mix of bechamel and usually ham
• Tostones: fried plantain slices
• Frituras de Malanga: fried dough topped with powdered sugar
• Lobster: it's probably the cheapest you'll ever find it, and served in most restaurants!

Havana Food Guide: the Best Bars & Restaurants in Havana

Now that you know a bit about Cuba's cuisine, and a bit of the situation going on with their resources, lets dive into where to eat and drink in Havana! Here are some of the best bars and restaurants in Havana to go to.

The Best Restaurants in Havana

When we asked for local recommendations for restaurants in Havana, we were constantly getting sent to awful tourist traps. So we decided to simply go around and find some spots on our own.

We'll be honest - there aren't many mind-blowing restaurants in Havana. Cuba has limited resources, so you won't find a crazy variety of dishes or unique places to dine. However, here are some of our favorite restaurants in Havana that we found!

Don Pucho

This was the first restaurant we ate in Havana, and while it doesn't look special, we had some incredible seafood. It's a family-run business serving fresh and affordable food, making it an easy pick for dinner while in Havana.

Cafe Mambo

This cute family-run restaurant is small, but it has excellent seafood and great service. We also loved seeing our food come down on a little elevator!

La Imprenta

While we are all about supporting locals over the government-run establishments, we'd be doing an absolute injustice to our readers to not mention La Imprenta - one of our favorite restaurants in Havana, Cuba.

It's extremely affordable (plates cost around $2-3 USD) and has a beautiful indoor patio and garden. They have live music, good service, and tasty local dishes.

If you're looking to have an authentic Cuban experience, then this is truly one of the top restaurants in Havana for you to try.

Antojos

Antojos was recommended to us by a local, and luckily we had the pleasure of checking them out on our last night in Cuba.

With pretty repetitive menus in the city, Antojos was the one restaurant that we really felt the menu had new and exciting things to offer. We'd recommend getting a few dishes to split, and definitely to get the croquetas!

Restaurante Doña Ana

Located just right in the heart of Old Havana, Restaurante Doña Ana felt like a complete hidden gem we stumbled upon.

We sat upstairs on our own little balcony and ate lobster while the incredible band serenaded us for a few hours.

Whether you're looking for to dine with great music or simply sip on a daiquiri while people watching, this is definitely one of the best restaurants in Havana we recommend.

Cafe del Angel Jacqueline Fumero

Good breakfast can be hard to come by in Havana, but we did find a pretty decent spot worth recommending.

Cafe del Angel Jacqueline Fumero is the perfect place to enjoy a scenic and peaceful breakfast. It's located in a quiet square in front of a church, and has a nice patio with some solid breakfast options.  All around, it's probably one of the better options for restaurants in Havana to have breakfast at.

Star Cafe

Honestly, I kind of hate to put Star Cafe on the list of best restaurants in Havana, because truthfully, they have pretty damn terrible food, and pricier coffee than they should have.

That being said, we also need to mention Star Cafe for our digital nomads out there. Star Cafe looks like the Cuban version of Starbucks, and is a popular spot for those that are working while traveling, since they have some of the best (okay - just not AWFUL) Wifi in the city.

What we did? We had coffee and worked at Star Cafe, and then scooted on over to Cafe del Angel Jacqueline Fumero for a bite to eat.

La Caribeña

Looking for some of the best daiquiris in the city? We popped in here for dinner and loved the food, but they really get an honorable mention for their drinks, as well as their super friendly bartenders and servers.

Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!

 The Best Bars in Havana

While we didn't eat at a TON of incredible restaurants in Havana, we have to say the bar scene is certainly where it's at. The city is known for having live music and the best daiquiris in the world. There are also some truly incredible spots for dancing the night away, and plenty of others for a breezy rooftop cocktail.

Floridita

If you only have time to go to one bar in Havana, then you can't miss out on Floridita, an iconic bar which was frequented by Ernest Hemingway. They're famous for their daiquiris, and although they're pricier than other spots, it's truly a bucket list bar to try.

Not only do they have great daquiris, but they oftentimes have live music, and the bar itself is elegant and old-fashioned, making it even more unique of an experience.

La Bodegita del Medio

If you're looking for some fun and vibrant Caribbean vibes, then don't miss out on La Bodeguita del Medio. Known for their mojitos, this bar is charmingly decorated with writing on the walls and photographs of celebrities, with excellent live music.

The entire experience here is a whole vibe, and certainly one of the best bars in Havana to check out.

Chacon 162

While we mentioned La Caribeña as having some of the best daiquiris in the city, we have to also mention Chacon 162 had the best mango daiquiri I've had in my life.

Located on a picturesque street lined with bars and restaurants, we stopped here to watch a football game, and chatted with our awesome bartender on this cool corner bar. 

While we can't speak for their food, we'd highly recommend stopping in for drink, and then heading over to Antojos for a bite to eat, which is just down the street.

Royalton Habana Paseo del Prado

Looking for a bit of a boujee evening? Head up to the rooftop of Royalton Habana Paseo del Prado, which is a hotel with a tall tower right on the malecon. With incredible views of the water and sunset, this is the perfect place for a cocktail while the sun goes down and the city starts to light up.

Cuban Art Factory

If you're looking for a fun night out, then pop Cuban Art Factory to the absolute top of your list. It's a multi-room venue that's part nightclub part art gallery.

Each room has different art exhibitions, and there are several bars, and even an outdoor area with food trucks and salsa dancing. We even had a free dance class when we were there,

Cuban Art Factory truly is the most iconic blend of culture and nightlife wrapped in one perfect night out.

PS: It's located outside the center, so you'll need to get a taxi or one of the colectivos to get there. Definitely worth the distance though!

Cuban Art Factory is definitely the most fun place to go out in Havana.

Havana Food Guide: Final Thoughts

Now you know all about Cuban cuisine and the best restaurants in Havana. But in case you missed anything, here is a bit of a recap, along with some other tips:

 Havana is home to the best daiquiris in the world.

 Another great local drink you should try is canchanchara.

 Government-run restaurants are the most-affordable eateries.

Tipping in restaurants in Havana is typical, around 10%.

 Tap water is not potable, so make sure to stick to bottled water.

 Seafood is the best option in Havana.

Resources in Cuba are limited, so it's hard to find variety.

 If a local tries to "show you a restaurant", it's probably a tourist trap.

 Credit cards are rarely accepted, and if they are you won't be able to use an American one.

 Havana is known for its incredible live music - don't miss out!

 Wifi in Cuba is awful - it is not common in restaurants in Havana, and if they have it, it most likely won't be strong.

What's Next?

Now that you know the best bars and restaurants in Havana, you'll probably want to learn more about the city! Here are some of our other guides we recommend to help you getting acquainted with Cuba's capital:

 How to Get to Havana: Your Complete Guide for Traveling to Cuba's Capital

 How to Get Around Havana: The Ultimate Transportation Guide
 Things to See and Do in Havana: a Guide to Cuba's Captivating Capital

 10 Best Places to Visit in Cuba for an Unforgettable Trip

 Travel to Varadero: How to Reach Cuba's Famous Resort Town

 Is There Wifi in Cuba in 2024? The Ultimate Guide for Internet in Cuba

 Ultimate Havana Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Eat, & Explore

...and more coming each week!

So are you ready to eat and drink your way around Cuba's capital? We hope our Havana food guide helps you experience the best the city has to offer.

Want to learn more about traveling in Havana and Cuba in general? We have a ton of other Cuba Travel Guides, as well as new ones coming each week! Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so that you can stay up to date with our most recent articles, as well as for exclusive content reserved just for our email list.

Ready to start planning a fun trip to Havana, Cuba? Well, we're here to help! We're dedicated to help you save you both time and money on your trip, so that you can fully enjoy your visit as much as possible. Want more info? Take a look at the different travel planning packages we have, or email us today to get started!

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