Ropa Vieja, the national dish of Cuba, is a meal that’s steeped in history. It’s not only the best steak Havana has to offer, but it’s also what President Obama ordered when he visited. Just because.Īnd when you stop looking at the decor, direct your eyes to the sirloin steak and crispy tostones on the menu and don’t even consider ordering anything else. Named after its owner, chef and driving inspiration, Carlos Cristóbal Márquez Valdés, this paladar has a museum-worthy interior crowded with old photos, antique record covers, religious artefacts and even a full-size zebra pelt. If you want to chow down like President Obama, look no further than this taste of colonial Cuba.

Situated in the heart of Old Havana, and with platters of eggs, crispy bacon, banana pancakes, and yoghurt with granola, this chic little joint is worth taking your time over.īarack Obama’s favorite restaurant in Havana! #havana #cuba #eatsĪ post shared by 305tomystomach on at 12:12pm PST So instead, take a seat and make a meal of it at El Café. Still beautifully un-Americanised, things like ‘breakfast to go’ just don’t exist. It’s safe to say, breakfast and brunch restaurants are not so easy to come by in Cuba. And the food? Well, with a menu full of strong European influence and specialising in seafood, this is a restaurant you won’t forget in a hurry.Īnd we didn’t forget it either, with Café Laurent’s signature dish – red snapper with clams and shrimp in green sauce – inspiring the rich flavours of our delicious Seafood Cataplana dish. Retro vibes with old newspaper cuttings papering the walls. Until now, of course.Īround the corner from the famous Hotel Nacional, a small antique elevator takes you up to Café Laurent, the frontrunner in a new wave of private eating establishments, and like nothing you’ve ever seen in Cuba. But we bet you’ve never read about a boutique Basque bistro situated in a fourth-floor penthouse.

Or even the state-run restaurants with their tablecloths and soggy spaghetti. When it comes to Havana’s food scene, you’ve probably already read about the cosy paladares with home-cooked arroz con pollo. A post shared by N’kmino Cuba, Luis Arcos on at 8:43pm PST

Old havana foods