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Restaurants and Paladares in Cuba |
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There are in Cuba two options for food: state restaurants and paladares.
In a country where private property is almost non-existent, paladares (private restaurants) have become an important dining option for visitors.
Paladares are private homes whose families have been granted permission to serve foreign tourists. Rules stipulate that they must have no more than 12 seats and that they should be strictly family-run.
Initially, they were named after a Brazilian soap opera screened in Cuba. In it, the woman who is the central character opens a sandwich bar which in time grows into a chain of successful restaurants called Paladares. Watching free-market forces at work clearly struck a chord with the viewers and there are now hundreds of paladares in every Cuban city, with a concentration in the capital, Havana, in particular.
The other main option is state-run restaurants, aka simply restaurants. Most of them are overpriced and in some of them, the food´s quality is far from what you would expect. Some can be found within hotels.
When paying the bill in either of them, you should check whether the restaurant adds a 10% service charge to bills. If not, you should tip between 10% and 15%.
You can find in the list below plenty of references to dining options in Cuba. At your right, there is a selection of books that on Cuban cuisine and Cuban food, that you can have delivered to your address by Amazon.com, some of them in a matter of hours.
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| Top Restaurants and Paladares in Havana |
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Paladar La Cocina de Lilliam
The most beautiful garden restaurant in Havana with some of the best food of the city. Lilliam Dominguez the cook has turned her house into a lush, romantically lighted garden where dinners sit on comfortable wrought-iron chairs. The house has been nicely decorated with antiques. President Carter is one of the many distinguished personalities who have enjoyed “La Cocina de Lilliam”.
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Address: Calle 48 No. 1311 entre 13 y 15. Playa.
Tel: (537) 209 6514
Open every day except for Saturday. Lunch from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. / Dinner from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
You should make a reservation in advance.
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Paladar La Esperanza
A very popular paladar among visitors to Cuba. Located in a 1930s-era middle-class family house in the Miramar neighborhood. There's a deft, light touch to the cooking in La Esperanza, whether a crisp and refreshing salad of grilled eggplant or a main course of roasted chicken in a spicy tomato sauce. The service is excellent.
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Address: Calle 16 no. 105 e/ 1ra Ave. y 3ra Ave. Miramar.
Tel: (53 7) 202-4361
Open from Monday to Saturday. From 7:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. (dinner only). |
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Paladar La Guarida
Set up in an apartment on the top floor of a ruined building in Centro Habana municipality. The place was the main location for the making of the well-known Oscar-nominated Cuban film ´Strawberry and Chocolate´. Thanks to that, and to the excellent food and service of La Guarida, the place is a must-do for those who seek for high-quality offers of food in Havana.
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Although slightly above the average paladar price range, by international standards, La Guarida is an excellent value dining experience in Havana.
Address: Concordia 418 entre Gervasio y Escobar, Centro Habana
Tel: (53 7) 866 9047
Open every day. Lunch from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. / Dinner from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m.
You should make a reservation for dinner.
 Internet: www.laguarida.com |
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Coming soon: La Fontana, La Casa de Adela, El Floridita and La Bodeguita del Medio. |
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| Links to info on Restaurants and Paladares in Cuba |
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