Food & Drink
Paladares — The Culinary Revolution
What is a Paladar?
A Paladar is a private restaurant — usually in an apartment, on a rooftop terrace, or in a courtyard. Since the economic liberalization in the 2010s, paladares have been the culinary salvation of Cuba: creative, fresh, personal, and with a quality that state restaurants have never achieved. The best paladares in Havana operate at an international level — and at a fraction of European prices.
State Restaurants vs. Paladares
The rule of thumb is simple: State restaurants (recognizable by the lack of enthusiasm from the staff) usually offer mediocre food at inflated prices. Paladares offer excellent food at fair prices because the chef is also the owner — and puts his heart into every dish.
Top Paladares in Havana
- La Guarida (Centro Habana): Havana's most famous paladar — in a decaying palace with a grand staircase. Modern Creole cuisine on a rooftop terrace. Reservation required.
- San Cristóbal (Centro Habana): Obama dined here. Packed with kitsch and memorabilia, but the Ropa Vieja is legendary.
- Doña Eutimia (Habana Vieja): Right on the Plaza de la Catedral. Traditional Creole cuisine, the best Ropa Vieja in the old town.
- O'Reilly 304 (Habana Vieja): Hip, young, creative. Excellent cocktails and fusion cuisine.
- El Cocinero (Vedado): In a former cooking oil tank — rooftop bar and restaurant with a modern approach.
Rum & Cocktails — Cuba's Liquid Gold
Havana Club — The Rum
Havana Club is Cuba's most famous rum brand and one of the best in the world. The distillery in San José de las Lajas (30 km south of Havana) has been producing since 1878. The main varieties:
- Havana Club Añejo 3 años: Light, fresh — the standard for Mojitos and Cuba Libres. 3–5€ per bottle in the store.
- Havana Club Añejo 7 años: Amber-colored, complex, with notes of vanilla and tobacco. To be enjoyed neat or for a special Daiquirí. 8–12€.
- Havana Club Selección de Maestros: The premium rum — hand-selected, complex, with a depth that excites whiskey lovers. 20–30€.
Museo del Ron
The Havana Club Rum Museum in Habana Vieja explains the history and production of Cuban rum — with a tour of the model distillery and a tasting at the end. Admission: 7 CUC. A must for rum fans.
The Classic Cocktails
Cuba's three national cocktails — all invented or perfected in Havana:
- Mojito: Rum (3 años), lime juice, cane sugar, mint (hierba buena), soda water, crushed ice. Invented at the Bodeguita del Medio (they claim). 2–5€.
- Daiquirí: Rum, lime juice, sugar — shaken, not stirred. Perfected at El Floridita, served there as a frozen Daiquirí. 5–7€.
- Cuba Libre: Rum, cola, lime. The name celebrates independence from Spain (1898). 1–3€.
Tipp
Buy rum at the state store (Tienda) and take it to the hotel or the Malecón — significantly cheaper than in bars. A bottle of Havana Club 7 años costs 8–12€ in the store, a single glass in a tourist bar 5–7€.
War dieses Kapitel hilfreich?
