The Best Places to Eat in Havana
While Havana is well-known for its flavors, finding the best restaurants in Havana is no easy feat. It requires research to discover the best places to eat in Havana, finding good food away from tourists. Although historic, you might want to avoid the Ernest Hemingway bars, Floridita and Bodeguita del Medio when looking for the best food in Havana Cuba. Sure, they were the place where the Nobel author had his daiquiris and mojitos, but they’re always full of tourists! We just had a drink at Floridita to get some feel of the vibe and to tick this off our list but you can do without – it’s hardly among the best restaurants in Havana.
Here are what I think are the best places to eat in Havana!
The Best Restaurants in Havana
Casa Miglis
1. Food: 4
2. Drinks: 4
3. Atmosphere: 5
4. Design: 5
5. Service: 4
A very particular experience in town, Casa Miglis certainly feels like one of the best restaurants in Havana. The mix of flavors is nothing short of unique: a Swedish menu with a Cuban air. It was our first encounter with the best food in Havana Cuba.
This is entry among the best restaurants in Havana is a very elegant venue that becomes a breath of fresh air in Centro Havana. As you would expect from a Scandinavian restaurant, the design is functional and simple. Still, its look has a very refreshing quality, in tune with the hot tropic. In terms of color, the venue has a lot of white, with some red lights here and there!
Looking at this place from the outside, you’d never imagine one of the best restaurants in Havana awaited. It’s even more exotic when you know there’s a Swedish restaurant inside. The shabby old house façade has absolutely nothing to do with the upscale tropical inside, which makes it obvious it’s one of the best places to eat in Havana.
Casa Miglis feels vibrant and mysterious, not only because of its design, but also its eclectic mix of patrons. This place is for sure more than a restaurant and a popular hangout place for the hip Cuban crowd!
El Café – The Best Food in Havana Cuba?
1. Food: 5
2. Drinks: 5
3. Atmosphere: 4
4. Design: 4
5. Service: 4
With its fresh fruit juices and delicious pancakes, El Café quickly became our favorite breakfast joint among the best places to eat in Havana. This charming little spot manages a great feat: turning Havana’s weak points into strong ones. How? By making do with the limited resources to create a real rustic and vintage feel. It’s a true mark of one of the best restaurants in Havana!
The place is decorated in peaceful and earthy tones, mostly black and brown, and it serves some of the best food in Havana Cuba. The little wooden pieces everywhere add to the eco touch, completing the picture perfect of one of the best restaurants in Havana.
In all, we got massive hipster feels from this little spot away from the tourists and it quickly became our favorite brunch place. Their hummus and sourdough bread are just delicious and well worthy of one of the best places to eat in Havana!
El Dandy Bar y Galería
1. Food: 3
2. Drinks: 3
3. Atmosphere: 4
4. Design: 4
5. Service: 4
A small hip cafe and bar in Havana with an interesting history, El Dandy has a lot of the traditional Cuban debonair. You can almost picture Desi Arnaz popping in for a visit at one of the best places to eat in Havana!
The venue has gone from an upscale bar in the early ’50s to beat-down old house to refurbished bar – finally becoming one of the best places to eat in Havana. As recently as 2014, the inside of this mid-century mansion was rebuilt for a more hipster vintage look. The décor in Dandy feels like an old writer’s studio, with a lot of old photos and posters.
The food and drinks are all right, but I wouldn’t necessarily rank it among the best restaurants in Havana. The best food in Havana Cuba can be found elsewhere, but the vibe is really unique. The place is enthralling because it’s also a photography gallery, with some pictures of Olof Palme. A perfect place for a drink or a coffee!
El Del Frente
1. Food: 4
2. Drinks: 5
3. Atmosphere: 5
4. Design: 4
5. Service: 4
A truly cool place, El Del Frente is among the best restaurants in Havana. Another recent addition to the Havana scene, it shares the spotlight with its big brother, O’Reilly 304. Both serve some of the best food in Havana Cuba!
One of the best places to eat in Havana, this place expands beyond local cuisine by adding some international dishes. Their ceviche and tacos are famous throughout the island!
It’s no wonder this is known as one of the best restaurants in Havana: the vibe here is fantastic, between the live music and the crowd of locals and tourists. The design, outstandingly contemporary for vintage Havana, is colorful and hip, and it’s clear it’s one of the best places to eat in Havana. The palette is mostly earthy with chairs and posters in bright pink and aquamarine.
A tiny and hidden little gem, it stands out for its cozy little rooftop and its huge, tasty mojitos. Beware, it’s a little hidden, so you’ll have to ask around to find it – but as one of the best places to eat in Havana, it’s worth it!
More from Travel with a Silver Lining
Havana is one of those destinations that has something for everyone, as you can see from this list of the best restaurants in Havana!
- Make the most out of your trip to Havana by also checking out my Havana Travel Guide and Havana Hotel Review.
- For a more complete and truly one-of-a-kind Cuban experience, why not take a road trip across the island’s countryside and beaches? Read my Cuba road trip itinerary!
- Havana is one of the most photogenic cities I’ve ever visited, but it’s not the only one. Check out my Mykonos photo guide!
- Read my top 3 posts! 18 Instagram Spots in Lisbon, My Amalfi Coast Photography Guide and the Top 10 Hipster Restaurants in Moscow!
Booking Support & Input
- Momondo lets you find the very best flight deals to Cuba and everywhere else in the world. If you’re not using their all-in-one travel app yet, download it HERE!
- Find amazing hotels in the Cuban capital through Booking.com, HERE!
- Don’t waste any time at the airport by booking a transfer to your hotel HERE!
- With Get Your Guide, you can find one-of-a-kind and unique experiences in each destination to really get to know a place. Check out their Havana city guide!
Did you like this post of the best restaurants in Havana and want to save it or share it with others? Then see some pins below for the best places to eat in Havana Cuba!
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43 Comments
Oh man, Cuba would be so fascinating. My husband and I were just talking about going there while we have the chance. I’ll be pinning this for future reference!
I’m glad this was useful for you dear!
I’ve always wanted to visit Havana! Cafe Miglis looks good!
xoxo
Annie
I love how unique it is! You should visit, Annie 🙂
I would LOVE to eat there some day… so much charm and the food looks amazing! looks fresh and full of flavor, yum! simply beautiful and I added it to my bucket list ; )
Definitely worth being added to your bucket list dear 🙂
These are good tips especially to know where good restaurants off the tourist paths are.
Couldn’t agree more. It always helps to ask the locals 🙂
Argh I would LOVE to see Cuba! On the bucket list for sure!
If not now then when 🙂
Cuba is on my bucket list. And that Cuban food looks AMAZING! Everything looks so fresh and authentic! Yum!
XO
http://www.lehoarder.com/
You won’t regret visiting Cuba Michelle 🙂
y brother in law’s wide is from Cuba and she keeps talking about it….I hope to experience both the food and culture some day.
You should go see for yourself 🙂
Out of all the Cuban resturants that you have mentioned I would definitely say that El Dente Frente appealed to me the most especially as you classed it as being somewhat of a hidden gem. And who dosent love a good mojito? They are my favourite cocktail!
I couldn’t agree more Ana 🙂
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your Havana restaurant review! My daughter just visited Havana in January. After the hurricane so many restaurants didn’t have food to sell, or the main offering was cheese pizza. Most of the restaurants that did have other offerings seemed to be mostly around the main tourist square. My husband and I would love to visit Cuba after they’ve had a bit of a chance to recover. What a beautiful location. So much history!
It’s such a shame about the hurricane. Hopefully everything goes back to normal soon 🙂
What a perfect directory of eating joints. I love the way you rated them- this will help me to decide the restaurant on the basis of my preference.
Thank you for taking the time to read Ridima 🙂
I’d like to visit Havana one day! These places sound so good.
You should really visit dear! Thank you for taking the time to read 🙂
I would love to go to Cuba, the food looks amazing!
Nicole Parise – NicoleParise.com
Thank you for taking the time to read, Nicole 🙂
Casa Miglis and El Dandy seems to be a great choice for me and family in Havana, cuba is a perfect place to enjoy the historical importance with these delectable dishes.
Thank you for taking the time to read Jhilmil 🙂
Having major food envy over here! That’s honestly one of my favorite things about travel…the food!
Thank you for taking the time to read, Jamie 🙂 Couldn’t agree more!
I was told food in Cuba is delicious and that’s why I wish I could go there soon and start trying all the posts and restaurants you indicated 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to read, Sabrina 🙂
I would love to visit Cuba one day. Heard a lot about it. The food here sounds very yummy.
Thank you for taking the time to read dear 🙂
What a fab round up – and how cool does Cuba look. I am loving the look of that Mojito x
Thank you for taking the time to read Melania 🙂
Pictures of the food you feature are really inviting. Thank you for the review, this will serve a great guide for every visitor.
Thank you for taking the time to read Eliza 🙂
These look like some pretty amazing places. And should I make it out to Cuba I will definitely check these out. I would love to go to El Del Frente. It just looks too delicious.
Thank you for taking the time to read David 🙂
This is a great resource for my trip to Cuba. I can’t wait to see if our taste match.
Thank you for taking the time to read Akamatra 🙂
I haven’t been to Havana but all these beautiful restaurants are so appealing. Would love to try all of these if I get a chance to visit this beautiful place. My favorite of all would be El Cafe. xx
Thank you for taking the time to read Aditi 🙂
This are good tips for everyone who wants to visit Havana. And this place look so cool. Looks a nice dinings and food,