I remember, when I first came to Cuba, the number of restaurants was unbelievably low. We had to wait in line to enter a few private restaurants, known as paladar. The main problem with the state owned restaurants was that their menus were almost always the same. The state restaurants have not changed much. However, with the partial expansion of the permit granted to the private sector, the number of private restaurants has increased considerably, and so the quality of Cuban food culture. The Cuban gastronomy, which almost came to the point of destruction due to the economic collapse of the ‘90s (Special Period), is coming back, becoming more and more appetizing.

Cuba has a very important advantage at this point: Despite the strong tendencies in the world, Cuba has not given up on organic nutrition. The gates of the island are closed to GMO.

I think that the current situation of the Cuban food culture is very attractive in terms of interest and we had a chance to try this out with the company of Pelin Tatlıcı, an important Turkish gourmet. She wrote about Cuba’s best restaurants and the Cuban gastronomy in general for you. Now there is no reason why your trip to Cuba doesn’t turn into a taste journey! Enjoy it and don’t forget to follow Pelin Tatlıcı’s Instagram account @yemekicinyasa.

* * *

Rumors and Facts

Before you go to Cuba, you may hear comments from people who visited the island saying they were hungry and couldn’t find good food, but I suggest you don’t listen to them.

Due to the embargo, it was difficult for Cubans to bring products from outside the country. The restaurants have been operating under the control of the state for years. Even though a large part of it them are still managed in this way, the number of private restaurants is increasing. In recent years, restaurants with great tastes have started to open.

Cuba dominates Caribbean and Latin American cuisine, with rich in flavor and quality. Especially the seafood has very good quality and reasonable prices.

Today, the confidence in the organic nature of chicken is reduced. In Cuba, as I knew that all of the chickens were raised naturally, I enjoyed it when I had the opportunity. I assure you that you will say “the taste of my childhood”.

As a result, you must add to the to-do list to taste its pristine flavors when you go to Cuba.

Havana Flavor Tour

Floridita

Hola hola

Floridita was the first place we went to, since it was the first recommended place to go in Cuba. This is where Ernest Hemingway often came to drink a daiquirí while he was living in Cuba. For this reason, this bar is full of music, cocktails and Caribbean dishes. Maybe Cuba’s most famous thing is the cocktails made with rum and because of this, this drink is also quite common. The capture of this flavor of just lime juice, rum, ice and sugar is also great. We drank the first daiquirí with live Cuban music. A frozen cocktail prepared with ice in the warm Cuban atmosphere is very good. And a taste of sea food too. We experienced it here first. Though the quality seems slightly lower, compared to old times, and the prices seem to have increased, the lobster we ate was delicious. The tostones of plantain (a type of banana) was a good complement. The shrimp and tenderloin platter prepared with coconut milk was also quite good. The starter of shrimp with crusty bread showed that there is no limit regarding what to do with seafood. Announcing this to those who say there is no Cuban cuisine. There is a Caribbean cuisine here based on the great harmony of meat and seafood with sauces and tropical fruits.

To be clear, Floridita is a place to be seen because of its reputation, but you don’t have to eat and drink inside. Prices were high and service quality was average.

La Caribeña

Havana streets and street food

The Cuban people have made pizza the most consumed food because are affordable, fast and delicious. There is a pizzeria in every corner and many Cuban who walks on the street holds a slice of pizza. Therefore, I said, I will not return without eating Cuban pizza. I had to wait for an hour because I chose the pizzeria with the longest queue. But sure I had the chance to enjoy the city (Don’t return to your country without taking a city tour with old American cars. Since Green Caiman Cuba has supported me on this issue, we took our tour with one of the most beautiful cars). Going back to the pizza, the Cuban pizza’s dough is greasy and brewed. I wanted extra cheesy and chorizo pizza. Of course in the menu there wasn’t like this, I intervened as usual. I wish it had a little more stuff. So it wasn’t the best pizza I’ve ever eaten, but it was still worth waiting and trying.

El Biky

Eat with local people

If you wonder where Cubans eat reasonably priced and delicious, the answer is El Biky. I’ve also discovered it by suggestion of Green Caiman Cuba. This is a restaurant where families make a package of their leftover because of the portion sizes. I chose a homemade burger from the menu consisting of homemade local products and a chicken with pineapple and honey (Whenever I found chicken in Cuba, I ate it, because all chicken are raised in a natural environment). Because of the sauce of the chicken was sweet, it was a different taste experience. The burger seemed literally out of a mother’s hand. One can’t skip eating a lime pie in the lime paradise. Also I experienced how tres leches (three milks) should be, so popular in Turkey. The dessert, which should be made with three different milks, should be intense and have the taste of the three milks. Unfortunately in Turkey generally the proper recipe is not known. Before eating it, you should ask how many milks is this made with.

El Cocinero

Mouthful of happiness

Unfortunately, if I like a dessert in a place, I cannot stop with one serving. I tried tres leches everywhere in Cuba and ate my favorite one in El Cocinero. Their dark-tempered tres leches was very good and looked like cheesecake. But that wasn’t the dessert I ate two portions. The dose of sweetness of the chocolate tart and its chocolate density was so perfect that I could even eat five. This place is a greenery terrace on a quiet street, a little far from the center of Havana. With the music in the evening, the environment becomes even more enjoyable. With the intention of having a light dinner, I wanted gazpacho (Spanish cold vegetable soup) and crab tartar made with stinged crab. Apart from these, there were very good options in the menu. However, when I was in the sweets, I used my right for them.

El Cocinero is a very enjoyable restaurant with a good atmosphere and cuisine. You can also go to the multi-segment night club (Fábrica de Arte Cubano) next to it if your energy is not over yet.

Coco Glacé

Who wants ice cream?

I recommend you to enjoy dishes made with natural ingredients in Cuba. You can also see places selling coconut ice cream in the coconut shell while walking the streets. I was interested in the Coco Glacé in Plaza Vieja. His witty seller is a complete tourist magnet and his ice cream is delicious. If you come across, you need to chat with him and taste the ice cream.

Atelier

Feel at home

I share all the tres leches I have eaten in Cuba. The one in Atelier seemed to be made at home. Already Atelier is a very cute place that turns out to be a restaurant on a quiet street away from Havana city center. The walls are filled with artworks and the environment reminds of a peaceful house. Everything from plates to tablecloths feels like eating in an old-style house. The dishes are again Spanish-inspired. Plate of salmon wrapped in eggplant is a light option as a warm starter. Then I tried duck confit and this was one of my favorite dishes in Cuba. The content of the foods is so natural. It is also an important criterion for me to get up light in a calm and peaceful environment.

La Guarida

Like a scene from a movie

After the film named Fresa y chocolate in 1993, this historical building was turned into a restaurant in 1996. It is necessary to come here to see the historical texture and artworks of the building and to eat the wonderful gourmet dishes. Although I had a hard time making a reservation because it is a popular place, I was able to go with the help of Green Caiman Cuba. I had some difficulty choosing because of the interesting dishes on the menu. I would like to prefer and experience the most unusual options. For this reason, I tried the lasagna with rabbit, steak with chocolate and Roquefort sauce, and coconut soup and chocolate fondant as dessert. The lasagna with rabbit was quite light as its layers were made with vegetables and a sauce was prepared with green vegetables and olives. I wanted the sauce of the meat separately and wanted to reduce the risk, but the chocolate and cheese balanced the sweet and salty so well that I ate each bite of the meat with the sauce. Also, porridge of yuca, which is a root vegetable that I learned in Cuba and I love its texture and taste, was very good for the meat. This vegetable, which has a very dense (banana-like) texture but has a pungent taste, increases the taste of the food eaten alongside. For dessert, chocolate fondant was dense and delicious, but not unique. Coconut soup was interesting because of the coconut cake and sherbet flavored with coconut milk.

What I want to remember about Cuba should be exactly like this restaurant: The harmony between history and modernism.

5 Sentidos

Strengthen your senses

5 Sentidos is one of the most modern and gastronomic places I have had dinner in Cuba. In addition, the interest of the owner of the place in the customer and the fact that he gave detailed information about the food increased my satisfaction even more. Honestly I did revive all my senses with the name, meaning 5 senses. The sooty shrimp as starter made us feel the freshness of the shrimp with a sufficient taste of soot. The long-cooked lamb stew was a bit harsh compared to the cooking time, but the meat was very tasty. Duck confit (cooking technique in oil for a long time) was a dish that I loved all the ingredients to the grilled corn. I loved the tartar with parmesan cheese because I generally like sushi and raw fish. But my favorite was the dessert called chocolate world, which contains five kinds of chocolate. I ate three portions. This dessert that contains chocolate mousse, chocolate cake, chocolate truffle, white chocolate pastry cream and chocolate ganache is the nirvana of chocolate. In addition to this dessert, it was a great complement that the cocktail they served to help “digestion” was made with coffee, chocolate tequila, Angustula liqueur and Havana Club añejo rum. I think I wouldn’t have been able to explore this place without the Green Caiman Cuba and it would have been a huge loss for me.

Hotel Manzana

Historic enjoy

I am very pleased to have found a place that lets me say “Cuba is not just about old and nostalgic environments”. Moreover, the view combines the old and the new. You have to enjoy the pool, the cocktails and the view on the terrace of the hotel that belongs to Kempinski. You can take your cigar and sip the best Cuban cocktails there. My favorite was canchánchara made with lime juice, honey and rum. Although the name might be difficult to say, honey has been an important choice in sweet-sour balance. Frozen mojito appeals to both the eye and the palate, as they are made by breaking down fresh and aromatic mint. I’m certain I would have gone more often if only hadn’t discovered this place on the last day of my trip. I need to thank Green Caiman Cuba in this regard. Moreover, considering that it is close to touristic bars, I can say that the prices are very good in terms of price-quality standard.

I also say that it is necessary to pay attention to the time you go, as they do not accept customers other than the hotel’s at noon, so you not stay at the door.

Best Trinidad Restaurants

Sol y Son

An Indian in Cuba

It was surprising to hear that Trinidad’s first opened private restaurant has Indian cuisine. They have turned an old house into a restaurant to create ambiance. For this reason, you may feel as if you are a guest of a Cuban family while eating in the courtyard of the house. Of course, when Indian food comes the situation changes. As Indian and Cuban dishes are similar in general, I was not stunned. I said come along with the dishes with sauces and this time I ate the organic chicken with masala. I also tried the lobster on the fried banana this time. Both were modestly seasoned compared to the Indian dishes. Tres leches, which is indispensable in Cuba, was on my menu again. It was like cream caramel here. So I guess this was my least favorite.

Sol y Son was a good choice to eat a good meal above average in a very authentic environment.

San José

Completely Cuban

Almost every dish I ate in Cuba was natural, clear and very tasty. However, I only went to this restaurant twice. Thus, I have tried the best examples of Cuban cuisine. Due to the past dominance of Spain, there are a lot of Spanish cuisine breezes in Cuba. In Spanish cuisine, besides the meat-based main dish, there are side dishes made using rice, potatoes, as well as corn and black beans. Meat is usually cooked for a long time with tomato sauce. It is usually prepared in Cuba in this way. Unlike Spanish cuisine, banana derivatives such as plantain are also used frequently in Cuba. I can say that the dishes prepared in San José are exactly a clear application of what I described above. Also, since you can find seafood in every corner in Cuba, you can find many options made with seafood. In this restaurant, I tried grilled lobster, 8 hours cooked meat, steak stew and paella derivative chicken rice. Waiting for 40 minutes as it was prepared after ordering made me a bit impatient, but I can say that I like this dish. In a small town like Trinidad, this place, which is crowded at any moment, has exceeded my expectations. Of course not without eating dessert. I tried tres leches here too. It wasn’t my favorite in Cuba, but it was still good. I also tried brownie. It arrived a dessert similar to sticky chocolate cakes that Americans call fudge cake. As a chocolate lover, I also ate it with pleasure. Another place where I went with recommendation of Green Caiman Cuba and again I was extremely satisfied.

Best Restaurant in Viñales

El Paraíso

Here is the “real” organic

To eat organic food in İstanbul I spent a lot of effort or a lot of money. It is a great chance to eat real organic village food against a magnificent view in the town of Viñales, which is in the Cuban countryside with its natural life. It is not possible to find this farm without the advice of someone who knows. Therefore, the proposal of Green Caiman Cuba was very precious. I think there I had the most natural, organic, chemical-free and delicious food I have ever eaten. The villagers have created a magnificent menu from the vegetables and animals they grow in their backyard. Long hours cooked chicken, fish stew, vegetable soup, beans with rice… They fill the table. They leave a bottle of rum with piña colada (pineapple cocktail) as anti-stress drink and say you determine the amount of rum according to your own stress coefficient.

As I said, the happiness of having a chance to eat at such a place and the flavors we taste are priceless.

Please click here to see all articles of Green Caiman Blog.

High quality house rental (casa particular) services: caimanverde.net

Facebook: facebook.com/yesiltimsahkuba

Instagram: instagram.com/yesiltimsahkuba