Visiting Cuba: Restaurants

The dining scene in Cuba, like most everything else, is closely overseen by the government. A tourist can find an abundance of seafood and beef in government-operated diners, but one who stays in these protected areas will not be able to appreciate the island’s unique cuisine and culture.

Locals and seasoned tourists alike will tell you the best food in the country is found the private restaurants run inside homes, known to the locals as paladares. Cubans generally do not use aggressive spices, favoring onions, garlic, and cumin instead. Local specialties include rice, fried plantains, and stuffed omelets. As most paladares are run out of homes, no pricing information is readily available. Bilingual tourists will gladly regale you with stories of the menu, with usually will offer a seperate price for English and Spanish speakers.

Available drinks are generally limited to strong coffee and poor, weak beer. Cuba does produce a small variety of pretty good beers. Most visitors default to mojitos, daiquiris and cuba libre, which is simply a rum and Coke with a squeeze of lime. In Cuba, the drinking age does not apply to tourists, and as long is the minor is accompanied by a consenting adult who agrees to let the minor consume alcohol they will be allowed to drink.

While American cuisine may be available at limited, government operated diners, it is best not to rely on access to good ol’ homecooking when travelling abroad.