Adagio

CA2
Style of food: Cuban/Creole
Cost: Moderate
Type of place: State
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for: People watching.
Worst for: Classical music doesn’t really seem to fit.
  • Adagio (new Bar-Restaurant Havana)

    Havana is a wonderful city full of little surprises. Lately there has been a whole bunch of new restaurants and bars opening up. Adagio is one of those places. I found it open on my trip at the end of February but it wasn’t there the first week of January. One day an empty space and the next there’s a Bar, Restaurant or Art Gallery. Since anything that doesn’t belong to a citizen belongs to the government, it’s easy for them to convert empty space into something that may make them money.

    Adagio is located right next to the Opera House (Gran Teatro), between it and the Hotel Inglaterra across Parque Central. It has a lovely patio, which has a lot of traffic going by it. It’s a little noisy but if you like to people watch it’s a perfect spot. The restaurant itself is modern looking with images of ballerinas scattered around the room and a decent bar selection. As far as the food goes, I didn’t eat there. I can tell you they have Filet Mignon @ $15cuc, Lobster Tail @ $15, Filet of Sole @ $12cuc and Pork Loin @ $10.50cuc. The prices aren’t bad but I don’t know if I would eat there. It seems to me that it would be one of those typical government run restaurants. They will be adding more main courses in the near future.

     For the first few weeks the live entertainment played traditional Cuban music. Someone decided that it didn’t suit the name or decor of the restaurant. Being next to the Opera House, which is the home of the Ballet of Cuba, they decided to have the live entertainment play Classical music. What a mistake that was. Who wants to hear classical music in Cuba? Tourists want the Cuban music and the fact that the place is usually empty should tell them that. This post is not to tell you to go, only that this place now exists. If anyone has any input, please let me know.

    
  • Al Medina

    Al Medina  LH 3

    Al Medina (The City) opened in 1983 as a Middle Eastern restaurant housed inside a lovely 17th-century building, which was formerly a boys’ school. The menu features a large collection of dishes, gril …

    Doña Blanquita

    Doña Blanquita  LH 3

    Overlooking the Prado boulevard, this has a great location and a pleasant relaxed ambience. Although it could probably do with something of an upgrade, it has been in business for many years and has a …

    Razones

    Razones  LH 3

    Razones is a mid-tier place, which attracts a middle class Cuban crowd, and tourists staying nearby in this residential neighbourhood. Even mid week there is a busy feel to the place, which is explain …

    La Cabaña

    La Cabaña  LH 2

    La Cabaña has a great view of the city but truth be told is a relatively basic place. The Cabaña Restaurant Bar has a private air-conditioned room for 30 people with live music. The rooftop terrace ha …

    Juana la Cubana

    Juana la Cubana  LH 2+

    This is an outdoor restaurant with quality food and reasonable prices. You have to take a picture with Juana la Cubana’s horse and then sit back to enjoy a good Cuban Creole meal.

    La Dolce Vita

    La Dolce Vita  LH 2

    Cuba Absolutely Review: July 2012 Oh, La Dolce Vita. Named after the famous Italian film, this looks fabulous, chic, and elegant. Miami style. An awning out of a corporate tennis tournament covers the …

    Don Cangrejo

    Don Cangrejo  LH 2

    Cuba Absolutely Review: December 2011 I once ate in Don Cangrejo years ago. This is a state-run seafood restaurant with a lovely view over the ocean. Fresh fish dishes include red snapper, grouper and …

    Mi Jardín

    Mi Jardín  LH 2

    Mi Jardín used to be the only Mexican place in Havana. The place shows its Mexican colours through Mexican flags and other Mexican memorabilia in the main inside dining room. Outside in the attractive …

    Casa Española

    Casa Española  LH 2

    What do you do with an old castle in the middle or Miramar? Turn it into a restaurant of course. This is at least easy to find driving down 7ma (7th Ave.). This house is a medieval parody built in the …

    La Cecilia

    La Cecilia  LH 2

    This is an immensely popular place on a Friday and Saturday night for its concerts and nightlife. As a restaurant, this has been around forever and markets itself as a high-class place serving interna …

    « 11 of 14 pages »