Style of food: International

Cost: Expensive

Type of place: State

Food
Ambience
Service
Value

Best for: Hemingway aficionados will appreciate the history. Decent food.

Worst for: Expensive. Fierce air-conditioning

Obispo #557 esq. a Monserrate, Habana Vieja

(+53)7863 - 1301

Open noon-1am

Cuba Absolutely Review: January 2013

El Floridita Bar is pretty much ground zero for Hemingway aficionados. This is the place where he would drink daiquiris and is therefore on the must do list in many guidebooks. As you may expect, while the daiquiris are great, the atmosphere is more tourist zoo than anything else. The restaurant does not suffer from the same hordes although the name and location do provide ample clients.

This is a pleasant restaurant set up to the side of the bar which may be a little over air conditioned (bring a jacket) but which has a nice buzz to it and some interesting memorabilia on the walls.

The food is international and offers the standard fare (lobster/steaks etc) as well as some special Hemingway themed dishes (see below). Quality wise, both times we have eaten here it was pretty decent but not spectacular and probably a little overpriced for the quality delivered. Given the history and popularity of the place, something of a premium is to be expected and is not so out of wack as to be too annoying.

Papa & Mary
A combination of Hemingway’s and his wife’s Mary’s favorite shellfish and meat: two medallions, one of lobster in shellfish sauce and another of baby beef in béarnaise sauce.

Gran Plato Hemingway
A combination of lobster, shrimp and fish, which Hemingway was especially fond of.