El Floridita

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.

    
  • Sevilla Hotel – Roof Garden Torre de Oro

    Sevilla Hotel – Roof Garden Torre de Oro  LH 4+

    The Sevilla Hotel recently celebrated its 100th Anniversary. This is now managed by the Mercure group, has a gorgeous Spanish-Moorish style lobby and one of the best rooftop restaurants in the City, t …

    Marakas

    Marakas  LH 3

    Once upon a time this used to one of the best pizza places in Havana. Nowadays I don’t know. Certainly it is better than it looks–don’t be put off by the cheap tables and the pictorial map of Italy o …

    Parrillada 84 y Quince

    Parrillada 84 y Quince  LH 3

    Translated Parrillada 84 y Quince means Charcoal Grill located on 84th Street on the intersection of 15th Avenue. What more do you need to know? This is really a neighbourhood place just off the busy …

    Barlovento

    Barlovento  LH 3

    Barlovento is a Mediterranean themed restaurant opposite the popular El Sauce nightclub. ‘Pepín’ who, while a mechanical engineer by trade always had an affinity for the kitchen, opened this new palad …

    Casa Lala

    Casa Lala  LH 3+

    Havana Chef has had a makeover and a name change to Casa Lala. It has the same delicious menu (including the suckling pig that I talked about in a previous column), but with lower prices. The place is …

    Italia en Cuba (La Terraza de Miramar)

    Italia en Cuba (La Terraza de Miramar)  LH 3

    I liked the look of the place from the outside. This really merits the name, the Terrace of Miramar. Located on the second floor with a nice view you wonder just where all these houses come from. It i …

    El Bacura

    El Bacura  LH 3+

    El Bacura is a great option coming back from a day out at the beach. This is a farmhouse-cum-restaurant and you are welcome to wonder around back where there is a weird and wonderful assortment of ani …

    La Casa de la Parra (Hanoi)

    La Casa de la Parra (Hanoi)  LH 3

    For anyone who has visited Vietnam and tasted even the street food in Saigon, the opportunity to go Vietnamese in Havana would be a treat to be savoured. Unfortunately, Hanoi Havana is just a name and …

    La Casa Sarasua

    La Casa Sarasua  LH 3

    If you want an opportunity to chat with an interesting paladar owner, then look no further than this friendly and welcoming paladar overlooking leafy Calle 25, near the university. The décor is provid …

    Los Compadres

    Los Compadres  LH 3

    Los Compadres opened recently in a beautiful Miramar mansion and as its name suggests is going after the Mexican market. Given that there is a complete dearth of Mexican food in Havana this seems a sm …

    « 6 of 15 pages »