Milano Lounge Club

CA4
Style of food: International
Cost: Expensive
Type of place: Paladar (private)
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for: Miami style contemporary glamour. Quality food.
Worst for: Expensive and to date lacking the clientele to make for the necessary vibe
Ave 3ra No 2404 E 24 y 26, Miramar, Playa, La Habana
(+53)7203 - 4641

  • While Milano may be the new kid on the block, opening in mid April 2013 in Miramar’s burgeoning entertainment district, there was nothing modest about the smart party that announced its arrival loaded with bling-bling. This is a beautifully decorated Miramar mansion, which could have walked in straight from South Beach, Miami. All white lines, minimalist and stylish.

    You can eat inside the main house, on the smallish terrace (our choice) or out in the pleasant garden (watch out for chairs sinking into the ground though!). There is a small chill-out space inside although truth is told this is a place for a party, get your DJ and fill out the garden with the glitterati of Havana.

    The menu is well put together if somewhat lacking in a theme and definitely on the pricey side. Look for standard international fare: appetizers include Serrano ham, brochette and mozzarella salad while main courses include an excellent Fillet Mignon, several lobster dishes (all about the bling-bling remember) and an interesting sounding chicken with yoghurt as well as a range of pastas (the ravioli was great).

    We hear there were a few growing pains the first weekend as the place got slammed and food took forever to be served. The night we went perhaps they were overcompensating with staff everywhere you looked. Give the place a little time and we are sure it will be up there with the very best places to eat in Havana.

    Pricey butter or oil for your bread at Milano

    Milano opened to a big splash on April 20, 2013. This is an extremely good-looking place, decorated in white and with a huge window looking out on the front yard that faces 3rd Avenue in Miramar. The food is O.K. but overpriced and the service is below mediocre. In our last visit we ordered a basket of their delicious homemade olive oil and rosemary bread, but it was brought without any oil or butter, so we asked for some. Ten minutes later we were presented with two tiny bowls (one with oil and one with butter) and informed that our bread would go up in price from 2 cucs to 5 cucs, because the bread did not come with any spreads. In my humble opinion that is beyond ridiculous but I am still willing to give them the benefit of the doubt since they are new and the waiters very obviously lack experience.

    
  • Meliá Cohíba – La Piazza

    Meliá Cohíba – La Piazza  LH 5-

    La Piazza succeeds enormously where most of the other hotel restaurants (including of the same Meliá Cohíba) struggle. It succeeds in providing good quality Italian food and fine service but most of a …

    San Cristóbal

    San Cristóbal  LH 5

    San Cristóbal is named after its owner, chef and driving inspiration, Carlos Cristóbal Márquez Valdés. The place belies its location in Central Havana and exudes authenticity and charm. Cluttered, ecl …

    Café del Oriente

    Café del Oriente  LH 4+

    The Café del Oriente is about as upmarket as it gets in Old Havana. Almost self-consciously grand, it is located right on Plaza de San Francisco and seems to challenge its neighbours to do better. Thi …

    Centro Asturiano – La Terraza

    Centro Asturiano – La Terraza  LH 5-

    The Sociedad Juventud Asturiana is a Spanish cultural society from the province of Asturias, which has a special legal status in Havana. Essentially, the society functions as a cooperative which means …

    Sancho Panza

    Sancho Panza  LH 4+

    The sign on the wall reads that our fames precede us and our food maintains us. Actually Sancho Panza (not to be confused with Poncho Sanchez!) looks a lot better from the inside out than the outside …

    Vista del Mar

    Vista del Mar  LH 4

    Vista del Mar is a quality paladar that has been around for many years. The main restaurant is on the 2nd floor of an attractive Miramar residence that looks out to sea. Sitting on the smallish balcon …

    La Esperanza

    La Esperanza  LH 4

    La Esperanza is one of those places which gives out its own microclimate so far removed it is from your typical Havana dining experience. Set in the Miramar suburbs, the exterior of the house is notab …

    Café Laurent

    Café Laurent  LH 5

    The entrance to Café Laurent gives little away. While just a few blocks away from the iconic Hotel National, Calle M has little commerce and you have to be guided into the apartment building where a s …

    La Moneda Cubana

    La Moneda Cubana  LH 4

    If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck…it normally is a duck. Walking into La Moneda Cubana I could not believe that this really was a paladar. From the bad fake copies of Mona Lisa and the Last S …

    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 …

    « 3 of 14 pages »